Signs of the Times - June 2015 - 93

about yourself. Older folks were always impressed
seeing a 14-year-old kid up on the wall with a brush,
creating what I called industrial-strength artwork. Dad
believed this business carried a seven-year apprenticeship; four years was learning layout, composition
and advertising value. He would say, if you can`t lay
it out correctly, you're not ready yet. A lifetime in
this business revealed truer words were never spoken.
As time went by, other family members picked
up the trade. My second cousin, Joe Sannuti, learned
pinstriping in 1973 and started lettering hotrods. After
a hitch in the U.S. Army, he moved to Georgia, got
married and started a signshop in Baxley. That soon
grew into a commercial signshop, and then into a
lucrative billboard business. Joe also delved into
extruded signfaces, plastic letters and logos.
He sold that business in the '90s, took a 10-year
break, and now, along with his daughter, Jessi, the
fourth generation of our family, he opened Impact
Signs in McDonough, GA. He still loves doing painting
hotrods and commercial signs.
My cousins, Ray and Bobby Huddleston, also
learned in my Dad's signshop. They started R&R
signs in 1978 in Hammonton, NJ and handpainted
signs and truck lettering. After they married, they
went separate ways in 1983.
Ray went to Pigeon Forge, TN and started Ray
Huddleston Signs. Unfortunately, he died in a plane
crash 10 years ago. Bobby opened Signs of the Times
Inc. in Baxley, GA, which he still operates today.
As a family, we've all evolved with the industry into

computer graphics and digital printing, but we still
specialize in optimizing advertising value. That's one
thing that doesn't come with technology and software,
and I believe it's sorely lacking in our industry today.
I believe the Internet is pumping out ineffective
advertising globally. The advertising value is what
the first dollar is buying when a client relies on their
signmaker. No advertising value means NO business.
Today, I and my wife of 46 years, Jennie, own and
operate, Al's Signs & Truck Lettering in New Egypt,
NJ. Our commercial shop creates all types of signage,
truck lettering and vehicle wraps. We still offer fine
handlettering, airbrushing and goldleaf, hand carving
and sandblasted signage. But we also offer illuminated
signs, channel letters, neon and digital printing. We
also do T-shirts, hats, etc., with screenprinting and
embroidery. We also build websites, provide consulting
services and subcontract to other shops. Both my sons
are proficient signmakers and handletterers, but are
not currently in the trade.
Although our industry has changed over the decades,
it's still a very dependable business, as long as you are
fully versed in many different skills, and know your
market and your clients' needs. I have seen signshops
come and go. Dad said, "You may never get rich, but
you`ll never go hungry in the sign business."
A message to all new signmakers: this isn't a walkin-the-park business. Learn the trade first, then go
into business. It's your obligation to do right by your
clients. If you can't or won't, then get another job.
You may contact Al at BigAlSignGuy@gmail.com ■
SIGNS OF THE TIMES www.signweb.com 93

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Signs of the Times - June 2015

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