Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 43
TABLE 1: Our Respondents
TABLE 3: Sales-volume Change from Two Years
Previous to Last Year
2015
2017
2013-14
2015-16
SALES INCREASED
55
129
SALES DECREASED
9
22
53
SALES STAYED
THE SAME
31
33
316
RESPONDENTS
95
184
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED
SIGN COMPANY
111
224
FRANCHISE
SIGN COMPANY
14
25
NATIONAL
SIGN COMPANY
-
14
OTHER (PRINT COMPANY,
IN-HOUSE)
-
125
RESPONDENTS
TABLE 4: Sales-volume Change from 2016 to 2017
TABLE 2: Employees
2015
2017
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES
11.6
19.7
TOTAL NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES
1,444
3,626
124
184
RESPONDENTS
EQUIPMENT AND INVESTMENT
Of the 184 respondents to our question regarding equipment purchased in 2016 (Table 7), 142 (77.2%) reported
purchase activity. Among them, software led the buying
list among the 44% of companies that made some sort
of purchase. Digital printers (31%), laminators (19.6%) and
vinyl-cutting plotters (19%) followed, leading crane/bucket
trucks (17.4%), routers (12.5%) and metal forming (6%)
as other popular equipment purchase options. Of the 16.3%
who selected "Other," most of the filled-in responses cited
laser engravers and computers/office equipment. Software also led our 2015 survey of electric companies, with
crane/bucket trucks second.
The same number of respondents plan to invest an
average of $41,071 in equipment in 2017 (Table 8). Here,
as with the number of employees per company, this
average clocks in well above the median with only 49
responses above the average and 135 below. In fact, 48%
reported plans to invest $10,000 or less and 21% reported
no investment plans at all for this year. Taken together,
nearly 70% of the respondents plan investments under five
figures for the year, perhaps again reflecting the plans of
smaller shops.
2016-17
SALES WILL INCREASE
135
SALES WILL DECREASE
14
SALES WILL STAY THE SAME
35
RESPONDENTS
184
THREATS TO THE INDUSTRY
Introducing a new question, we asked what companies
see as the greatest threat to the signage and graphics
industry (Table 9); 184 respondents had several choices.
Chief among the perceived threats reported was price
competition or diminishing profit margins with 32%
companies fearing this, followed by the increasing number
of non-sign companies (e.g. print shops) offering signage
services at 27.7%. At some distance thereafter were recruiting
and retaining staff at 14.1%, not sufficiently diversifying
products/services or keeping up with changing signage
demands at nearly 9% and the increasing number of sign
companies in the market at just under 5%.
Our "Other" category garnered 23 responses, exactly
one-eighth of our total. The two main threats called out
here were led by restrictive sign codes and sales lost to
internet and "fly by night" companies doing sign work.
One respondent lamented "the commoditization of the
SIGNWEB.COM
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
43
http://www.SIGNWEB.COM
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - July 2017
Signs of the Times - July 2017
Contents
From the Editor
St Update
At Large
Tech Review
Leds + Lighting
Vehicles + Vinyl
A Monumental Influence
The 2017 State of the Industry Report
Building Safer Signs
Strictly Commercial: Sign Magic
New Products
Advertising Index
Last Look
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Intro
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - BB1
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - BB2
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Signs of the Times - July 2017
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - BD_L
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - BD
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Cover2
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 1
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Contents
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 3
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 4
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 5
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 6
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 7
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - From the Editor
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 9
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - St Update
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 11
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 12
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 13
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 14
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 15
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 16
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 17
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - At Large
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 19
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 20
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 21
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Tech Review
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 23
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Leds + Lighting
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 25
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 26
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 27
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Vehicles + Vinyl
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 29
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 30
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 31
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 32
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 33
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 34
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 35
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - A Monumental Influence
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 37
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 38
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 39
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 40
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 41
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - The 2017 State of the Industry Report
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 43
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 44
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 45
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 46
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 47
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 48
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 49
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Building Safer Signs
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 51
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 52
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 53
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 54
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 55
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Strictly Commercial: Sign Magic
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 57
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 58
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 59
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 60
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 61
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - New Products
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 63
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 64
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 65
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 66
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 67
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 68
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 69
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 70
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 71
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 72
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 73
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 74
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 75
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 76
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 77
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 78
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 79
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 80
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 81
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 82
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 83
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 84
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 85
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 86
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 87
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 88
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 89
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 90
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 91
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 92
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 93
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - 94
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Advertising Index
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Last Look
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Cover3
Signs of the Times - July 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_blackbook_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_bg2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_201201
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com