Morrison Sign Company: One-stop Signs
Since signs are an essential part of any builder’s marketing process, it’s no wonder that builders want to be able to obtain them quickly and easily. Whether it’s a sign directing buyers to a community, a model home display, or raised letters spelling out a company name, you want it to look great and be accurate, and you don’t want to spend a lot of time and effort on ordering or installation.
Dave Morrison, president of Morrison Sign Company, is thoroughly familiar with builder’s concerns, because he has been making signs for homebuilding companies for over 25 years.
“This is a one-stop shop for homebuilders,” Morrison says. “We can fabricate any kind of display, do screenprinting or digital imaging or any metal fabricating. We do the installation and we take care of permits or variances.”
Morrison Sign Company responds speedily to their customers. The company operates on a rapid turnaround for most signage requests.
In fact, Morrison Sign Company moves with such agility that many builders feel the sign company almost anticipates their requests before they make them.
The truth is, they do.
For example, Morrison Sign Company frequently produces a few extra signs during a project so they can keep their inventory well-stocked. That way, they have products on hand and ready to go when a customer has a rush job.
Design staff also maintain builder logos and other graphics on their computers, so they can quickly recreate any artwork. The company’s state-of-the-art equipment produces signs rapidly and precisely – whatever the specifications.
Morrison notes that his personnel are very aware that a buyer’s impressions are often initially based on their impression of a builder’s signs and displays, and they proceed with the according care.
With their five trucks and staff of nearly 30, Morrison Sign Company performs delivers and installations swiftly. Morrison says that installation is “a big part of this business.” As part of their commitment to turnkey service, Morrison Sign Company also obtains all needed permits and variances, so builders don’t have to run around town to various municipalities’ offices or fill out reams of paperwork.
The result: A-to Z service that makes signage a snap for builders. Morrison Sign Company leverages their mix of expertise, first-rate equipment and commitment to make ordering a sign as easy as dialing the phone.
“Service is what we do best,” says Morrison. “Our service is number one and every associate works with an emphasis on that fact.”
Signing on
Morrison Sign Company creates thousands of signs for builders every year, including exterior signs for homes, developments and company headquarters, and interior signs and displays.
Company associates produce a full range of signs including custom signs, displays, models, digital imaging, plat maps, renderings, decals, posters, computer-cut vinyl lettering, neon, routed lettering and screen printing.
Signage can be created in any size, shape, color or media. And no matter how large or unusually shaped, company personnel perform expert installation.
Builders can send Morrison Sign Company digital files of the artwork they want on a sign of display in either Macintosh or PC formats. “No matter what they send, we’re able to handle it,” says Morrison.
If a builder is unsure about how they want a sign to look, Morrison Sign Company designers work with them to create custom graphics, and they are adept at suggesting the best materials to use.
Company designers use screenprinting to reproduce images on materials like metal, wood, glass or plastics. This way, they can efficiently recreate graphic images for uses that include large signs and banners.
Many builders prefer vinyl signs for either indoor display or outdoor signage. Morrison Sign Company uses computer-generated plotters to precisely cut out letters or artwork and then apply them to variety of surfaces. They also create custom frames.
For builders who need interior signs for corporate identity, Morrison Sign Company uses a computer-driven router to create dimensional wall letters to spell out an organization’s name or product. The router cuts material to any shape. They can also create one-of-a-kind art displays in a wide range of sizes and depths.
Morrison Sign Company’s three leading edge HP digital imaging printers can produce six-color images that deliver the precision and depth that make the difference between a flat image and one that invites attention.
The company’s production staff are craftspeople who develop projects in the most efficient manner possible because they have so much experience. Many of Morrison’s personnel have been with him over 10 years. Morrison’s two brothers also both work in the business with him. Morrison says that along with service, quality is the highest priority at his company, and he hires and retains people who share this vision.
Signs of the times
Born and raised in Columbus, Morrison took a parttime job at a local sign company while he was still in high school. He quickly learned that he had a talent for lettering. Morrison mastered the techniques of sign business, from screenprinting to lettering and design. But Morrison had more than a head for the craftsmanship of signage. With a real acumen for business, a keen sense of organization, and an aptitude for leering and putting his insights to work, Morrison was ready to take his abilities to the next level.
A natural entrepreneur, he started Morrison Sign Company in 1978. He immediately obtained a large builder client, Ryan Homes, and his new business was off and running.
Today, Morrison manages his company and provides overall vision, but he still finds the time to do some design work.
Morrison Sign Company continues to put builders first. “We give priority to builders,” Morrison says. “We’re part of the homebuilding community.”
On April 1, Morrison moved from his former site on Yale Avenue in the Columbus Franklinton area to his spacious new headquarters in the Hilliard area. By going from 18,000 square feet of space to 56,000 and 12 acres, he gained the room he needed to add greater capacity. At the new site, Morrison Sign Company has been able to spread out their major production department and office areas and still has lots of room to grow.
Morrison retains the freshness and commitment for his business that he had from the beginning. “I like being creative,” he says. “I love going out and seeing our work in the field. It’s wonderful to see the work we’ve produced.”
Builder Update, June 2004
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