Trophex Newsletter June 2019 JUNE TEN 2019 NEWSLETTER | Page 13
ISA-UK
Optimism high in UK sign and graphics industry
Research commissioned by the
UK sign and graphics industry’s
leading trade association,
the ISA-UK powered by BSGA,
has revealed that, despite
the uncertain political times,
optimism is high in the industry.
More than half (58%) of the sign industry
decision makers who took part in the online
survey, reported that business turnover has
increased in the past year, with a further
24% saying it has remained constant.
53% have seen customer numbers increase
during the past 12 months and 31% said
they have stayed the same.
In terms of profitability, 46% of respondents
revealed that they have seen profits increase
in the last year, with an average increase
of 28%. A further 26% of respondents said
that profitability had remained constant.
David Catanach is director of ISA-UK,
powered by BSGA, which was formerly
known as the British Sign & Graphics
Association.
“This is the first time we have commissioned
industry-wide research and the results have
been extremely interesting and positive,”
David says. “More than half (57%) of the
business decision makers who completed
the survey agreed that there is plenty of work
available in the sign and graphics industry
and a 51% said that they think the industry
is thriving.
“The list of services that professional sign
companies provide these days is vast,”
David continues. “Whilst 76% report that
general signage is still one of the most
profitable elements of their business,
specialist areas such as vehicle wrapping,
interior décor and illuminated signs are also
key. 68% of respondents say that their list of
services has increased in the past two years.”
Rob Lambie is president of the ISA-UK and
has worked in the sign and graphics industry
for more than 29 years. “Sign and graphics
professionals are more integral to the wider
marketing mix than ever before and 57% of
survey respondents said that working with
marketing agencies is a key part of their job.
The survey has also confirmed what many of
us in the sign and graphics community have
known for years, that creativity is a massive
part of our industry. 79% of decision makers
said that their customers are looking for more
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creative input from their sign company
these days and 80% agreed that design
and innovation are very important to
their business.”
Sam Armstrong is managing director of
signage consultancy Make it Happen
and vice-president of the ISA-UK.
“Working heavily within the signage industry
on our training programmes, I am delighted
to hear and see first-hand a real buoyancy
within the industry,” comments Sam.
“There appears an influx in orders as well as
quotations, with tenders in the abundance:
hopefully an indication of even more positive
times ahead!”
“It’s great news that most survey respondents
are positive about the state of the sign
industry and their own businesses,” says
David Catanach. “As an organisation,
our role is to support our members and help
them thrive and grow so we will be using the
research findings to inform our activity over
the next 12 months. Our aim is for the ISA-UK
Sign Industry Survey to become an annual
project so that we can track viewpoints and
provide an accurate picture to our members
and the wider business world.”
JUNE 2019
13