Signarama is celebrating 35 years in business in 2021. With over three decades of experience and locations in over 20 countries, Signarama has become the innovator in the signs and graphics industry. In the last 35 years, our experts have specialized in bringing businesses to life through branded visuals such as digital signs and displays, vehicle graphics, banners and flags and so much more!  Since the first Signarama opened on September 8, 1986, in Farmingdale, New York, we have grown to over 700 locations globally (and counting).  There’s never been a better time to be a part of the Signarama family than now.

Looking back over our history, what stands out are the incredible owners that took the leap to open their own local Signarama. Our oldest location has been witnesses from the start of our successes, challenges, and changes. We like to say that they have been #SignaramaStrong since 1988 and beyond.

They are located in Huntington Station, New York, and owned by Dawn Bent and Mike Ziccardi. This duo has been running this Signarama location since 1988! When asked “what is one thing you have learned in your tenure of running the store,” Dawn quoted A.A. Milne: “You are braver than you believe, smarter than you seem, and stronger than you think.”  Dawn also shared with us that, “I’ve learned that customers aren’t just “customers”—building relationships is what it’s all about. I’ve learned to take risks and accept the results. I’ve learned how to be a lifelong learner. I’ve learned how to say thanks more often, and how to take time for me.” 

Signarama Huntington Station considers their biggest success to be longevity. “We were the third Signarama to open in 1988, and now we are the oldest location operated by the original owners in the country. We have been awarded MVP for the brand several times over the years, and continue to be top performers. Michael and I are incredibly proud to be part of the Signarama Family.” 

To new Signarama family members, Dawn and Mike advise: “Always listen and learn—this will enable you to grow your business. Be willing to ebb and flow with changing economies. The customer type you had last year will likely not be the same type this year or even next. Actively go after different business sectors. Your client list should be as diverse as possible—this has enabled us to navigate through many different economic environments.”  

As Mike and Dawn mentioned, growing and changing with the current economy has always been a focus for Signarama since the beginning. Our President, A.J. Titus, sees the sign and graphics industry evolving even more into the digital space, including digital signage, digital content, and digital management. “Equipment keeps getting cheaper and more efficient, and I really see it being easier than ever to operate a sign shop in the next five years as we add more automation and technology into our business model. That makes growing the Signarama brand even more important! I also see the opportunity expanding in the service sector as well. Design, installation, and other services we offer our clients will continue to grow in demand in addition to our core signage products.”

Change is inevitable for a brand that has been around as long as we have been. We like to think that one of the key reasons Signarama has been able to pivot successfully many times is the commitment we have made to uphold our core values:

Speed wins: be the first to follow up and reach out.

Positivity: smile, be happy, and love what you do.

Customer service: people do business with people they know, like and trust.  

Every new addition to the Signarama team and family is taught these core values from the start because our goal is to create sustainable business practices that last another 35 years too. We are proud of the accomplishments and growth that each of our owners have contributed in our history so far, and excited to see what lies ahead for Signarama in the next 35 years!