HD Signs and Display painted these logos as part of its Rugby World Cup 2015 contract at Twickenham, and the Olympic Stadium
Diversification has been a hot topic in the industry recently. How can you optimise your equipment to its fullest? How can you use your existing equipment in new ways that are not typical of your core business, in order to enter new markets? It is the ‘go-getters’ of the industry that have realised in doing this, there are many beneficial opportunities to be had.
This is something that Jan Korab, managing director of HD Signs and Display, has picked up on. The company produces a wide range of signage, from small signs to floor graphics to painted logos. Its latest venture is into carpets, with one mission in mind—to get the most from the machinery they have.
Korab explains: “Carpets are something we’re getting quite into for the retail industry. For example, you might walk into B&Q and walk over a carpet that says B&Q. That’s something we’re trying to push to try and get the printers optimised because they’re quite expensive pieces of kit. Realistically, they should be running 24 hours a day. They probably do this in the summer but we don’t in the winter, so we need to diversify again and find other work for the machines in a different area.”
Draw the line
Although branching out into many different areas today, HD Signs’ journey starts at making paint for football fields.
“When Sky Sports started which was 96/97, because we made the paint for football fields, we got asked if we could put the logos down on rugby pitches for the live Sky TV games,” says Korab, adding: “In those days, there were no computers or mobile phones; we had to make wooden stencils, draw everything out by blowing things up on walls, magnifying it to get the image to the right size because these things were quite big, around 100sq m in size.”
HD Signs also produce signage for sponsors of sporting events
Korab explains that from this branding, came other work. He adds: “Once we started doing that, people like Tetley’s, who sponsored the rugby, asked us if we could produce advertising boards and banners. That’s how HD Signs was created. It all came from Sky Sports.”
The company, which has offices in London and Manchester, has grown over the years, enabling them to employ more and more staff each year. HD Signs now houses a large-format banner 5m printer, a range of small printers and laminators, a Zünd cutter, and a flatbed UV printer. Producing all its work in-house, Korab says its ability to carry out a range of projects is key.
HD Signs also carry out vehicle wrapping as seen in this example for Printing.com
“We are able to do lots of different things, almost like a one-stop-shop, which then means the customer benefits in a good deal all round because we do not have to contract anything out. We are a manufacturer; we make things. If we have to make paints for a certain job, we’ll make the paint,” says Korab.
We are able to do lots of different things, almost like a one-stop-shop, which then means the customer benefits in a good deal all round because we do not have to contract anything out”
The company’s ‘say yes’ approach to work has resulted in plenty of major contract wins from the likes of Sainsbury’s, the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, and the Rugby Union World Cup—something Korab takes a lot of pride in.
He says: “We’re extremely proud of winning big contracts as well as small contracts. We are so proud of everything we do, whether it is just a small sign for a local shop or something that is seen across the world on television.”
We are so proud of everything we do, whether it is just a small sign for a local shop or something that is seen across the world on television”
For Korab, there are more than one stand out memory in his working career with HD Signs: “I really enjoyed being part of the Olympics closing ceremony where ten of our staff went down and were part of the cast. It was an incredible experience.
“For the paints that we make, we won The Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2011. So that was quite memorable, going to Buckingham Palace and talking to the Queen about all sorts of things. That was an incredible experience too.”
Say yes
HD Signs are currently facing a very busy time and Korab expects this to continue through until the end of the year. He hopes that next year will bring with it even more opportunities for business: “There’s lots of things happening next year, we’ve not been confirmed that we’ve won anything yet, but we’ve quoted quite a lot of stuff for next year.”
This floor graphic was produced by HD Signs for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014
As touched upon earlier, it is this company’s diverse range of skills that makes it stand out. Korab says: “We are not just a sign company that makes signs, if you want a floor graphic, a roof painting, a runway, we can do that. We are great at diversity. The bigger stuff, the better.”
(Above & below) HD Signs produced all of the signage at ten venues across Greater Manchester for the Sainsbury’s School Games 2015
As Korab mentions, HD Signs has even painted runways, applying logos and then removing them when they are finished with. According to Korab, it is important in business to not say no to anything, no matter how ‘wacky’ the idea, which is exactly what HD Signs strives to do.
When thoughts turn to the future of the company, continuing growth is always kept in mind, whether that is employing more members of staff, entering new sectors of the market, or increasing the amount of services it can provide. Korab concludes: “It’s been our vision since 1995 to keep growing and growing.” It is this mentality that is sure to keep HD Signs reeling in big contracts and growing its team.
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