54
55
CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - MAY 2013
maintain a sign afterwards, and it also
means a more energy efficient product.
We recently completed a project
at UBC which used porcelain enamel
which is a fired-glass type signage.
We’ve been blessed to work on these
high quality projects—this is a niche
market but a growing market. We are
bringing leading edge technologies to
the Canadian market. Moreover, our
professional services are a huge value-
add for our clients.
Having an expert staff means that
we attract more business in the high-
quality range, who ultimately benefit
from our professional services as well.
Mitch
:
We have designers and
estimators who have been in the busi-
ness for 40 years. And we value our
employees very highly.
What are the next steps for the
company, and how do you stay com-
petitive as the industry grows?
Mitch
:
Digital printing has really
ballooned. Every two months there’s
a new digital printer that’s better than
the last one. But instead of us trying
to buy fancy new machines, we find a
supplier who has just bought the latest
so we can always provide our custom-
ers with the better and greener option.
We are always looking to offer the best
we can while staying competitive.
In terms of growth, we are plan-
ning to expand. We have just acquired
a manufacturing facility in Ontario, for
example.
Roland
:
Staying competitive is all
about keeping our word.
Steve
:
Yes—we don’t just do proj-
ects and then see them come to an end.
We keep that long-term relationship
with the customer.
Roland
:
We definitely do see the
future as more technologically chal-
lenging, so we will want to continue
to hire the right people, and adapt to
those challenges.
Mitch
:
We are not just in the signs
business, we know how to build and
recreate brands. We hope that our fu-
ture customers learn that.
Even though we have salespeople
who are selling illuminated signs like
they have for 25-35 years, (and those
still need to be sold), the growth of
the company will come from the large
institutional clients that will always re-
quire a professional custom manufac-
turer. We bring our custom solutions to
customers, work directly with them to
understand their needs, and stay in-
volved well after the sign is installed.
KNIGHT SIGNS
