By Vicki Newton
Now that municipal elections and the teachers’ strike are over, local sign producers are taking a breather after frenzied productions and counting their cash.
Eleanor Hawley of Hawley Signs in Gloucester, experienced a financial windfall during the last month.
Hawley Signs churned out more than 50,000 signs for municipal, hydro and school-board election candidates, and produced 2,000 signs for the teachers’ strike. Hawley says this year’s profit has made up for years when there weren’t any strikes or elections.
“An election, when it happens, is a big bonus because you can then have an excellent year. Of course we were lucky with having the federal election this year too,” Hawley says.
With nearly 30 years in the sign producing business, Hawley, 60, says she knows how to bring in clients.
“I’m a director on the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce so a lot of politicians come to our dinners, and of course I’ve known a lot of these politicians for years,” explains Hawley. “But, I also go to their political fund raisers, not all the time because it’s $125 a plate, but enough so I can make sure they’re aware I’m in the sign business.”
Recent clients include regional chair Bob Chiarelli, regional councillors Richard Cantin and Robert van den Ham, Nepean mayoral candidate Fred Ennis, Osgoode councillor Carol Parker and schoolboard candidates and hydro commissioners.
Hawley doubled her staff of three and had employees work overnight shifts to meet the election demand.
Lawn signs and picket signs are produced on a hand-fed silk-screening machine and cost between $1.25 and $3 each, depending on the size and quantity.
But, Hawley’s sign business wasn’t the only one cashing in during the election.
Levan Signs on Rideau Street also saw an increase in its sign production.
With four candidates as clients, including Ottawa councillor Inez Berg and Ottawa mayoral candidate Alexander Saikaley, Levan Signs had to hire additional staff to meet deadlines.
John Elliston, an employee at Levan Signs, said the business sold nearly 1,400 signs last month to candidates at $4 each. Last year during the same period a total of 1,100 signs were produced.
Elliston says there’s no need to canvass or recruit clients because people check out their prices and quality, and “usually come back.”
Levan Signs operates on a silk-screening machine as well as Plexiglas with vinyl lettering and spraying.
Elliston says when there isn’t an election or strike “to look forward to,” the business concentrates on selling signs to new businesses and replacing old signs.
While Levan Signs and Hawley Signs were lucky enough to see a boost in business, sign businesses in Centretown didn’t fare so well grabbing election candidates and striking teachers as many aren’t equipped with silk-screening machines.
Some businesses such as Quality Signs on Bank Street made only “a banner here and there” for candidates.
But, not all municipal candidates decided to have signs made. Ottawa councillor Elisabeth Arnold used old campaign signs rather than create new ones as they were still in good condition.
Hawley enjoys her job but says she was happy to see the election end.
“I’ve always said you have to love this business, and it’s people that make you love it. The secret is to be seen by these people year after year so they will remember you come election or strike time.”