When the opportunity presented itself, SignPro owners Jennifer Furcall and Craig McCahon did not hesitate to join forces to offer new professional sign solutions to customers in the Powell River area.
After following her lifelong creative and artistic passion by gaining several years of experience in the sign industry, Jennifer started J&D Signs with her fiancé Dave Geertsma one year ago. Expanding the business is a natural progression, she says.
“We wanted to take it up another level and Craig was looking to start something of his own at the same time, so we collaborated and started something together,” says Jennifer, who was born and raised in Montreal and moved to Powell River 16 years ago. “We have a brand new name to reflect our partnership; J&D Signs has morphed into SignPro.”
Craig was born and raised in Powell River and brings 33 years of industry experience to the business. After graduation, he moved to Australia, where he gained his apprenticeship, became a tradesperson and managed his own sign business in Cairns for 27 years.
Craig says offering creative solutions is important to help guide business and corporate clients, as well as organizations and individuals, toward their goals.
“We help create the ideas for a lot of customers, rather than just asking what they want; sometimes they don't know,” says Craig. “We work with them to construct a whole new image.”
SignPro creates and manufactures many types of signs for installation on a variety of surfaces.
“We can do anything from wall décor for a homeowner to corporate wallpapers, one-way window vision, safety signs for mills and mines, logos on vehicles and storefronts or boat decals and bumper stickers,” says Jennifer. “We come up with concepts and ideas, then design and do layouts, or modernize, refresh and upgrade old signage.”
Craig says signs can be designed, created and installed on any surface for any purpose. Specialties include raised lettering, 3D-backlit lettering and light boxes.
“If a customer wants it, we'll do it,” says Craig, who was formally trained using brushes, a skill that can be used for handwriting on buildings. Subtlety is a factor when designing and choosing words for a sign, he adds.
“When you’re doing a vehicle or a building, you have to get the message across in a few words because people are reading it at a glance,” he says. “Less is more in those cases.”
While Jennifer and Craig will run the business, Dave, a Red Seal-certified hoisting engineer, will continue to be involved when his skills are called upon, especially when complicated installations are requested.
“For any installs where we need cranes, forklifts or boom lifts, Dave is fully ticketed to do all that,” says Craig, whose wife Kate will also lend a hand when needed.
“Kate worked with me for five years in the sign business and she comes from a commercial insurance background,” says Craig.
Jennifer says she is excited about the new business venture the two couples are embarking on and the opportunity it provides to further expand services for corporate clients, groups and individuals.
“We’re really passionate about what we do and both of us love this industry,” says Jennifer. “Anyone with questions can come to us and we’ll take care of them.”
SignPro is open from 9 am-5 pm Monday to Friday at 4710 Bowness Avenue.
For more information:
• signprobc.com
• 604.578.0510
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
