Sign Designs moves to Seventh Street

What he got was a growing building.

Hipple, owner of Sign Designs, acquired the building at 1720 W. Seventh St. in June. The building was formerly owned by Ramsour Distribution Co..

Hipple said part of the draw to the building was its history of serving as a hub for family business. The Seventh Street exposure and proximity to downtown were also a plus.

“It’s absolutely perfect for them,” said David Glenn, owner of the Glenn Group Real Estate.

“It’s great for John and it’s great for the city. He will make that building vibrant again.”

Hipple said the new building will accommodate his growing business.

“Everything now is very tightly fit,” he said. “We’ve needed more space for about two years.”

He expects to be in the new location “mid-to-late October.”

The current Sign Designs building, located at 1108 W. Fourth St. measures about 4,600 square feet, Hipple said. The new building is 14,200 square feet.

“Right now we’re doing a pretty extensive remodel,” Hipple said.

A conference room, an employee breakroom and extra restrooms are all added amenities absent from the current facility. The vinyl production area will be three times larger than the current facility, and separate areas are designated for the CNC mill, spray painting, assembly and fabrication. The facility also includes an indoor truck bay, so company trucks can be stored indoors. Hipple said the work area is built to increase efficiency of the workflow. The added space will also allow the company to focus on more projects at one time, and finish them more quickly.

Currently, Sign Designs has 11 employees. Hipple said he doesn’t plan on adding more immediately, but adding in the future will depend on the growth of the business.

“(The building) wouldn’t suit anyone’s needs, but it will sure suit ours,” Hipple said.

Sign Designs will retain the Fourth Street property, with plans to lease, he said.[[In-content Ad]]