The third special feature comes in the form of the Traditional Sign-Making Masterclass, where David Mearns of Signmode will educate attendees about some of the crafts that not only helped shaped the sign industry, but remain popular in today’s modern market. Visitors will view live demonstrations of crafts including signwriting, screen printing on a flat table and on walls, and both water and transfer leaf gilding. Visitors can also test their own skills at signwriting on white emulsion boards, with Mearns on hand to offer hints and tips. Added Value Swinging back to co-location with The Print Show and in addition to being able to browse the aisles of the sister show and speak with the many exhibitors in attendance – Agfa, swissQprint, Vivid Laminating Technologies, and Fujifilm to name but a few – visitors will be able to drop in on the Knowledge Zone. This year, organisers have once again lined up a diverse programme of speakers, covering the subjects important not only to print companies but all types of businesses within the graphic and marketing sectors. Stand-out topics include sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI), and entrepreneurship, with a host of leading names among the confirmed speakers. Meanwhile, outside the hall, The Sign Show has enlisted the help of Sam Armstrong and the hugely popular Make It Happen Signage Consultancy to host a series of specialist bootcamps throughout the event. The programme begins on the day before the show opens with a full-day Signage Bootcamp, covering a raft of information about flat cut, fabricated, and illuminated signage. Then, on each day of the event, Armstrong and the Make It Happen team will run half-day ‘Illuminated Bootcamp’, ‘Frontline Bootcamp’, and ‘First Drill’ sessions. Those keen to take part are urged to book ahead to avoid disappointment. Finally, the British Signs and Graphics Association (BSGA) will be running its own booth in the hall, with chairman Craig Brown leading a three-day live Sign Surgery throughout the event. “We see The Sign Show as a powerful tool for education and engagement within the industry,” Brown says, adding: “Events like this bring together the entire supply chain in one space. It’s an incredibly efficient way to absorb new ideas, meet potential collaborators, and stay on top of trends. I’ve always loved shows for the real conversations they enable. “You often get insights during a fiveminute chat on a stand that you wouldn’t get anywhere else. It’s also an opportunity to help businesses spot opportunities they might not realise are just around the corner.” Of course, this is just a small selection of what visitor can expect at the NEC this September. Exhibitors are fine-tuning their plans for the show and will be announcing more details of their stands in the weeks leading up to the event, while organisers will be adding more exhibitors to the already-impressive floorplan. But if there is one thing that is abundantly clear: The Sign Show is an event that sign-making companies and related businesses should make time for if they want to gain insight into new solutions and market trends. The event will give sign-makers and wide-format providers the only dedicated, large-scale networking opportunity in the UK, meaning that SignLink will see you there in September! 2025 PREVIEW The Sign Show 2025 will take place from September 23rd to 25th in Hall 3 of the NEC in Birmingham Factoid ▲Chris Edwards, owner and director at CVI Group, will be among the experts running the School of Wrap ▼Neon Creations will be running a series of tutorials and demonstrations at The Sign Show 40 email: editor@signlink.co.uk Issue 260 - August / September 2025 SignLink SignLinkMagazine printmonthly_signlink
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==