Issue 248 - August / September 2023 4 ISSUE 248August / September 2023 email: news@signlink.co.uk Publishing director Page Tuck Sales director Chris Davies Lead contributor Rob Fletcher Contributors Brian Sims, Sam Roberts, Joe Arenella Contact Editorial: 0117 980 5040 Sales: 0117 960 3255 Production: 0117 980 5041 Accounts: 0117 980 5042 Find us online www.signlink.co.uk signlink signlink signlinkmagazine All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the prior consent of the publisher. The views expressed by contributors to SignLink magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or editorial team and Link Publishing Ltd. takes no responsibility for any errors that may have occurred. The publisher also accepts no responsibility for the advertising content, including any error, omission or inaccuracy therein. Calls may be recorded for training purposes. Link Publishing Ltd. retains the right to publish and re-publish any images or information sent to the publication. Link Publishing Ltd, Unit G, Link House, Britton Gardens, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1TF Editor Carys Evans carys@linkpublishing.co.uk Online editor David Osgar david@linkpublishing.co.uk Production Shaun Edwards shaun@linkpublishing.co.uk Sales Tim Hall tim@linkpublishing.co.uk Sales Luke Stoneham luke@linkpublishing.co.uk Accounts Kathryn Quinn kat@linkpublishing.co.uk Office therapist Skye MEET THE Team t: 0117 980 5040 e: carys@linkpublishing.co.uk @signlinkeditor EDITOR'S Note signlink signlink signlinkmagazine Hello and welcome to our August/September issue. We say this every year, but wow these months are flying by! The SignLink team has been lucky enough to be out and about, visiting the many amazing businesses, small and large, keeping things running smoothly with printed graphics, displays, point of sale, wayfinding signage, and more. In this jam-packed issue, we find out what went into the creation of a special wayfinding signage job by Carousel Lights for the Young V&A museum in London. This was a unique job brief led by children who wanted the space to have a joyful feel (P06). As businesses continue to navigate current industry challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, energy price hikes, and more, we have a positive news story as Ashby Trade Sign Supplies is once again passing on price reductions to its customers (P08). In other positive news, 25 jobs have been saved following the purchase of family-run Sygnet Group by Hollywood Monster (P10); a number of investments in new hardware have been made, signalling the continued growth of our industry (P14); and the sale of long-standing industry exhibition SDUK will see it co-locate with Printwear & Promotion LIVE! for the 2024 edition, receiving mixed views from the industry (P16). Over in our Specials section, we cover a range of topics from Sign Painting training and courses (P33), to how to best communicate with your customers to avoid costly mistakes or misunderstandings (P30). As always, we hope you enjoy this issue and please do get in touch with any news you have to share! Carys Business Guandong expands into digital textiles sector 08 GHOST SIGN CORNER: Hovis / R. Hogben In the UK, Hovis is the brand most frequently found on ghost signs. This was due to its strategy of having its name and slogan painted on the walls of bakeries that used its flour. These ‘privileges’ were a win-win for the bakery and the millers, each benefiting from their respective local and national reputations; the same can be seen on today’s newsagents, adorned with branding for newspaper and confectionery brands. In this case, the baker was Reginald Hogben, who was active here throughout the 1930s and 1940s. That more visible layer is now fading to reveal another beneath, with a different iteration of the Hovis logotype, perhaps painted for the former occupant, baker and confectioner Frank Smith. The presence of more than one ghost sign on a single wall is quite common, and these are called ‘palimpsests’, a term borrowed from the study of ancient manuscripts. Barden Road, Tonbridge, Kent Sam Roberts is the editor and publisher of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) Online: www.bl.ag and www.ghostsigns.co.uk Social Media: @betterletters (instagram) @ghostsigns (twitter)
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