6 Issue 249 - October / November 2023 www.signlink.co.uk INDUSTRY / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine Sam Armstrong makes it happen in the US Sam Armstrong, a well-known figure in the signage industry thanks to her training workshops and former role as ISA-UK president, has continued to make strides in the signage community. After previous discussions with the International Sign Association (ISA) in the US, Armstrong spoke to ISA president and chief executive officer Lori Anderson to organise taking Make it Happen to the states. Make it Happen is a consultancy and training company set up by Armstrong to use her experience in the signage industry to train and advise signage companies and their workers in the UK and further afield. Due to its unique offering, Armstrong saw a lot of requests to take the workshops international which led to her quickly booking her flights to the ISA International Sign Expo 2023 in Las Vegas where she sold out all three Signage Bootcamp workshops. The sessions received fantastic feedback with many attendees appreciating how signage training like Make it Happen did not exist in America. Armstrong described the reception as “overwhelming” as many praised her charisma, style, and of course ‘her accent’. Following the workshops Armstrong continued to receive positive feedback at the ISA Rocks afterparty where many attendees asked when Make it Happen was returning and how they could find out more. Armstrong described it as an incredible moment in her career which allowed her to reflect on what makes her workshops fun and engaging. Make it Happen will be returning to the States this autumn with its Illuminated Bootcamp and On the Frontline workshops at the SSSA Conference and Expo in Orlando on September 21st, 2023. Armstrong has received great recognition for her work in the industry at The Sign Awards earlier in the year, where she won the Industry Champion award. Recently Make it Happen has also launched a new website with the ability to book online, plus Armstrong has appeared on the first episode of The Printerviews podcast by Colin Sinclair McDermott. Sam Armstrong has over 20 years of experience in the sign and print industry Updates revealed for SignPlot software Developers of the SignPlot sign face and sign structure design software have announced a series of updates for the solution. Included in the latest edition of SignPlot are all the new signs required for the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions amendment for Wales, which recently came into effect. Beginning from September 17th, the default speed limit in urban areas in Wales is now set at 20mph. In updating its offering, SignPlot says it is the first system to cater for this change. SignPlot also says it is the first software to include the new Welsh dragon plate as a vector graphic symbol accurate enough for signs manufacture. This symbol is based on the winning design in a competition for school children. Simon Morgan, chairman of Buchanan Computing and original author of SignPlot, comments: “It has been a pleasure to work with the Welsh government and to assist with the process to select the winning child’s artwork. “Using SignPlot enabled the graphics for the Statutory Instrument to be produced quickly and accurately, as we had done for the TSRGD amendment for Scotland last year.” Other enhancements to SignPlot include structures for ‘back-to-back’ signs, while SignLoad, the built-in post and foundation design software, has been upgraded with new structural components from a number of major suppliers. The latest version of SignPlot includes new signs for use on Welsh roads FaberExposize UK has announced the appointment of Claire Taylforth to the new position of operations director. Taylforth joined FaberExposize UK as marketing manager in 2014 when the business was known solely as Northern Flags. Following her promotion, Taylforth says she is looking forward to playing a key role in the company’s expansion plans moving forward. Taylforth says: “I have loved the way I have been given the opportunity to grow my career in the same way we do for all our team. When I joined, I really did not anticipate such a rapid change from running email campaigns and marketing initiatives to being responsible for moving the business into a new state-of-the-art factory; and then creating one of the most efficient, modern specialist wide-format printers in the UK. “Even now I am running a six-figure investment initiative to create a leading MIS system and I cannot wait to be involved in our 2024 expansion plans.” Managing director Iain Clasper, adds: “Claire played an essential role in helping me transform Northern Flags from one the UK’s leading custom flag specialists into one of the UK’s leading wide-format display printers working with many major international brands and leading sports and entertainment events and winning lots of awards in the process.” Claire Taylforth has been with the business since 2014 By David Osgar By Rob Fletcher By Rob Fletcher Taylforth handed new role
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