Sydney Sutterfield grew up in the sign-making business, but that didn’t mean she had planned to be part of it. Daughter of founder Jim Sutterfield, Sydney was around the shop a lot as a young girl, but she said she didn’t understand much about the family business.
“I didn’t have any concept of what I was a part of as a child,” she shared, now one of the Signs Plus project managers. “When I was a teenager I used to make fun of my dad for stopping and having to look at every new sign, but now I do the same thing.”
Signs Plus is a family business beyond blood relationships. Many people on their staff of 30 have worked together for over a decade. Paul Lachapelle, director of operations, credits those tight-knit relationships and extensive experience with their continued success.
“There are shops our size all over the country,” said Lachapelle. “But I think we’re the best because of our people. Most of us have worked together for years. Our core group has been here for more than 15 years. We have very little turnover, and it makes a big impact on the quality of our work.” And he would know. As an industry veteran himself, Lachapelle has been making signs for over 30 years.
“I’ve been doing this work for 34 years,” shared Lachapelle. “When I started I was the ‘sweep the floor kid’ in the shop.” He rapidly moved through the ranks, gaining experience in everything from fabrication to installation. Even though each person working at Signs Plus has a specialty, everyone on the production crew has experience doing many parts of a job, which gives them an edge when it comes to project efficiency.
“A guy that’s been an installer knows how to build signs better because he knows how it’s going to go up,” he said. “We build things that will install very efficiently so assembly in the field is a lot easier and faster.”
Their unique combination of old and new skills means Signs Plus is able to offer a wide range of products, from hand-lettered sandwich boards with gold leaf to LED-bedazzled grocery store signs.
“We build such a huge array of products,” shared Lachapelle. “We make everything from little name tags to massive signs on the side of the highway with a full-color message board. I can’t think of any type of company or industry with 30 employees that can offer that many products. It’s quite a feat, really.”
The experience and expertise at Signs Plus means customers get a higher-quality product, built to last.
“We’re not the cheapest company,” said Lachapelle. “We may cost a little bit more, but it’s well worth it because there’s a lot of thought that goes into the products we make so they’ll last a long time.” Every sign that goes up around town is a representation of their work, and they take that very seriously. They’re building things they want to stand the test of time.
“It’s a passion and a pride in what we do. We take pride in our work,” said Sydney. Signs Plus is available for sign projects of all sizes in Washington and beyond. “We go everywhere,” said Lachapelle. “We’ve got a crew right now in Spokane and we go to Seattle, of course. Anything beyond Washington State we crate and ship it and hire a contractor to install.”
Their unique blend of new technology with old-fashioned craftsmanship means customers get the best of both worlds, taking advantage of new materials and top-notch methodology. Signs Plus is also very environmentally conscious, focusing not just on recycling project waste, but pre-cycling with efficient use of materials to prevent waste to begin with. They also invite people to pick up scrap materials for reuse in other projects.
“It’s cool to see people come pick up scrap wood for their own projects,” shared Lachapelle. “I love when that stuff can turn into something new.”
Signs have special historical relevance beyond their practicality. The recent Herald Building sign renovation garnered Signs Plus a lot of attention, largely because the sign itself is both iconic and historic. Signs are part of our collective history.
“That’s one of the things I love that makes me get out of bed everyday,” shared Lachapelle. “We’re contributing to that. I love seeing the tangible fruit of my labor at the end of the day. We make something and then it’s parked on the side of the road like a sculpture. How many artists get to park their work on the side of the road for everyone to see?”
There’s a deep pride and passion for their work at Signs Plus. They take the craft of sign making as seriously as the relationships they build with their clients.
“We’re blending the artistic world with the practical,” said Sydney. “You have an idea, you build something, and then you see it. I drive by things all the time and get to say, ‘We did that.’”
Signs Plus
766 Marine Dr. Bellingham, WA 98225
360-671-7165
sales@signsplusnw.com
www.signsplusnw.com
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