What Wagner Electric Sign does

Wagner Electric Sign Co. is a third-generation, family-owned full-service electrical sign manufacturer headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, operating since 1954 from a single facility on West Ridge Road with an 11-50 employee range. The company designs, fabricates, installs, repairs, and maintains custom electronic signage — including LED message centers and electronic message centers, neon signage produced on a EuroCom pumping station, illuminated and unlit signs, freestanding and monument signs, architectural and corporate identity signs, and sports facility signage — and provides nationwide historical marquee restoration and replication for theatres, opera houses, and concert halls. The technical stack centers on proprietary Impression Digital Signage cloud software bundled with LED hardware for the 5-year warranty period, with player applications supporting Android, Linux, Windows, MAC, and Amazon Fire Stick, QR code integration, and remote content management. The company also operates a EuroCom neon pumping station for in-house neon production and holds one of only 29 U.S. UL Listings with field-inspector contracting capability, reinforcing safety and code-compliance positioning.

The business model is project-based and predominantly one-time/license in nature: small window neon signs price at $200-$500, large intricate neon at several thousand dollars, and theatre marquee restoration at tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on size, difficulty, and technology. Recurring revenue is anchored by the Impression software subscription bundled with hardware, and by ongoing repair, maintenance, and replacement parts sales (ballasts, neon transformers, LED components) accessible via phone. The go-to-market is sales-led through an in-house sales team: regional franchise customer service across Ohio and bordering states, national direct sales for theatre marquee restorations across the United States, and a DIY parts channel for self-serve buyers. Customer segments are diverse — local/regional businesses, franchises, sports facilities, corporate and institutional clients (banks, hospitals, schools), theatres and performing arts venues, and nonprofits — with named accounts spanning Twitter HQ, Cedar Point, Smucker's, Buckeye Community Bank, Lorain County Community College, and historic venues such as the Capitol Theatre (Rome, NY) and the Saenger Theatre (New Orleans). Recent international recognition includes 1st Place (2020) and 2nd Place (2022) at the Signs of the Times design competition.

Name

Wagner Electric Sign

Legal name

Wagner Electric Sign Co.

Website

https://wagnersign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wagner Electric Sign Co. is a third-generation, family-owned full-service electrical sign manufacturer in Elyria, Ohio, fabricating, installing, and maintaining LED, neon, and historical marquee signage for regional businesses, franchise networks, and national theatre restoration projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Signage Manufacturing

NAICS

Sign Manufacturing (33995), Sign Manufacturing (339950), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Signage & Commercial Displays (HDACADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Lighting Fixture Installation (HSAOAFAM), Wayfinding, Signage & Environmental Graphic Design (BPAHAKAN)

Keywords

• Custom electrical signage
• LED electronic message centers
• Digital signage software
• Marquee restoration services
• Neon sign fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Elyria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Electrical Sign Manufacturing & Installation: Design, fabrication, and installation of custom electronic signs including LED message centers, neon signs, illuminated signs, and unlit signs. Project-based pricing with costs varying based on size, complexity, and technology used.
2. Digital Signage Software: Impression Digital Signage software included with LED sign purchases for length of hardware warranty (5 years). Additional players available for LCD TVs and displays.
3. Repair & Maintenance Services: Electrical signage repair and maintenance services for signs they manufactured and installed, as well as other companies' signs. Parts sales including ballasts, neon transformers, and LED sign parts.
4. Historical Marquee Restoration: Theatre marquee refurbishment, restoration, and replication services. Projects range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars based on customization level.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wagner Electric Sign Co. designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains custom electrical signs including LED message centers, neon signs, illuminated and unlit signs, freestanding/monument signs, and historical theatre marquee restorations. The company also offers its proprietary Impression Digital Signage software platform for content management on LED and LCD displays, plus supporting services such as permitting, design, repair, and LED retrofitting.

Product overview

Wagner Electric Sign Co. is a full-service electrical sign company offering a comprehensive portfolio spanning custom electronic signage, digital software, and traditional neon products. The core product lineup includes LED Signs/Electronic Message Centers, Marquee Signs (including historic restorations), Impression Digital Signage Software, Neon Signs, Architectural & Advertising Signs, Freestanding Signs, Sports Facility Signage, and Corporate Identity Signage. These are supported by add-on services including Design Services, Electrical Sign Installation, Repair & Maintenance Services, Marquee Refurbishment & Restoration, Permitting Services, and Sign Lighting/Retrofitting. The company operates from concept through installation and ongoing maintenance, providing digital sign players compatible with multiple operating systems (Android, Linux, Windows, MAC, Amazon Fire Stick) powered by their proprietary Impression Digital Signage software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Impression Digital Signage: Digital signage software platform for creating and deploying content to LED message centers and LCD displays. Includes QR code integration, playlist management, and supports multiple operating systems.

Products and services

• LED Signs / Electronic Message Centers Custom LED signs and electronic message centers with split screen capability, adjustable brightness and color, scheduling software, remote access for real-time editing, and compatibility with picture and video files. Sold to businesses needing high-visibility digital communications.
• Marquee Signs Historic marquee restoration, design, and replication services for theatres, opera houses, and concert halls with multiple lighting options including incandescent, fluorescent, LED, neon, and LED strip/tube. Projects range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Impression Digital Signage Software Cloud-based digital signage platform allowing users to create content once and deploy to multiple screens, with QR code integration, automatic resizing, weather components, playlist management, and remote accessibility. Supports Android, Linux, Windows, MAC, and Amazon Fire Stick players.
• Neon Signs Custom neon signage manufactured using a EuroCom Pumping station, designed to meet safety regulations and UL Listing standards for high voltage applications. Small window signs range from $200-$500; larger intricate neon signs cost several thousand dollars.
• Freestanding Signs Various freestanding sign types including monument signs, ground signs, directional signs, church signs, pole signs, pylon signs, hi-rise signs, and multi-tenant retail center signs.
• Architectural & Advertising Signs Custom architectural graphics for hospitals, technology firms, and shopping centers to convey professional brand expression and location information.
• Sports Facility Signage Comprehensive sports facility signage covering welcome signage, wayfinding, directional signs, branded fan experience elements, scoreboard integration, and sponsorship signage.
• Corporate Identity Signage Signage solutions for corporate headquarters to maintain brand visibility and help clients locate facilities.
• Electrical Sign Installation Services Professional installation services with multiple crews and a specialized fleet including 100-foot boom trucks, 93-foot double-man baskets with welders, 55-foot aerial ladder trucks, dump trucks, and lowboy trailers.
• Repair & Maintenance Services Electrical signage repair and maintenance services for signs Wagner manufactured as well as other companies' signs, with an IT department maintaining parts inventory for quick turnaround. Includes parts sales (ballasts, neon transformers, LED components) via phone at 800-553-6366.
• Marquee Refurbishment & Restoration Theatre, opera house, and concert hall marquee repair, restoration, and replication services performed nationwide with over 40 years of experience and hundreds of completed projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Digital signage reduces maintenance costs through energy efficiency and longevity compared to traditional neon

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YESCO (Young Electric Sign Company): Founded in 1920, YESCO is one of the largest and oldest electric sign manufacturers in the US, designing, fabricating, installing, and maintaining electric signs including LED message centers, neon, and large-format displays. Directly comparable to Wagner in core product mix, century-scale heritage, and historical/restoration project capabilities.
• FASTSIGNS: The largest franchised sign and graphics network in the world with 700+ locations, offering custom signs, digital signage, and visual marketing solutions. Comparable to Wagner in custom sign manufacturing and installation, though distributed via a franchise model rather than a single regional operator.
• Signarama: Global sign franchise with 300+ locations providing custom signs, banners, vehicle graphics, and digital signage for businesses. Directly comparable to Wagner on product offering and customer segments (SMBs, franchises, corporate), differing in franchise vs. direct ownership model.
• Poblocki Sign Company: Family-owned Midwest sign manufacturer headquartered in Wisconsin with a long history in electric sign design, fabrication, and installation for national brands, sports venues, and healthcare. Comparable to Wagner in regional family-owned structure, full-service capabilities, and marquee/exterior sign work.
• Tube Art Group: Pacific Northwest-based full-service sign company offering custom sign design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance including LED, neon, and digital signage. Comparable to Wagner in size, full-service in-house model, and electric/neon sign specialization.
• Allen Industries: National sign and architectural graphics company serving corporate, retail, sports, and healthcare customers with design, fabrication, and installation. Comparable to Wagner in serving enterprise accounts and stadiums/corporate identity, though with significantly broader geographic reach.
• Watchfire Signs: Manufacturer of LED signs, electronic message centers, and digital signage software for businesses, schools, and churches, headquartered in Danville, IL. Directly comparable to Wagner in LED message centers and digital signage products, with its own proprietary software platform (Ignite) similar to Wagner's Impression.
• Adco Signs: Regional sign manufacturer offering custom electric signs, channel letters, and digital signage solutions for businesses. Comparable to Wagner in custom sign manufacturing and regional commercial focus, though at a smaller scale.
• Federal Heath: National sign and branding solutions company providing design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance for retail, fuel, hospitality, and restaurant brands. Comparable to Wagner in franchise/multi-location national sign programs and full-service capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Daktronics: Publicly traded leader in large-format LED video displays, scoreboards, and digital signage for sports, transportation, and commercial applications. Broader incumbent with much larger scale and technology depth, overlapping with Wagner in LED message centers and commercial digital signage, but serving a fundamentally different (and much larger) customer set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WagnerElectricSign

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wagner Electric Sign