Henry M. Witt

What Henry M. Witt does

H.M. Witt & Co. (Henry M. Witt) is a Chicago-based custom signage manufacturer founded in 1894 and operated continuously by four generations of the Witt family. The company provides end-to-end signage services—consultation, design, permitting, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance—for enterprise clients, developers, designers, and architects across the United States, executing both single-location custom builds and multi-location franchise programs at national scale. Operations are anchored at a nearly 100,000-square-foot Chicago manufacturing facility, with access to nearly 250,000 square feet of national capacity through a union labor partner network (members of the International Sign Association).

Its product portfolio spans eleven core categories: electric signs (LED, fluorescent, incandescent, halogen, electronic message units), flat signs, window and door signage, fabricated logos and letters, plaques, banners, awnings, ADA-compliant signage, large format digital printing, carved and sandblasted signs, and blade signs. A separate e-commerce platform (adasigns.hmwitt.com) sells standardized ADA-compliant room, stairwell, evacuation, and directory signage with a 2-day turnaround option. Manufacturing combines traditional craftsmanship (hand lettering, sandblasting, carving, gilding) with modern digital printing, photopolymer fabrication, and LED illumination.

The business operates a project-based, quote-driven revenue model with no publicly disclosed pricing. National franchise programs such as Coach's 200+ store branding conversion are contracted as multi-year engagements, while standardized ADA products transacted through e-commerce provide a transactional counterweight. Distribution runs principally through direct enterprise field sales supplemented by the ADA e-commerce storefront, and marketing relies on the company website and project portfolio showcases. The company uses union labor, is privately held under family ownership, has no institutional or private equity sponsorship on record, and does not publicly disclose revenue or employee count beyond an 11–50 band.

Name

Henry M. Witt

Legal name

H.M. Witt & Co.

Website

https://hmwitt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

H.M. Witt & Co. is a fourth-generation, Chicago-based custom sign manufacturer founded in 1894, serving enterprise clients nationwide with end-to-end signage—from design through installation—and a dedicated ADA-compliant e-commerce platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Signage Manufacturing

NAICS

Sign Manufacturing (33995)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays) (MPAJALAD)

Keywords

• Custom sign manufacturing
• ADA compliant signage
• Commercial electric signs
• Architectural signage fabrication
• National signage installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Sign Manufacturing and Installation: Full-service custom signage solutions including design, permitting, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. Projects range from individual signs to large-scale national programs for franchises and multi-location businesses.
2. ADA Sign Products: Pre-configured and custom ADA-compliant signage products sold through the company's dedicated ADA Signs e-commerce platform, with 2-day turnaround available

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

H.M. Witt & Co. is a custom sign manufacturing and installation company that designs, permits, fabricates, installs, and maintains commercial signage including electric signs, ADA-compliant signage, flat signs, plaques, banners, awnings, logos and letters, large format digital prints, carved and sandblasted signs, and blade signs. The firm serves enterprise customers with national project capabilities from its Chicago manufacturing base, supplemented by a dedicated ADA-compliant e-commerce storefront.

Product overview

H.M. Witt & Co. is a custom sign manufacturing company founded in 1894, offering a comprehensive portfolio of signage products and services. The company operates two primary product lines: a general signage division covering Electric Signs, Flat Signs, Window & Door Signs, Logos & Letters, Plaques, Banners, Awnings, Large Format Digital Printing, Carved and Sandblasted, and Blade Signs; and a dedicated ADA signage e-commerce platform (adasigns.hmwitt.com) specializing in Americans with Disabilities Act compliant products including room identification signs, restroom signs, stairwell signs, evacuation signs, elevator signs, and directory signs. The company provides end-to-end services including consultation, design, permitting, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, with nearly 100,000 square feet of Midwest manufacturing space and access to 250,000 square feet nationally. The ADA signage platform offers online ordering with customization options including various materials, colors, sizes, and mountings, with a 2-day turnaround on standard products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HMWitt ADA Signs: A dedicated ADA sign ordering platform offering compliant signage for accessible buildings including room identification, restroom signs, elevator signs, and wayfinding solutions.

Products and services

• Electric Signs Illuminated signs for interior or exterior use, customized for building exteriors, window displays, walls, and other locations; available with LED, fluorescent, incandescent, halogen, and electronic message unit illumination options.
• Flat Signs Rigid non-illuminated signage constructed from medium density overlay (MDO), styrene, aluminum, gatorboard, and alumicore for effective display of information on interior or exterior applications.
• Window and Door Signs Custom window and door signage using gold leaf lettering, vinyl, cast, and cut-out letters to meet specific project requirements and storefront identities.
• Logos and Letters Custom logo and letter displays for interior and exterior identification, using metals, painted acrylics, and dimensional fabrication for brand enhancement.
• Plaques Permanent identification and information displays available as fabricated, etched, engraved, and cast plaques for individuals, groups, or locations.
• Banners Custom high-quality banners for in-store promotion or large building installation, printed on vinyl or mesh material depending on application requirements.
• Awnings Custom storefront awnings for brand awareness, available in vinyl, metal, and canvas materials with optional backlighting, designed to match color and graphic requirements.
• ADA-Compliant Signage Americans with Disabilities Act compliant signage including room identification, stair and restroom identification, directional, regulatory, and informational signs, offered with consultation, design, manufacture, and installation in zinc and photopolymer material options.
• Large Format Digital Printing Large format digitally printed graphics for wall or window signs and banners, leveraging modern printing technology for crisp, eye-catching signage at affordable cost.
• Carved and Sandblasted Signs Traditional wooden signs and sandblasted polyurethane signs combining hand-lettered, carved, and gilded techniques with modern manufacturing, including MDO board and barricade structures with weather-resistant digital graphics.
• Blade Signs Double-sided signs projecting from walls or facades, available illuminated or non-illuminated, designed to draw attention from both directions for storefronts and buildings.
• ADA Office Directory Slide-In Signs ADA-compliant slide-in sign system for office directories with interchangeable paper inserts, featuring raised room numbers, Grade 2 Braille, and tactile characters for accessibility.
• ADA Suite Identification Signs ADA-compliant suite identification signs with tactile characters and Grade 2 Braille for room and office identification in medical offices, apartments, and commercial spaces.
• ADA Office Identification Signs ADA-compliant office identification signs featuring raised tactile lettering, Braille, and high-contrast visuals for federal compliance and accessibility support in office environments.
• ADA Evacuation Signs Accessibility-compliant safety signs guiding occupants during emergencies, including ADA Emergency Exit, Exit Maps, Exit Stairs, and Handicap Accessible Evacuation signs.
• Stairwell ADA Signs Accessibility-compliant stairwell identification signs including Entrance Stairs, Evacuation Directions, Floor signs, Floors Served, and Stairwell Exit signs with tactile text and Braille.

Named customers16 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tube Art Group: Pacific Northwest full-service custom sign, exhibit, and architectural fabrication company serving regional and national brands. Comparable in combining traditional craftsmanship with modern manufacturing for enterprise clients.
• Image National: Pacific Northwest custom sign manufacturer providing design, fabrication, and installation of architectural, ADA, and electric signage. Similar mid-sized, full-service operating model targeting enterprise and government clients across multiple states.
• Allen Industries: North Carolina-based sign and visual solutions company serving national retail, hospitality, and petroleum clients with design, fabrication, and installation services. Comparable in custom manufacturing focus and enterprise customer profile, with multi-location program execution.
• National Signs: Texas-based national sign manufacturer specializing in custom exterior and interior signage, channel letters, and monument signs for retail, restaurant, and commercial real estate clients. Overlapping product set and national project delivery model.
• Poblocki Sign Company: Milwaukee-based custom sign manufacturer founded in 1932, offering similar end-to-end design, fabrication, and installation services to enterprise, retail, and real estate clients across the Midwest and nationally. Comparable size, customer mix, and union-shop heritage make it the closest analog to H.M. Witt.
• Federal Heath Sign Company: National full-service sign manufacturer founded in 1901, providing design, fabrication, and installation of architectural, electric, and ADA signage to retail, hospitality, and government clients. Long-standing multi-location enterprise work and broad product portfolio closely parallel Witt's offering.
• Jaeger Signs: Long-established custom sign manufacturer serving enterprise, retail, and institutional clients with architectural, electric, and ADA signage. Comparable in custom manufacturing heritage and project-based delivery model.
• SignZone / Identity FX: National custom signage and visual branding provider offering design, manufacturing, and installation of architectural, ADA, and branded environment signage. Comparable in product breadth and enterprise customer targeting.

Broad incumbents

• YESCO (Young Electric Sign Company): One of the largest sign manufacturers in North America, founded in 1920, producing electric signs, channel letters, monuments, and digital displays nationwide. Operates as a broad incumbent with significantly greater scale and geographic reach than H.M. Witt, but with overlapping custom sign capabilities.

Emerging players

• ASI (Architectural Signs Inc.) / Compass Signs: Architectural sign manufacturer focused on wayfinding, ADA, and branded interior signage for commercial, healthcare, and education clients. Partial overlap with Witt's architectural and ADA signage offerings, particularly in standardized product categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HM-Witt-Co-Signs-117965518295465

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Henry M. Witt