Creative Sign Company

What Creative Sign Company does

Creative Sign Company, Inc. is a privately held custom sign manufacturer and design firm headquartered in De Pere, Wisconsin, founded in 1985 by Todd Thomas, who continues as owner. The company provides end-to-end signage services including design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance for interior signs, exterior signs, vehicle graphics and wraps, ADA-compliant signage, electronic message centers, and print materials. Its customer base is segmented across healthcare facilities, education, faith-based organizations, housing and real estate, senior living, civic and government, vehicle fleets, and gas stations/c-stores, with primary geographic concentration in Wisconsin and national reach via ADA shipping and travel-capable installation crews.

The company's operations are anchored by an in-house fabrication facility equipped with channel letter production systems (SDS Channel Bender SXP), large-format digital printing (Canon Colorado 1650 with Gel Ink Technology, Colex laminator, Summa plotter), CNC routing (MultiCam MG Series 7'x12' vacuum table and a 3D router), paint booths with Akzo Nobel and Matthews paint systems, ADA manufacturing equipment (Quest 2448 Router Engraver with Automatic Brailling, Trotec Speedy 100 CO2 laser), and an installation fleet including three boom trucks, a crane truck, a box truck, a mini excavator, and an 85' install truck. Creative Sign is an authorized Watchfire Signs dealer for Electronic Message Centers and employs 3M Certified installers for vehicle wraps and graphics.

Revenue is generated primarily through project-based custom sign manufacturing with quote-based pricing and free estimates, supplemented by recurring service and repair revenue (48-hour standard turnaround launched May 2026), subscription-based EMC and readerboard rentals, LED conversion and retrofit services, and print materials sales. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales with sign consultants conducting onsite consultations and needs assessments, inside sales coordination for service and rental requests, and content marketing through project galleries, social media, and industry award recognition. The company is privately held with no disclosed parent company, institutional investors, or external funding rounds.

Name

Creative Sign Company

Legal name

Creative Sign Company Inc.

Website

https://creativesigncompany.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Creative Sign Company is a privately held custom sign manufacturer founded in 1985 in De Pere, Wisconsin, providing design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance of interior, exterior, vehicle, ADA, and electronic signage for businesses across Wisconsin and nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Sign Manufacturing and Commercial Signage

NAICS

Sign Manufacturing (33995), Sign Manufacturing (339950), Graphic Design Services (541430), Graphic Design Services (54143), Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850), Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (54185)

SIC

Commercial Printing (2750), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Wayfinding, Signage & Environmental Graphic Design (BPAHAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG)

Keywords

• Custom sign manufacturing
• Commercial signage design
• Vehicle wraps graphics
• ADA compliant signage
• Electronic message centers

Headquarters

HQ city

De Pere

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Sign Manufacturing: Design, fabrication, and installation of custom interior signs, exterior signs, vehicle graphics, and print materials. One-time project-based revenue from signage programs including ADA signage, wayfinding, channel letters, monument signs, pylon signs, wall signs, and more.
2. Sign Service & Repair: Ongoing maintenance and repair services including LED conversions, neon repair, cleaning, refacing, and complete sign restoration. 48-hour standard turnaround for service requests.
3. Message Center Rental: Rental of electronic message centers and manual readerboards on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Electronic Message Center rental includes 10 complimentary slides and trailer with hitch.
4. LED Conversions & Retrofits: Upgrade services for existing signs from fluorescent, neon, or older LED to modern energy-efficient LED lighting solutions.
5. Print Materials: Business cards, brochures, flyers, postcards, banners, trade show displays, and other printed marketing materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Creative Sign Company is a full-service custom sign manufacturer and design firm that designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains commercial signage for businesses throughout Wisconsin and nationwide. Its portfolio spans interior signs, exterior signs (monuments, pylons, channel letters, wall signs), vehicle wraps and graphics, ADA-compliant signage, electronic message centers, printed marketing materials, and ancillary products such as protective shields. The company also rents electronic message centers and offers ongoing sign service, repair, and LED conversion services.

Product overview

Creative Sign Company is a custom sign manufacturing and design company offering comprehensive signage solutions. The portfolio includes interior signage (letters, wall displays, murals, ADA-compliant signs, wayfinding), exterior signage (pylon signs, monument signs, channel letters, wall signs, awnings), vehicle graphics and wraps, and print materials (banners, tradeshow displays, business cards). Core services encompass design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance/repair. The company also offers electronic message center rentals and LED conversion services. Key product categories span from traditional sign types like neon and monument signs to modern solutions including digital displays, vehicle wraps, and ADA-compliant systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Interior Signs
• Exterior Signs
• Vehicle Graphics and Wraps Full and partial vehicle wraps, graphics and pinstriping, fleet graphics, boat graphics, trailer/semi/bus graphics, food truck graphics, and specialty vinyl applications for commercial vehicles.
• Print Materials Printed marketing materials including vinyl banners, retractable banners, yard signs, site and real estate signs, tradeshow displays, printed canvases, business cards, brochures, postcards, flyers, envelopes, and letterheads.
• Channel Letters Custom-fabricated channel letters for building exteriors in various styles including face lit, back lit, and color-changing LED options.
• ADA Compliant Signage ADA-compliant interior signage designed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility laws and regulations, available in photopolymer, tactile and braille, and raised direct print construction methods.
• Electronic Message Centers (EMC) Dynamic electronic displays featuring Watchfire LED message centers that allow seamless wireless content changes for businesses.
• Electronic Message Center and Manual Readerboard Rental Rental of double-sided full color electronic message centers and illuminated manual readerboards on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. EMC rentals include 10 complimentary slides and a trailer with hitch, with content pre-programmed prior to pickup.
• Sign Service and Repair Ongoing sign service and repair including sign cleaning, repainting, brightness restoration, fixing non-lit signs, and general maintenance with a 48-hour standard service turnaround.
• LED Conversion and Retrofitting Energy-efficient LED replacement for outdated fluorescent-lit cabinet signs and gas station conversions, with lower maintenance costs.
• Logo Design and Company Branding Professional logo design and branding guidance for businesses establishing or updating their visual identity.
• Cashier Shields Clear acrylic protective barriers for POS and cashier counters, customizable in shapes, sizes, and bends to provide separation between customers and essential workers.
• Pathogen Shield Boxes Clear protective shield boxes designed to provide pathogen protection during health emergencies for businesses requiring protective barriers.
• Neon and Faux Neon Signs Traditional neon signs with vintage aesthetic and faux neon alternatives offering more durability for commercial and decorative applications.
• Gas Station Conversions Professional gas station sign conversion services including canopy, pump, fuel pricing signs, and LED upgrades for convenience stores.

Quantifiable outcome

• 48-hour standard turnaround for sign service and repair
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Watchfire SignscoreTechnology or IntegrationWatchfire Signs is Creative Sign's primary supplier for Electronic Message Centers (EMCs). Creative Sign is an authorized Watchfire dealer offering sales, installation, and service of Watchfire LED signs. Watchfire products are featured prominently across Creative Sign's portfolio, winning multiple Watchfire sign awards. The partnership enables Creative Sign to offer dynamic electronic signage with user-friendly software to customers.
• 3McoreTechnology or IntegrationCreative Sign employs 3M Certified vinyl installers for vehicle wraps and graphics installation. The certification ensures quality installation of 3M products including premium cast vinyl for boat graphics that withstand waves and sun exposure. 3M Certified installers professionally install vehicle wraps, graphics, and pinstriping.
• Wisconsin Sign Association (WSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative Sign is an active member of the Wisconsin Sign Association, participating annually in WSA Design Awards competitions. The company has won 33 WSA Design Awards since 2015. Multiple team members serve on WSA committees including the Young Professionals group and Board of Directors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SpeedPro Imaging: SpeedPro Imaging is a national network of large-format printing studios producing vehicle wraps, banners, trade show graphics, and wall murals. Comparable on large-format and vehicle-graphics capabilities that overlap Creative Sign's wraps and print business, though narrower in fabrication of custom built-up and electrical signage.
• Signs By Tomorrow: Signs By Tomorrow is a franchise system of custom sign centers specializing in business signs, banners, vehicle graphics, and ADA signage for local businesses. Closely aligned with Creative Sign's breadth of categories and consultative selling process, making it a directly comparable mid-market competitor.
• Sign-A-Rama: Sign-A-Rama is an international sign franchise offering custom signage, vehicle wraps, banners, and digital signs through independently owned stores. Comparable scope of services (design, fabrication, installation of interior/exterior signs and vehicle graphics) and same small-business and mid-market customer profile as Creative Sign.
• Poblocki Sign Company: Poblocki is a regional Midwest sign manufacturer with full-service design, fabrication, and installation capabilities covering exterior, interior, and architectural signage. Highly comparable regional peer that competes for the same Wisconsin and Upper Midwest enterprise and institutional signage programs (schools, healthcare, corporate).
• FASTSIGNS: FASTSIGNS is the largest franchised sign and visual graphics company in North America, offering custom signs, banners, vehicle graphics, and ADA signage produced through a franchise network of local centers. Highly comparable to Creative Sign on the sign category mix (interior, exterior, vehicle, ADA) and direct competitor in any Wisconsin market FASTSIGNS enters, although delivered via franchise rather than vertically integrated manufacturing.
• Image360 (Alliance Franchise Brands network): Image360 is a national network of locally owned sign and graphics centers providing custom signs, vehicle wraps, and marketing graphics under one brand. Direct competitor with overlapping product mix (exterior, interior, ADA, vehicle graphics) and similar consultative sales model; competes for the same Wisconsin mid-market and small enterprise customers.

Broad incumbents

• YESCO (Young Electric Sign Company): YESCO is a large, established Western U.S. sign company with full in-house design, fabrication, and installation of monumental and architectural signs, including neon and EMC. Broad incumbent that competes for larger regional and national accounts that Creative Sign only accesses today via shipping, but full-service product mix is otherwise comparable.

Regional players

• Signarama / SIGNARAMA DE PERE (regional franchisee): Independent Signarama franchisees operate in Wisconsin and surrounding states, providing the same suite of custom signs, vehicle wraps, and ADA signage. They are local/regional competitors to Creative Sign's Wisconsin territory and overlap directly on customer segments like retail, schools, and small businesses.
• Icon Identity Solutions: Icon Identity Solutions is a Midwest-based commercial signage company offering design, fabrication, installation, and ADA signage services primarily in Illinois, Indiana, and surrounding states. Comparable full-service regional player to Creative Sign in adjacent geography with overlapping enterprise and institutional customer mix.

Others

• Watchfire Signs: Watchfire Signs is a leading manufacturer of electronic message centers and LED signs, and is Creative Sign's primary EMC technology partner. They are an enabling supplier/ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, since Watchfire does not provide in-house design, fabrication, or installation services to end customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 Creative Sign Company