I came across a UK post this week that’s gone viral for all the wrong reasons... and it really highlights a few important lessons for our industry. A restaurant owner proudly shared a photo of her new sign being installed. It was a big moment for her: taking over the family business, investing in her brand, and celebrating the craftsmanship behind a 23.75‑karat gold‑leafed sign. But the post backfired. Not because of the sign… but because the installers were photographed standing on the roof of their van. No access equipment. No fall protection. A clear breach of Working at Heights legislation... and the internet noticed. A few things stood out to me: 1. Clients do value quality when we communicate it well. We often tell ourselves that clients only buy on price. But here’s a client proudly talking about luxury materials and craftsmanship. If she’d been told proper access equipment was required, she likely would have paid for it. Instead, the unsafe installation has now overshadowed the quality of the work and damaged her brand moment. 2. We underestimate our own value. The sign itself was clearly a labour of love. Hand‑painted, gold‑leafed, crafted by skilled people. But when we don’t believe in the value we bring, we default to competing on price… and that’s when corners get cut. This company should have been competing on reputation and skill, not trying to shave costs on safety. 3. Safety is non‑negotiable AND the public is always watching. The comments weren’t just from sign companies. Construction workers, H&S professionals, and the general public all weighed in. Some defended the installers, but the reality is simple: When someone’s safety is put at risk to win a job, people should be outraged. Everyone deserves to go home safely after a hard day’s graft. Our industry is incredibly visual. People see how we work just as much as what we produce. This is why we must charge for our value, work safely, and uphold professional standards every single time.

I’ve just uploaded a free Installation Preparation Guide to the Classroom, and I wanted to share a bit of the “why” behind it. Across the industry, one of the biggest areas where sign companies unintentionally lose profit is during installations - not because the work is difficult, but because the installer didn’t have the right information before arriving on site. Missing details, unclear artwork, assumptions during fabrication, or clients not preparing the area… it all adds up to delays, rework, and unnecessary stress. I see this happening everywhere - from small shops to large teams - and it’s completely avoidable with the right prep. So I pulled together the most common gaps I see and turned them into a simple, practical guide you can use with any installer you work with. It’s not a rulebook. It’s not a lecture. It’s just a tool to help you protect your margins, reduce on‑site surprises, and deliver smoother installs. You’ll find it under Classroom → Installation Preparation Gude → download it, adapt it, and make it part of your workflow if it helps. And if you’ve got suggestions for what else would support you in this space, I’m all ears.