We will have a monthly story series now called "Meet Our Neighbor" which is an introduction of Business in the local area where I operate my two family businesses with my husband Richard, "Gem Craft Boutique" http://www.gemcraftboutique.com/ & "Extravagant Realty" www.ExtravagantRealty.com located in Glen Head, NY
"Meet Our Neighbor"
A+ Graphics & Signs of Glen Head has been around the block. The Railroad Avenue graphics and sign company, in business for 14 years, is owned by Bill Manfredonia, who lives locally with his family less than a mile from his popular shop and showroom. Manfredonia is also a Board of Directors Member for the Glen Head/Glenwood Business Association.
Bill has an impressive background in engineering which parlayed beautifully into the sign industry. “I started as an electro-mechanical engineer but always had a passion for art,” says Bill. “The sign industry is one of the few places you can use both skills.”
Like many businesses—in Glen Head, regionally and nationally—the sign industry has changed over the last decade and a half. How so? In a word: Speed. “People want everything ASAP,” says Bill. Fortunately, A+ Graphics & Signs has evolved with the changing times by specializing in digital printing, the biggest trend in the industry right now. “With digital printing, we can meet the demand for speedy service most of the time,” says Bill. “We digitally produce large format (54 inch) 4-color printing on banners, decals, vehicles, windows, magnets and more.”
Still, traditional types of printing continue to dictate the majority of his business. “Before digital, our biggest request was carved gold leaf signs, which still accounts for 60 percent of our business,” says Bill.
The business climate, of course, continues to evolve. In a word: Internet. “People shop on the Internet for signs but are rarely happy because they don’t get the one-on-one attention that we pride ourselves on at A+ Graphics and Signs,” Bill explains. “We work with our clients through every stage of the process, from logo design to installation.” Another bonus to working with A+ Graphics: an extensive showroom with lots of samples and an experienced staff with diverse backgrounds in art and advertising.
In a tight-knit business community like Glen Head, it helps that neighboring businesses have each other’s backs. “The more businesses we bring to the community the more potential customers we all have,” says Bill. “The best help we receive is local word of mouth recommendations and grassroots advertising.”
“It was so helpful working with A+ signs when opening our two new businesses in Glen Head [Gem Craft Boutique and Extravagant Realty] in the span of a month,” says Deborah Orgel-Gordon, owner of Gem Craft. “A+ was one-stop shopping for our logo designs and signs. They even provided graphic design for our business cards. The staff was easy to work with and gave us much-appreciated creative feedback during a very hectic time.”
Says Bill of A+: “The folks at Gem Craft and Extravagant are not only operating businesses in the area but have quickly become contributing members of our community.”
And, that’s a good sign.
You can reach A+ Graphics & Signs, Inc. at 516-676-5683 or at their website, www.signs11545.com. Or, stop in and check out the showroom at 4 Railroad Avenue in Glen Head.
