In more than 250 full-color photos, this book covers, in step-by-step format, the techniques used by the world's leading signmaking experts to fabricate the kinds of signs commercial signshops make every ...
Business has slowed for Avila Signs
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By Steve Aust
Many longstanding maxims exist, and many offer conflicting advice – anyone who cites “A new broom sweeps clean” may be promptly rejoined by “Old shoes fit best.” The message: There’s more than one way to live a productive, purposeful life. Although some go-getters might bristle at intentionally downsizing, signmakers who’ve forged a successful, 25-year career need not apologize for their life decisions.
For Robin and David McDonald, proprietors of Grover Beach, CA-based Avila Sign and Design, their careers started as a merger of sales and signmaking talents that grew into marriage. After years of having thrived in a highly competitive West Coast market, they’ve decided to smell the roses, become more selective with work they undertake, and retire within the next several years.
However, this transition doesn’t preclude adopting new techniques and methods to create unique, durable signage. And, their professional success demonstrates it’s quite possible, even helpful, to mix business and pleasure.
A stroke of luck
David maintained a lifelong interest in art and began his signmaking when a nearby married couple hired him in the late ’70s. He apprenticed there three years, and, after also working for a woodworking mill, his overriding passion chose signage. Also, he can credit his neighbor with, ahem, inspiring him to look for regular signshop work.
“He was a rough-and-tumble Harley guy, and the houses were very close together,” David recalled. “He was becoming irritated with the noise of hammering and spraypainting fumes, and the occasional stray hardware and material that ended up in his yard. He told me if he heard or smelled any more signmaking coming from my garage, he was going to kick my butt. I got the message.”
Concurrently, Robin had just bought Avila Signs from its namesake owner, Ricardo, who was retiring. Shortly after the transaction, David walked through the door, and a match was found.
“I didn’t have any experience in the sign industry; I just knew how to sell,” Robin said. “It was fortuitous that David walked through the door at just the right time to look for work.”
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