The client loved the finalized proposal right from the start. They gave Mattatall Signs the go-ahead to proceed as presented, and a completion date (which coincided with the business’s aforementioned anniversary celebration) was agreed upon. It was a tight timeline, but with some intricate scheduling of production and installation, Mattatall Signs was confident they could not only make it happen, but also ensure it fell within their budgetary requirements.

At the outset, there were some concerns due to restrictions that apply in certain areas along provincial highways (Wilson’s store is located along Nova Scotia’s famed Lighthouse Route 3) that a sign featuring a full-colour EMC may not be sanctioned by the province’s Department of Transportation. However, much to everyone’s surprise, the plan received the green light with no issues from the provincial or municipal jurisdictions involved. With permission to build in hand, the next step was pre-production.

From pen to model

Detailed planning, innovation, and ingenuity are key to Mattatall Signs’ success and what helps the signmaker standout in the marketplace. That said, the company’s drafter, Eric Granholm, converted the author’s esthetic conceptual drawing into a working model for fabrication and, from these detailed blueprints, a project schedule was developed.

By taking these measures, the company’s talented and skilled team experienced very few hiccups when it came time to fabricate the sign. That said, there was a minor miscommunication regarding the approved version of some of the major brands that were to appear on the tenant graphic panels of the pylon sign’s illuminated cabinets due to a very late brand standards update, which was released during the middle of construction. As a result, the vinyl graphics that were originally manufactured had to subsequently be redone, but this all happened in-house prior to the installation.

Mattatall Signs is extremely careful about these things; however, in this case, it could not be avoided. At the pace the sign installer often has to work, mistakes can happen from time to time. Nobody is perfect.

Light at the end of the tunnel

One aspect of construction of particular note was the sign’s lighthouse header, which was a labour of love for Mattatall Signs’ primary metal fabricator, Terry Companion. He enjoys a challenge, and thrives on unique opportunities where he can step outside the box—something this custom project offered in comparison to traditional signage.