Carlton and I will never forget July 21, 2010!  It was an exciting day for us because it was the day we watched the installation of our beautiful 18 ft. monument sign.  And it also impressed the message we’ve consistently heard since we started First Coast Signs:  Owners “don’t make signs”.  They develop business and manage projects.

The genesis of our 1,100 pound beauty was my first email “blast” sent via Constant Contact shortly after the beginning of the year.  Phil Griffin, Broker, GRI and owner of Amelia Coastal Realty (“ACR”), was on my list by virtue of my former job as an SBA Lender.  Phil and I had spoken several times about commercial real estate financing when I was a lender.  So that first email “blast” was a great way to let my contact list know where I was and what I was doing now.

I was delighted when Phil responded and said he did have a sign project pending that he would allow us to quote.

Well, I wasn’t about to tell Phil that banners and car magnets and coroplast signs were the extent of our repertoire since we’d just opened January 1!

But thanks to the excellent preferred providers assembled by Signworld and our extensive support network, our graphic artist worked closely with Phil and Mechele Hutto from his office to present an attractive design that would tower 18 ft.

Once the design was finalized, we waited a few months for the office condo association’s approval to move forward and the project went into production.  While that was underway, Phil contracted with Fernandina Beach based The John Stokes Company to make sure the project was properly engineered and permitted.  Bob Kratzer, Superintendent for The John Stokes Company, launched into gear to make sure everything was lined up and ready to “rock and roll” once the sign was delivered.

Bob Kratzer had it all under control!

So, early morning July 21, the Duval Station Office Park sign was delivered in crates to 13453 Main Street on the Northside.  The sign was produced for us by Peachtree City Foamcraft and we’re still thankful to Hawk Cochran with Peachtree for all his patience and hard work.  These beautiful signs are synthetic stucco.  However, if you didn’t go up and touch it, you would be convinced it was an actual masonry and “real” stucco monument.  Peachtree City Foamcraft signs will typically be 30% less in price than a traditional monument sign that actually uses brick, mortar and stucco.

James Kratzer shows all skill and no fear!

Crane engaged it was up up and away as Bob’s crew used ropes affixed to every corner to lift the sections and lower them down on the structural pipes that had already been cemented into the base.

End result:  A beautiful sign that will now be populated with individual tenant signs on both sides, happy property manager, happy contractors and very happy First Coast Signs owners!