What started out in 1986 as a company making paper banners is now a thriving producer of all sorts of signage that includes vinyl decals for indoor/outdoor signs and office/home decor, car and truck graphics, and trade show displays. Jon Kuhn, son of founder Ed Kuhn, gave a company history of Banner Up Signs and a look at industry technology for Sycamore Rotarians at their January 16th meeting. However, despite industry changes, Kuhn said the one thing remaining constant for success of their business is outstanding customer service.
Banner Up Signs opened in nearby Geneva, and within ten years Ed was able to open a second location in his hometown of Sycamore. This second location included space to work on vehicles indoors. Jon remembered helping at the banner shop while growing up and joined the business full-time after graduating from high school and taking courses at Kishwaukee College. Ed had consolidated all production in Sycamore in 2003. Together the father/son team moved into the digital age of graphics printing and undertook a major expansion of their facility in 2013 which also included space for extensive car and truck vinyl wraps. Their latest acquisition is a CNC machine allowing lettering and forms to be created out of foam, plastics, and aluminum. Kuhn said that today only about 5% of their work is for traditional banners. Employment varies between seven and nine people.