Gulf Coast Signs continues to champion safe practices both at our facility as well as to improve job site safety awareness at our client’s sites. To further enhance these practices our employees have just completed the OSHA 10 Hour General Safety course covering OSHA regulations and standards in 29 cfr 1926.

Topics covered in the training course began with a general overview of OSHA policies, procedures and standards as well as general industry safety and health principles and continued with a focus on understanding aisle and passageway maintenance, identification and protection of floor openings. Railing, ladder and scaffolding standards were addressed as well in the initial session that concluded with requirements for developing and maintaining an effective egress fire protection program.

The second training session began with educating Gulf Coast Signs personnel about electrical safety and OSHA Electrical Hazards standards. Training progressed to personal protective equipment (PPE) which complimented a number of policies already in place at our facility; hazard communication standards and regulations were then addressed before training concluded with OSHA fall protection standards and requirements.

We continue to promote safety awareness as one cornerstone of our business and proudly stand behind our motto of “Working Safely…Producing Quality”.

On Thursday April 12, 2012 the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)-Florida Gulf Coast Chapter again validated Gulf Coast Signs of Sarasota’s outstanding company safety record by presenting us with the 2012 Safety Star award, the second consecutive award we’ve received in the specialty contractor under 150 employees category.

This award further illustrates that our motto “Working Safely… Producing Quality” is more than a clever catch phrase.

Safety Star Awards recognize ABC members for their outstanding safety programs. Such recognition is intended to bring about a greater awareness of the importance of a safe working environment within the commercial construction industry.

In addition to our safety recognition Gulf Coast Signs of Sarasota were also honored with the 2012 Business of the Year award in the specialty contractor under 150 employees category. Our best business practices demonstrate to contractors, clients and the public in general our concern about our employees and the communities in which we build, and that we are prepared to exhibit this concern through our actions.

When Glenn Zakany, president of G to Z Turf Services, Inc. came by to pick up a small real estate style sign needed by one of his golf course clients he took the opportunity to tour our facilities. During the tour Gary took note of some of our digital image samples and hit upon a marketing idea. By utilizing the network of clients developed by him and his partner, two former golf course superintendents with considerable experience in the turf business Glenn felt high resolution photographs of signature golf holes reproduced on high quality printable canvas could be sold to patrons at the pro shop of the course featured.

The first hole chosen was from a course at The Forrest Country Club in Ft Myers, Florida. A 4MB high resolution image was provided that the digital production department of Gulf Coast Signs sized, ripped and printed for the client.

This service can be utilized by designers for unique images in boutique hotels and inns as well as artists to produce limited edition or artist proofs.

Late in 2010 it was announced that Gilbane Inc., one of the nation’s oldest design and build companies based in Rhode Island had closed the deal to acquire the Lakewood Ranch based W.G. Mills Company which was then integrated into Gilbane’s current operations, becoming its 10th regional office and assuming the name “Mills Gilbane.”

Once all the logistical and operational elements of merging the company were completed, attention was turned to re-branding the Lakewood Ranch office.

Gulf Coast Signs was brought on board to help develop a three dimensional version of the newly designed logo and replace the existing reverse channel style identity with a similar design for the building’s facade. The solution was flush mounted non-illuminated channel letters with a twist. The corporate logo and the “Mills” copy were created as standard fabricated aluminum dimensional letters as was the letter “G” the balance of the identity was created as open style aluminum letters that were then welded to a routed aluminum rectangle giving a finished appearance of lettering excised from a solid mass.

The re-branded building has met with resounding praise from all who have seen it and mark yet another successful custom signage project executed by the Gulf Coast Signs of Sarasota, Inc. team this year.

When GNC Live Well relocated their store in Sarasota at Westgate’s Southgate Shopping Center fabricating and relocating signs was a strait forward endeavor, the owner of this store however, had one challenge left for Gulf Coast Signs to resolve. What could be done within the store to visually enhance some areas within the space and to lend support to specific merchandised display areas?

The answer was large format digital imaging. The design department created a graphics package to propose neutralizing the bland appearance of a structural pillar with a continuous image wrapped around all four sides running from floor to ceiling to draw attention to the retail merchandising units positioned there. An additional set of pillars that were located close together were treated to a graphic printed on a banner like material to be suspended between them and designed to be changed as seasonal or promotional needs occur thus creating a specialized merchandising area within the store. And finally additional images were presented to enhance a portable iced beverage unit and to provide the finished bridging of a void between a display wall and the storefront windows.

Working in harmony with both Westfield’s design director and the store owner, Mike Blunt the designer at Gulf Coast Signs obtained multiple high resolution photographs that were deconstructed, edited and then brought together as unique images. With approvals in hand Cos Colegrove provided the final color corrections and enhanced editing prior to overseeing the output of these images.

With the installation of these images Gulf Coast Signs has helped create a very unique environment within this GNC Live Well store, has obtained another exceptionally satisfied customer and continues to produce the highest quality results that Westfield demands at all their centers.

Gulf Coast Signs is proud to announce that we have just completed the identity signage for a new facility for South West Florida Eye Care at 6850 International Center Drive in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Recommended by Gulfcoast Consulting Group for this project Gulf Coast Signs developed the signage design based on extensive consultation with ownership. The chosen identity package consisted of laser cut, flush mounted non illuminated acrylic letters and a pin mounted aluminum logo panels decorated with a laminated digital image on two elevations of the building and a distinctive internally illuminated monument sign with routed copy. The primary body of the sign features copy that displays as black letters in the day and lights white at night, this effect was achieved by utilizing a 3M dual film technique.