What’s Your Signage?, a practical guide developed for the small business community and produced by the Research Network of the New York State Small Business Development Center, has been named winner of a national award by the Library Journal.
In December 2005, the book was recognized by the New York Library Association as being one of two winners of the 2004 New York State Notable Documents Award. That recognition merited submission into the national competition, the results of which were announced yesterday.
"What's Your Signage?" was designated as being one of the most Notable Government Documents in the U.S. in the State category, one of only 10 winners so honored (and the only one from New York State).
What’s Your Signage?, a project of the SBDC in partnership with the Signage Foundation for Communication Excellence, helps small business owners understand the impact that effective signage can have on their business. Chapters provide information on signage as part of advertising and marketing strategies; selecting the right sign design; and choosing the right sign company.
The handbook consolidates numerous sources of primary and secondary research and presents the sometimes-specialized material in useable, understandable language for the small business owner.
Introduced in 2004, the handbook has met with critical acclaim and is being distributed widely. Since it appeared, over 9,000 copies of What’s Your Signage? have been sold.
The NYS SBDC is New York’s premier small business assistance organization. Each year, at 23 Regional Centers and numerous outreach locations across the state, experienced and dedicated business advisers help an average of 17,000 New Yorkers start businesses and improve the profitability of existing businesses. Since its establishment in 1984, the SBDC has helped over 249,000 New York entrepreneurs and business owners invest over $3 billion in the state’s economy. Jointly funded by the US SBA, the State of New York, and host campuses, the SBDC is administered by the State University of New York, partnered with the City University and private colleges.
The Signage Foundation for Communication Excellence is a nonprofit organization specializing in educational and information initiatives related to signage and graphic design that contribute to profitability and economic development. The foundation’s members include many leading national and international signage companies.
The SBDC Research Network, an office within the SBDC that provides small businesses across New York with high-quality, focused, business-specific research, gathered information, researched and wrote the workbook. SUNY’s Office of Design and Printing combined the text and graphics to create an attractive, readable publication.
What’s Your Signage? was distributed around the county to SBDCs and other SBA business assistance organizations. Copies are available for $12.95 plus shipping from the Research Network.
For more information, contact the Research Network's director at d.conroy@nyssbdc.org.
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