A Penticton signmaker is giving back to the community after taking full ownership of the business and moving into a new home.
Jafa Signs has moved its storefront location into the same building as its production facility, and just metres from the same space where business owners Angela and Dallas Fish opened their first ever sign shop.
The Fish family has also taken over full ownership of the signmaking company, which was previously part of the Jafa Industries umbrella. To celebrate, the family said they will be offering their services for free to one local non-profit each month, as part of the Jafa Community Window Graphics program.
That offer is available for any organization registered under the Societies Act from Penticton and the South Okanagan, and would provide a custom window-wrap sign valued up to $2,000 to “help that organization deliver any message they want — from fundraising to celebrating volunteers or promoting a key event or program.”
In a news release, Dallas Fish said the group is taking the opportunity of sole ownership to give back to the community.
“Our work is all about promoting great organizations, businesses and their stories — we are so excited to help not-for-profits tell their stories of their commitment to our community.”
Angela Fish said the company creates its own signs, but also does contract work with other sign companies in the area, including Pattison Sign Group.
The pair have started four sign shops for other owners so far, and Angela said in an interview the couple were looking to take something on under their own wings.
“We decided you know what, we’re going to stay, because this is our home town. We’re tired of popping around, opening sign shops for everyone else,” she said.
The two were made an offer from the owner of Jafa Industries, Tony Jacyna, to buy out the signs portion of the Jafa brand, and he would continue to operate the screen printing side of the business.
“Which is nice, because we worked really hard to build this portion of the business.”
The two came to moving into the new storefront after the new owners of their old location said they were looking to jack up rent by 240 per cent. But with the company using space right next door to their new location the move turned out a win-win.
“We’ve already had bays here (at the new location), so we’ve always wanted to get under one roof, so when this bay became available, we took it over and kind of spruced it up and made it a cleaner, nicer environment for the staff,” she said.
That has made their work a bit easier, without having to regularly commute across town between the production spot and the storefront.
@dustinrgodfrey
dustin.godfrey@pentictonwesternnews.com
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