Celebrating 60 Years in Business

This year Johnson Sign Co. is celebrating 60 years in business! While we are proud of our ability to change and evolve with the needs of our customers and the market, we are most proud of the core values that the business was founded on and continue to live on today. These fundamental core values are what have allowed us to be in business for this long. Through the past 60 years we are proud to work alongside loyal customers and JSC employees. Our successes are a result of those relationships.

When James “Jim” Johnson noticed all business owners needed effective signage to identify their operation, he, and his wife Beverly (along with 6 children) put everything on the line to open Johnson Sign Co. in Jackson, MI. Fast forward to today and JSC is a third-generation business with Jim’s son Jay and grandsons Jim and Will running the company. Jim Johnson, VP/Director of sales states: “Our company was built on hard work, integrity, being people of our word and faith. We truly believe that is what has sustained our company through three generations and hopefully a fourth and fifth generation one day.” Will Johnson, Director of Operations adds “The unique aspect of being a third-generation company is that we can catapult off what our generations have done before us. There is a proven track record for the last 60 years that we can be successful doing what we do. What differentiates us is the ability to have the experience of our past coupled with a focus on technology and improvement for the future.”

Since opening in 1964, JSC has grown and evolved in more ways than one. What first started as a hand painted operation has turned into custom fabricated electric signs consisting of computerized graphics, steel, aluminum, LED lighting, routing, and electronic message centers. Not only has technology changed the landscape for our company but our footprint has grown significantly since opening. Within a decade, we have acquired three sign companies across the state of Michigan (Douglas Sign of Lansing, MI, Huron Sign Co. of Ypsilanti, MI and Amor Sign Studios Inc. of Manistee, MI). Today we operate with 5 locations, 40,000 square feet of manufacturing space, 16 service and install trucks and 60 employees.

Throughout the 60 years in business Johnson Sign Co. has had the opportunity to work on some noteworthy accounts and projects. We have participated in large brand roll outs for major hospital conversions like Trinity Health, Allegiance Health and Henry Ford as well as national and regional bank accounts Flagstar, MSUFCU and Bank of Ann Arbor. Some of our largest custom work includes manufacturing and installation of the Metro Detroit Spirit Airlines Logo and popular Arborland “A” in the Ann Arbor area. Outside of these larger projects, we regularly serve local businesses and establishments such as schools, municipalities, restaurants, retailers, and everything in between. Jay Johnson, President of Johnson Sign Co. credits their ongoing operation from key relationships, stating: “Our successes are a result of our loyal customers and employees. I am so humbled by their loyalty, integrity, perseverance, and confidence that they have displayed to us over the last 60 years.”

Reflecting on this past 60 years, we celebrate, honor, praise and rejoice over the past, present and the hope of the future. Here is to another 60 years!