Bedford Diversifies Into Sign Business

by Talk Business & Politics ([email protected]) 65 views 

Bedford Camera and Video created a new division in Fort Smith in February 2006 by diversifying into the sign printing business. In June, the company opened a 1,600-SF Fayetteville location next door to its camera and video store.

Jeff Beauchamp, president of Bedford, said the addition to the business model makes sense because the technologies involved in both industries have become similar.

The new Fayetteville store can print photo-quality graphics on vinyl banner stock up to 54-inches wide. Recent advances in the technology allow for application on everything from magnets to floor stickers to perforated, or see-through, window graphics.

The company is designing a small business starter package that will include vehicle magnets, a banner, up to an hour of logo design work and “open/close” signage on a front door for less than $300, Beauchamp said.

The entire signage division has garnered about 1,100 commercial accounts across the state since it stated, Beauchamp said.

Beauchamp wouldn’t say how much the company spent opening the new store, but said it would be easy for anyone to have near $100,000 in capital expenses to open a similar operation.