Signs of Affection Sells Birth Announcements

Owner: Holly Neyland

Address: P.O. Box 6614, Springdale 72766

Phone: (501) 756-2229

Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. every day

Start-up date: Nov. 5

E-mail address: [email protected]

A modern-day town crier, Holly Neyland uses her flock of stork signs to announce births with her home-based business, Signs of Affection. Neyland said she bought the rights to three, 6-foot-tall patterns from Mary Tobin, who is also known as The Stork Lady at www.storklady.com, in Wilmington, N.C. The rights give her exclusivity to use the signs within a 20-mile radius of Springdale, but she rents the signs to anyone in Northwest Arkansas.

For $50 per week, family members of a new baby can rent an announcement sign featuring the baby’s name, birth date, birth weight and length. The fee includes personalization, delivery and pick up. Nameless signs are available for $30 a week, and Neyland also offers single-day shower rentals for $20.

Currently, customers can choose from a traditional stork sign and a half-moon holding a new baby. Neyland plans to incorporate a third pattern that she will market for welcoming new neighbors as well as new parents.

Neyland started the business for about $2,000. Although she currently works as a transportation dispatcher, she hopes to grow Signs of Affection into a full-time career.