Today we’d like to introduce you to Gevorg Hambardzumyan.
Gevorg, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m the CEO and co-founder of Front Signs. I started the company along with three of my friends back in 2016. Now it’s a well-established sign-making business in Los Angeles and the largest one in Burbank, CA.
We’re originally from Armenia. We started our sign-making business there in 2008 and achieved great success among the locals. Then came a period when we wanted to expand our business to a larger market. We decided to pursue our desire and launch a sign-making company in the United States. You can check out our projects at: https://www.frontsigns.com/.
In 2016, Front Signs launched in Los Angeles, California. At first, we had a very small team consisting of just us four and a few of our friends who helped us take our first steps into the new market. We spent lots of sleepless nights planning and sharing ideas. They all converged at one ultimate goal: building a first-rate sign-making company in LA. We were confident that we could do it and determined to succeed.
Since establishment, we’ve worked with renowned names such as FedEx, Six Flags, Armani Exchange, Los Angeles Times, Ticketmaster, Annenberg Foundation and beyond. Less than a year ago, we moved to a larger facility in Burbank with more advanced machinery. Now we’re expanding our team and production capabilities to manufacture signs at any level of complexity.
I love seeing our work all across the US. It’s my mission to upgrade the field of visual communication with superior craftsmanship – for mom & pop shops and industry giants alike.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Since the signage industry is quite competitive in the States, we struggled a good deal at the beginning. Moving from a successful local business to a new country with a completely different market approach was a dicey step and we knew we had no guarantees. Regardless, we took the risky leap forward. We integrated all of our previous knowledge and applied it to a larger arena without having any idea whether it would work out or not. As I look back now, it was definitely the right thing to do. Our previous experience in the industry helped us gain success in a very short period of time.
Aside from that, making a name for ourselves was the next challenge. We managed to stand out by offering non-traditional solutions. Our hallmark is crafting fully custom signage to satisfy the unique visions of each of our clients. We love imaginative projects and pride ourselves on the artistry we’re able to accomplish.
Of course, I can’t go on without mentioning our team and their dedication to the company. It’s not always easy to find staff that sticks around for the long-term but we managed to do it by vetting the right values from the get go. From craftsmen and designers to developers and marketing specialists, everyone puts in their share of hard work. It’s helped us take our company to where it is now. This isn’t a regular 9 to 5 job for us; we’re not driven by money but by the satisfaction of advanced craftsmanship. We’re confident that masterful work will take our company to the forefront of the signage industry.
Last but not least – 2020. It hit us hard. Just as major difficulties were behind us and we had our finger on the pulse, COVID-19 took over the world. Our business got its share of devastation from the pandemic. At the start of quarantine, we weren’t getting any orders. We had to make a difficult decision: to shut down operations and leave our staff unemployed or temporarily switch our production.
The only things in demand at the time were face shields, sneeze guards and safety signs so we sort of lucked out. We had the resources to manufacture them and saw it as an opportunity to contribute. This decision had dual benefits. One, we helped the public and medical institutions by supplying high-quality PET and two, we managed to keep our business and employees.
Currently, we’re back on track and proud to say that we didn’t have to pause operations due to the pandemic for even a day. It was just another obstacle that we overcame with success and hopefully, it won’t be a matter of concern in the future.
We know that the path to success is not smooth – it’s more like a roller coaster ride. But the ride itself is exhilarating and once you’re on, there’s no going back.
We’ve been impressed with Front Signs, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Front Signs is a B2B sign-making and printing company offering superlative signage solutions to businesses of all kinds. As a full-service signage company, we offer everything from design, manufacturing and large format printing to permitting, installation and maintenance.
We offer a large selection of indoor and outdoor signs from 3D Letters and Light Box Signs to Channel Letters and Monument Signs. We love to tackle creative designs and work on sophisticated projects for full branding.
Paying close attention to environmental concerns and other trends in the signage industry, we’ve even pioneered solar signage concepts. One of our most exemplary projects was for an outdoor art exhibition at The Annenberg Space for Photography. Our mission was to make an environmentally friendly installation, so we created free-standing lightbox signs that were illuminated with solar power. It’s moments like this when I feel most proud of myself and my colleagues.
We offer completely custom solutions for all occasions. Whether business owners need to promote their campaign, brand an event or upgrade a company building, we’re ready to craft bespoke signs to meet their exact requirements. Our team is driven by dedication and an enthusiasm to continuously achieve better results.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
The rhythm of life that motivates you to work harder and achieve your goals is my favorite thing about Los Angeles. Leading such a fast-paced life doesn’t even leave time for me to think about things that I dislike. So, there’s nothing worth mentioning.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@frontsigns.com
- Website: https://www.frontsigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontsignscom/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frontsigns/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/frontsigns
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQzE6up0I1sqhMZBVChKMA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/front-signs-burbank-3
- Other: https://www.frontsigns.com/blog/
