Signs of Greece/ Damoulis Signs Continued... For the past nineteen years, Damoulis Signs has produced mostly illuminated signs, but in recent years Perry was losing enthusiasm for the trade. Thankfully he discovered the North American trade magazines, which have become both a source of education and inspiration for him. Being a sign maker in Greece presents its own unique challenges. First, materials are very difficult to get. Almost everything has to be shipped from the U.S. or Canada. Some substrates, like HDU and PVC, are available in Germany, but everything takes longer to receive. Ground shipping from North America takes one month to arrive and, of course, is expensive. Finding a variety of fonts was another challenge. He’s spent many hours designing and programming Greek fonts for Gerber’s Omega program and adding Greek letters to fonts he bought from SignDNA [530-795-1637, www.signdna.com]. He’s built an extensive collection of clip art and graphics CDs Periandros keeps up with the industry by attending shows throughout Europe. He has watched the 3-D sign trend develop in North America, and now he has traded plastic and lamps for chisels and gold. So far, his clients love the new look. He’s on the cutting edge of the sign industry in Greece: the first to have a computerized vinyl cutting system in his country, and the first to have an automated router. Now Periandros is proud to say he is the first in the country to produce 3-D signs. From his passion for business and willingness to take risks, it’s obvious that Periandros is a natural entrepreneur. He is very charismatic, a quality that makes people comfortable around him. As a designer he’s no slouch, having a confident grasp of layout and color principles that make his portfolio shine. Periandros first got involved in the industry at the age of 15, learning to paint signs the old fashioned way—drawing letters and pulling a quill. He hopes to pass this skill on to Vanessa and Panos, his children. Panos already works part-time in the shop, and Vanessa hopes to come to North America to study sign making when she finishes high school. When I asked Periandros about getting deposits, he said that in Greece all is okay, alluding to the fact that business is still done with a handshake and deals are always honored. When he gets a call to price a new job, he does a site visit and takes photos. He designs the sign, places it into the photo, and sells the job. Designing is done on spec, but a deposit is secured before production begins. In Ancient Korinthos, we walked through the ruins and came across marble with carved letters. We had to run our hands and fingers over the relief—no router back then—and we were all awed by the huge task of carving such detail by hand. Life in Greece does not move as quickly as ours in North America. The workday is long—12 hours minimum—but time is taken throughout the day to socialize. Relationships are a vital part of the Greek culture. Meals are an event—an opportunity to talk and relax with friends, co-workers and family. And the baklava is to die for! Nancy Beaudette and Noella Cotnam’s shop, Sign It, is in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. < Back to articles