We Came to Build: Highlights from the ISA 2025 Trade Show

If you weren’t in Vegas, you missed something real. Not flashy. Not hype. Just the kind of clarity that makes you rethink how you’re quoting, outsourcing, and working with your current vendor.

Take the next 4 minutes to get inspired.

We’re unpacking what the sharpest sign shops were asking, saying, and shifting — and why working with Direct Sign Wholesale might just be the difference between fighting fires and finally getting ahead.

Here’s what we saw, what we heard, and what’s coming next:

Our Carhartt Uniforms Got the Message Across Before We Even Spoke

Customers told us our Carhartt gear was the first signal that we weren’t like everyone else.
We’re builders — of signs, systems, and trust — and it showed. These weren’t just branded shirts. They were a statement:
This is a place where real work gets done.

The Spec Chec™ Notepads Weren’t Just Freebies

We handed out hundreds of our Spec Chec™ notepads — but only to the shops who showed up with a mission.

They weren’t there to browse. They came to learn, grow, and overcome real bottlenecks in their quoting process. These pads sparked serious conversations about how much time is lost to guesswork and how much better business flows when the submittals come in clean.

These aren’t giveaways. They’re process tools we swear by — designed to help eliminate costly back-and-forth and tighten up quoting timelines.

Because running a successful business isn’t luck — it’s earned.

We’re the builders and the makers — of signs, of systems, of clarity.
And the ones who stopped by? Some were seasoned pros. Others came curious.
But all of them left a little sharper — because deep down, they knew: there’s a better way to do this work.

If you’re feeling that too, you’re in the right place.
Let’s build it — together. 

Want in? Keep reading to see how you can get a Spec Chec™ kit in your hands — and start quoting like the pros who don’t miss a beat.

The Channel Letter Samples Sparked Real Conversations

From the moment the show floor opened, we had customers gathered around our displays — asking questions, taking photos, running their hands across the finishes.

Our booth featured some of the most requested builds from our shop floor:

• Front lit trimless letters
• Reverse lit channel letters
• Push-thru letters with clean contrast and upscale vibe
• FCO options for architectural accents
• Push-thru borders on wireways that lit up conversations (literally)

And in case anyone forgot what we’re known for, our booth flags reminded attendees of our go-to lineup:
Front lit trimmed, reverse, front/back lit, contoured logo boxes — and yes, we teased what’s coming this summer: blades.

The Conversations Got Real — Fast

This wasn’t a casual crowd.
We talked with serious buyers who were making serious decisions:

• Shop owners who job cost and realize they save 20% on every job they outsource to us. They’re selling off equipment, reducing overhead, and the stress that comes with it all
• National program managers asking how we manage consistency across regions
• High-volume brokers wanting to shift to partners who can actually scale without slipping

Some conversations were technical. Some were strategic. But every single one pointed to the same reality:

People are done gambling with their vendor relationships.
They want partners who communicate clearly, deliver on time, and build it right the first time.

A Steady Stream of Serious Customers

We stayed busy — in the best way.
Not just with traffic, but with purposeful conversations that led somewhere.

Some customers came with specs in hand.
Others came with stories of projects gone sideways.
All of them left knowing this:
DSW doesn’t just get it done — we get it right.

Why This Matters Going Forward

We didn’t build our reputation by being everything to everyone.
We built it by doing a few things exceptionally well, again and again:

• Channel letters with consistency and clarity
• Clean, quality-lit components that don’t cut corners
• Fast quoting that still respects the details
• Rigid processes that actually protect your margins

And now, with more product offerings (Blades this summer), and more accountability tools like Spec Chec™, we’re just getting started.

Let’s Build What’s Next — Together

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, asked a hard question, or shared what you’re building.
We left ISA 2025 more fired up than ever.

💥 The ones with their act together?
They’re quoting smart, ordering fast — and yes, getting the goods: our Spec Chec™ notepad + pen kit tucked right into their next crate.

These aren’t freebies. These are process tools we swear by.

They’re how we quote fast, stay lean, and keep jobs out of chaos mode — and they tend to land with the shops who move without hesitation.

Why? Because we’d rather be building your sign than chasing down your info.

Send your quote request directly to [email protected] or reach out to your rep — and see what shows up in your next crate.