Sign Designs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 1, 2008

Jim Krudwig, Director, MSSU SBDC
Phone: 417-625-9557

 

(Left to right: Gary Nodler, John Hipple, Jr. Denise Neely, Ron Richard

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - Sign Designs, a Joplin full service sign company, was recognized Wednesday, Jan.30 as a “Rising Star of Innovation and Entrepreneurship” in Missouri. 

 

Sign Designs was one of eighteen outstanding small businesses in Missouri who received the award sponsored by the Missouri Small Business Development Centers (MO SBDC).  They participated in the MO SBDC Client Showcase held on January 30 in the Capitol Rotunda, Jefferson City.  They also received legislative resolutions from Representative Ron Richard and Senator Gary Nodler.   

 

Sign Designs was nominated for the award by the Missouri Southern State University SBDC, who worked with them as they were developing a business plan to obtain funding for a recent expansion.

 

Sign Designs was started in 1991 by John Hipple, Jr. and his father, John Hipple, Sr.  The company operated out of a garage on 7th Street in Joplin.  Denise Neely, John Hipple, Jr.’s sister, assisted them with the start-up phase and continues to work in this 16-year-old business. 

 

Several years later, a new building was purchased at 1108 West 4th Street in Joplin.  Sign Designs continued to expand their business and purchased another building at 1720 West 7th Street in Joplin.  The company has grown from three employees to twelve employees. 

In 2005, John Hipple, Jr. bought out his father’s share of the business, and became the sole owner and President of Sign Designs.  His sister, Denise Neely, is the Vice President of the Sign Designs. 

 

Over the years, Sign Designs has received numerous awards and recognitions.  They were selected as the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce 2007 Small Business of the Year (1 –10 employee category).  John Hipple, Jr. actively participates in many civic organizations including the Rotary, the Joplin Business Club and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. 

 

Sign Designs lives up to their slogan which states they are “full service sign professionals.”  They produce a wide variety of products including: LED signs with scrolling letters, large pylon lighted signs, small lighted signs, vehicle wraps and lettering, neon signs, magnetic signs, banners, boat lettering, trade show signs, political signs, and yard signs. 

 

On an interesting note, John Hipple, Jr. comes from a truly entrepreneurial extended family.  His brother-in-law, Denise Neely’s husband and the Neely family operate B&D Demolition in Joplin; Denise and John’s sister, Michelle Ferson, operates Tuscan Sun, a hair, nail and tanning salon in Joplin; Michelle’s husband, Ron Ferson, operates One-Hour Cleaners in Joplin; and John’s father, John Hipple, Sr. presently operates Wilhite Sign Company in Joplin.  Entrepreneurship is alive and well in Southwest Missouri.    

 

Sign Designs is located at 1720 West 7th Street in Joplin.  Their phone number is (417) 624-8688, and they can be reached by email at john@sign-designs.com or denise@sign-designs.com.  The website for Sign Designs is: www.sign-designs.com.

 

 

 

 

 

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