Printing's Alive

Welcome to Printing's Alive—the podcast that explores everything print and beyond! From traditional techniques to modern innovations, we dive into how print shapes industries, businesses, and our everyday lives

Empowering Print and Signage: Insights from Wendy Graves and the Make It Happen Academy

S1 E42 • Nov 4, 2025 • 58 mins

In this episode of Printing's Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Wendy Graves from the Make It Happen Signage Academy about its impact on the printing and signage industry. They discuss the academy's events, the importance of industry language, and Wendy's passion for signage. The conversation highlights the academy's programs, hands-on and online training balance, and community college partnerships. They also cover the importance of passionate trainers, unbiased sessions, franchise training challenges, training costs, ROI, AI impact, and fair pricing strategies. The episode concludes with insights into industry challenges and future plans.

Key Points

Investing in specialized training can significantly reduce costly mistakes in the signage industry.
Hands-on training offers a more impactful learning experience compared to online-only courses.
Building a passionate and knowledgeable team is essential for driving business growth and improving industry standards.

Speakers

Warren Werbitt

Host • 45%

Wendy Graves

Guest • 55%

Chapters

0:00	Introduction of special guest Wendy Graves and the Make It Happen Signage Academy
1:47	Overview and types of events hosted by the academy
4:31	Learning the language of the printing and signage industry
6:10	Passion for the signage industry and discussion on teachability
9:05	Programs offered and hands-on training vs. online training
14:12	Partnerships with community colleges and training commitment challenges
18:07	Signage franchises' involvement in training
20:29	Importance of passionate trainers and franchise training challenges
23:11	Maintaining unbiased training sessions
24:45	Training costs, investment in employees, and ROI
30:52	Training's impact on reducing mistakes and increasing revenue
37:21	Incorporating AI and technology in training
42:00	Addressing the devaluation of design and consulting services
45:29	Strategies to charge fair prices for services
48:51	Impact and value addition of the print and sign industry
49:52	Real-world challenges and customer expectations
52:40	Importance of training, pricing adjustments, and industry connections
54:52	Closing thoughts, future plans, and promotions
56:01	Warren Werbitt's enthusiasm and plans for pricing strategy
57:22	Episode conclusion and farewell

Transcript

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