Regina company making more than 10,000 signs during federal election

Federal candidates are busy knocking on doors and putting up their election signs to start off the 2019 campaign.

Regina-based Sleek Signs expects to make more than 10,000 signs for use by candidates in and around the city this election. That’s not counting auxiliary signs like 4×8 fence signs.

The company started printing its first orders a few weeks ago but now that the campaign is underway, the candidates keep workers on their toes with quick turnaround times expected.

“For us it really comes down to planning ahead and making sure we have the material in stock and the step stakes and those relationships out prior to the writ actually being dropped. Then as soon as it is, it seems like it’s no holds barred,” said Carl Weger, CEO of Sleek Signs.

Sleek Signs normally ships nationwide but for the election, it’s primarily working on signs for just the Regina area because of prohibitive shipping costs and timelines.

“(The candidates) go door to door and they go through a lot more signs than they predicted and they come back to us and expect miracles,” said Weger.

The company runs extended shifts on weekends to keep up with production. It also has eight dedicated printing machines and automatic cutters which save time.

“There’s definitely a lot of plastic coming out of here,” said Weger. “It’s not something that’s easily recyclable so it’s one of those necessary evils just because the performance of the sign has to be something that is weather resistant.”

Sleek Signs is not involved in the signs’ disposal once the election ends. Weger said that’s up to the candidates, who often save the metal step stakes and keep them for future elections.

Big orders are nothing new to the company, which also did signage for the 2013 Grey Cup in Regina.

“That was a really big feather in our cap for showcasing what we can do on a volume basis,” Weger said.