With the COVID-19 pandemic spoiling many celebrations, giant decorative lawn signs have caught on again

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During the pandemic, one trend trumped the rest: celebrating the accomplishments of your loved one with a giant decorative lawn sign.

It seems as if traditional decorations like a flock of pink flamingos are out, and a new way of honouring achievement is in.

That said, however, the pandemic is now at a halt and those can celebrate with their loved ones again. So what is the future of these signs?

“It just seems to me that people love it and the attention it brings,” said Amy Murray, owner and operator of Say It With A Sign NL.

“I wondered, because I only started doing this in May, if people would still want this, but everyone wants a party now and, no matter the circumstance, someone will always want those to feel special or celebrated for their accomplishments.”

Murray runs the business with her husband, and initially, the two started the business as a means to bring in extra income to their household.

“We wanted to start a side business,” explains Murray.

“We both work full-time and wanted to create a new means of self-employment. I started looking around, and I noticed through social media many friends throughout Canada were getting these yard cards."

She began doing a little research.

"It took me a while to even realize that was the proper name," she says. "Once I had that, I started surfing the web, and I found a Facebook group and I was put in contact with a girl from Lab City and she gave me some much-needed guidance.”

Through the group, Murray learned how to create signs durable enough to sustain Newfoundland weather. Once she got the elements needed, she was ready to put her business out there.

Murray now has a sign for any kind of life event you can think of: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and even divorce.

She says once her signs were on the market, their original hopes for their side hustle were exceeded.

“I needed to get the business going, and in our original business plan, I was putting down two signs a week,” said Murray. “I wasn’t sure how it was going to take off, but now, we are at 96 signs in a little over two months.”

“I wasn’t sure how it was going to take off, but now, we are at 96 signs in a little over two months.” — Amy Murray

Although she is a Newfoundland-based business, her materials and products do not come from within Canada. She hopes to one day be able to shop for products made in Canada, but believes having products that the regular consumer couldn’t purchase easily is what sets her apart.

“The materials I use, you have to be a company to even order them,” said Murray.

“You know when someone wants to celebrate someone, they want that quality. People see the pictures I post and they call. They haven’t seen signs like mine before, and it gives them an edge, it gives them a reason to purchase.”

While she takes pride in the product she created, the key factor for her business is being able to make those feel special, no matter the circumstance of the world.

“I always love telling people, there is nothing better than getting a picture from a parent of a kid with their sign,” said Murray. “It is nice for someone to get that surprise, and to be a part of their day in some way is really what it is all about.”

With the signs she has created, Murray has built quite a name for herself as a designer. It's allowed her to branch out and make signs for any occasion.

Recently, East Point Elementary used her signs to celebrate their Kinder start session and Grade 6 leaving, and assistant principal Jennifer Noseworthy says it was a wonderful surprise for students.

“It is different and it is current for the kids,” said Noseworthy. “We wanted to be able to celebrate with the kids, once restrictions died down, we wanted to make it special and it was a major hit amongst the students.”

While Murray mostly focuses on exterior signs, Noseworthy wanted something internal. She says Murray was able to adapt and accommodate her request and make her vision possible.

Noseworthy also adds how the process to obtain one of these signs is user-friendly and quite simple in the grand scheme of things.

“It is very easy actually, they have an online Google form and it walks you through exactly everything that they would need to know to fulfil your order,” said Noseworthy.

“I had a special request and as soon as I made it, they called me and we started brainstorming. They are so accommodating and the form is very easy, it is very accessible for anybody and everybody.”

The joy it brought to her students was immense.

“Everyone was so excited, every parent wanted pictures with their kids and the signs,” said Noseworthy. “Children wanted their friend's pictures. They are so vibrant that they draw people towards them, it is desirable. It is huge, it isn’t this bristol board homemade thing, they are so worth it.”

Although the pandemic is at a halt, Noseworthy still believes Murray's accessible business model, the convenience and her unique signs that this trend will remain in style for years to come.

“I think they will thrive for a while,” said Noseworthy.

“They are so versatile. A lot of people like celebrating in a public way, and this is the safest way to celebrate publicly. I think they will be around for many years. In my eyes, they will only grow in popularity.”

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