Association Update – September 2026

It sounds like things are getting busy across the sign industry, with many of our members under the pump. It’s great to see the industry thriving, and hopefully that momentum continues as we head towards the end of the year.

Before we get into the really crazy end-of-year months, I thought it was a good time to remind you all about some of the new member benefits we introduced in 2026.

A sign maker recently told me about an employee who had asked him for a pay rise. He mentioned how he then checked the updated 2026 Pay Rates Guide and found that the employee was already at the higher end of the pay range for their role. Having the guide on hand gave him something to benchmark against and helped him explain his final decision to the employee.

Of course, pay isn’t the only way to recognise good staff. If a pay rise isn’t the right option, there are other ways to show your appreciation. The Pay Rates Guide outlines a whole range of options you could consider, including birthday leave, flexible working hours, fuel allowances and more. The Guide also includes valuable information on attracting and retaining skilled staff and pay equity in the workplace.

The Pricing Guide also received a refresh in 2026, with the new version launched at the Sign & Print Expo. The Guide is designed to help you benchmark your pricing, make sure you’re accounting for the real costs of producing and installing signage, and give you greater confidence when quoting jobs.

The digital version is available for all members to download from our website, so you can access it whenever you need it. However, I know many members still prefer having a hard copy on hand, particularly when working through quotes or discussing pricing with the team. We have a limited number of hard copies available, so if you’d like one, please get in touch. One copy per business is available at no charge, with a fee applying for any additional copies.

Another benefit we released this year is a sign specific insurance package. Business Insurance Limited, Long Burroughs and Ando have all partnered up to create a sign specific insurance package. The programme has been specifically designed around the way sign businesses operate, providing cover tailored to the industry and helping address gaps that may not be covered by standard insurance policies.

Whether you’re looking for a new insurance provider or happy with your current one, it’s worth taking a look at what’s included. It could highlight areas of your existing cover that are worth discussing with your current provider.

In other news, we’re heading to the Bay of Plenty at the end of the month for our next Regional Meeting. This time, we’re trying something a little different with an epic quiz night, thanks to Quiz Master Aaron Joines and our sponsor, PSP, for putting it all together. If you’re based in the area, we really encourage you to come along and bring your staff with you. It’s a great chance to get together, have some fun and catch up with others in the industry.

That’s all from me this month. As always, if you need any support, please do reach out to us. We’re here to support our members and want to see every one of you thriving and succeeding.

Ka kite,
Mikayla Hopkins

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller