Association Update - April 2026
I hope everybody enjoyed the Easter break and made the most of the downtime after a busy start to the year. It is hard to believe how quickly the year is already moving, and with several important dates approaching, now is a good time to stay across what is coming up.
The first deadline coming up is award entries closing date on 27 April, in less than two weeks! For those who have not yet submitted their entries, you need to complete this now. The awards deadline date is Anzac Day, so if you are going away, or need to be in the office to access information for your entries, you might want to make Friday 24th April your deadline day. Remember, no late submissions will be accepted, so it is important to plan ahead and ensure you do not miss out.
The next upcoming deadline is National Sign Making Day on 1 May 2026. This is one day of the year that we dedicate to sharing what sign making is all about and future-proofing the industry by encouraging more young people to consider sign making as a real and rewarding career path. We are still seeking sign shops willing to open their doors and host a tour for registered high schools. Could this be you? If you are interested, please let us know by filling out the application form.
June 17-19 marks the 2026 Sign & Print Expo, the biggest industry tradeshow in New Zealand. This year will feature more exhibitors than ever before, with 50 leading suppliers taking part and exhibiting on the show floor. My tip for getting the most out of the event is to plan your visit on the Wednesday and Thursday, as these days are historically the quietest and will give you the best chance to interact with the exhibitors without battling the crowds.
If you’re wanting to get the most out of your visit to expo, you should register for some of our expert speaker sessions! These are free to attend, simply follow the links to register your name. We have a whole range of topics being presented on, and our experts have a lot of knowledge to share. And if you REALLY want to commit to the event, why not sign up for the Expo Extras Package, giving you access to all the speaker sessions + our two industry networking events. Come and enjoy food, drinks and activities with the NZSDA at our Welcome Event and our exclusive Closing Event. Details are on the Expo website!
Finally, I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the surveys for the Pricing Guide. This resource is regularly used by nearly every sign shop around the country, and we are excited to bring to life an updated 2026 version that better reflects today’s pricing. This year we will only be releasing a short run of printed copies, and these will be exclusively available to the first 300 sign makers to attend the Sign & Print Expo – so make sure you come along and claim your copy!
Have a great day!
Mikayla Hopkins
NZSDA
“Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.” – Chris Grosser