Karratha Signs: Good people, in good country, doing great work

Jed and Suzy Griffiths started their signage business ‘unintentionally’, after departing Perth on a long adventure around Australia. The couple arrived in Karratha and were immediately charmed by the homely feeling of the town and friendliness of the local people. So rather than pass through, they stayed, and quickly became part of the community leveraging Jed’s signwriting qualifications to fill a gap in the market for a good sign-writer.

Art has been in Jed’s veins all his life, having sold his first painting at age 10, then as a teenager being commissioned to produce art for government departments and community organisations. Jed has been a graphic artist for over 25 years and enjoys all aspects of the creative process.

In 1999, the small home-based sign shop (originally branded JG Graphix) that Jed and Suzy started with a $5,000 entry-level Roland DG printer, was the foundation for their future growth.

Constant evolution

Right from the start, the business grew at a steady pace as Jed and Suzy attracted a loyal customer base compelling them to move to a new home with a separate workshop to cater for their growing business. Continual growth drove them to move again in 2016, to bigger premises in Karratha’s Light Industrial Area. It was also a pivotal time to rebrand to ‘Karratha Signs’, a business name that reflects their commitment to delivering the highest quality signage (including large industrial, mining, commercial and marine signage) to local businesses, tradesmen and countless customers in Karratha and the greater Pilbara region.

Karratha Signs now employs six full-time staff, including two traditional sign-writers (using paint brushes instead of digital printers), a casual and an apprentice, who operate a wide range of Roland DG equipment.

The culture at Karratha Signs is friendly and relaxed, where Jed and Suzy Griffiths attest that everyone “loves what they do; which shows in the attention-to-detail they give every job that comes through the door.”

Products and Services for Local Needs

Jed and Suzy pride themselves on having an innovative, constantly evolving approach, one which allows them to “grow alongside their clients – responding to their requests for new and diverse products. We have top-of-the-range equipment and only use premium products that are suited to the harsh climate in the Pilbara. All signs are UV laminated for extra protection.”

Just as they’re focused on innovation, many customers come to Karratha Signs for Jed’s rare skills and inherent talent for old-school drawing and brushwork. As a trade-qualified sign-writer and Graphic Designer, Jed learned his craft long before the digital age, so he’s able to offer unique graphics and creative solutions for his clients – in addition to the state-of-the-art digital signage Karratha Signs produces.

The locally-held belief is that “no matter their signage needs, customers choose Karratha Signs for their high quality work and the excellent service they provide on every job and every project, from start to finish.”

Developing and fostering good relationships with their customers, big and small, is the source of Karratha Signs’ customer loyalty. And beyond fostering close working relationships, Karratha Signs are committed to supporting the local Karratha community through sponsorships, donations, apprenticeships and other initiatives.

Technology to Meet Customer Demands

Jed and Suzy have been using Roland DG printers since they first started in business and have had 12 Roland DG printers in the 25 years since. They research competitor products and try to attend sign shows when they can, but have stayed loyal to Roland DG products. Jed says “since our business is run in a remote location, the support we’ve received from Roland DG has always been great and we’ve never had any problems.”

Jed goes on to say “We have always used our Roland DG printers to their full extent. We use every kind of application possible; banners, canvases, vinyl and mesh. The quality, reliability and ease of use of the Roland’s has always been fantastic and that’s why we keep purchasing more.”

In 2023, Karratha Signs bought their first of two TrueVIS AP-640 Latex Printers to leverage their faster drying time, and a CAMM-1 GR2-640 Cutter to complete the print and cut workflow, to deliver quicker turnaround times to meet customer demand.

Choosing the best Partners for ‘backup’

After 25 years in the industry, Karratha Signs have built a very strong relationship with their Roland DG Dealer – Graphic Art Mart.

Jed wouldn’t hesitate recommending Roland DG products saying “This is due to the reliability of their printers and the great backup we have had from Graphic Art Mart.”

To find out more about Karratha Signs, head to the company’s website.

To learn more about Roland DG’s extensive range of devices and their myriad applications, visit our product pages.