Signing up for Wintergames

Expandasign owner Jayden Dickinson had turned a passion for print into a successful career. Photo / Ben Fraser

A focus on never letting a client down has always been a key for Jayden Dickinson.

Whether that means driving through the night to deliver signage because a courier let them down, or taking on a last-minute order, he's pretty proud to say he and the team at Expandasign have never left a client without signage.

He believes it is that focus on customer service which has seen the local company be named as the preferred signage supplier for Audi Quattro Wintergames.

The event, to be held in August, brings together the best of the world's elite sport athletes competing in six World Cup events over 11 days in the South Island.

"We focus mostly on quality and customer service. I don't think we have ever let anyone down and I think that is pretty unique. If you're going to go after the event work you have to go over and above."

Mr Dickinson said it was a real accolade to the service, quality and range of products the company provided.

"It just shows you how a little local innovation leads to great things." Mr Dickinson said the Rotorua-based firm prided itself on innovation when it came to signage.

"A lot of [research and development] has gone into our products. We are constantly adapting."

They have led the way inventing a number of signage options, including the flying banner.

"Our products have been very heavily copied."

He said while to begin with it could be a bit galling seeing designs copied by other firms, it was not worth fighting legally or "going grey over".

"You've got to let go. You try to protect yourself as much as you can." Instead he was focused on continually improving what they were doing.

"There's not much we can't print on ... glass, timber, fabrics, plastic and woods."

Back then the total production with the equipment they had was 9sq m an hour, now that's into the hundreds of square metres. They had also placed a greater focus on how they were working, making the move to more environmentally friendly ways of printing.

A background as a graphic designer, Mr Dickinson bought the businesses in 2010, after working for the company for about a decade as a head designer.

"I came in from another company with the intention of buying it. It had a lot of potential. At that stage, the Rotorua market was pretty small and I could see a fair bit of growth."

About 18 months ago, they expanded the business from the Rotorua "factory" to include a Tauranga office and have further plans for extension.

"I started off a graphic designer but I am just passionate about printing and displaying."