In this episode of Printing’s Alive, Warren Werbitt chats with Wendy Graves from the Make It Happen Signage Academy about its impact on the printing and signage industry. They discuss the academy’s events, the importance of industry language, and Wendy’s passion for signage. The conversation highlights the academy’s programs, hands-on and online training balance, and community college partnerships. They also cover the importance of passionate trainers, unbiased sessions, franchise training challenges, training costs, ROI, AI impact, and fair pricing strategies. The episode concludes with insights into industry challenges and future plans.

(0:00) Introduction of special guest Wendy Graves and the Make It Happen Signage Academy
(1:47) Overview and types of events hosted by the academy
(4:31) Learning the language of the printing and signage industry
(6:10) Passion for the signage industry and discussion on teachability
(9:05) Programs offered and hands-on training vs. online training
(14:12) Partnerships with community colleges and training commitment challenges
(18:07) Signage franchises’ involvement in training
(20:29) Importance of passionate trainers and franchise training challenges
(23:11) Maintaining unbiased training sessions
(24:45) Training costs, investment in employees, and ROI
(30:52) Training’s impact on reducing mistakes and increasing revenue
(37:21) Incorporating AI and technology in training
(42:00) Addressing the devaluation of design and consulting services
(45:29) Strategies to charge fair prices for services
(48:51) Impact and value addition of the print and sign industry
(49:52) Real-world challenges and customer expectations
(52:40) Importance of training, pricing adjustments, and industry connections
(54:52) Closing thoughts, future plans, and promotions
(56:01) Warren Werbitt’s enthusiasm and plans for pricing strategy
(57:22) Episode conclusion and farewell