Signs of Greece/ Damoulis Signs
by Nancy Beaudette
For most travelers visiting a new country,
you know you're someplace new by the landscape, the architecture
or the accent. As sign makers, we know we're in a foreign
land because of the signs. But on this trip to Greece, we
not only encountered a strange language, but it was also
written in an unfamiliar alphabet. You can see where the
phrase "It's Greek to me…” comes from.
In the cities and villages there are scores of backlit signs and channel letters
with neon decorating the streets. They are mounted on facades, projecting from
storefronts, erected on posts and randomly installed on buildings and along
roads. The sign codes in Greece seem lax because at home in Canada, we would
never be allowed to hang projecting signs close to a roadway. At a glance the
streetscapes appear cluttered and confusing.
As we neared our destination of Lecheo, a small city outside the city of Korinthos,
we noticed a subtle, yet welcome, change. The strong layouts, unique color
combinations and interesting manufacturing techniques were telltale signs that
we had entered the territory of a respectable sign maker.
Well presented from the first sighting, Damoulis Signs
is meticulously clean and organized. Perriandros Damoulis employs five people,
including Kathy, his wife, who runs the express side of the business—programming
jobs and cutting and applying vinyl. Helena is the full-time office manager
in charge of scheduling, inventory, billing and other essential office duties.
John, who is extremely well versed in the capabilities of the equipment,
operates the two-year-old Sabre 408 router. Two other gentlemen work in the
shop as finishers, assemblers and installers.
We met Periandros a year ago when he came to North
America to attend one of Jay Cooke’s [Vermont Sign School, 802-253-8402] router workshops and
to visit us at Sign It Signs in Cornwall. I had received E-mail from him four
months previous to this, asking to visit us. In this wonderful age of information,
our planet becomes smaller and more accessible. A ‘round-the-world relationship
that would have been impossible ten years ago has blossomed in true Letterhead
spirit, and just in the nick of time.
Cont'd>>
