denSign

When people hear the name Haliburton Highlands, they think of a region with an economy based predominantly on tourism.  While tourism plays a vital role the local economy, Haliburton is also a place of thriving industry. Amongst the successful Haliburton industrialists are Robert and Sherry denBoer, who own and operate denSign Inc.  denSign is a company that specializes in the production of non-illuminated dimensional signage and graphics. They operate in a 3500 square foot production and office facility in Haliburton Village’s Industrial Park. From there they construct and ship signs and graphic products to clients across Canada and the United States.

“I’ve worked in the signage industry for 38 years,” Robert denBoer said. “I worked in Toronto for many years while I cottaged in Haliburton.  From our company in Toronto we were shipping our products across the country. We eventually realized that we may as well work where we want to be, which is in Haliburton. We now ship our products out from here, as we did when we were in Toronto. We do basically the same thing, but are able to enjoy the higher quality of life that Haliburton has to offer… instead of living in the city, we are now able to live in the countryside, surrounded by nature and wildlife. It’s the best.”

“This is an industry of time demand,” denBoer said. “We’ve had situations in which we’ve received an order, constructed it, and shipped it to locations like Vancouver or Kentucky, all in less than a week. So we’re clearly succeeding in transporting our products, even though we don’t operate in the city. “ For the denBoers,  Haliburton offers them more than just peace and a beautiful natural environment. There are also numerous economic benefits. “In Haliburton labour costs are a bit lower and industrial space is much more affordable, all of which keeps overhead down. More importantly, however, is the quality of employees you get here.  There isn’t as much competition, which means other businesses aren’t taking your staff. So when you train employees, you know it isn’t a risky investment. We have a full time staff of seven people. We have staff that have stayed loyal to us for years,” denBoer said. “Haliburton has a great workforce. As a result, any extra shipping costs we have, which are small, are offset by the considerable savings we make by operating in Haliburton.”

Their Haliburton location certainly has not slowed down the denBoers’ business. Since opening denSign in 1999, they have made products for numerous transnational corporations and institutions, including Captain Morgan’s Rum, Adidas, VIA Rail, the Bank of Siberia, and Queen’s University, to name but a few.  Ninety-five percent of their production is currently sold outside of Haliburton County.  Their products are spreading far and wide; denSign even created signage for a grocery store in Kuwait.  While business is booming with their traditional line of signage and graphics, denSign is currently expanding into tactile graphics and Braille, which are designed for the visually impaired.  “There is a big demand for this type of signage, since it is mandatory in all Canadian federal facilities, and in many American companies. It’s a relatively new product for us, but we’re trying to be innovative and do new things.”

The expansion into tactile graphics and Braille seems like a smart move for the denSign team, as commissions for their new products continue to pour in.  While denBoer naturally focuses on his own business, he is strong advocate for the creation of new industry in Haliburton. “Production and industry in the Haliburton Highlands not only benefits employees and the community through higher wages and benefits, it is also a benefit for the business owners. Operational costs are lower, the workforce is better, and the quality of life in this vibrant, beautiful and safe community is definitely higher.”

“A huge benefit of doing business from Haliburton is the availability of assistance from the Haliburton County Development Corporation," denBoer said. "HCDC has provided financial assistance to denSign a number of times over the past decade. Lending decisions are made by a volunteer board of directors, comprised of local business professionals, who understand small business in a rural community. Unlike the banks, their focus is on employment growth, not profit.”