Rye Harbour is a fascinating place, and the nature reserve and new visitor centre often grab the headlines – but there is far more to Rye Harbour than scenery, views and history for, as well as the popular tourist attractions, there is the commercial side of life spread out along the Harbour Road, namely the industrial estates.
If you take the time to explore the businesses operating from these estates you will be surprised at the diversity of specialised professions and the amount of very varied skilled craftsmen who work there – and one company who have become “part of the furniture” are Care Signs. This is a true family business by definition and one of the longest established businesses of its kind in the general area.
Kelvin Care is a skilled and traditional sign writer (hand painted) and sign maker and established the Care Signs business 45 years ago. in 1990 Kelvin’s son, Dustin (sign maker) and Kelvin’s wife, Shirley Care (admin and sales), joined the business and the first computerised vinyl cutting machine was introduced in order to meet demand and expand the business. Continued growth meant bigger premises and the business then moved to Cinque Ports Street in Rye.
Further expansion was inevitable as business kept on coming in and in 1995 there was no option but to move once more to a bigger premises, this time in Winchelsea Beach. As the saying goes, success breeds success and this time a purpose built unit was the only way to cope with increased demand so in 2009 Care Signs moved once more to Atlas Business Park and introduced in-house, wide format digital printing to meet the ever increasing requests for full colour and more complex designs.
This really is a true family business and to complement the team further Dustin’s wife, Ariane Care joined the team in 2013, again due to increased demand, and in 2015,
experienced graphic designer and sign maker Andy Edmonston came on board, the only non-family member.
Dustin manages the business on a day to day basis while Kelvin and Shirley are trying to slow down by taking more of a back seat in preparation for a well earned and overdue retirement.
Like most businesses coronavirus has affected operations and the business has had to adapt accordingly. During the early days of lockdown, due to a downturn in orders and for the team’s health and safety, some of team needed to be furloughed and the others worked from home where possible, with just Dustin working in the workshop alone when necessary.
Thankfully, they are a well known and well established family business with a very varied client base, and enquiries and orders have started to increase again over the last three to four weeks, which has meant Andy returning to work alongside Dustin whilst taking care to socially distance.
All of their suppliers have managed to stay open and continue to provide the materials needed without too many issues, which has been really helpful and business is beginning to return to some sort of normality.
You may have unwittingly witnessed some of Care Signs handiwork including the fascia at Tatner’s Street kitchen, which was traditionally sign written, as well as vinyl graphics for some new zero emissions “cargo” delivery e-bikes and full colour graphics on a new Luton van for Morfeys Removals.
Care Signs offer a full creative design and artwork service along with installation as well as a huge variety of signs, vehicle graphics, large format digital printing, bespoke banners, POS (point of sale) graphics, shop and pub signage, pavement signs, safety signs, magnetic signs, business and loyalty cards, printed stationery, flyers, menus and NCR pads.
Care Signs can be contacted on 01797 223999 or by email on dustin@caresigns.co.uk and more information is available on its website.
Image Credits: Nick Forman , Dustin Care .