Sign Manufacturers NAICS 339950

Jun 14, 2026 - Survey: Digital Signage Formats Gain Ground

• An April 2026 Advertiser Perceptions survey found that digital billboards and large-format digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising remain the most widely used out-of-home formats, with 65% of US advertisers reporting use in the past six months. Retail media network digital screens also gained momentum, with adoption rising to 58% from 47% in 2025, driven by strong audience targeting, measurement, and attribution capabilities. Meanwhile, static billboards showed signs of weakness. While 53% of advertisers still use them, only 16% plan to increase spending this year, down from 22% in 2025, and 31% expect to reduce spending. The findings suggest advertisers are shifting budgets toward more measurable and flexible digital formats. Advertiser Perceptions projects overall US out-of-home advertising growth of 4.0% in 2026, while DOOH is expected to grow 7.6%.
• According to Sign Builder Illustrated, digital signage success depends less on display hardware and more on the quality, purpose, and ongoing management of content, as organizations increasingly recognize that screens are communication platforms rather than standalone products. For the sign manufacturing industry, this shift could create new revenue opportunities in content development and management services, while encouraging companies to leverage their expertise in design, branding, typography, color, and visual communication to help customers maintain relevant, goal-driven messaging that keeps displays effective and engaging over time.

• The rate of US business applications, a key demand indicator for sign manufacturing services, increased in May 2026 compared to the prior month, according to the US Census Bureau. Total applications rose 3.7%, with all US regions posting stronger activity, led by the Midwest (+4.2%), followed by the South (+4.1%), the West (+4.0%), and the Northeast (+1.5%). Of the major industry sectors tracked by the Census Bureau, the largest gains in May business applications were recorded in retail trade (+13.4%), unclassified businesses (+3.9%), construction (+3.5%), and professional services (+3.4%). Other notable increases included educational services (+2.4%), information (+2.3%), agriculture (+2.2%), accommodation and food services (+1.9%), and other services (+1.8%). Industries posting the largest declines in May business applications included utilities (-9.5%), mining (-6.0%), wholesale trade (-5.2%), and management of companies.
• Sign shops focused on printing are increasingly adding apparel, such as T-shirts, hoodies, and branded clothing, as a practical extension of existing services rather than a shift in direction, according to Sign Builder Illustrated. The move reflects strong overlap in customer relationships, since clients who need signage often require consistent branding across apparel. Advances in heat transfer vinyl, direct-to-film methods, and UV printing have lowered barriers to entry, making short runs and custom jobs more efficient. For the sign manufacturing industry, this creates new revenue streams, improves margins through bundled offerings, and strengthens customer retention with more frequent reorders. While apparel introduces workflow considerations, it fits naturally into the industry’s strength in handling small, custom orders. Ultimately, apparel serves as a complementary add-on that supports growth without replacing core sign production.