Signs Point to Success
Landmark Sign Group Leaders Talk Four Decades of Superior Signage
Writer / Julie Yates
Photography Provided
Landmark Sign Group in Chesterton is celebrating 40 years in the business of creating quality signs. As the largest custom sign company in Chicago and Northwest Indiana, it has produced and installed projects all over the United States and even internationally. However, the company team takes great pride in developing signs for small businesses, area schools, doctor offices and medical facilities.
Noted for its outside-the-box and innovative signage, the company takes abstract ideas all the way to installation. Examples are Chicagos iconic Goodman Theatre marquee, Topshop/Topman in the Las Vegas Fashion Show mall, and restaurant projects such as Bar Louie, located from Wisconsin to Florida. Not forgotten, though, are local projects that helped the company grow to its current level of success. No job is too small, and renovating and cleaning signs are still part of the business.
If someone can draw their idea on paper, we can design and build it, plus install it, says Todd Wallsmith, owner. When I first bought the business, at first I was surprised when one of the designers would look at a drawing and say, There is no way that can be done. It was counter to my thought that people would never have a give-up attitude. But, I learned that about 20 minutes later, there would be a knock on my door and the designer would present me with a solution.
When Wallsmith purchased the company, one of the most important factors to him was retaining all the people who were currently working there. The business does everything in-house. Each sign, large or small, is designed, assembled and installed by employees who are experts at what they do and have many years of experience.
We are a complete turnkey, custom electric sign manufacturer, says Jason Moorehead, vice president of sales and marketing. Our staff can do everything from sign design to construction in our nearly 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. We also take care of all permitting, as well as installation and service of the sign after the sale.
We have produced signs that are in 49 of the 50 states – nothing in Alaska yet – and five countries, Moorehead continues. We have done signs for some very high-profile clients such as Harry Carays in downtown Chicago, the Blue Cross Blue Shield 
building in Chicago, the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, the Gary SouthShore RailCats baseball team and Centier Bank in Indiana. We have also done signs for our local businesses such as Living Hope Church, Northwest Hospital, the LaPorte school system, Culver Community Schools, H&T Electrical, Hearthfire Self Storage, Valpo Parks, and the Boys & Girls Club.
When asked about the resurgence and popularity of retro neon signs, Wallsmith shares something surprising. What some people might think are neon signs today are made from plastic-covered LED lighting. Users reap many benefits from this technology such as low electricity usage, hence less cost, plus safety advantages. The lights dont get hot and the flexible material the lights are encased in wont shatter. Often, unless someone gets very close to the sign, it is hard to tell that it isnt a true neon light.
Since the company produces signs in many places, employees love to point them out to their families. When Moorehead took his son to college in California, they were driving along a highway. He was able to proudly point out a sign that had been manufactured by Landmark.
We like to pride ourselves on being able to do any job, whether its a high-profile job that will take weeks of planning and coordinating, to your local pizza place that only takes two weeks to build and install, Moorehead says. We make each job a top priority, and want to make sure that everyone feels important and is happy with their new sign.
Landmark Sign Group is located at 7424 Industrial Avenue in Chesterton. For more info, visit landmarksign.com, email info@landmarksign.com, or call 877-762-9577. View projects and see videos of installations on Facebook and Instagram.
