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South Water Signs We are a full-service, turnkey signage provider. We bring proven capabilities and credentials to meet the full spectrum of need - from audits and surveys to design drawings and permitting, manufacturing to installation and maintenance - spanning every sign project type and a wide range of industries, locally, nationally and worldwide. Watch Video: We have the resources and capacity to handle the largest programs and the expertise and process discipline to track the smallest detail. Companies do not deliver excellence.
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South Water Signs has the capabilities to meet every signage need. From large programs to one-off projects, we deliver consistent, highest-level quality with professionalism and attention to detail. We have proven processes and a long track record of success in implementing comprehensive sign solutions for shopping malls, hotels, hospitals, office buildings and other large-scale, single-location projects.
Many South Water Signs clients have large marketing departments and construction management teams but economics don't support maintaining in-house staff who specialize in signage. That's where we come in. We offer proven, full-service project management capabilities that free our customers to focus on what matters most - growing their business.
We have served some of the best-known companies in the world, delivering signage solutions that contribute to strong brands and business success. We are recognized as one of the best signage providers in the marketplace, but the real proof of the value we deliver is in the relationships we maintain and the work we have completed.
The competition showcases the best of the best of the Illinois Sign Industry, providing recognition in eight categories. South Water Signs is honored to receive this prestigious award for our recent work on the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre marquee sign. After more than four years of planning, two years in the city for approvals and one global pandemic, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre has a sign they can be proud to call their own.
Reviews (19)
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Select Sign Service
Jun 13, 2022
If you like doing service for free, This is company for you. They'll stay on you about completing the work for them but, Once it's time for them to pay you, They disappear off the face of the planet. I've called the contact we did the service for, The main business number, etc and have gotten absolutely nowhere. This company is extremely unprofessional.

We have confirmed that they have received payment from the company WE did the service for but, We have never received a dime for our work. I would suggest you use literally any other sign company other than this one.
Hailey Morgan
Mar 24, 2022
Did work for them and never received any payment at all. When I tried to call them about it, The phone was conveniently "disconnected" If I could give a worse rating, I would.
Michael Seibert
Mar 17, 2022
No pay / slow pay. If you own a sign shop & they have reached out to you for survey work or installation work, do yourself a favor & refuse the work. I've owned a reputable sign business for 15 years, and shops like South Water are what give our industry a bad name.
Robby Dunlap
Mar 10, 2022
It's hard to believe that companies like this continue to stay in business and win national contracts. I, like many in the below reviews have not been paid on a job that was complete over 4 months ago. I have reached way in every way possible and have been run around through 3-4 different people before being ghosted by them. I was told for the first month of being over due that the check was on the way, but it never came.

Then I was told they are having issues paying due to the owners assets being frozen through a divorce. I hope that whoever is reading this reconsiders subbing for or trusting their brand with this company.
Shelby Kupiainen
Feb 16, 2022
1 star because there has to be a star to post; but, 0 stars as they do not pay their subcontractors. Do not work with this company & if you do, have your lien waviers ready or you'll be writing off their work too.
James Hoffman
Dec 05, 2021
Don't do work for this company! I own a sign shop and was contracted for work. Work was conducted and completed. Have not been paid yet, this was back in May, 6 months ago. Getting the runaround from employees via emails and no one will return my call. Real classy guys, thanks for nothing. Update: Finally got paid.
Samanthia Cook
Dec 01, 2021
I am the owner of a sign shop in North Carolina. We have completed four jobs for South Water Signs dating back to April of 2021. All four of the completed jobs have been installations and site surveys for Edward Jones. They provided a PO# and then will not pay. The purchasing and billing department refuses to give any real answers as to when they will pay.

It has now been over 6 months and we have not received our final payment. I do not recommend this company for contracting work unless you get full payment up front. This behavior is unacceptable, unethical and very unprofessional which makes it difficult for small businesses and gives a bad name to the sign industry. If I could give zero stars to this company, I would.
Aaron Vance
Sep 07, 2021
DO NOT WORK WITH THIS COMPANY! I own another sign sign shop in Idaho. South Water Signs contacted me to have a sign taken down for one of there clients. H&R block. I quoted the take down and they agreed to the price. Our terms for a job are 50% down payment on completion. They asked for 30 days to pay the remainder. No problem. It has now been 4 months and we have not received our final payment.

We have contacted them multiple times and they tell us that they have escalated our invoice yet will not tell us when this will be resolved. Do not work for this company they are THEIVES praying on the hard working ethical sign companies of America.
Alan Schellerer
Apr 05, 2021
I've worked with South Water Signs for nearly a decade now and they've become incredible partner of ours. Their knowledge in signage and program work is the best in the industry! Keep up the great work!
Michael Moreau
Apr 02, 2021
Should have read these reviews before agreeing to work for them. They pay on their terms, not what is agreed to. 6 months later I am still not paid in full. Don't do work for them unless they pay in full up front.
Rebecca Ross
Mar 24, 2021
If you're a small sign company that expects to get paid in a timely manner (30-60 days) after completion, don't do work for South Water Signs! Their AP department won't return phone calls. They all play the game just to see how long they can drag it out before they have to pay. Never again!
Jason Mitchell
Mar 23, 2021
Amazing work! We had a relatively big project with many wall and window stickers on the interior, and illuminated signs on the exterior. The team from South Water did an excellent job managing the project and completed the work within our tight time frame. Thanks so much Michael and team!
Romady Construction
Mar 14, 2021
We've worked with South Water Signs for several years, as one of their local install vendors. We have a great relationship and have dealt over the years with many great people there. As long as we submitted the invoicing paperwork correctly, there were no issues on that end and we've got paid on time.
M. Bey
Oct 21, 2020
This place is amazing! The best in sign fabrication in the Mid-west. Top notch project management. Design team that understands the importance of exposure and branding. Install crew that is out of this world. I'd give ten stars if I could, ten.
Robert Merkel
Mar 11, 2020
South Water Signs is a great place to work. Extremely talented group of fabricators, and experienced Project Management team. Great industry to learn fabrication and design methods while working with decision makers of large and small companies. Great to see a final custom designed product installed after applying efforts into turning a sign design, into a real Sign.
Kelly M.
Oct 07, 2019
This company is extremely slow. They are not interested in getting a job done for you efficiently. I would not recommend working with them. They will create designs for you without looking up a city's code. I recommend Its a Sign in Oak Park - they are honest, fast, and efficient.
Lisa G.
May 04, 2019
I have never been so frustrated and disappointed working with a company before. They passed my small project on from one person to another. No one knew what was going on. No one would call me in a timely manner. They are so incompetent! Would not recommend them to anyone!
Brian Q.
Oct 09, 2018
Beware sub contractors, they don't like to pay their invoices. They will he off for ever on payment. Had a site survey for $85 that took forever to get paid, and the only way I could get paid for it was hold off on an install we had for them.
Bob K.
Feb 23, 2018
I have worked with Southwater Signs for over one year on three projects. I have to say that this organization is the worst group I have ever had to work with. Contractors BEWARE. Southwater will push you to do everything they need yesterday, and then "Nobody is home" when you try to collect your money. This is the most "EXCUSE" riddled organization on the planet.

Their project managers attached the wrong PO's to your invoices so they get lost in the system for weeks, Their project managers accept NO RESPONSIBILITY to assist you in connecting up with A/P. A/P blocks their phones so you can't contact them, they short pay and kick your invoice back into a 45 day cycle. They claim they pay in 45 days, but you can't even get their attention until after 60 plus days.

This is a disaster for small businesses. Please make sure you have lots of capital to front the money to your suppliers and employees, Don't rely on these guys for any assistance.