Page 36 - BusinessWest September 14 2020

direction as the business world paused and sign work all but stopped as the pandemic arrived, he noted, and very quickly had product moving out the doors of the Pittsfield plant.
“We had the equipment, and we had the sup- ply,” he told BusinessWest. “So we were able to move from idea to prototype to our first order, which was a $138,000 order, in seven working days. That’s the flexibility we have, and it has allowed us to be successful.”
That same flexibility is effectively serving the company as it transitions back to making signage,
“We had the equipment, and we had the supply. So we were able to move from idea to prototype to our first order, which was a $138,000 order, in seven working days.”
said Dan Renzi, John’s brother and partner, espe- cially when it comes to supply-chain issues.
“Many of our suppliers just stopped delivering for quite some time, and then, when they started up again, the manufacturers just could not get the product to us,” he explained, referring specifically to the white polycarbonate needed in most sign projects. Working with existing and new suppli- ers, GIS has been able to stockpile and warehouse this essential product while some competitors are waiting for what could be three or four months to get what they need.
Thus, the company is well-positioned, even in the middle of a pandem- ic, to broaden an already- impressive portfolio that includes clients such as Big Y, General Dynamics, and a host of banks and credit unions, especially those installing inter- active teller machines (ITMs).
GIS has become an industry leader in making the surrounds, or cano- pies (see photo, page XX), for these devices, and it
is now making them for Berkshire Bank, Peoples- Bank, Country Bank, bankESB, and several other institutions.
“The ATMS are on
their way out, and the
ITMs are moving in,”
John noted. “More banks
are expanding into this
because it’s clearly the
future, and we’re one of
the leaders in making signage and surrounds for these ITMs.”
This status, coupled with the company’s flex- ibility and its ability to work with clients to design, develop, and install signage that is indeed impact- ful, has it very well-positioned for the future.
“Over the years, we’ve seen people come in with, literally, something scribbled on a piece of
Dan Renzi, left, and his brother, John, stand in front of a new sign made for Big Y.
paper,” said Dan, explaining how GIS is involved with the client from start to finish. “We’ll take things from that really rough sketch to a com- plete, finished product all in one building; we can take a dream and turn it into reality.”
For this issue and its focus on Berkshire Coun- ty, BusinessWest turns its lens on GIS and how it has been able to use its flexibility and resiliency to not only ride out the pandemic, but take new and
36 SEPTEMBER 14, 2020
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
BusinessWest
Staff Photo