Stephanie Potter’s family surprised her with a customized yard sign on her birthday. Photo: Stephanie Potter
Ecofriendly yard sign business brings joy to any occasion without the waste.
Since 2020, Sign Gypsies Edina has been transforming local celebrations one giant, festive yard sign at a time. From birthdays and baby showers to graduations and grand openings, these vibrant signs add a personalized touch to life’s biggest moments. But beyond the bold lettering and bright colors, owner Wendy Witherspoon is also focused on sustainability. We sat down with her to discuss how Sign Gypsies is reducing waste, reusing materials and bringing ecofriendly practices to the business of celebration.
Was sustainability a key factor in starting Sign Gypsies, or did it become a focus over time?
Wendy Witherspoon (WW): Sustainability was a focus for Sign Gypsies right away. When I couldn’t find a sign company to help celebrate my daughter’s 13th birthday, I purchased [a sign] from a craft store, and it was roughly the same cost as our rental fee. But the craft store sign was much smaller and only said, “Happy Birthday.” No number, no sports or hobbies, no color options and it wasn’t weatherproof. It rained, and the sign warped and couldn’t be reused. I thought, “What a waste.” At first, I considered starting my own sign business from scratch—designing the letters and building the concept myself. When I discovered that Sign Gypsies offered franchise opportunities, I realized there was no need to reinvent the wheel.
What materials are the signs made of?
WW: Sign Gypsies uses corrugated plastic (often called Coroplast or Corflute) to create [its] yard signs, which are lightweight, durable and weather resistant. Our signs have also been climate tested for extreme sunlight, heat and cold.
When a sign becomes too worn to reuse, what happens to it? Do you have a recycling or repurposing process?
WW: When our letters fade or become scratched from usage we attempt to correct them with paint first. If the sign has been significantly damaged and not repairable, we will recycle the sign with plastics. Our corporate office recently started a program where you can mail back retired, damaged or overused signs, and they will recycle them directly into new signs.
What are some challenges you’ve faced in maintaining an ecofriendly business?
WW: The biggest challenge … is finding the balance between when to add new inventory and when to maintain and repair current signs. It’s a delicate balancing act as you need fresh pieces to keep your displays fun and relevant.
Have you noticed a shift in consumer behavior in your area? Are people becoming more interested in sustainable celebration options?
WW: Many of our customers have said they are so glad that they aren’t purchasing and storing another thing in their garages. They also love that every sign is different based on the customer, so they aren’t putting the same sign in their yard every year, and they aren’t creating additional waste.
Keeping the Celebrations Coming
Stephanie Potter first used Sign Gypsies in 2020 to celebrate the birthday of her youngest son, Owen.
“I love celebrating other people’s birthdays, and the signs provide an opportunity to share this occasion with your neighbors and anyone who drives by your house,” Potter says. The Edina resident’s family has used Sign Gypsies for numerous birthday celebrations, Father’s Day and job promotions.
“Our most popular sign orders are for milestone birthdays and graduations—both high school and college,” says Wendy Witherspoon, owner of Sign Gypsies. “We’ve had the honor of creating signs for cancer survivors, transplant recipients, military homecomings and even 100th birthday celebrations.”
Potter says a giant lawn sign lets neighbors and passersby know of a special event, allowing more good wishes to pour in. “Who doesn’t love a birthday wish—especially from someone who wouldn’t have known otherwise?” —Emma Souza
Sign Gypsies
612.440.0576
