Saturn Visual Solutions is predicting a good year for the digital signage sector following the twin challenge of pandemic lockdowns and inflated hardware prices.
The company had employed just 21 people at the height of lockdown, as restrictions on movement took their toll on the outdoor ad industry nationwide. It is entering 2023 with 28 staff following a rebrand, and with revenues back above pre-pandemic levels, however.
In recent months, the company has hired a new graphic designer, three installation project delivery specialists, a software developer, a BDM, and a sales and marketing assistant, and CEO Chris Welsh says things are looking good as we enter 2023.
“The lockdowns were very tough for the AV industry and sadly many businesses didn’t survive,” he explains. “We took the opportunity to refocus our business strategy and take a fresh look at our brand. After an initial slow start to 2022, things have really taken off for us and we’ve picked up a number of large projects for installation, content creation and enclosure design from brands including ODEON, Seiko, and Cupra.”
Matthew Drury, sales and marketing director, added: “Although the digital signage industry has been around for about 25 years, the price of quality hardware was relatively high. The prices have been reducing over time, so it’s now becoming much more accessible. As a result, more and more businesses are investing in it and discovering the power of digital signage as marketing and communications tool. This, in turn, feeds the demand for content too. Our comprehensive suite of services and products, coupled with our revitalised brand, means we’ve positioned ourselves well to capitalise upon that demand, which we don’t see slowing down any time soon.”
Saturn is also in the process of appointing a new head of product design to develop the company’s suite of off-the-shelf screen enclosure products and offer a custom enclosure design and build service. The company is responsible for managing more than 20,000 screens across the UK for organisations like Odeon Cinemas, Volkswagen, the NHS, and Network Rail. The company is based in Manchester.
