Designed as short, sharp, high-impact sessions, the Bootcamps attendees left with “practical, achievable changes you could implement tomorrow”
When Michelle Henry and Sam Armstrong of Make It Happen brought the Bootcamp to PacPrint Sydney in May, they weren’t just looking to fill a room; they were there to light a spark. And judging by the buzz that followed, they did exactly that.
“It all started with Mick from the ASGA,” Michelle, a consultant at Make it Happen, explains. “He attended one of Sam’s bootcamps in Las Vegas and said, ‘Australia really needs this.’ Fast forward a couple of years, I bump into him again in Brisbane and boom, we’re on a Teams call and suddenly planning the whole thing. So, we owe our Aussie debut to him!”
Designed as short, sharp, high-impact sessions, the Bootcamps were split into three streams: Signage Fundamentals, Illuminated Signage, and On the Frontline (focused on sales and leadership). The regular Bootcamps feature access to hands-on tools. Unfortunately, due to insurance, these weren’t allowed in this environment, but the classroom-based training still packed a punch.
Lighting up the room with real-world lessons
For Ben Coulson of Visual Exposure, who attended both the Illuminated Bootcamp and the On the Frontline session, the training was more than just informative; it was empowering.
“The Bootcamp gave me a fresh perspective,” Ben says. “The Illuminated Signage session helped me see how small changes in the way we talk about lighting can really influence a client’s decision. It’s about guiding them to what works best, not just what looks good.”
Fellow attendee Paul Richards from TAFE NSW echoed the sentiment. “You never stop learning,” he said. “What stood out to me was how they tackled sustainability in signage: practical, achievable changes you could implement tomorrow.”
A space for everyone, from newcomers to veterans
The Bootcamp drew a healthy cross-section of the trade. From franchise managers and sign shop owners to apprentices and educators, everyone came with one thing in common: curiosity.
Jayden Grimshaw of Grimshaw Signs signed up for the Signage Bootcamp and was impressed with the clarity. “They break things down without dumbing it down,” he said. “Sometimes you feel like you’re on your own. But hearing people share similar challenges, pricing issues, staffing struggles, keeping up with tech, it reminded me we’re all in the same boat.”
And what about those with more experience? Even seasoned professionals like Starshine Sun from United Franchise Group walked away with pages of notes. “I’ve seen a lot over the years, but this was sensational,” she says. “They connected the dots in ways I hadn’t thought about before.”
Shifting mindsets, one aha moment at a time
As Michelle puts it: “These bootcamps are designed to plug knowledge gaps that slow people down. Most sign shops can’t do everything in-house, but understanding how signs are fabricated, even if you outsource, makes a huge difference. It builds confidence, improves communication, and helps justify costs to clients.”
Case in point? The humble serif font.
“We had people go, ‘Ohhh, so that’s why those fonts cost more!’” laughs Michelle. “Once you show the fabrication logic behind it, it just clicks.”
Then there’s the pricing conversation – always a hot topic. “In the On the Frontline session, we spent a lot of time on value,” says Sue Waite from Kwik Kopy. “It reinforces our philosophy on how we talk about our services. It’s not about being the cheapest, it’s about being the most valuable.”
Practical takeaways that stick
One signature feature of the Bootcamp? Everyone had to write down their takeaways, and no one could stick to just one.
“We don’t let you leave without a plan,” says Sam Armstrong, CEO of Make it Happen. “People were scribbling gold nuggets all through the sessions. By the end, we had people sharing ideas, swapping contacts, and already tweaking their businesses.”
Michael Vella from Comcut summed it up: “You go in thinking you’ll get a few tips. You come out rethinking your whole approach.”
More than a workshop, a community
At its heart, Make It Happen is about connection. And that was never clearer than at PacPrint in Sydney.
“We saw people from competing businesses chatting, swapping ideas, even laughing about shared headaches,” says Michelle. “It’s rare and powerful.”
Michelle and Sam have plans to roll out more sessions in Australia and New Zealand later this year. For anyone curious about levelling up, they say: come as you are.
“We speak fluent Aussie, Kiwi, and Pom now,” Michelle jokes. “No matter where you’re from, there’s room at the table.”
To learn more about upcoming Bootcamps, visit www.signageacademy.com for full course details and upcoming dates across Australia and New Zealand.
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