Moving to a cloud-based MIS system from Clarity Software provides remote access and increased efficiency for Recreative’s flexible, customer-focused business
For Richard Earley, founder of Brighton-based Recreative Signs, running a sign business is more than a 9-to-5 job; it’s a passion he has pursued for 37 years. When he and his wife Tracy established their family-run company ten years ago, he brought with him decades of experience from managing other sign companies. One of the most important lessons he learned was the value of an industry-specific robust Management Information System (MIS).
He explains, “When I started Recreative Signs, I had always wanted to have Clarity Software by my side. Having used it at a previous sign company, I knew that it was a system designed from top to bottom to meet the needs of sign and print providers. This made it an easy and natural choice for me. I got in touch with them as soon as I registered the company.”
Based in Brighton, Recreative Signs became even more of a family team when Richard and Tracy’s son, Ryan, joined in 2018. The company specialises in a wide range of services, from vehicle branding and CNC-machined logos to bespoke printed wall art and complex, large-scale displays. “We operate from our workshop, which also houses our own CNC machine. A large portion of our work is carried out on site, and we are able to produce a vast number of larger projects in-house, including shop fascias,” says Richard.
Recreative’s range of services includes design, manufacture and installation, as well as offering sign consultancy and help with planning applications. “We love tackling projects that are not the norm. For example, we recently completed a 6 metre x 41/2 metre structure with an illuminated menu for a local food venue.”
He adds, “We love creating bespoke printed wall art and particularly specialise in self-adhesive vinyls. We stock at least 60 rolls of Metamark M7 Series vinyls and produce multi coloured designs using them. We really try to push boundaries, and you can see this on the graphic on the rear of our van, which uses all 90 M7 colours. We call it our own paint-by-vinyls graphic.”
He continues, “We work hard as a family to ensure we meet client needs, while maintaining a good quality of life. We are often on site or working outside of traditional hours and this means we need a management system that can keep pace.”
The Move to a Cloud-based MIS
Having used the Clarity Pro on-premise desktop version of the software for years, Richard was intrigued by the flexibility offered by the cloud-based Clarity Go. After a successful trial in December 2024, he made the switch.
He explains, “I did the trial they offered to see how it works and straight away realised that the benefits were worth the switch. I was quite sceptical at first, thinking, ‘Do I really need this flexibility?’ Trust me, once you switch, you won’t look back. It is packed with features that are very specific to the way sign companies like mine work, which is a hugely powerful advantage.”
The implementation process was remarkably simple. “Once I had authorised the switch, the team at Clarity logged onto my computer remotely and set everything up. The switch was effortless. All my current accounts and settings moved across without any issues.”
Speed and flexibility, anytime, anywhere
On a day-to-day basis, Recreative Signs uses Clarity Go primarily for quoting and invoicing, but it’s the system’s accessibility that has been truly transformative.
“The speed at which you can raise a quote for a customer is mind-blowing, especially as you can do it from any location. I can carry out a site meeting, do the survey, and whilst sitting in the car before heading off or on the train back, I can raise the quotation and send it over to the client I have just left. Without Clarity Go, this would easily require 24 hours or more to respond in this way.”
This remote capability is essential for the company’s flexible working model. “We don’t do a 9-to-5, five-day-a-week service; we work when our customers require us. There are occasions when we are working away and staying in a hotel. Clarity Go allows us to keep up to date with our clients no matter where we are. I find it priceless and can’t imagine working without it,” he adds.
A priceless, streamlined workflow
For Richard, the benefits of Clarity Go are clear. “Freedom, ease of use, and versatility are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of using Clarity Go. It is simply everything we need in one beautifully crafted package. The amount of features it offers means that whether you are a one-man band or a multi-million-pound company, everyone can benefit.”
Even with over 20 years of experience using the software, Richard values the readily available support he gets from Clarity Software. “With constant updates and improvements, there are times when I need some guidance or a reminder. Clarity makes it very easy to contact them and they are available to help straight away, either by running through it on the phone or logging on and sorting it out.”
In conclusion, Richard says the system provides all the functionality needed to run a successful modern sign business. “Why would anyone want to use any other software? Clarity Go offers a streamlined workflow so you have more time to spend relaxing and less worrying about administrative tasks you haven’t done. I fully recommend anyone in our business to watch their demos and see for themselves what they can gain from this fantastic system.”
Related: Clarity Go unlocks benefits for Signspeed