Celebrating 20 Years of Innovation

By Ernie Macias

Irecently took a little trip to this hidden gem called Windeck in the beautiful countryside of Germany. I've taken this trip quite a few times now in the 8 years I have been working with Yellotools and I have fond memories of the first time this trip was presented to me at a trade show in Long Beach. I was visiting my girlfriend at the time who told me I just had to meet these crazy people she met that morning while she was checking exhibitors in and handing out badges.

I sit here now with that girlfriend as my wife and me being one of those crazy people! If you've ever met anyone from Yellotools at a trade show, you would have to admit we're a bit crazy right? Who asks you "What do you hate about your job?" or "Would you like to smell my squeegee?" but as all of us Yellotoolers know, it's in the asking of a question that really helps to open your mind to a new possibility, and new possibility is really where we are coming from. To some, that's crazy, but doing the same thing over and over again and being miserable is Insanity!

A little over 20 years ago, Michael Althoff, in his admitted laziness, wanted to make his life a little easier and change the way he stores his vinyl rolls for his little sign shop. He was tired of using tape and rubber bands..."What do you hate about your job?" was born with his first innovation called The SpeedClip! It was never meant to be a mass product. Just a little improvement to make his day a little better. It turned out to change an entire industry around the world! Millions of these clips were sold in the last 20 years and dozens of competitors jumped on the train and copied them countless times!

Over 500 game-changing products such as the world's first rubber-coated magnet, the legendary bodyguard, knife, and the Wrap-U-ezee wrapping tool for car mirrors. He also changed the way of handling self-adhesive vinyl. Over 100,000 running meters of safety rulers protect sign guys and gal's fingers all over the planet. A wooden squeegee that's 65 inches wide is crazy, right? Putting up a sign the size of a small building with a 4" piece of plastic is insanity! Our TimberMaxx squeegee changed the way we install big graphics simply by asking why.

My little trip to the hidden gem called Windeck in the beautiful countryside of Germany was to visit the Headquarters of Yellotools and to celebrate 20 years. The celebration was not for 20 years of a successful and profitable business, but 20 years of passion for helping people to make their job easier. The success comes naturally as a result of this focus and I am happy to say that Yellotools has changed my life by teaching me by example that helping those around you and building people up only adds to your own life's happiness. Thank you

Yellotools for being the industry leader in not only tools but innovation and passion for making everyone in our industry proud to say "Signmaking is the best job in the World".

Happy 20th Anniversary, to the entire Yellotools family!