By the time Dany Babakhanian purchased and took ownership of IDENT Oil and Gas Signage in 2010, he had been playing the pivotal operations role of president for almost a decade. He set out to not only find a niche for the already well-established business, but to diversify the services offered and expected by clients for 18 years.
The specialty signage company dedicated to consistent, compliant and quality product is now celebrating its 40th year of serving Calgary and Western Canada and has been recognized with 26 international print awards to date. Proof that Dany’s vision and leadership has and continues to steer IDENT in the right direction.
“When I took over, we were doing whatever we had to do to survive – decals, banners, bumper stickers, etc.,” says Dany. “I knew we couldn’t be everything to everyone and I wanted to start focusing on becoming experts in signage for regulation and compliance.”
IDENT specializes in producing locally manufactured, high-end signage and works closely with customers (and their parent companies) to ensure their valuable corporate identity is protected, logo and colour matches are precise and regulatory compliance is maintained. With extensive experience in this field, the quality and consistency are always on point. They don’t just sell signs, they make it easy for customers to get precisely what they need, when they need it.
“We’re able to tell clients that we have the compliance part down. We just need a bit of information – legal site description and content for the sign – and we will make sure they’re fully compliant with the provincial oil and gas/energy regulators.”
Today, the company operates as part of the IDENT Group. ASAP Signs, which was already a 25-year-old business when Dany purchased it in 2001, is a division of IDENT bringing together three quality brands that have met Alberta’s signage needs for several decades. ASAP Signs specializes in designing, manufacturing and installing unique exterior and interior signage. A1 Signs offers signage, decals and tradeshow displays to help promote businesses with their marketing needs. And Sunset Awnings supports retailers in creating unique ways to stand out with superior awning designs.
From design, surveying, permitting, manufacturing, installation and maintenance, ASAP Signs can handle it all. It provides both interior and exterior products such as illuminated channel letters, digital sign boards, pylons and monument signs, dimensional office signage and more.
‘Look after the people and the people will look after the business.’
IDENT is one of those rare groups that doesn’t just talk about its companies’ core values or simply point them out on the website. They are actionable “Treat everyone as a customer” and “think beyond yourself.” And the IDENT team are measured against these values and hold themselves accountable.
“I put the people first,” he says. “I bought the space here and completely renovated it, so the people are up front. We also have windows in the shop space to bring in light.”
With his team of more than 20 managing everything from printing to fabrication to installation, and sales, administration and customer service, the operation runs like a well-oiled machine. And it’s evident from the moment you step foot inside the front door of the 18,000-square-foot space in the southwest which duels as an office and a shop.
Dany credits his team, as well as his wife and behind-the-scenes business partner Megan Carpenter with the success of IDENT and ASAP.
“Without them, I’m not running the company I am today.”
7212 Flint Place SE Calgary, AB T2H 1Y8
P 403.275.1919 / 1.800.661.1919
F 403.275.1888 | E speaktous@identsigns.com
