THE owner of a leading Cairns sign and printing company is crediting a record three months of trading as a indication that business is on the rebound.

All Signs Print and Design managing director Scott Brown and his director wife Kerri said it was the result of "a bit of confidence spending".

"The momentum is shifting. The worst is behind us, people are spending more," he said.

"We have had six good solid months and the last three months have been a record, even when July is historically quiet."

Mr Brown said he believed the business community had put work on hold during the first half of the year.

But, he said, the decision to diversify the signs business to include graphic design, printing, work wear and promotional products enabled him to ride through patchy periods.

"One section might be quiet while another is busy," Mr Brown said.

He said more than half of his turnover was signs but the other sections were able to provide buffers at times when it might be slow in signs.

Mr Brown said a decision three years ago to expand outside of Cairns to Papua New Guinea, the Northern Territory and regional Queensland as far south as Mackay had paid off.

"It's a very competitive industry in Cairns and a point of difference is that we are just one of two who are 3M ACS certified fabricators, which means 3M Graphics are backed by the industry's most comprehensive warranty and support," he said.

Mr Brown said the reputation of the business and the high rate of repeats and referrals were other reasons for their growth.

He said their high standards and workmanship, the two directors being "hands-on", and an "awesome" staff of seven plus a contractor were also part of the healthy operation.

Mr Brown said there had been "good and consistent growth" since they bought the small printing and photocopying company in February 2005.

He said business had grown by more than 300 per cent and they bought the Newell St premises of three sheds four years ago.

The company had designed, manufactured and installed 5000sq m of signs in the last year, Mr Brown said.

He said the company operated a professional business structure with a passionate hard-working team with the latest equipment and techniques.

"We take no short cuts. There's no easy answer as to why we have done well but it does involve good, honest hard work," he said.

Mr Brown said the company also believed in giving back to the community with its involvement with the Taipans basketball team, the Cairns Business Women's Club and the Australian Institute of Management of which he was the Cairns chairman.

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