In 1991, Paris Signs began with a simple idea, a handful of hand-painted banners, and a young entrepreneur working from his apartment.

Today, the Huntington-area company employs more than 35 people and operates from a 59,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, serving customers both locally and across the country.

The story of Paris Signs began with Anthony “Tony” Wheeler, whose interest in signmaking started in high school. While working nights at the local grocery store where he met his wife, Heather, Tony began painting banners by hand from his apartment.

As demand grew beyond what he could produce himself, Tony said he purchased a Macintosh computer and vinyl cutter, turning his side work into a full-time business. 

Heather quickly became interested in both Tony and the business and has remained an integral part of Paris Signs ever since.

“From the beginning, our mission has been to provide creative solutions tailored to each customer’s needs, with quality serving as the foundation of everything we do,” she said.

Although technology and capabilities behind the business have changed dramatically since 1991, that original purpose remains at the heart of Paris Signs.

The company has moved four times throughout its history, Heather said, with each location providing the additional space needed to expand its team, capabilities and production capacity.

One early turning point came when Paris Signs earned a contract to produce signage for the Tamarack in Beckley. That contract helped launch the company into a period of increased growth, hiring and investment in equipment.

That growth has continued over the past 35 years, Heather added.

Today, Paris Signs primarily focuses on the electric sign industry, designing and manufacturing channel letters, illuminated cabinets, illuminated sign faces, custom illuminated logos and electronic message centers. The company also produces non-illuminated and dimensional signs, architectural and ADA signage, banners, awnings, printed graphics and vehicle graphics.

From consultation and custom design to permitting, fabrication, installation and ongoing sign service, Paris Signs can manage a project from the initial idea through final installation. 

While its capabilities have expanded, so has its reach, Heather said.

Through SignMonkey.com, Paris Signs has expanded its national presence, making professionally manufactured custom signs easier for customers across the country to design, price, order and install.

That combination of technology and problem-solving has become an important part of the company’s evolution.

“Innovation has always been part of the culture at Paris Signs,” Heather said. 

The company has continued investing in manufacturing technology, including CNC channel-letter benders, cutters and routers, as well as laser-cutting capabilities for aluminum and steel.

Tony’s problem-solving mindset has extended beyond the equipment on the manufacturing floor. In 2014, he was awarded a patent for a modular power-delivery system designed to simplify channel-letter installation.

“For us, innovation is not simply about owning new equipment,” Heather said. “It is about finding practical ways to serve customers better, reduce unnecessary delays and consistently build a better product.”

That approach to innovation has also helped Paris Signs build a portfolio of projects throughout the region.

Among the company’s memorable projects is work on the historic Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center, where Paris Signs helped restore signage for the Huntington theater.

“Being trusted to help restore and recreate signage for such an important Huntington landmark was both an honor and a responsibility,” Heather said.

Other favorite projects include the decorative wall at the Marshall Health Network Arena, the Huntington Museum of Art sign and a new sign for the Paramount Theater in Ashland, KY.

The company has also developed longstanding relationships with Marshall University, Cabell Huntington Hospital, St. Mary’s Medical Center and commercial developers throughout the region.

But some of the most meaningful projects are not necessarily the largest, Heather said.

“Just as meaningful are the projects we complete for small businesses,” she said. “Helping a new or growing business establish its identity and become more visible in the community is something we never take for granted.”

For Paris Signs, that work represents more than simply manufacturing a sign. It is an opportunity to play a role in the places and businesses that make up the community.

That community connection is also part of what the company believes keeps customers coming back, Heather said.

“We believe customers return because they know what to expect from us,” she said. “Creative solutions, dependable service, and a quality product.”

Paris Signs takes time to understand what each customer is trying to accomplish and uses its experience to find a solution suited to the project. By offering design, permitting, manufacturing, installation, and service under one roof, Paris Signs can provide customers with a consistent partner throughout the process.

“Most importantly, we stand behind our work and value the long-term relationships we have built with our customers,” Heather said. 

That emphasis on relationships, quality and community has helped Paris Signs reach a milestone of its own.

In 2026, the company celebrated its 35th anniversary, allowing Tony and Heather to reflect on how far the business has come since those first hand-painted banners.

“What started with hand-painted banners in an apartment has grown into a 59,000-square-foot manufacturing operation employing more than 35 people and serving customers locally and nationwide,” Heather said. 

The company has received recognition along the way, including being named 2023 West Virginia Small Business Persons of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. In 2025, Paris Signs was also honored with the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce Innovator of the Year award.

While those accomplishments are meaningful, Heather said the company’s greatest source of pride is closer to home.

“Our greatest accomplishment is the team we have built, the quality of work they produce and the trust our customers have placed in Paris Signs for 35 years,” she said. 

Now after 35 years of growth, Paris Signs is looking toward the next chapter.

The company’s goal is to double the size of the business while continuing to improve product quality, shorten manufacturing timelines and provide an even better customer experience. 

That growth will come through continued investments in employees, equipment, technology and production systems, while maintaining the local relationships that helped build the company in the first place, Heather said.

As Paris Signs looks ahead, its ambitions may be bigger than they were in 1991, but the foundation remains much the same: solve problems, create quality work and help customers bring their ideas to life.

After 35 years, the company is still building–one sign at a time. To learn more visit parissigns.com and follow their Facebook page.