Entrepreneurs like Carmen and Tom Rentzios understand that recessions surprisingly can be the right time to take action and execute on long term plans. That is just what the DTC FASTSIGNS® sign and graphics center owners did when they finished designing and building their new state-of-the-art, free-standing center, now located at 10697 E Briarwood Cir. in Centennial.

"We were bursting at the seams and by relocating to almost triple the space, we are able to better meet the needs of our customers," explained Carmen Rentzios, who has owned and operated the DTC FASTSIGNS for close to 16 years and been in the FASTSIGNS family since 1987. "This new space was designed around the customers' needs and experience. Our showroom really helps them understand the full breadth of our creative solutions to help them grow their business. "

Even in the current difficult economic times, Rentzios keeps an optimistic attitude daily. "We refuse to participate in this Recession. Budgets may be tighter, but our products and services provide value, now more than ever. Our goal is to help customers maximize the effectiveness of their advertising and marketing outreach through our signs, marketing tools, and graphics."

"Because the new layout of our center allows for a better workflow, we have been able to make additional room for our large format printers and cutters," explained Rentzios. "This printer/cutter combo allows us to fully realize the creative ideas our clients demand. Large custom shape signs are very effective and we are proud to have this capability available in-house."

Along with wide-format printing, the center offers small-format printing, with items such as business cards and brochures. Through the years, Rentzios and her team have also added an engraver and two routers in order to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant signage. Wayfinding and other custom signage for buildings are an ever-increasing part of the Rentzios' business.

The additional space also allowed for a vehicle bay to complement the center's ever-expanding offering and to make vehicle wraps and signage less dependent on the ever-changing Colorado weather for installs.

According to a study found on the U.S. Small Business Administration web site, signage is the least expensive, yet most effective form of advertising available. A 2004 study by the Association of American Advertising Agencies of nearly 2,700 firms across three industries-consumer, industrial and service-found that increased advertising in an economic downturn has greater benefits than increased spending in a period of economic expansion.

"Regardless of the economic situation or the size of a company, effective signs and marketing tools are vital when it comes to generating new sales, gaining repeat business and forming new leads for future sales-and that's where we want to help," said Rentzios. "Now more than ever, we are committed to the future of this community and hope to help local businesses not only survive, but succeed. One of my first orders of business when we moved was to hire an outside salesperson to reach out to the community. In our previous location, we didn't even have the space to add a desk!"

"We are excited to have FASTSIGNS, a successful, woman owned business, expand in Centennial. Even in a down economy, businesses continue to relocate and expand in the City, which is a testament to how Centennial works with our local businesses. We look forward to continuing our relationship with FASTSIGNS," said Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon.

Rentzios represents the FASTSIGNS brand with excellence and integrity. She and her team help their customers achieve their business objectives with innovative ideas and solutions; they are accomplished experts in developing effective visual communications and graphics. Rentzios is an inspiration with her focus on exceeding customer expectations, commitment to the community, perseverance, and optimism, even in the most challenging of economic times. She is a leader in the FATSIGNS network of over 530 locations. Rentzios' center specializes in signs, banners, vehicle graphics/wraps, full color digital graphics, labels and decals, construction signs, safety/identification signage, tradeshow exhibits/displays, ADA signage and more.

Carmen and her team plan to celebrate their grand opening with the community by hosting an open house on Dec. 6 with live demos, a cocktail party, ribbon cutting, door prizes and raffles, benefiting the Wounded Warriors Project.

For more information about the DTC FASTSIGNS®, located at 10697 E Briarwood Cir. in Centennial, visit www.fastsigns.com/221 or call 303-792-0878.