BLOG: A History of the “75-Year-Old Startup”
Tuesday, April 7th, 2020
Cummings Resources: In the Beginning (1946)
In 1946, Cummings Resources was founded in Nashville, TN, by Thomas L. Cummings, Jr. The company operated in the first few years of its existence as many sign makers did at the time — it was focused on being a signage manufacturer, installer, and maintenance support primarily for local businesses. But by the early 1950s, Tom Cummings began to see the value of regional operations. His motivation was to take his local sign business and make it a nationwide company, and this goal drove him to establish new branches and production centers. Cummings Resources quickly expanded branch operations to other cities in Tennessee such as Knoxville, Chattanooga, and even out of state in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Having a larger geographic footprint primed Cummings Resources to begin managing national signage clients who needed a partner to help them scale. Tom Cummings sold Payless Shoes on the concept that he could take them nationwide and sign products with consistency of image and quality between vendors. Among the next few companies signed was Holiday Inn, which needed a signage partner as it followed the expanding interstate system with travelers roadside seeking new hotels to stay in. The iconic Holiday Inn “Great Signs” were manufactured by Cummings Resources and are synonymous with American design in the 1950s.
Rocking and Rolling (1960s, 1970s & 1980s)
As Cummings Resources began to add national brands to its roster, the company shifted its attention toward processes to ensure that it could keep a reputation as a dependable signage partner. Tom Cummings had the vision of creating what was dubbed an “International Sign Service (ISS), through which Cummings Resources would have a network of sign installation companies across North America with local installers who could work on behalf of the company. Tom Cummings begab flying all over the country to meet with and convince installers to join the ISS. For many years Cummings Resources would host national conventions for the ISS in Nashville to provide industry updates and education for members.
Notable brands brought on through the next few decades include Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler as they underwent programs to re-identify their dealerships. Another notable client KFC — which remains a current partner to this day. Famed international businessman Jack C. Massey, who acquired KFC in 1964 and grew it into a leading fast-food franchise with hundreds of locations, signed with Cummings Resources.
Fun fact: Jack C. Massey was a personal friend and business advisor to Tom Cummings.
From the Millennium to Modern Day (1990s to Present)
An exterior signage company with nationwide brands to manage and a cross-country network of installers enabled Cummings Resources to expand business rapidly without losing quality. However, with the shifting job market and real estate pricing in Nashville, Cummings Resources yet again made multiple geographic changes to remain competitive and profitable. The course of the following decades would include the transition of moving the production center from the Nashville area to the Southern Alabama region, which is where it is currently based to this day. Furthermore, the corporate headquarters offices moved from the historic Nashville Gulch neighborhood to two other locations within the city as the company evolved.
Today, Cummings Resources remains an industry leader with a decorated history but a startup mindset. From retail to food service and more, our exterior signage products and solutions have helped transition many growing businesses into some of the world’s most recognized brands. Cummings Resources has been successful at remaining entrepreneurial, flexible, and eager to adopt new technologies. Our constant desire to reinvent processes and systems to ensure our work stays current involves technology in the manufacturing and project management processes. While we are grateful to still continue working with esteemed national brands such as KFC and Kroger among many more, we remain flexible and excited for what the future holds.
From production, to project management and even the move from drawing tables to computer-aided and creative design programs, the way we meet our customer’s needs has totally transformed. I am thankful for the many changes I have seen and the people who have made it all happen over the years.
– Stacey Hawke, Art Designer & Team Member for 20+ Years
WHY BUSINESSES CHOOSE CUMMINGS RESOURCES
Cummings Resources is a national signage provider specializing in design, manufacturing, and national rollouts of new exterior & interior sign products. Cummings is headquartered in Nashville, TN, and serves market segments including retail, hospitality, food service, petroleum, automotive, and more. Even after 70 years, Cummings is among the fastest-growing national signage providers in the United States while maintaining a reputation as an industry leader. Follow Cummings Resources on social media!
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