About Make it Happen
Building knowledge, partnerships and confidence across the sign and print industry.
Built to support the sign & print industry
Make it Happen was created to do things differently.
We work with signage, print and design businesses that need more than a supplier. Sometimes that means sourcing the right products. Sometimes it means training a team, supporting a project, helping with pricing or simply giving honest advice before a job goes any further.
We care about getting things right, sharing what we know and helping businesses feel more supported at every stage.
Growing with the industry
Build
Meet the people who Make it Happen
Get to know the team behind Make it Happen, bringing together decades of sign industry experience, practical knowledge and a passion for education and development.
Wendy
USA Partner
Get to know Wendy
Wendy Graves joined the signage industry in 2013 when her husband, Lloyd purchased Signarama Louisville East. She first intended to join the company in a supportive role, but little did she know signage would become her passion.
Her wealth of knowledge led to her becoming the company’s operations manager. Wendy had the foresight for growth and in 2020, inSIGNia Wholesale was born!
As a viable member of the sign industry, she noticed a void in the inclusion of women and their accomplishments in the industry. As someone who thinks outside the box, Women In Signs, Etc. (W.I.S.E.) was created in January 2021. The group fulfilled the need for lack of connection with women in the signage industry.
Joining the Make It Happen Signage Academy team allows her to bring all the passions of training, mentoring, product knowledge improvement and a general cheerleader of others in this amazing industry.
Sam
Get to know Sam
Sam Armstrong is Founder and CEO of Make it Happen. Sam has over 20 years experience and is well regarded for being a true champion for the sign and print industry. She is passionate about providing training and support to enhance and develop skill sets at every level.
Sam’s energy is contagious and her workshops never fail to deliver both on sound commercial content and entertainment – even signage veterans claim to leave with a new spring in their step and with some added strings to their bow!
Her contribution to the industry was recognised in 2021 when Sam became President of the UK International Signage Association and in 2023 as Award Winner, ‘Industry Champion’ at the UK Sign Awards.
Sam makes it happen… with her knowledge, infectious enthusiasm, flair for entertaining, organisation and her passion to encourage improvement generally within the sign and print industry.
Michelle
AUS/NZD Partner
Get to know Michelle
Encouraged by her family’s heritage in the trade, Michelle grew up immersed in the world of signwriting, covering everything from traditional sign-painting to engraving to fabrication and even vehicle wrapping, ultimately becoming an award-winning professional. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of working with prestigious brands like Yell, Beiersdorf (Nivea), and Ted Baker.
In 2010, Michelle took the bold step of launching her own sign company, and in 2022, she relocated to New Zealand to join a company that aligns with her values and creative vision.
Along the way, Michelle has discovered that one of her greatest passions lies in training and mentoring the next generation of signwriters. She believes that investing in training is key to not only preserving the traditional skills of the trade but also pushing the sign and print industry forward.
What truly sets Michelle apart is her ability to blend the artistry of signwriting with the technical expertise needed to execute complex projects and wayfinding. Drawing from four generations of family knowledge, she is dedicated to sharing her skills and empowering others to thrive.
Katie
Get to know Katie
Katie Asken is the Chief Operating Officer of Make it Happen. Katie is a customer service ninja and is highly skilled in the art of managing our day-to-day operation; she is the queen of seamless workflows and order processing.
Many of the businesses that we support with products sales see Katie as their secret weapon. Her practical signage advice and hand-holding approach are what keep people coming back to us again and again. Katie can be a life-saver, taking the pressure off you when you need help, sourcing products and giving you piece of mind.
Katie has been with Make it Happen since the very early days. In recognition of her brilliance and contributions to Make it Happen, Katie was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2022 and in addition to her product sales role, plays an integral part in shaping the direction of the business.
Katie makes it happen… with her passion for making sure our customers have the best possible experience. She is never shy about picking up the phone to ask you a question (no long email essays in sight!).
Zoe
Get to know Zoe
Zoe brings with her over 22 years of trade print and sign experience.
We were delighted to welcome back Zoe in February 2023 to support Katie in the continued growth of our the product sales element of our business. As a former member of the Make it Happen team, Zoe is already well versed in our customer service standards and is well known to many of our clients and partners.
Zoe’s attention to detail and solid work ethics, combined with Katie’s support, will help Make it Happen ensure that we maintain the same award-winning service as the business continues to grow.
Zoe makes it happen… with her fantastic personality and passion for getting things right first-time. She is knowledgeable, engaging and supportive – a godsend!
Libby
Get to know Libby
Libby is the newest member of the Make it Happen Signage Consultancy team and responsible for Business Development. She is young to the industry and brings with her heaps of enthusiasm, high energy and a fresh perspective.
She has a background in customer service and client relationships and due to her previous career in the events sector, she has the ability to pivot easily and quickly identify new solutions when faced with a challenge.
Attention to detail is important to Libby and she is an excellent problem solver, who thrives under pressure.
Libby makes it happen… with her natural creative flair, her passion to learn and her constant overflow of ideas and new concepts.
Today, Make it Happen supports businesses across the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, helping people learn more, source better and bring projects together.
How we built Make it Happen
Where it started
2016
Building the foundations
2017
The bootcamp evolution
2018
Changing the sales conversation
2019
Navigating the pandemic
2020
Back to business
2021
Award-winning growth
2022
A landmark year
2023
The academy is born
2024
Taking training global
2025
Celebrating 10 years
2026
Where it started
2016
Building the foundations
2017
The bootcamp evolution
2018
Changing the sales conversation
2019
Navigating the pandemic
2020
Back to business
2021
Award-winning growth
2022
A landmark year
2023
The academy is born
2024
Taking training global
2025
Celebrating 10 years
2026
Meet the team... in LEGO!
As our business expanded across the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, we wanted a fun, universal way to represent the team.
LEGO is recognised around the world and perfectly captures our ethos: building knowledge, building confidence, building partnerships and building great brands. Because at Make it Happen, we believe every successful project is built brick by brick – with the right team behind it.
Want to work with us?
Looking to build your knowledge, develop your skills or support your team’s continued development?
Explore our workshops and discover how Make it Happen can help you expand your knowledge, explore new ideas and practices, and build confidence across the sign & print industry.
Building
It's time to
It's time to
We help signage, print and design businesses choose the right products, source them properly and avoid the mistakes that cost time and money.
We care about getting things right, sharing what we know and helping you bring projects together.
