Here's how we became the best in the business  

OUR company is one of the fastest-growing of its kind in Northern Ireland, having developed from a one-man traditional joinery business into what was recently described as a “remarkable enterprise” employing 22 specialists using the latest technologies.

The man behind it is father-of-three Brian Barrett, still in his 30s, who started off doing general joinery work after serving his time as an apprentice.  

His entrepreneurial spirit prompted him to identify a niche in the market for a really professional signage service and he began to design, make and erect For Sale boards on behalf of one Belfast estate agent.  

That was in 1990. His company workforce has increased year after year since then, adding not only two dozen more skilled people, but also embracing the latest technologies as they became available.  

Today's team is a happy combination of people with traditional joinery skills, specialist IT and CAD talents, plus van drivers and erectors who utilise the most sophisticated hand-held PDAs linked to GRPS satellite communication systems.  

There have been many notable achievements thanks to our skilled use of the newest technologies. Brian Barrett Signs pioneered On-line Signboard Ordering and Monitoring; we have played a large part in revolutionising such systems and is the only system of its kind in the whole of the British Isles.  

A few years ago it would have been unthinkable that an estate agent could order up a For Sale sign at 4.00pm on a Monday via the internet and have a confirmation of successful completion by email from the actual site at 2.53pm the next day! Brian Barrett made it happen.  

Similarly, our graphic design studio can create and print everything from a little name-badge for a uniform, to huge display banners for sports venues, arenas, commercial properties and public buildings. One of our biggest -- on Belfast Metropolitan College -- could be seen for miles.  

As well as servicing most of the biggest businesses in the Northern Ireland property market -- such as BTWcairns, Ulster Property Sales, Halifax Property Services, Gerry O'Connor, Colliers, McKibbin Commercial Property etc.-- our company provides the same high level of service to small independent agencies in country towns throughout Antrim, Down and Armagh.  

In recent years, we have been growing our display side and we are also undertaking major commissions for customised furnishings and units, with great success.

In private life, Brian is particularly well-known in rugby circles. He played for Instonians before hanging up his boots in 2005 to devote more time to his wife Heather and his three sons, Curtis, Corrie and Charlie.  

To make contact with Brian Barrett directly, call 07850 339776