In 2001, Jeff Hartup walked away from traditional outdoor advertising and launched Ballyhoo with one goal in mind: To serve his clients better. After years of working inside rigid, outdated systems, Jeff believed there had to be a better way to deliver sponsorship graphics, signage, and large-format print. His hunch proved right.

Armed with industry insight, a stubborn commitment to customer service, the encouragement of his wife and a backpack full of ideas, Jeff founded Ballyhoo to be the kind of partner he wished he'd had in the advertising world. He joined the organizations that mattered—Meeting Planners International, Professional Convention Management Association, Association for Destination Management Executives—and dove headfirst into the needs of meeting planners, destination managers, and event producers. It was never just about printing. It was about listening.

The name? Picked from a dictionary. Ballyhoo stood out: loud, bold, impossible to ignore. Exactly how Jeff wanted his clients to show up.

From Billboards to Bus Wraps

Ballyhoo started as a rebellion against the old-school. The materials used for short-term events were often wrong for the job—damaging surfaces, failing fast, or over-engineered for what clients actually needed. Jeff spent years researching alternatives, working directly with 3M to develop vinyl specifically designed for short-term use.

The real turning point came when every one of Jeff’s former clients chose to follow him to Ballyhoo—without exception. The trust he built through hard work, reliability, and consistent results carried over. Two decades later, many of those same clients are still with us. That says a lot about the type of relationships we try to cultivate.

We earned our reputation the hard way: By showing up, solving problems others wouldn’t touch, and doing whatever it took to deliver. Years back when a graphics shipment was lost en route to Las Vegas, Jeff didn’t just apologize—he personally expedited a reprint, flew the replacement graphics to the installer, dropped them off at a TSA checkpoint, and ensured the job stayed on track. He even re-boarded the same return flight after the handoff, prompting a curious airport official to ask what had just happened. That level of commitment still defines how we operate today.

A Print Shop That Thinks Like a Partner

Today, Ballyhoo runs the latest HP Latex equipment, but we’ve been with HP since the beginning. Their advances changed the speed of our industry, and we’ve matched pace every step of the way. More than just a vendor, we work like an extension of your team. 

We’ve developed proprietary methods to make installation smoother, including "single-hit" wrap processes and logistics-minded packaging systems. Our designers think like installers. Our installers give feedback to designers. Everything we do happens within a closed-loop system that keeps your job clean, fast, and consistent.

What Sets Us Apart

Our clients don’t describe us as a print vendor. They describe us as "easy." We make their job easier. We make it look easy. And most of all, we make them look good.

We take the whole-apple approach: from production to installation, everything stays in-house. That means tighter timelines, fewer mistakes, and a team that knows your project from every angle.

When COVID disrupted the supply chain, we didn't fold. We stepped up. Unable to source the right vinyl from overseas, we worked with North American manufacturers to create our own short-term adhesive formulation that could handle event use without leaving residue or damage. Problem solved. Deadline met.

Where We're Headed

The next chapter of Ballyhoo is about blending physical and digital. We’re helping clients deliver sponsor value not just on the ground but across screens. We're advising teams on how to turn wraps into revenue, how to pitch partners, and how to turn every event into a full-fledged campaign.

We’ve never missed a deadline. Not once. And we don’t plan to start now.

If your brand needs to move fast, show up big, and get noticed—we’re here for it. That’s the Ballyhoo way.