In this episode, we're joined by Dan Yoder - the owner of Sign Art Studio, a killer sign shop with 30 people near Madison, Wisconsin. Dan has been in the industry since 2005 and gives us valuable insights on various topics such as the business and art side of the industry, the importance of systems and processes, hiring and managing employees, and more.

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This episode is sponsored by:
GCI Digital Imaging - Your partner for large/grand format trade printing. Known for their exceptional customer service, GCI Digital Imaging is the go-to for banners, coroplast signs, vehicle wraps, and other digitally printed graphics. Discover more in Episode #9 or visit https://gci-digital.com.

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Key Points Discussed:

- Dan's Origin Story: Dan has always been interested in art and fell in love with this craft early in his life. Making mistakes, learning from them, and growing forward continuously. He started his own business in 2005 and now has a team of about 30.

- Team Management: Dan discusses Sign Art Studio, how he started the business, and how he tackled all of its problems. He tells us the structure of his team and how it works. He also shares the importance of Teamwork and how he manages his team to gain efficiency.

- Hiring Question: Dan answered one of the most asked questions about hiring. He shares his thoughts on hiring somebody with no experience or someone with some signage experience.

- Business and Art: We dive deep into this discussion where we all share our thoughts on the "Business" and "Art" side of the industry, which one has more importance, and how both can be managed.

- Processes and Systems: We discuss processes and systems, layers of processes, flexibility with systems, having processes to set or change processes, and much more. Dan shares the Sign Art Studios' way of working and how they have set up their workflow.

- Right Type of Clients: Working with the right type of clients is a different experience, as it is much more collaborative and engaging and brings out the best in everyone. Dan gives solid advice to shop owners on finding the right type of clients and shares how they qualify and classify their clients.

- Dan's Podcast: Dan does his own Podcast, which you must listen to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m41OxFQbSPo

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In this episode...

00:00 Intro
00:38 Sponsor
02:28 Welcoming Dan
05:30 Dan’s Journey
09:55 Sign Art Studio
16:50 Team management and working
21:30 Hiring People
25:30 Last 10-20 years of the industry
32:20 Process of onboarding a new employee
36:00 Business and art
47:40 Focus on Entrepreneurial Operating Systems
55:25 Motive
01:04:30 Processes and System
01:26:30 Future for Dan
01:29:05 Working with the right type of client
01:35:30 Dan’s Podcast
01:41:50 Rapid fire takeaways
01:46:20 Outro

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Are you a sign or print shop owner?
Join the Better Sign Shop Community - our exclusive Facebook group for shop owners and managers. Connect and learn from peers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bettersignshopmastermind.

In this episode we sit down with Paul Gardner, the entrepreneurial force behind Sign Enterprise. With over two decades in the sign industry, Paul shares his journey from a young enthusiast in vinyl graphics to a successful owner of multiple sign companies. His insights into business growth, innovative strategies, and maintaining work-life balance are invaluable for anyone in the industry.

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This episode is sponsored by:
GCI Digital Imaging - Your partner for large/grand format trade printing. Known for their exceptional customer service, GCI Digital Imaging is the go-to for banners, coroplast signs, vehicle wraps, and other digitally printed graphics. Discover more in Episode #9 or visit https://gci-digital.com.

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Key Points Discussed:

- Paul's Origin Story: Starting as a teenager fascinated by vinyl graphics, Paul's early experiences in the sign business laid the foundation for his future entrepreneurial ventures. His purchase of a local sign shop marked the beginning of his journey in business ownership.

- Growth and Acquisition: Paul discusses his strategy of acquiring struggling sign businesses, transforming them by implementing new systems, focusing on employee quality, and enhancing operational efficiency.

- Pricing Strategies: A pivotal shift in Paul's business approach was understanding the value of his service and adjusting his pricing model. He emphasizes the importance of not basing prices solely on industry averages but on the value delivered to clients.

- Diversification of Ventures: Paul shares insights into how his ventures in landscape lighting, Christmas light installations, and other industries complement his sign business. He highlights how ideas from different sectors can revolutionize traditional business models in the sign industry.

- Challenges and Solutions: Paul candidly discusses various challenges, such as change orders and unforeseen job complexities. He stresses the significance of clear communication and contractual agreements to manage client expectations and maintain profitability.

- Business Management and Work-Life Balance: Paul talks about the importance of building a business that can operate independently of the owner, allowing for a better work-life balance and opportunities for further growth.

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In this episode...
00:00 Intro
00:38 Sponsor
01:33 Catching up
04:02 Welcoming Paul Gardner
04:40 Paul's backstory in the sign business
10:50 Growth and acquisitions in Sign Enterprise
13:10 Innovations in pricing strategies
15:30 Diversification into related ventures
19:33 Overcoming challenges in sign installation
25:40 Insights into effective business management
28:40 Communication strategies for client satisfaction
38:26 Balancing work and personal life
40:32 Paul's approach to employee training and retention
43:30 Leveraging cross-industry ideas
47:10 Future plans for Sign Enterprise
51:30 Paul's perspective on emerging technologies in the industry
55:30 Advice for upcoming entrepreneurs in the sign industry
57:45 Closing thoughts and future directions for the podcast

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Ready to systemize and scale your shop?
Start by creating your free account on the Better Sign Shop platform at https://my.bettersignshop.com/

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Are you a sign or print shop owner?
Join the Better Sign Shop Community - our exclusive Facebook group for shop owners and managers. Connect and learn from peers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bettersignshopmastermind.

Interested in being a guest on the show or have questions for our team? Reach out to us at hey@bettersignshop.com.

In the episode, James shares how RP Signs has reached 5 million without a sales representative and for the first time in three generations is hiring a sales rep. We also learn about how they have incredible retention for all their key employees in the business.

James Neely is the Director of Project Management at RP Signs from Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the third-generation owner of RP Signs. They provide full end-to-end service for their clients in a few different verticals like healthcare, architects / design firms, and facilities management.

This episode is sponsored by:
GCI Digital Imaging - Your grand format trade printing partner. Big or small, GCI does them all. Check them out at printgci.com

Owner T.J. Bedacht and his team focus on providing old-school customer service. You can go ahead and check out Episode #9 to see for yourself. So if you're looking for a wholesale print provider for banners, coroplast signs, vehicle wraps, and other digitally printed graphics...

Learn more and place your first order at https://gci-digital.com.
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In this episode...

00:00 Intro
00:38 Sponsor
01:25 Catching up
05:30 Welcoming James
06:20 About James and RP Signs
08:25 Types of clients
11:50 James Journey
15:10 Why bring in a salesperson?
20:00 RP Signs Market Area
22:30 Business acquisition strategy
23:50 Getting into healthcare
26:20 Secret sauce of lasting this long
38:20 Pricing
40:00 Working in a family business
46:30 Keeping people around for years
48:50 Culture
54:50 Advice
55:30 Future for James, company and industry
57:30 Peter breaks "Culture"
01:02:30 Rapid fire takeaways

Ready to systemize and scale your shop?
Start by creating your free account on the Better Sign Shop platform at https://my.bettersignshop.com/

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Are you a sign or print shop owner?
Join the Better Sign Shop Community - our free Facebook group exclusively for shop owners and managers (https://www.facebook.com/groups/bettersignshopmastermind)

Would you be interested in being a guest on the show? Have questions you'd like to hear us answer on the air? Email us at hey@bettersignshop.com.