MY HISTORY

We now have the most advanced vinyl cutting and graphics business available today.  We have grown it from a small sign and printing business to the top of the equine and vinyl cutting industry.  We are constantly adding new lines and capabilities.  Our competitors are either standing still or even reducing the list of services that they can or will do.  They suffer from either limited talent or just plain laziness while we strive to serve our clients with more services and a higher quality product backed by the only five year guarantee in the industry.

I grew up in the suburbs around St Louis, MO, in a town called Webster Groves, Missouri.  While in College I worked as a salesman at Radio Shack, eventually became Store Manager and Asst. District Manager before leaving to manage Zayre Department Stores. 

After the closure of Zayre in St Louis, I went to work for Fotomat as a District manager and St Louis Marketing manager.  Shortly I was handling the graphics and design for print and the TV production as well as media buys for 22 markets across the country for five years. 

I followed the market and opened two one hour photo labs.  While operating the One Hour Labs I married and opened a chain of Antique Shops all over St Louis and southern Illinois.  My (now) ex-wife and I never saw each other and were surprised to find out, one day, that we even had kids.  We were too busy.  We were making a small empire but we were not enjoying life.  So after five years I sold off the labs, packed up the Antique Shops, and we moved to Lake of the Ozarks. 

Life was a bit different down here.  I managed the layout department for the local news paper, opened my own graphics business and sign shop.  I made hand painted signs, brochures, did the layouts for national magazines. I was doing a bit of everything while being courted by several ad agencies.  I eventually settled on one local ad agency and handled the print and television production for several national  companies.  Eventually I went out on my own and opened a commercial print shop and sign shop. 

After eight years of operating the print/sign shop in a very seasonal area, a friend suggested that I take my sign business to a horse show.  Ok, this had to be a joke....the only horses I had seen were with the Mennonites....Who still has horses? 

Wow, have I learned a lot!  I have been visiting my clients at horse shows and sales for 12 years.  We have developed a catalog of some 3800+ equine graphics that is the envy of all of the sign world. 

In all honesty, I can't see ever leaving this business.  It is where our best friends are, its were we do all of our socializing and I don't have to worry about dishonest customers.  I wouldn't trade my clients for anything.  I really feel like I have found a home and Barbara, my new wife, feels the same.

Thanks for the great business and the wonderful friendship.