Storefront/homebased/other?
I was home based until 2 years ago. I bought 20 acres with a good sized building on it and added onto it. I plan on building a new house out here on the back 10 acres.

How many people work at your shop?
I have a part timer that works 3 days a week. She'll be full time by fall. My wife and son help out when needed. Wife will join me full time when she retires from teaching in 8 years.

How many hours do you work in a week?
around 60, hoping to cut down to 50 soon

What kind of shop vehicle/s do you drive?
2000 Silverado full bed and 1981 Chevy One Ton for the Van Ladder.

What work do you specialize in?
Sandblasted and carved.

What's your fav kind of project to work on?
Sandblasted and carved.

What kind of work do you enjoy the least?
Removing vinyl, hand router carved home signs

When you first get to your shop, what do you do before you get right down to work?
Make coffee, check e mail & BB.

What's your most used item/tool?
computer

Least used item/tool?
Lettering quills and stripers. I'm still practicing.

What's your dress code?
old golf shirts that don't look too bad & slacks. Hoping to go with logo polos for everyone.

What habits do you ritually do while working?
drink coffee

How many meets have you attended?
Just Mazeppa, going to Milwaukee in August

What provides your best inspiration for fresh work?
SignCraft and stuff on the BB.

A weak area you'd like to strengthen:
Saying no to low profit work.

A strong area you're proud of:
High quality signs that last

What keeps your customers returning back to you?
High quality signs that last, and better design.

What goal for your biz are you currently working on?
More profit, less hours.

Do you have a 'life' outside of work?
Yes. I'm a part time professional bowler giving the senior tour a try. I also love golf and am getting pretty decent at it. As soon as I get a boat I'll be fishing regularly again.

Your personal hobbies:
Golf, bowling, fishing, woodworking, making furniture.

What kind of music do you listen to?
Heavy Metal, classical, old rock & roll.

If you could have anything you wanted for your shop, money no object, what would you choose?
Top of the line CNC router

In summary, how you feel in general about your chosen profession:
I love designing and making signs. If I didn't need money I'd do it for free. I just wish I'd discovered this profession sooner in life.

Storefront/homebased/other?

storefront
How many people work at your shop?
4- 2 full time and 2 part time

How many hours do you work in a week?
min 50

What kind of shop vehicle/s do you drive?

2000 f150 extra cab long box 4x4, 2000 chev tracker 4x4
What work do you specialize in?
ink jet digital printing with a 4-6 year guarantee against UV fade

What's your fav kind of project to work on?
large print jobs

What kind of work do you enjoy the least?
my own decals and design

When you first get to your shop, what do you do before you get right down to work?
COFFEE!!

What's your most used item/tool?
computer

Least used item/tool?
drill press

What's your dress code?
neat but comfortable

What habits do you ritually do while working?
smoke & drink coffee

How many meets have you attended?
none

What provides your best inspiration for fresh work?
magazines, customers, Nancy (wife)

A weak area you'd like to strengthen:
more computer power

A strong area you're proud of:
digital printing durability

What keeps your customers returning back to you?
quality price and service

What goal for your biz are you currently working on?
building a shop for the dusty dirty stuff at home

Do you have a 'life' outside of work?
You Bet!! family (3 kids) and friends

Your personal hobbies:
I'll try anything, that is legal, at least once

What kind of music do you listen to?
Country, unless nancy gets to the radio first

If you could have anything you wanted for your shop, money no object, what would you choose?
CNC router

In summary, how you feel in general about your chosen profession:
Perfect!