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Chris and I have been together for a few years now. She handles the marketing, books and computer lettering and graphics. I still do hand pinstriping, airbrush and hand lettering..... Just curious how many other "teams" like us out there.
Jim and Chris
------------------ Jim & Chris Hetzler JC Hetz Studio 513 W 3rd St. Muscatine, IA 52761 563-263-2803 jhetzler@machlink.com
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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I do most of the designing and layout stuff. My husband has a real job during the day but helps me at night or whenever I need nice frame work built for installations. Most of the time he is the babysitter of our two year old daughter. She loves to use a squeegie to put down shapes on coroplast!
------------------ Amy Brown AMBO Design Lake Helen, FL jabrown@cfl.rr.com
"If only my toddler was better with paint & computers!"
Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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No.....just wifey here ...er 'ex' now. When I was married it was right in line with the post "lettering a cow's ass". My ex was constantly in the way. And I didn't want to just do the books. We did not make a good team. But I do think if you can work together....it would be the ultimate lifestyle.
------------------ surf or MoJo on mirc Cheryl J Nordby Signs by Cheryl Seattle WA.....! signsbycheryl@hotmail.com
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My wife and I have been working together at a retail location setup for 10 years or so. My son works part time here also. My wife does mostly weeding and supervising. I would say, considering the zeal she puts into it, that supervising is her real love.
------------------ Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Since 1978 www.wrightsigns.outputto.com All change isn't progress, and all progress isn't forward.
Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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Debbie and I started in our basement building trophies. Every letter was scratched on every plate using an old pantagraph engraver.
We were fortunate enough to be the first in our area with computerized engraving, computerized embroidery, laser engraving, and cad-cut plotting.
Debbie is CEO of Dan's Trophy/HitKing Sports Inc. Danny is president, and oldest son Brian, is Vice-President of HitKing Sports. Youngest son Doug, is an incoming freshman at The Ohio State University, and wants no part of this rat-race!
Husband and wife have evolved into the largest (according to the ISGDA) female owned Sporting Goods chain in the USA.
All a result of hard work, prayer, strong family support, and LUCK....and oh yeah some occasional letterhead advice.
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Megan was helping me on trucks and walls back in the late sixties. Through the years of me working in other shops, she helped me on weekends. It was in the mid seventies that we started working together all the time. We both hand letter and she does more of the pictorial work now and sometimes I need to run some kind of hussle on her to let me do any of the carving. She can handle many jobs independantly. While I was hospitalized a couple months ago she and our son set up the ladders and jacks and stage and did some lettering and pictorial on a concrete wall. We love working together, both in our shop and at home. I like working with my best friend!
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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For the first 3 years it was me full time and hubby part time, and last year hubby came on full time, I do all the computer work, bookkeeping and customer handling, he does all the weeding and application taping, and getting everything together for the job, then we both do the installs. Our son and daughter in law are on call when ever we need them, we are hoping to get big enough to have out daughter in law as a full time employee, our son won't work with us full time, he is becoming a police officer. Terry
------------------ Terry Scott Family Graphics Deerfield Beach, Fl
Posts: 58 | From: Deerfield Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: May 1999
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We have been a Family business since 1951 at one time we had My Father and Mother, Myself, My Wife Barb, My Son Bill Jr., My Nephew Kelly, My niece Lou, and my other niece Jamie. I have had my Nephews from both sides of the family work in the summer, and last year my Grandson. I have had "outsiders" work for me but they soon become part of the family. Bill
------------------ Bill & Barbara Biggs Art's Sign Service, Inc. Clute, Texas, USA Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival Proud Third year Supporter of the Letterheads Website MailTo:bill@artssigns.com
Posts: 1020 | From: Lake Jackson,Tx | Registered: Nov 1998
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Duckie and Duckette are celebrating our first year together(again) with an Open House known as the Duck Soup Splatter Jam this September 14,15,16 in McCalla AL. Ya'll come on down
------------------ PKing is Pat King of King Sign Design in McCalla,Alabama The Professor of SIGNOLOGY
Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I could use the help all around with the biz. I've thought about getting an employee but I'm a guy with a pretty unstructured and erratic schedule in a home-based biz and I don't see myself being able to 'supervise' someone. Though my son helps me out on occasion, he as a teenager has more 'important' things to do than hang around and help me especially if he has earned enough money to tide him for a few days. The only downside to working alone at home is isolation especially as I take on bigger and bigger projects where a 'help-mate' would provide a social outlet as well as expedite projects.
Still, I wouldn't want it any other way because of the freedom I have for things like my son's baseball games. And some days, the weather is simply too nice to work so I just grab the cell phone and 'disappear' pretending to be in a meeting if any client claims to need immediate attention.(LOL)
Happy Signing.....Marty
------------------ Marty Happy Signmaker Since 1974 Happy Ad Sign & Design Regina SK, Canada S4N 5K4
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I started on the side 5 yrs ago while working FT. Took time to learn the business relation end. Dave started FT about 4 mo ago. Helping and learning. It's a crazy time. I'm trying to get out of some volunteer groups I'm in - what a bunch of time wasters. I have my neighbor's daughter who's an art student help with the odds & ends. I'm considering teaching her more. Our Dane and Lab are really trying but they'd rather go swimming.
Unfortunately, Dave's sick with premature arthritis and is real tired most days. We're working on it - trying some holistic JMT & allergy treatments after years of meds. Meds didn't work. I'm sure we would be saving more if he was better. For now I'm happy. It's been a great test for the business. I'm always inspired when I read about other single-person shops that have been that way forever.
Schedule is great. Have to take more time for myself though. Slowly learning so much about handling it all.
------------------ Summit Signs Sellersville, PA summitsigns@erols.com
Maw and Paw shop since 1980. Home based. 5 kids. The wind has been blown me new opportunities in the overall sign industry, and we are having some dificulties deciding. We'll see.
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA
Get To A Letterhead Meet This Summer! See you there! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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If it wasn't for my lovely wife and all she does for me I'd be sunk. She works full time for a law firm so I can stay home and take a shot at this crazy business. She also handles all the finances and bookkeeping for the biz. I love Her!!!!!
------------------ Rob Larkham RL Graphic D-Sign Chester, MA rldsigns@aol.com
Posts: 517 | From: Chester, MA | Registered: May 2001
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Started the business part-time in 1979 (at husband's suggestion) and in 1995 after working with me part time he quit his good full time job at a bank and worked with me full time ever since.
------------------ Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl
Posts: 1266 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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When I start making steady money I'll call it a real job. Right now I spend more time taking care of my two year old than I do making money. As soon as she gets potty trained she will go to day care at the corner church a couple days a week and we will start choking up more business. Right now it seems more like I am playing and dreaming of what I would like to do!!
------------------ Amy Brown AMBO Design Lake Helen, FL jabrown@cfl.rr.com
"If only my toddler was better with paint & computers!"
Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Family business since 1928. Dad worked alone til Mom started doing the books in '41. I joined in doing revenue work in '55. Mom still did the books after Dad died and Judi joined in and took over most of the books except receivables in 1980. Mom gave it up in 1994 and Judi and I share our duties keeping it together. Kids were in the business for a while but went their own ways.
------------------ Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio Greeley, Colorado, USA kent@smithsignstudio.com
Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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Wife does most of the designing,weeding and installs. I help on the larger jobs and do most of the cutting. I work full time as a heavy equipment operator. My wife has alot more patience than I do.
------------------ Brian & Kathleen Keence K&B Signs 2220 Lake Tekawitha Rd Pacific, MO. 63069 (636) 257-5588 brian@kbsigns.com kathleen@kbsigns.com ******************** It's clear as mud now!
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I've been in business 15 years my wife has worked with me for 12 of these years & one employee has been with me for 13 years. My wife runs the office,phone calls,walk-in's,writing up work orders,ordering all supplies,makes appointments,and taking all deposits & payments plus all out-going bills. Her cup does runeth over but she is very good at her job which allows me,Alan & Shawn to concetrate on the work at hand,Signs & Tinting. ------------------ Ronnie Conrad Augusta,Ga 706-793-3838 RonniesTintSigns@aol.com
[This message has been edited by RonniesTintSigns (edited August 04, 2001).]
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Penny has helped me emensly all along the way, it would not be possible without her. She has a fulltime job outside the shop where she gets off at 2:30, then she comes to the shop and works till quitting time, whatever time that may be. She ususally does the weeding and some sticking and she answers the phone so I don't get inturupted all the time. Hopefully within the next spring she will come to work at the shop full time.
------------------ Troy Haas "Metal_Leg" on mIRC
SAM Signs "At old Hose House No. 8" 931 W. Columbia street Evansville,Indiana 47710 812-437-5367 Home of the: "Brush Fire at the Hose House" Letterhead Meet April 27-29th,2001
"Chaos, panic, disorder - my work here is done."
Posts: 1100 | From: Evansville,Indiana, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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