Member Spotlight - In Sight Sign Company
A conversation with Christopher Zwirn of In Sight Sign Company:
1. How long have you been in business?
Over 18 years, since 1999.
2. How did you get started?
I fell into opening my own business purely out of necessity... I ran a sign "supply" warehouse for almost 10 years, we did not make signs but I got very familiar with the materials and people in the industry. There was an opportunity for me to take over the day-to-day operations of a "one man sign shop" in Glenview, IL. The owner was a union sign painter for the motion picture industry and got called to do a 6 month long project hand painting signs for the movie "Road to Perdition" with Tom Hanks. So, I left the supply company and was trained for two weeks on making signs and running his shop. The owner would set everything up the night before, I would come in at 8 AM and handle things until 4 PM. He would come back after hours and we kept this cycle going for about 6 months. When his contract was over we were both working at his shop. Winter came around, things got slow and I was let go.
I tried to find work at another creative sign company but I only got offers to come back in the summer for a job. I needed to earn a living and could not wait so I rented a small storefront on Irving Park and Hamilton in Chicago. I bought a small vinyl cutter and went out into the community shaking hands and introducing myself and my services. I had to give up my apartment to make this work so I slept in the back of my shop with no heat, kitchen, or any other comforts. I practice martial arts, so I would train after work and shower at the gym. I did this for about a year and a half before I was able to rent a small dark apartment in the basement of the building below my shop, 6 moths later I upgraded to a small one bedroom down the street. business grew year after year. I soon moved my shop to Belmont Ave. at Ashland. I hired my first employee who is still with me today. I then took a second and third storefront on our block.
As the business was growing and we were doing more and more "vehicle branding/wraps" and using friends' space, although it was key to our growth, it was a logistical nightmare. The business had a little cash built up so I started looking for a warehouse to buy. I always try and invest back into the business. As luck would have it, the building where I was outsourcing my large format printing when I first started my shop before I had my own equipment was up for sale. The sign shop that had it before me sold to a couple of guys and after a year or so they walked away from the business leaving the building to the bank. It sat for two years and I bought it. We moved in July of 2013 and have been here happily ever since. I now have three full time employees with zero turnover. I have been working full time since I was 15 years old and have always been treated well by my employers, so I try and treat my employees with the same respect as I was given.
3. What's unique about your story or business?
Being a sign shop, I deal directly with business owners from many industries. Over the years I have had many conversations about running a successful business and what I hear most is you have to have good employees. So, I think what is unique about my business is the fact that from the beginning we have found quality employees that have stayed with the company and have dedicated themselves to the craft. It's one thing to go to a 9-5 job that you have no interest in or even dread, but to come in day after day striving for perfection is fairly rare from what I hear. I get compliments about my guys and their work all the time.
4. What is the biggest challenge you have faced in business and how did you overcome it?
Biggest challenge is keeping up with paperwork. My desk is mess, but I am working on it.
5. Please list a few of your most recent accomplishments or exciting upcoming projects.
This happens on a regular basis but I take pride in watching our customers come in as a start up shop, with one van or truck to get their brand out and a few moths later they have grown into a second and third vehicle. The bigger the impact we can make with our client's branding, the more successful they will become, and in turn come back to us for more work. It's a full circle.
Exciting news is we have just invested in a CNC router which should be in my shop by Christmas. We will be able to offer in house router cutting signage/services, expanding our business once again.
We are pretty excited about this.
In Sight Sign Company is offering ICNC member companies a discount! Learn more about it here.
Over 18 years, since 1999.
2. How did you get started?
I fell into opening my own business purely out of necessity... I ran a sign "supply" warehouse for almost 10 years, we did not make signs but I got very familiar with the materials and people in the industry. There was an opportunity for me to take over the day-to-day operations of a "one man sign shop" in Glenview, IL. The owner was a union sign painter for the motion picture industry and got called to do a 6 month long project hand painting signs for the movie "Road to Perdition" with Tom Hanks. So, I left the supply company and was trained for two weeks on making signs and running his shop. The owner would set everything up the night before, I would come in at 8 AM and handle things until 4 PM. He would come back after hours and we kept this cycle going for about 6 months. When his contract was over we were both working at his shop. Winter came around, things got slow and I was let go.
I tried to find work at another creative sign company but I only got offers to come back in the summer for a job. I needed to earn a living and could not wait so I rented a small storefront on Irving Park and Hamilton in Chicago. I bought a small vinyl cutter and went out into the community shaking hands and introducing myself and my services. I had to give up my apartment to make this work so I slept in the back of my shop with no heat, kitchen, or any other comforts. I practice martial arts, so I would train after work and shower at the gym. I did this for about a year and a half before I was able to rent a small dark apartment in the basement of the building below my shop, 6 moths later I upgraded to a small one bedroom down the street. business grew year after year. I soon moved my shop to Belmont Ave. at Ashland. I hired my first employee who is still with me today. I then took a second and third storefront on our block.
As the business was growing and we were doing more and more "vehicle branding/wraps" and using friends' space, although it was key to our growth, it was a logistical nightmare. The business had a little cash built up so I started looking for a warehouse to buy. I always try and invest back into the business. As luck would have it, the building where I was outsourcing my large format printing when I first started my shop before I had my own equipment was up for sale. The sign shop that had it before me sold to a couple of guys and after a year or so they walked away from the business leaving the building to the bank. It sat for two years and I bought it. We moved in July of 2013 and have been here happily ever since. I now have three full time employees with zero turnover. I have been working full time since I was 15 years old and have always been treated well by my employers, so I try and treat my employees with the same respect as I was given.
3. What's unique about your story or business?
Being a sign shop, I deal directly with business owners from many industries. Over the years I have had many conversations about running a successful business and what I hear most is you have to have good employees. So, I think what is unique about my business is the fact that from the beginning we have found quality employees that have stayed with the company and have dedicated themselves to the craft. It's one thing to go to a 9-5 job that you have no interest in or even dread, but to come in day after day striving for perfection is fairly rare from what I hear. I get compliments about my guys and their work all the time.
4. What is the biggest challenge you have faced in business and how did you overcome it?
Biggest challenge is keeping up with paperwork. My desk is mess, but I am working on it.
5. Please list a few of your most recent accomplishments or exciting upcoming projects.
This happens on a regular basis but I take pride in watching our customers come in as a start up shop, with one van or truck to get their brand out and a few moths later they have grown into a second and third vehicle. The bigger the impact we can make with our client's branding, the more successful they will become, and in turn come back to us for more work. It's a full circle.
Exciting news is we have just invested in a CNC router which should be in my shop by Christmas. We will be able to offer in house router cutting signage/services, expanding our business once again.
We are pretty excited about this.
In Sight Sign Company is offering ICNC member companies a discount! Learn more about it here.