Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Massie.
Hi Mark, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I took Commercial Art at the local trade school here in Springfield, OH. After graduating, I got a job working for a Chevrolet Dealer downtown Springfield, where I prepped new cars for delivery. Knowing my schooling, the dealer had me letter sale prices on the windshields of cars, then a local sign shop saw my work and hired me to work for them. I worked there for about 6 years and then started my own sign shop where I have designed, built and installed signs for local businesses.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was a struggle for a while, learning about sales, what to charge and even working other jobs to make ends meet.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I took Commercial Art at a a local vocational school my junior and senior years of high school and graduated in 1978, but did not start using my skills until 1985 when I went to work for a sign company where I learned the sign trade. Back then we made everything by hand: art patterns and even hand lettering. By the 1990’s most sign shops were using computer cut vinyl lettering; then, by 2015. most shops were using digital printing and CNC cut material, and now digital printing is primarily used. My shop is set apart, I believe, because since I learned the traditional sign making in the 1980’s with hand lettering, etc., I get called to do jobs like restoring a wall advertisement on a historical building that was originally painted in 1880. I have a niche of blending traditional sign making with modern, plus my wife Rosalee is also a big part of what makes my sign shop business successful!
How do you define success?
learning from your mistakes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.massiesignart.com/
