Why This Indiana Sign Shop Sends Us Thank You Plaques

Real talk – when a customer sends you a thank you plaque, you know you’re doing something right. Call Nick at (812) 537-3461 if you want to add apparel to your sign shop without the headaches.

Last year, Tom from a sign shop in southern Indiana sent us this plaque. Hand-routed, beautiful work. The message? “Thanks for helping us grow our business by 40%.”

Here’s what happened: Tom’s been running his sign shop for 15 years. Great guy, knows his stuff. But every week, customers asked the same question: “Do you guys do shirts too?”

For years, his answer was “No, but I know a guy.” Money walking out the door. Relationships incomplete.

The Day Everything Changed

Tom called me one Tuesday. “Nick, I’m tired of sending business elsewhere. But I don’t want to buy embroidery machines and deal with inventory.”

I told him: “You don’t have to. We’ll be your apparel department. Blind shipping, wholesale pricing, your customers never know we exist.”

He was skeptical. I get it. Most print shops promise partnership but deliver complications.

Here’s Exactly How We Set It Up

Week 1: Tom sent us his logo files and brand guidelines. We created a simple order system.

Week 2: First test order – 5 polos for a real estate office. We blind shipped with Tom’s return address. Customer thrilled.

Month 1: 8 apparel orders. Tom marked up 60%. Pure profit, zero hassle.

Month 6: Apparel was 25% of his revenue. He hired another designer.

Year 1: That 40% business growth. Hence the plaque.

The Secret Sauce? We Actually Give a Shit

Here’s what Tom told me: “Other fulfillment places treat me like order number 5847. You answer the phone when I call at 5:30 PM with a rush order.”

Exactly. Because when Tom’s customer needs shirts for tomorrow’s grand opening, that’s not just Tom’s problem. It’s our problem.

We’ve:

• Driven shirts to Tom’s shop at 9 PM
• Reprinted an entire order because the shade was slightly off
• Answered design questions on Sunday afternoon
• Helped him price projects to win bids

See how we help businesses in Aurora too.

Why Most Sign Shop Partnerships Fail

I’ve seen it happen. Sign shop partners with big fulfillment company. Sounds great on paper. Then:

• Minimum orders that don’t match customer needs
• Generic products that embarrass your brand
• Customer service that treats you like a number
• Shipping delays that make you look bad
• Price changes without warning

We do it different because we’re local, we’re small enough to care, and big enough to deliver.

The Numbers That Matter

Tom’s not unique. Our sign shop partners typically see:

• 20-40% revenue increase in year one
• Average apparel order: $300-800
• Customer retention up 30% (complete service provider)
• Zero equipment investment
• Markup: 50-100% depending on market

But here’s the real number: Tom’s customers now see him as their complete branding solution. That’s worth more than any individual sale.

What Sign Shop Owners Ask Me

“What if my customer has a problem with the order?”
They call you, you call me, we fix it. Your reputation protected.

“How fast can you turn orders?”
Standard: 7-10 days. Rush: 2-3 days. Emergency: Let’s talk.

“What about samples?”
Free samples for partners. Your customers touch and feel before ordering.

“Can you match my shop’s branding?”
Packing slips, shipping labels, even custom tags. Your brand, front and center.

Contractors use this same system for their subcontracted jobs.

Ready to Stop Leaving Money on the Table?

Look, I can’t promise you’ll get a thank you plaque. But I can promise:

• Wholesale pricing that lets you profit
• Quality that protects your reputation
• Service that makes you look good
• A real person who answers the phone

Tom told me last week he wishes he’d called sooner. Every sign shop owner says the same thing.

P.S. – That plaque hangs in my office. Not because I need the ego boost, but because it reminds me why we do this. Real partnerships, real results.