Shop upgrade!!

[Desert_Signs]

We outgrew our current space about 6 months ago, but were still under our lease. Our lease finally ended so we got a new location!

Our first shop was 1400 sqft total. Very cramped. 20x16 garage, production area not much bigger.

New shop has 1000 sqft of office/sales space. 3500 sqft of production/install space.

Spent the last 3 weeks getting the tenant improvement squared away. It was just an empty shell, divided into the 'office' area and warehouse area. There was ONE phone jack in the whole building and no network ran. We've already been doing installs there, we're finally ready to move in. Cable co turns everything on on Friday, so we're moving next weekend. Should be fun!

I haven't had a day off since May 5th, 12-14 hour days every day since. I can't wait until next weekend is over, and we're all in.

 

[Desert_Signs]

Oh, and I had to teach myself how to punch down phone blocks. It's sort of old school, but we only have 4 lines, so it works. Looks like a big mess of wires, but I had a guy I know come check my work and he said it pretty much looked perfect.

I guess I'll find out Friday if it all works. LOL

 

[player]

There's probably more money in installing phone systems than making signs....hmmmm...

Nice looking shop. Congrats!

 

[Desert_Signs]

There's probably more money in installing phone systems than making signs....hmmmm...

Nice looking shop. Congrats!

I do believe you're probably right.

I always like to add to my skillsets though, so I try all kinds of stuff. I also learned how to build walls with steel studs. City said I couldn't use wood for the partition walls in the front. I was pretty convinced it was all going to be flimsy as heck, but once you get the drywall hung, you can't tell the difference between it and wood.

Then I had to tape and mud all the joints, sand, then texture, then paint.

Let's just say I spent a lot of time watching Youtube videos. Youtube is pretty amazing when used as a learning tool.

 

[Christian @ 2CT Media]

Looks awesome! You guys are doing great, hopefully your bays stay full and then you need more installers!

 

[nikdoobs]

Youtube is pretty amazing when used as a learning tool.

It really is.

Your wrap install area looks pretty ideal. Send us more pics when you finish.

 

[Ditchmiester]

If you want information on basically anything computer tech on youtube the guy to check out is Eli The Computer Guy. I have learned a ton from his youtube videos.

 

[1leonchen]

nice upgrade

 

[Desert_Signs]

It really is.

Your wrap install area looks pretty ideal. Send us more pics when you finish.

Will do. Cable co pushed us up to tomorrow at 4pm, so we're definitely officially moving this weekend. We're putting together a bunch of stuff for the interior (graphics and what not) and I'll post pics when done. I have to admit I'm not 100% satisfied with the layout my wife has chosen, but... She's sort of the lead sales person/marketing genius so I pretty much let her do what she wants. Any salesperson that can sell 4-500k a year consistently deserves to get listened to, LOL.

My little office in the back is mine though. I'm going to do something cool with it.

I'm open to suggestions.. Here's a couple ideas I threw together. Not ideal pictures of the room, it was still under construction, but you get the idea.

 

[Desert_Signs]

Looks awesome! You guys are doing great, hopefully your bays stay full and then you need more installers!

Thanks. And yeah, me too. Every day you just work as hard as you can...

 

[Gino]

Looking good.

You might try a picture for you room that will utilize your window into being part of the theme. Then it won't look so outta place.

 

[Desert_Signs]

Looking good.

You might try a picture for you room that will utilize your window into being part of the theme. Then it won't look so outta place.

I was actually going to go with perf over the windows and wrap the trim as well, so I don't think that will be much of an issue. I want something that will 'pop' to show customers an option that they might not have though of before.

 

[Gino]

I was actually going to go with perf over the windows and wrap the trim as well, so I don't think that will be much of an issue. I want something that will 'pop' to show customers an option that they might not have though of before.

No problem, but I have another question........

In the very first picture, where the two guys are doing something with a print..... why is the guy on the right wearing Mickey Mouse ears ??

 

[FS-Keith]

its a hand truck on top of a shelf

 

[James Burke]

Way cool.


In addition to the Mickey Mouse ear question, I'm going to take a wild guess and say that somebody's been painting stop signs on your floor...



JB

 

[Desert_Signs]

Finally got everything pretty much together. Here's some pics.

 

[reQ]

Dat floor... clean and shiny... i am jealous!

 

[Mikesbales]

Looks great. I love the sales area. And I'm VERY jealous of your production table. Its about twice the size of mine lol.

 

[Charlie J]

Looks great!