FastSigns® of D.C. website: www.fastsigns.com/494
FastSigns® of D.C. emaile: 494@fastsigns.com
FastSigns® of D.C. address: FASTSIGNS of DC
617-F Rhode Island Ave NE (near Home Depot - right across from Mt. Calvary)
Washington D.C. 20002
(202) 635*FSDC {3732} - office
(202) 635*0418 - fax
Joining me today in LT's Jazzy Radio Loft & Lounge for my ongoing "Follow Your Dreams" series which I started here in August 2006, is my good friend Howard James, Jr. - Operating Manager of FASTSIGNS® of D.C. Washington, D.C.'s premiere and only FASTSIGNS® location which recently had it's grand opening on August 29th, 2007.
LT - What made you open FastSigns®? Why did you choose this particular business to go into first? What was your interest in opening a FastSigns® store?
HJ - Well, I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I wanted to find something that I could do in my hometown. Something that was needed. Something that people would want to come to and need to come to and something related to what I had done in terms of creating graphic designs, solving problems and that's what we do here, we solve people's problems with signs and it was just something I was interested in and something that would keep my interest. And it was a good model. It is an excellent model store with a lot of support. If you're thinking of opening a franchise, it's one of the better ones.
LT - How long had you been thinking about starting your own business? What made you decide this is the year to become an entrepreneur?
HJ - Well, it started years before. We were looking at starting other businesses since I was a scenic designer and theatre production person doing something in that avenue but I knew I wanted to do something in town and in town wouldn't support that type of business. We just did business models on it and we could never make them work. But I also knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I knew that was the next step in my evolution and it's almost like going back and starting over again but to get to the next level, sometimes you have to take a step back and it was passed time to do it and I'm glad I did it and I'm glad I didn't wait any longer. It was definitely time to grow in the moment.
LT - I was taking a tour of the building and it looks like you all do a variety of work at FastSigns® including design work and auto graphics on automobiles which is one of my favorite interests and passions to read about and see. Earlier you talked to me about the difficulties and challenges of that work and how it's an art in of itself to get that done on cars. What are some of the variety of services that your store FastSigns® will offer?
HJ - It sounds like a cliche but I tell people, "If there's a sign, we do it." Whether it be Car Graphics & Decals, Outdoor-Banners, Yard Signs, Trade Shows, Exhibits & Displays, Monument and Architectural Signs, outside of churches - we have a solution for all of those. We usually deal with signs most definitely the bigger signs. People come in for cards. We do cards for some of our clients when we already have an existing relationship with them but our core business is definitely signs. A lot of Vinyl Lettering and Full Color Graphics and we can actually print them out in house.
LT - What is the general turnaround time for, let's say someone wants a banner for their job or school or business? Or they want to get their vehicle done to advertise their new business with auto graphics? What are some of the general time lines for each product you do?
HJ - Generally for a banner or a Point-Of-Purchase sign, two days. Once we agree on what it's going to be, we settle on and send you a proof and you say OK, two day turnaround time. For the bigger jobs it takes a little longer to develop the design but again, once it's settled on and we say is this is going to be it? even a car wrap, it's probably going to be a week to two weeks. The difficulty will be in scheduling the install of when you're available and when we're available because it takes a long time to put on.
(photo insert - Howard James, Jr. and father, Howard James, Sr.)
LT - It's great to see an African-American owned and operated business right here in Washington, D.C. and earlier you had stated your importance of staying in D.C. How hard was it or difficult and what were some of your challenges of being a small business owner but part of a larger business or franchise and the success of securing this particular location in N.E. D.C.?
HJ - I think the challenges were - It's just not an easy process. I'm not saying it was super difficult but it's not going to be as fast as you think. There are a lot of hoops that you have to jump through, regulations and rules. Getting things. It's always more expensive to do business in D.C. It takes a little longer to do business in DC.
We were planning on opening last September and we didn't open until April and that was just dealing with issues we had to deal with in terms of getting the building built out, finding a location that was conducive to our business model and that would work, that was on a main thoroughfare, that was easy to get to. We accomplished it. It took a little time but we did it.
LT- That's great. How is it on Sundays when Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church lets out? Have any of the church folks come over after church to check you out? That seems ideal to be right across the street from such a popular, well known church in D.C.
HJ - We have done business with Greater Mount Calvary and we're hoping to do more business with them because we are right here and we'd like them to support us just like we try to support them and get with all the other businesses in the area.
Also, we recently connected with The DC Minority Business Enterprise Center (DCMBEC) and thier information on Developing Strategic Relationships, having a good business strategy and accessing the right people has been priceless.
(photo insert - Howard James & Allison DeFoe - Assist. Director Finance, DCMBEC)
There aren't too many sign shops in D.C. especially for the small businesses and the small business population to deal with just them and we'd like to let everybody know we're here to help you solve your small business problems. You don't have to go all the way out to Virginia, like the first time we brought our signs it was an hour drive down and an hour drive back and we need these services in D.C. so that's why we are here.
We welcome people to come into the store! We realize people are busy so you can email it in. You can upload your files to our website, we can ship them out to you. It's just that easy.
LT - That is a great alternative especially considering this digital, email age we now live in. Can people also come by and check up on the work, see how's it going with their job?
HJ - We encourage it! We encourage it!
LT - Well, it was a pleasure talking to you Mr. James and congratulations on your present success, best wishes for the future and we here at LT's Jazzy Radio Loft & Lounge wish you the best success and all the blessings God may offer you and will! And I can tell it's going to be very successful so thank you. It's been a pleasure.
HJ - Thank you.
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