Thursday, June 14 marked a milestone day for the team at Steindler Signs & Graphix as owner Tom Steindler and his team cut the ribbon on the company’s new 8,000+ square foot facility, located at 10740 U.S. 30 in Wanatah.
Steindler, an 18-year veteran of the Valparaiso Fire Department, built the business from one that started in his garage with an office in a spare bedroom into one that gives the company a flexibility and adaptability to serve clients with projects of all sizes and scale.
The new facility that will give the sign and graphic shop the ability to service a wider variety of customers, allowing the business to expand and do a greater share of the work in-house like sand blasting, routing and fabricating..
“Our old shop served its purpose to a point, but eventually we had to say ‘we have to move,’” said Steindler. “Now we can bring in a client to see an actual shop with a reception area and an office where we can actually talk about projects.”
“With being here, we build it all in house. We have control over all the materials going in and we know exactly every item that we’re building into the signs,” he explained. “I’ve never seen this business as a two or three man shop. I’ve always seen it as a 15-20 person team.
Though his business is growing and gaining more notoriety with larger projects and bigger clients, Steindler remains loyal to his career in the fire department and juggles his two roles on a daily basis.
“It’s a tough line to walk, I am first and foremost a firefighter, and then there’s a business. And its not a part-time business; its a full-time business,” Steindler said.
Laurie Franke-Polz , Marketing Director of First Trust Credit Union, attended the event to support Tom and his team, as Steindler Signs is working on creating and installing the signage on the credit union’s four branches in Wheatfield, La Porte, Valparaiso and Michigan City .
“Tom and his team are doing an absolutely fabulous job for us, First Trust Credit Union is always very much about working with local businesses. When we first got in business with Tom, our Renselaar branch manager was very aware of Steindler Signs and she suggested the company. Steindler came out and did some fantastic work for us and the rest his history.”
She continued, “Tom is our sign guy. The work always done to spec, on time, and done within the budget I need.”
Jessica Parks is the Accounts Manager and Office Overseer and has been with the company nearly as long as it has existed. She gave the new facility a “nine out of ten,” in terms of affecting the company’s growth. “We’re going to be here a long time,” she said.
Dutch Williams, Project Manager and Organizational Virtuoso, agreed, looking ahead to the future of the company and the potential that comes with moving into a facility like this one.
“It will allow us to grow into our shoes,” Williams noted. “You know how when you’re a teenager you have big feet and your body hasn’t grown into them yet? We’re at that stage.”
After the ribbon cutting, Steindler addressed the attendees, thanking them for their friendship, business and support “
“At the end of the day, this is what it is all about. I hope over the years our friendship will become stronger, and we’ll be able to do a lot more things for you. My house is your house,” he said. “I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and our team’s heart. Thank you.”
For more information on Steindler Signs, visit www.steindlersigns.com , call at 219.733.2551, “Like” Steindler Signs on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, or go visit the new headquarters at 10740 U.S. 30 in Wanatah.