BizJournals:
After nearly 30 years in the sign business, Robert Pape (photo), 63, wanted to simplify his life and his work. He sought relief from the demands of running AAA Sign Co. and its digital printing arm, Grand Central Graphics. So he sold AAA Sign to an employee and established Grand Central Graphics, Milwaukee, as a stand-alone company in January 2005. ‘I just felt that there was opportunity to develop the digital part of the business,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t going to realize that potential as long as I was running a sign company.’
Digital printing is less labor-intensive than creating signs out of wood or aluminum or hand-lettering windows or doors, which AAA Sign does, Pape said. He chose to keep and nurture the digital printing business because that’s ‘where graphics is going.’ More companies are turning to digital printing for their displays, and the displays themselves are getting more complex…
… Since splitting off as a separate company, Grand Central Graphics has more than 100 customers and projected 2006 revenue of $450,000. Now, Pape is ready to add a new dimension to the business: fabric printing. He’s invested $21,000 in a direct-to-fabric digital printer that prints graphics on items such as T-shirts, tote bags or golf towels. He financed the purchase with revenue from the business. ‘It’s an opportunity to market ourselves to a different client base.’…
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