Today we’d like to introduce you to Troy Olson.
Hi Troy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I got into the sign industry through my Dad and his family. They own Stewart Taylor Printing, a 150-year-old printing company in Duluth, Minnesota. In 2012, they expanded into the sign industry that created Duluth Sign. After playing 3 years of junior hockey, I decided whether to play college hockey or start working in the family business. I decided to work at the family business, Duluth Sign piqued my interest. No day is the same in the Sign world, which keeps things refreshing. I could never sit still in a classroom and I know I couldn’t sit still in a cubicle. I started working at Duluth Sign as an Installer. I was also flipping my first house, where I got my first taste of being an entrepreneur. I bought and remodeled a house with the help of my Dad. We remodeled the kitchen and bathrooms and redid the floors. We had a little help from my uncles and cousins, who own a construction company in town (Donald Holm Construction).
I used the money we made from the flip to buy and renovate my current house. In 2017 while working for Duluth sign, my Dad encouraged me to start my own company. He said you could learn firsthand how to run and operate a business. So in 2017, I started Sota Signs & Graphics. I started by selling athletic apparel to local youth teams as a side job to my sign installation. Once I understood how to own and operate a business, things started to come together. I started to learn how to design in Illustrator and Photoshop through YouTube. In 2020 when the pandemic hit, I had the opportunity to learn how to operate wide format printers.
After 9 Years of learning how to sell, design, operate printers, install, and run a business, it was time to go out on my own. It was never in the cards for me to take over the family business. In 2021 I received a call from one of my vendors telling me they had a great deal on wide format and flatbed printers. I drove down to Milwaukee to look at them. Once I saw the equipment in action, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue. When I got home, I immediately went to the bank and asked to refinance my home loan. I took that money and used it as a down payment on the printers. In January of 2022, I officially started selling signs under Sota Signs & Graphics. My Dad encouraged me to go out and start my own company. I still have a great working relationship with Duluth Sign.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
So far, It has been a fairly smooth transition, Only because of the help and advice of other local business owners in town. If you are willing to learn from other people’s successes and failures, it will make your own path that much smoother.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Sota Signs & Graphics helps local businesses expand their branding options; we Specialize in Vehicle Wraps, Architectural tints for offices, and Wall Murals. Vehicle Wraps are one of the best ways to promote your company. It’s a moving billboard. The architectural tint is a great way to help privacy and add a level of décor. Our FlatBed Printer allows artists to print directly on many substrates that can be used in offices, home décor, and art galleries. Wall Murals are a great way to promote your brand/company and compliment your interior design.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
In today’s age, most of the work that we are doing is from Email, Website, word of mouth, and social media. We love to come up with new ideas for customers. Our new location is 702 E. 3rd St. Duluth; MN allows customers to come in and brainstorm ideas/see samples of previous work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sotasigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sotasignsduluth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sotasigns
