Today we’d like to introduce you to Buddy Kanizar.
Buddy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After spending more than 12 years working for large corporations such as Motorola, I was looking to own my own business and started looking for opportunities. I reviewed dozens of possible acquisitions but chose to pursue Morrison Architectural Sign Company because of their long history, impressive customer list, and their manufacturing expertise.
I have both a Bachelors and Masters in Mechanical Engineering and spent my entire career improving manufacturing and business operations so I wanted a business that had Manufacturing as a core function but would also allow me to do some marketing, talk with customers, and “manage” the finances of a small company. A company with a great history and a great chance to grow. Morrison Architectural Sign Company had all of that and more.
Manufacturing ADA Signage is what we do. We have some sign fabricators that have been working with us for over 20 years and can make just about anything that a designer or customer dreams up. I was very fortunate to join a team of very capable people that enjoy what they do. The company itself enjoys a great reputation. Even though Bryan retired over a year ago, we still get calls from all over the United States from sign companies and Designers looking to have signs made or needing assistance on projects. This reputation comes from the 30 years of hard work that Bryan and James Morrison put into the company. They fostered a customer focused environment and worked tirelessly to meet customer deadlines and requirements.
My first year of ownership was a steep learning curve, but we recently celebrated our one year anniversary. Currently we are exploring some new technology to ensure that we can offer our customer cutting edge capabilities and products. Combine some new technology with our fabrication experience and we can compete with anyone. I feel very lucky to be part of the team and I know that all the right pieces are in place for this company to grow.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like many small businesses, there are challenges. Whether you are starting a business or taking one over, cash flow is critical, finding good people is tough, and equipment constantly needs to be updated. Right now, I am trying to add several pieces of very expensive equipment that will allow us to offer new products and services. Picking the right equipment that offers the best versatility and structuring the finance deals has been a fun challenge to work through.
Please tell us about Morrison Architectural Sign Company.
Morrison Architectural Sign Company is a full-service sign company that fabricates, installs, and services interior and exterior signage throughout the country. Established in 1984 by Bryan and James Morrison, our team takes great pride in our quality and workmanship. Based in Dallas, Texas, our team works with architects, environmental designers, general contractors, building owners, and individuals to manufacture and install signage packages to help differentiate a company’s location by delivering a brand message or providing code required ADA signage that looks nice and helps visitors navigate the space.
What really sets us apart from other sign companies is our people. We have project managers that work directly with very creative designers to translate their ideas into cost effective solutions for their end customers. We do this by leveraging the experience of our fabricators. We have people on the team that have been making signs for a very long time, in some cases over 20 years. They bring all that experience to each project. So, when a designer is looking for something special or something new, they know that we can get them a sample pretty quickly that will showcase their design.
When you combine that experience with our can do attitude and a get it done drive, it allows us to not only bring a design to life, but get the signs manufactured and installed on time and on budget. I think the company is pretty special and am very happy to be leading it.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
There were a couple of things that I would have done differently. First, I would have liked to have had more time with Bryan Morrison. Not coming from the sign industry has been a tough learning curve. I could tell that Bryan was still heavily invested in the business, but I was eager to start leading the team. Secondly, I should have updated the website and spent more time on marketing efforts while he was still helping during the transition. The company’s reputation is very good with existing customers, but the website that new customers see does not truly reflect what we bring to the table. A new website is coming, but I should have put more effort into getting it updated sooner.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3108 Garden Brook Drive, Dallas, TX 75234
- Website: http://www.morrisonsign.com/
- Phone: 972.247.7160
- Email: buddy@morrisonsign.com
Image Credit:
BDG
Focus EGD
Scott Weaver
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