Owners of Custom Graphics in Longview emphasizes 'community over competition' | Local | news-journal.com

2023-01-09 21:21:55 By : Mr. Jamie Jiang

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Owners of Custom Graphics in Longview emphasizes

Owner Shawn Ingram poses for a photo at Custom Graphics on Dec. 13.

Jan Day prepares an order for shipping at Custom Graphics on Dec. 13.

Manager Jennifer Lindsey works at her desk Dec. 13 at Custom Graphics.

Owner Shawn Ingram Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at Custom Graphics. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)

Jan Day prepares an order for shipping Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at Custom Graphics. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Marc Miller participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Holden Smith, 14, participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics holds a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Pine Tree High School special education teacher Suzanne Puryear participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Noveah Orange and Naria Villegas participate in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Makara Medders participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics holds a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Marc Miller participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Noveah Orange and Naria Villegas participate in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Noveah Orange and Naria Villegas participate in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Pine Tree High School special education teacher Suzanne Puryear participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics holds a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics holds a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics holds a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Owner Shawn Ingram poses for a photo at Custom Graphics on Dec. 13.

Jan Day prepares an order for shipping at Custom Graphics on Dec. 13.

Manager Jennifer Lindsey works at her desk Dec. 13 at Custom Graphics.

Owner Shawn Ingram Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at Custom Graphics. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)

Jan Day prepares an order for shipping Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at Custom Graphics. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Marc Miller participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Holden Smith, 14, participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics holds a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Pine Tree High School special education teacher Suzanne Puryear participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Noveah Orange and Naria Villegas participate in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Makara Medders participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics holds a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Marc Miller participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Noveah Orange and Naria Villegas participate in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Noveah Orange and Naria Villegas participate in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Pine Tree High School special education teacher Suzanne Puryear participates in a nerf gun war during a Christmas party Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics holds a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics holds a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Shawn Ingram of Custom Graphics holds a nerf gun war during a Christmas party he is holding for Pine Tree ISD special education students, on Monday December 12, 2022, at Stafford Wellness Center. (Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo)

Custom Graphics in Longview makes branding its business.

“You bring it, we’ll brand it,” said owner Shawn Ingram, following with Custom Graphics’ second motto, “Your brand is our business.”

In 2019, Ingram purchased what was Custom Signs, which had been in business since 2005. After years of working in an industry that often kept him on the road and away from home, Ingram decided to leave a career working on the sales side of steel foundries, including being part-owner of a foundry.

Ingram moved to Longview in 2015 after he was recruited by Longview’s Southwest Steel Casting, where he served as director of marketing, sales and customer service. He said he left in 2018 and then purchased Custom Signs.

Ingram has been expanding the business and the services it offers ever since.

While Custom Signs focused on smaller signs, he said Custom Graphics also offers banners, T-shirts, custom screen printing and embroidery and laser engraving, to name a few services. He’s added equipment, with plans to continuing expanding. The business is in 3,700 square feet at 3539 Gilmer Road in Longview, and that space includes 1,500 square feet Custom Graphics isn’t currently using.

“We’ve got plenty of room,” he said, and Custom Graphics will be growing into the unused space, perhaps with more laser engraving machines as that business grows. A second location in Oklahoma is possible, he said, noting that Custom Graphics already has some out-of-state clients

“Our biggest struggle right now, that is holding us back, is getting good help,” Ingram said. “People just don’t want to work anymore. ... That’s not just us. I’m hearing that from everybody.”

That’s not the case with the woman he recruited as manager for Custom Graphics when he purchased the business. Jennifer Lindsey is his “saving grace,” he said.

“Neither one of us knew how to do any of this,” he said, looking around Custom Graphics’ office.

But, he said, “sales is sales.”

“I’ve always been a soft sales kind of guy,” Ingram said, talking to people about what he can do for them, what he can offer. “I don’t try to cram it down your throat.”

Owning Custom Graphics and being at home also has given him the time and opportunity to become involved in the community. He opened his business to students with intellectual disabilities at Pine Tree High School so their teacher, Suzanne Puryear, could bring them there to help learn skills that will help them join the work force later.

He recently organized a Nerf wars Christmas party for them and other students in the life skills program at Stafford Wellness, with Bubba’s 33 providing pizza.

He already had developed a partnership with Chelsee Dorgan Lane, owner-operator of Bubba’s 33 in Longview, through a new business networking group he launched earlier this year.

Terry and Brandee Brown, owners of Coffee Mill, also are big supporters of Longview Connections. The organization has been successful, Ingram said, by fostering “community over competition.”

When Community Connections began meeting this past spring, it started off with an attendance of about 15 people. The more recent meetings have had more than 50 people in attendance. (Longview Connections meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at Bubba’s 33 with a social event on the fourth Thursday when there is one.)

Longview Connections also recently began helping with Special Olympics of Texas with events in Longview.

“I never have been as involved in the community as I am now, and I’m kind of loving it,” Ingram said.

He attributed his business’ success and growth in part to good customer service.

“While we do not always succeed, we truly try to honor and place God first and give him all the glory, and we very much so foster a community over competition environment both within our business and most certainly so within our networking group (Longview Connections),” Ingram said.

Jo Lee Ferguson wishes she kept her maiden name - Hammer - because it was perfect for a reporter. She’s a local girl who loves writing about her hometown. She and LNJ Managing Editor Randy Ferguson have two children and a crazy husky.

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Owners of Custom Graphics in Longview emphasizes

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