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Treadway Graphics - Serving the law enforcement market since 1991.
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Time To Reflect Part II
By Jay Treadway
June 5th, 2009
Last time I was bragging about my experience. It’s been 22 years since I opened the doors and put out the Treadway Graphics shingle. But my experience pales by comparison to that of the company I merged with in 2006. That company is Geiger Bros. in Lewiston Maine and they were established in 1878! And it’s still a family-owned business today.
Geiger has been in the top 10 of the promotional products industry since 1963. It’s the largest family owned promotional products business. They also publish the Farmers’ Almanac. The Farmers’ Almanac has been published since 1818! They obviously have weathered a few depressions and recessions in their time!
I’m pleased to be associated with such a fine family-owned business. They run and operate their business much the same way I did Treadway Graphics from 1987 to 2006. There are days when I wish I was totally on my own again. But their are more days when I’m happy I made the switch.
I know my customers are better off with this additional manpower and experience behind me. I’m able to offer better pricing than I could on my own. Plus, with hundreds of employees in Lewiston and around the country there is no problem too big to solve.
Now I just wish more people would order stuff so I could quit reflecting so much and get busy again! Hello, anyone home?
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Time To Reflect
By Jay Treadway
June 3rd, 2009
Since my business has slowed a little this year I’ve had more time to reflect. That’s a pretty good thing, actually. Last year I was so busy I couldn’t do much but try and keep up. Boy, do I wish I had that “problem” now!
Treadway Graphics has been in business since 1987. That’s 22 years of successes and failures; heartaches and joy. I found that you can’t avoid conflict with customers, suppliers and employees forever. If you’re in business long enough you are going to make some people mad at you. But those are the exceptions.
New Kid On The Block
Ever since I introduced the “New Kid On The Block” in my first brochure it’s been a good ride overall. I’ve gained a lot of experience that is very helpful when I deal with my customers today. In addition, I work at this profession full time, not part time, like many others in our industry. Those two things bring a lot of value to my customers every day.
But trust is the big theme running through what I do. My customers trust me to come through for them. My customers are busy people and they don’t need to have me heap more “issues” on their plates. So I don’t. I do what not everyone else in business does: perform at a high level every day.
There are days when we fail to perform at that high level. It happens to everyone. What’s the most important thing to do in that case? Trash the excuses and make it right. Pretty simple really. But a lot of businesses don’t do that.
So, as I have all this time to reflect, I know a couple of things. Business will get better. And when it does, Treadway Graphics will be there, ready to perform at a high level!
The “New Kid” is thankful for the great ride the past 22 years!
