A third-generation business with deep roots turns to WilliamsMcCarthy LLP to assist with challenges and growth.
As he walks through the facility built by his grandparents & parents to house a screen-printing business 75 years ago, Ian Harris feels the pride and weight of running a third-generation business.
“This was a huge undertaking when my grandfather started it, and it’s been in the family since then,” he reflected. “I basically grew up here.”
Learning the business from the ground up
Harris is proud to have worked in basically every facet of Signcraft Screenprint, Inc. (SSI), a Galena, IL-based screen-printing company that produces high-quality decals and OEM marketing for worldwide customers and recognized brands like John Deere, Meade Tractor, Foodliner, and more. Starting on second shift in the factory, he worked for five to seven years learning every step in the process firsthand. He credits that time for his success when he stepped into ownership following his grandparents and his mother.
“I didn’t just walk into the office – I wasn’t handed this on a silver platter,” Harris shared. “I worked for years next to employees that are still here today, which earned me credibility with the team as well as knowledge to run the business.”
SSI’s core business is screen printing decals for large OEM companies as well as one-off projects like door and graphic decals. As the industry has evolved, so has the company by adding capabilities, production options, and substrates to meet customer needs.