Making Signs... Fast

Photos by John Burns

In order to stay open and maintain their existing customer base in 2020, businesses made a seismic shift in their service offering: curbside pickup. From restaurants to grocery and pharmacy, and even auto parts stores, it seemed every local business had a “curbside pickup” sign outside their door. The demand for those signs helped propel Fastsigns in Topeka to one of its busiest years ever.

“Last year was a little crazy,” Fastsigns owner Steve Gee said. “We were scrambling to keep up with demand. Don’t get me wrong, it is a good problem to have, but it meant some pretty long hours at times.”

The name Fastsigns pretty much sums up the business. From small posters and banners to lighted electrical signs and channel letters to vehicle wraps, they can make almost any sign idea a reality.

It would be pretty difficult for anyone living in Topeka to not have seen a sign manufactured by Fastsigns. The large Schlotzky’s lighted signs—Fastsigns. KS Commercial signs all over town—Fastsigns. Edwards Jones, Lean Kitchen, Farmers Insurance—Fastsigns. And those braille signs that state buildings are required to have? You guessed it, made with a router at Fastsigns.

Walk into the new indoor athletics facility at Washburn University and you will see one of Fastsigns’ larger creations: a banner that wraps around the entire indoor banked track.

“That was a fun one to watch come off the roll,” Gee said. “We knew it was massive when we were printing 50-foot sections, but you don’t realize the true dimensions until you see that banner circling the track.”

Printing those large-scale projects requires sophisticated equipment. Fastsigns has two solvent printers that embed paint into the vinyl and a huge laminating table for the finish process. This means they can print banners up to 6-foot wide by almost any length, and then finish it off with delivery and installation.

Gee and his wife, Terri, have owned Fastsigns in Topeka since 1997. Over the past 24 years, the company has seen steady growth.

“We actually cash flowed the first month after we purchased the business,” Gee said. “It helps when you have a wife that seems to know everyone in town.”

After graduating from Wichita State University and then receiving his MBA from Baker University, Gee took a job doing property management in Columbus, Ohio, for a couple of years. While there, he became a repeat customer of the local Fastsigns franchise, so he was already familiar with the business operations.

Wanting to return to their Kansas roots when they decided to start a family, the Gees jumped at the opportunity to purchase the Fastsigns franchise in Topeka.

“We had a 2-month old baby and a brand new business,” Gee said. “It was kind of like raising two babies at the same time.”

Their first storefront was in a strip mall next to Best Buy. After leasing space for seven years, Gee decided it was time to invest in his own building. They purchased a property at 5999 SW 22nd Park (at the corner of 22nd and Wanamaker Road) and leased out the other two office spaces.

While that was a smart financial decision, Gee says it came with its own set of stressors.

“Being a landlord means that I am always on call,” he said. “If the roof leaks, I can’t just ignore it for a few days. I have to make sure my tenants are being taken care of because it is the right thing to do.”

Gee says he loves the flexibility that comes with owning his own business. Last year when the high school went into remote learning, he was able to have lunch with his son, who was a senior, almost every day.

However, that freedom is only possible if he is fully staffed at the shop.

“Right now, I am down two positions,” Gee said. “That means I help run the office, support the sales staff and assist with most installations. I couldn’t survive without the great employees I have working for me.”

Hiring, Gee says, has been his biggest struggle.

“When you find a really good employee and get them trained, there is always a chance that they will move on to bigger and better things,” Gee said. “And in a weird way, I am glad to see some of those quality technicians move up the ladder of success. I take pride in knowing that I played a part in their journey.”

That innate need Gee has to mentor others is evidenced in a variety of ways. He brings high school kids in to learn how to operate the printing equipment and see the ins and outs of running a business. He is actively involved with the Washburn Rural school district, served on the Chamber marketing board, was part of the 2000 Leadership Greater Topeka Class and volunteers with Meals on Wheels every Thursday.

“I have been part of this community for almost 25 years,” Gee said. “That means giving back and helping my neighbors with whatever they need.”

TK