Client Spotlight: Ceiling Outfitters
In our first client spotlight of 2018, we will take a look at Ceiling Outfitters, a business based out of Carrollton, Texas!
Describe your business + mission...
Since 2007, Ceiling Outfitters® has partnered with over 2,000 organizations and 22,000 stores nationally within the retail, manufacturing, education, and hospitality industries. Ceiling space and storefront windows are optimal visual display locations and we help customers utilize these areas safely, quickly, easily and more economically. Ceiling Outfitters is a master distributor of the Clik-Clik family of products, the premier magnetic hanging system that transforms the ceiling eco-system into a workable location for strategic placement of ceiling signs and displays and helps employees suspend items without a ladder or lifting device.
Business History: How did you get into the industry / business you are working in now?
I’ve been in the POP (point of purchase) industry since 1987 and founded Ceiling Outfitters in 2007. Building upon my experience in working with retailers across the USA, and I’ve been able to take my knowledge and cross-over into a wide variety of business silos and build Ceiling Outfitters into a company that is providing a innovating products to retailers, manufacturers, schools, churches, event planners and venues. Albert Einstein wrote that “If you always do what you always did, you will always get with you always got”. Our products are an innovative set of tools to help people stop hanging ceiling displays using the “what you always did” method and developing new work habits for safely, quickly and easily hanging signs and décor items from ceilings.
Who is your ideal client?
We focus on organizations that use their ceiling to communicate a value proposition to the customer or information to employees. Our ideal customer is a company with multiple locations that will see an improvement in the execution of their signage program using our products and achieve measurable savings in time and labor costs across the company.
What is your favorite part of running your business?
Working with the customer and showing them how they can safely, quickly and easily hang visual displays and then seeing the light go on in their mind as they put together how effective our products will be for their company.
Share something you’ve learned through your business, how has it helped you grow...
Our written plan keeps me focused on what needs to execute daily, weekly and monthly. Also, I enjoy the work, the process, the people and the product and I don’t do it all myself. I’ve taken the time to bring good people alongside to help me grow the business. Consultants, website developers and marketing all have contributed to our growth.
If you could share one piece of advice with a new business owner what would it be and why?
Besides having a plan, recognize that the internet is here to stay and is growing. I know that sounds unoriginal, but with that in mind, design an effective well thought-out website with e-commerce. Budget the monies for strong SEO and social media marketing; your customers have to be able to find you and only you can help them do that.
Do you have any upcoming events you’d like to share - for who and why should they attend?
We are exhibiting at ISA’s Sign Expo and at GlobalShop both in March 2018. Retailers, brand marketers, sign shops, printers will find these two shows filled with useful products and of course, Ceiling Outfitters and Clik-Clik™.
What is your favorite part about working with PayHub Payments?
We awarded our processing business to PayHub two years ago. Their cloud based application is easy to work with when processing payments for walk-in or call-in customers and their API for our website ensures safe and secure processing of customer’s on-line payments. PayHub has been flawless.
We love working with Ceiling Outfitters! For more information, you can visit Ceiling Outfitters on social media at these links:
You can also contact Thomas Stanley on LinkedIn, or by email at tstanley@ceilingoutfitters.com to learn more about Ceiling Outfitters!
