Mississippi Monday | A+ Signs and Creative
It's #MissisippiMonday and today, we are excited to bring you a feature on a company here in Jackson that we LOVE to work with and highly recommend, A+ Signs and Creative! We've worked with Scott & his fantastic team a number of times for large scale Thimblepress® signgage for markets and events, and every time it's such a pleasure. They've got such a wide array of skills and capabilities and we'd recommend them to anyone with a branding, signage or design needs, local or otherwise.
Read on for more about A+ Signs and Creatives and view some of their marvelous work below!
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Q&A with SCOTT ALLEN, owner of A+ Signs and Creative
What exactly is A+ Signs and Creative?
We are a full service large format printing company, sign manufacture, and design team. We work in a lot of different areas from film to commercial developments. We also do full metal fabrication and wood working, providing limitless possibilities to any project. Our staff of artisan’s love to work with clients on developing what they need by blending creative ideas.
How did you all get started and what was the inspiration to take the small business leap?
My wife Allison and I felt like we were at the right time in our lives to make that scary jump. We were both ready for a change, so when the opportunity arose to purchase an existing business and make it our own, we took it. We developed the old business to better fit what we have to offer creatively. It has organically shaped itself. We pride ourselves in customer service, our creative staff, and at the end of the day we always have a good time.
How does Mississippi play a role in your business?
Mississippi is one of the most well kept secrets in the country. There are a lot of pros to running a business here like lower manufacturing cost and a super supportive business community. I think these things increase your chances of having a successful business. It is also a very inspiring place to live with few distractions.
What are your goals for your brand?
I really want the brand to be known as a creative company that originates and produces a great product along with excellent customer service.
What is your background?
I’ve been an artist most of my life. After convincing my parents I wanted to be an art major in college, I graduated college with a BA in Graphic Design with a minor in Art. My first job out of school was working as a photographer, and after that to my first design job working at a sign shop where it all started. Thereafter, it has been a combination of painting, design, photography, illustration, and public (mural) art. I’m also a music lover. I’ve been playing the drums since the age of 8 and picked up guitar a few years ago.
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Where do you all find inspiration?
With my art, I love observing some of my favorite artist like Diego Rivera, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Richard Diebenkorn, Walter Anderson, and Norman Rockwell. I also get it from the actual creative process itself while pulling from my surroundings in everyday life. I try and introduce myself to different mediums to put myself out of my comfort zone and keep things interesting. Once I can get started on something, the ideas usually naturally flow after that. As a business owner, I guess I’d say I apply the same concept. As a boss…well, it was not too long ago that I was an employee myself. I will always remember what that can be like, positively and negatively, and that plays into how I manage my team from day to day.
What do you all like to do when you aren't creating/building?
As a team we like to try and grab a beer or two together from time to time. We tend to either brainstorm about work projects, or we talk about anything that’s got us laughing. We’ve also worked together on community projects for Fondren’s First Thursday, a local event. I personally love spending time with my wife Allison and our dog Sophie. We are avid movie/documentary watchers, love to travel, and love any and all Asian food.
What are your favorite local places to shop and dine?
We have a great farmers market in Downtown Jackson that we frequent. We love to dine at Walker’s, Saltine, Fusion, Surin, Lou’s, and Café Ole just to name a few. I’m a friend of my buddy Ron Chane’s clothing/shoe store, and many of the great stores my Fondren neighborhood has to offer.
What are some of the reasons you call Mississippi home?
Honestly, it is beautiful. The good, the bad, and the ugly. There is no place like it. It is also a place of great opportunity. The relatively low cost of living can allow you to go after your dreams without breaking the bank right out of the gate.
How do you think what you are doing is helping to shape your local community as well as the image of Mississippi?
We often work with people from all over the country, so I hope in many ways it helps shape their perception of Mississippi in a positive way. There is so much talent within our team, and in Mississippi as a whole. I hope that is portrayed through our work. We have been involved with many community projects in our spare time and are game for any future projects we can have fun with.
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Have a signage or design need, or just want to see more? Find Scott and A+ in all the places below:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL
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