The Midwest Entrepreneurs class was host to two guest speakers the Thursday before just-ended spring break; Alicia and Travis Pence.

Below, class member Cole Trickel reflects on the Travis’ entrepreneurial venture; Biggsville, IL-based Lightning Designs. The start-up company custom designs vinyl signage for businesses, automobiles, race cars, and more. Details about the firm can be found at its webpage: http://www.lightningdesigns.us/.

As you will see, Cole focuses on issues that have become fairly commonplace amongst our guest speakers this semester; starting a business based on a passion and the importance of treating customers and others with respect. Heavy usage of social media as a means of cost-effective marketing communication is another entrepreneurial approach we have heard before.

Prof. Gabel

______________________________________________________________________

Travis Pence started his business Lightning Designs in 2012. Travis got the name of his business because of his nickname “Lightning.” Travis told the class his business was an easy start-up business because the only thing he needed was his graphic design printer.

The only piece of equipment that Travis actually invested into was the graphic design printer because it was low risk and he could make his money back in a relatively good time. He already owned his home computer and basic home printer. Travis started his designs by creating small decals for windshields and eventually worked his way up to this big vinyl printer that he was able to do work for several businesses including local ambulance services and fire Departments, Maude Specklebelly’s in Monmouth, and several other businesses around the area. Travis can print designs for many surfaces such as car windows, windows in front of your shop to attract customers, full body designs on company vehicles, and for emergency vehicles that are rushing to save lives.

The majority of Travis’ customer base comes from other local businesses trying to get their name known. This is when Travis explains to us that marketing is the easiest thing to do when starting a business because it is “free” and all starting businesses like the word “free.” Marketing is “free” because of social media. Social media has made it easy enough get names and places out there that most people would have never heard of without social media. “Oh, hey look!… So and So was here…and they said it was really good or that looks really nice… maybe we should check that place out.” Travis said it was literally that easy. I guess it also helps that Travis promotes his company by racing dirt midgets—with his business name emblazoned on the front—on Friday and Saturday nights and hundreds of people go to these races and there again, its “free” marketing.

The final idea that Travis wanted to leave with us is: “Treat people with respect…You have to give respect to get respect.” He, like many other speakers in class this semester stated that respect means a lot in the business world. The more people that know about your business and know that you’re a respected business man, there is a higher probability that customers are going to want to do business with you because you are going to have respect for one another.

Cole Trickel