PPB March 2020

How would you describe your company to a client? We sell visual communication, and promotional products are part of visual communications. We always say: ‘Anything to do with visual communications, we can do it for you. That includes not only signage for the front of your building, but we also do digital signage and promotional signage. From the shirt you have on to a pen or to a shoe, we can do anything you want to put your name on; FASTSIGNS can do it for you.’ In what ways is your company different from others? We do project management, so we try tomake the customers’ lives easier. Instead of making several phone calls, we want you tomake one. Call us and we’ll try to do everything for you. We try to be that partner to helpmake your event—whether it’s a grand opening or an out-of-state event—a success. What is your proudest career accomplishment so far? Still being in here, still being in business after seven and a half years. Our proudest thing is that we still have repeat business, and we are still growing and surviving. I am very proud to say we don’t have one-time customers, and we are partnering with larger organizations. What are your plans/goals for this year? Are you trying anything new? We want to hit certain plateaus regarding our sales volume. We are buying a new router engravingmachine this year, which will help us engrave products, such as awards, in-house. What are your biggest challenges and how are you working to solve them? Personally, my husband, Robert, had a stroke six months ago, [and he] was my business partner. We aremoving himout of the business, and he will become our ambassador at networking events. So, [one of my biggest challenges is] dealing with that and trying to overcome that, but also trying to replace himwith somebody else who is passionate, but nobody will have the same passion as an owner. I’m trying to takemore onmyself and reorganize the [business.] I have a great staff so they are stepping up, but I’m looking to hire an outside salesperson who will assist growing our sales volumes and take on Robert’s responsibilities. It’s a big challenge and a hurdle we are all working to overcome. What is your favorite product or campaign in which your product was used? Why is it a favorite? One project that stands out was a last-minute project that came in andmy staff stepped up; we had to work overnight. There was a new gallery opening here in Newark that highlighted different areas of downtown, showing how the city had changed over time. Themayor wanted it, and it had to get done. We used different types of media and promotional products, and we hung signage on the walls and in the windows. It took two days to get it done; we were exhausted, but the gallery was able to open and havemedia there. That project was amazing, and it is still there. What are your tips to achieve a work/life balance? You don’t take life for granted. Anything you are passionate about you work hard at, but family always comes first. We never take family for granted. I try to always take time tomake sure the family knows that I am there for them. [For example,] I have a 107-year-old grandmother and she broke her hip, and I was just on the phone with the rehab center. As much as I lovemy business, I lovemy family just as much. This business may be here, but familymay not. So, if I have to take off time, I take off time. Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time? I love to travel, so we take as many little trips as we can. Sometimes they are not far, maybe just three hours, but it gets us away. Sometimes, we’ll have to take the laptop with us because we still have things to do, but we try to get away as often as possible. What advice or resources do you have for other women business owners or those planning to start their own business? Just do it. I think we sometimes overthink things, but there are so many resources out there for us. There are programs for us, and the sisterhood is very, very strong. We, as women, don’t mind helping— that is part of our nature, and there are women out there who, if you don’t know and if you ask, are willing to help. Some of us still have children at home and are worried about howwe are still going to be moms, but we can do that—we are great multitaskers. Sometimes we just have to, likeme, step out in faith. I just stepped out there, and God has not let me fall. — Kristina Valdez CINDY CHAPMAN, MAS Founder, Brand Builder Plan-It Promotions Concord, Ontario Twenty-nine years ago, Cindy Chapman was looking for a new job as an executive assistant when she realized what she really wanted to do was sell. Her previous exposure to promotional products and an understanding for how they could incite action and influence behavior led her to eventually start her own company. Today, Plan-It Promotions Ltd. is a leading promotional products Women In Business | FEATURE | MARCH 2020 | 57