On the Job: Sign maker learns to ‘wheel and deal’ during recession

Published 8:00 am Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Charles “Chuck” Clark has spent over 15 years making what every business needs: A sign.

Clark owns Quik Signs on Main Street in Gardendale. He usually opens the store at 9 a.m. and works until he’s done what he needed to do for the day.

“There ain’t no one day alike,” said Clark. “First and foremost is making my customers happy.”

Clark makes a sign from start to finish completely in-store. When a new customer comes into Quik Signs, he asks them to make a rough sketch of what they want to see in their sign.

He takes the sketch and makes a layout based on it. From there he prints the graphic he designed in his layout onto whatever material he needs to use, then cuts it to the right shape in his workshop. He said smaller businesses often adopt the sign as their official logo.

“I do a lot of helmets and things like that, and that takes care of the kids. That’s my specialty; I enjoy kids a lot,” said Clark. 

Like many businesses, Clark is having trouble in the current economy. He had to downsize last year, and is now the only person who works at the store.

“In this economy, it’s just about trying to make ends meet. I guess you could say ‘wheel and deal.’ That’s what it’s all about,” he said.

One of the problems Clark said he has is customers requesting multiple layouts, then decide not to purchase a sign.

Clark just joined North Gardendale Baptist Church, and helps them with their sign needs. He also prints Upward sports materials for Gardendale First Baptist Church.

Although he’s been in the business for about 17 years, he bought Quik Signs about 10 years ago.