Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThurs Mar 19 4:30 pm<\/em><\/span>
Another busy day. Silk screen signs, particularly for political candidates, is heavy. I visited the silk screen plant, where spirits are solid. Reynaldo has a tooth infection, so he\u2019s out, and he is a true beast of a worker- everyone\u2019s picking up the slack the best they can. We won\u2019t miss any turn times. Morale is good. T-shirt boxes are coming in faster than ever- but the team is handling it. Our employees know we will make sure they are getting paid over the next 90 days, even if the government forces a shutdown. So far, most have turned in their direct deposit forms, just a few to go.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFriday Mar 20 9:05am<\/span><\/em>
I just bought another $12,000 of digital ink \u2013 and another truck of coroplast. I can\u2019t feed our team if we don\u2019t have raw materials to make signs with. Business is solid. Here\u2019s hoping the gov\u2019t doesn\u2019t shut us down. We had to call one customer with a 2000 sign order and tell them it was gonna take us 1 day extra. The customer was excellent about it. Our silk screen ink supplier was 1 day late- sick kid, and sometimes things happen. Landlords at both facilities are letting us pass on rent for 3 months- makes me confident I can take care of my people. Charlie Kettner and Jennifer Kori are amazing people- I had tears in my eyes when talking to them. They know I will pay them back. They have the true \u201cwe\u2019re in this together\u201d attitude.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMonday Mar 23 8:20am<\/span><\/em>
Yes, we are open! I am considering the idea of a life-sized cheer up. It\u2019s a cutout of your loved one, someone you can\u2019t be with due to isolation policies. We\u2019d sell them at our cost only. We can help people have a silly, sweet cutout, and keep our own people employed, thus everyone wins. This keeps 5 designers, 2 printers, a CNC operator or 2, and a shipping department busy. Nick is a star designer, and the work he did transplanting the heads from a large corporate staff onto athlete\u2019s bodies was both fun and super well received. Why not turn our people loose on making people smile. We\u2019d sell the desktop version for $37, and the life sized version for $53, including shipping. We\u2019d lose a $5 or $6 bucks shipping to the West Coast, possibly break even closer. If design times get too expensive, we can raise the price a buck or two to cover it. I can pretend the credit card fees don\u2019t exist, and see if we can create a few hundred or even a few thousand smiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf anyone out there has an even better idea, please email. We want to do our part. The only constraint we have is we have to keep the package size to around 48\u201d x 29\u201d. Cutouts fold up, so that helps, but it costs more than $30 to ship something 48\u201d x 30 to 36\u201d\u201d. We wouldn\u2019t be able to keep the price low if the cutout gets too big.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTuesday Mar 24 8:55am<\/span><\/em>
We\u2019re open for the foreseeable future, as an essential business for hundreds of companies who are open that we make labels, stickers and more for. Locking the doors for walk-in guests is strange, but safer for my team. People are arriving, calling the local line, and we bring out their items to them. Employees feel safer, and there is less touching and shared space this way. We stopped some training, as it was shoulder to shoulder. My new people are happy to have a job, doing simple table work and pitching in where they can. It\u2019s the new, temporary normal.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWednesday Mar 25 8:41am<\/span><\/em>
We print a lot of labels. I found it amusing, and good for my people, that medical marijuana dispensaries are deemed \u201cessential\u201d. We\u2019ve easily printed a couple hundred thousand product labels for dispensaries alone in the past 6 weeks. CBD is another, though they spend more per unit, often as vinyl decals. The cigar industry is strong this month, but our restaurant friends are struggling. We print for IHEART media, but there\u2019s no concerts going on, or events. Big City Events, which does events all over, is suffering, Ferdian is such a good, generous man who never fails to treat our people so well. He often rushes orders, but he does it with grace, humility, and kindness. I do hope his business survives this next couple of months.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThursday Mar 26 7:28am<\/span><\/em>
The Senate did it! Though a few knuckleheads tried to stop the train, it looks like wisdom prevailed. Who wants to see the suicide rate, the divorce rate, and the crime rate skyrocket, when it is in congress\u2019s power to give people some desperately needed calm. We have been busy at Good Guys Signs, and now I am much less worried about taking good care of my folks.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThursday Mar 26 7:28am<\/span><\/em>
The Senate did it! Though a few knuckleheads tried to stop the train, it looks like wisdom prevailed. Who wants to see the suicide rate, the divorce rate, and the crime rate skyrocket, when it is in congress\u2019s power to give people some desperately needed calm. We have been busy at Good Guys Signs, and now I am much less worried about taking good care of my folks.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFriday Mar 27 8:15am<\/span><\/em>
In the current normal our business is now a part of, we are keeping some sense of levity here. Today, we are having a High School Daze\/Prom Photo Contest. Each staff member is bringing in a photo from when they were in high school and we can see how much they have changed. Our facility is a mix of diverse cultures and skill sets. From designers to service, programmers to production, we each bring that special piece to the team puzzle. Now, with uncertainty being commonplace outside the workplace, it is times like these that we want to strengthen the team within it. We want as much camaraderie and normalcy as possible. We hope you can have some silliness in your life, to balance the seriousness of the situation.
Matt Hanniman, Service Manager<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMonday Mar 30 8:40am<\/span><\/em>
Mondays are the worst stress days for business owners during this pandemic. You don\u2019t want your employees panicked, but they have to be informed. Anyone over 30 knows the saying, \u201cIf it bleeds, it leads\u201d. Here\u2019s hoping everyone is calm and didn\u2019t consume \u201csky is falling news\u201d 24\/7 over the weekend. I have been carefully coaching my leaders, making sure they are giving off the calm competence necessary for people to help customers. I feel they have done an amazing job so far. We still have a few months to go, it would appear.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTuesday Mar 31 9:02am<\/span><\/em>
We made a fun life sized cheer-up for a grandpa for his grandkids. He ordered it yesterday afternoon, it\u2019s being mailed to Wisconsin today. Grandpa as the Fonz- it\u2019s perfectly silly and sweet. We\u2019ll grab a pic and post on our Facebook page today or tomorrow, Another one we just did we cannot post- unless we create a \u201cGood Guys Signs after Dark\u201d page. Definitely PG-13(+). These seem to be reaching people as a fun way to be present when they are not face-timing or video conferencing.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWednesday April 1 7:40am<\/span><\/em>
It\u2019s April Fool\u2019s day, yet practical jokes simply don\u2019t feel appropriate. We are keeping it professional light here, trying to help the city with a complex stenciling job, printing a ton of Covid Signs, and keeping regular operations with social distancing a priority. All in all, spirits are good.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThursday April 2 8:45am<\/span><\/em>
I sense employee anxiety rising as the death toll rises. All I can do is keep them calm, safe, and feeling like the work they are doing is meaningful. It is impossible to say how many \u201cWe are Open\u201d banners, Covid signs, and supportive messages we have printed, but its thousands and thousands. I will collage this next week for my people, to make sure they understand it does make a difference.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFriday April 3 8:52am<\/span><\/em>
The City of Tampa has a wonderful idea using stencils and spray on chalk to put up temporary messaging on walls. We were blessed with the opportunity to be of assistance. We will get some pics and video\u2019s up on the goodguyssigns facebook page next week. Business is solid, all turn times are being hit.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMonday April 6 10:54am<\/span><\/em>
It\u2019s a strange day at Good Guys Signs. Death has finally touched us through a vendor\u2019s step-dad, and she couldn\u2019t be there as the hospital was pretty locked down. He was ill for years, and though this wasn\u2019t a Covid case, Covid has altered the normal good-bye and grieving process. This lady came down to Florida to be supportive her mom and step-dad a couple years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWho knows how it\u2019s best to support someone in grief during these times? Meals, doing laundry, face-timing, check-ins, these all make sense to me. I offered a life-sized cheer up, not sure how she would take it. One of her, for her mom, or of the deceased, or anything she wanted. Turns out, step-dad was a life of the party, beer drinker and true giver, and she is up for surprising mom with one. I offered her one free of charge; she\u2019s been good to us. She, of course, offered to pay. I won\u2019t be allowing that. She made me laugh and smile with her email story of him, so, even in her grief, her step-dad made a difference. Thanks Paula.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTuesday April 7 9:02am<\/span><\/em>
Rumor has it that Hillsborough County sheriffs will go door to door in the obviously non-essential businesses, getting them to close. Though we qualify under 4 of the categories, like any business owner, I worry about a confrontation with an overzealous county employee who doesn\u2019t realize the impact of an arbitrary decision. I am sure reason will prevail.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWednesday April 8, 11:45am<\/span><\/em>
We\u2019re putting a fun post on our good guys signs facebook page. It\u2019s busy today, was slow yesterday. Seems 75% of what we print is Covid related.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFriday April 10, 10:50am<\/span><\/em>
Today on the good guys signs facebook page, we posted a story, \u201cRemembering Dick Meredith\u201d. It\u2019s a bittersweet story of a good man. I invite people who appreciate the poignancy of laughter and tears simultaneously to read the story.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMonday April 13, 2:15pm<\/span><\/em>
Here\u2019s hoping the country gets partially opened back up safely, slowly, effectively, starting in May. Even our supply chains are beginning to be disrupted. I realize some area\u2019s will not be able to open, perhaps even in June.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTuesday April 14 10:30am<\/span><\/em>
As Hillsborough County tightens down the clamps on larger groups, night travel and so forth, signs are emerging that social distancing is working to \u201cbend the curve\u201d. We are grateful that, knock on wood, we have had no cases in our employees or their immediate families. Most know someone affected by Covid-19, however. Here\u2019s hoping people continue to practice the CDC\/President\u2019s guidelines through April. Who knows what May will bring. We do wish for a lower infection rate to continue.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWednesday April 15 11:04am<\/span><\/em>
I had a sleepless night last night, Wing Stop Wings were \u201cno bueno\u201d. Finally, at 2am, decided to come to the shop. As I pulled up to make a deposit at Bank of America, a Hillsborough County Sheriff was using the next lane of the drive up ATM. A curfew just went into effect 9pm to 5am, so I thought, \u201cThis could get interesting\u201d. He left before me, then I wondered where he was hiding. It\u2019s not that I wasn\u2019t heading to work, an essential business that makes lots of regulatory signs, 6\u2019 distancing floor decals, Hero\u2019s Work Here Letters, and the like. I think the stress is \u201cAm I gonna get pulled over.\u201d Turns our, he wasn\u2019t hiding- I was simply tired\/delirious.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThursday April 16 11:30am<\/span><\/em>
We completed some really cool \u201csocial distancing\u201d stencils for the City of Tampa a few minutes ago. I am sure we will have pictures to share on the good guys signs Facebook page next week. Their artist really knocked it out of the park., using 6\u2019 versions of iconic pirates, manatees, and gators.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nFriday April 17 10:10am<\/span><\/em>
For the first time in months, I sense optimism in our regular customers. It\u2019s a beautiful thing, like a rainbow after a long, dark storm. Here\u2019s hoping everyone continues to mitigate with masks, social distancing, and hand washing.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nMonday April 20, 9:45am<\/span><\/em>
It looks like there is motivation to get the country back on it\u2019s feet. Here\u2019s hoping we can responsibly do so, with plenty of masks, gloves where appropriate, and of course, social distancing. If you need a laugh, we made fun of ourselves regarding social distancing on the Good Guys Signs Facebook page.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWednesday April 22 11:10am<\/span><\/em>
Monday was April 20th<\/sup>. We let some employees dress silly, and called it \u201cretro day\u201d. We have a variety of clients, including religious institutions all over the U.S. This seemed like the most respectful way to handle something that may no longer be \u201ccounter-cultural\u201d, but is no doubt controversial to some.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWednesday April 29, 12:10pm<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
Business has really picked up. We are making a lot of graduation signs, thousands per day. It\u2019s nice to give the kids a custom sign, as this is not the graduation they had in mind, for sure.
Tom Tucky<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Wed Mar 18 3:10 pm It\u2019s business as usual at Good Guys Signs, well, as usual as the times allow. We are hitting all of our turn times. The healthy are working hard, anyone even sniffling has been to the doctor. I am glad we added health care 2 years ago, and the teledoc is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodguyssigns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodguyssigns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodguyssigns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodguyssigns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodguyssigns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodguyssigns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":217,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodguyssigns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75\/revisions\/217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodguyssigns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodguyssigns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodguyssigns.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}