Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Bishop.
Chris, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I knew from the time I was 13 years old that I wanted to own my own business, I just didn’t know how, what, when or where. The major step toward that happening was taking a job with a large format graphic and signage business in Chicago. This was in 1997 – 3 years out of college.
I then broke out on my own and started the first incarnation of my own company in early 2002 with a business partner, I was 30 years old. That worked for about 11 years until, for various reasons, it was time to split and go my own way and run a business my way on my terms.
Bishop Image Group is 4 years old now and has nearly doubled in sales each of those years. We continue to grow this year and anticipate another major increase in sales. The future looks bright.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road. Along the way there have been struggles with people, resources, poor decisions, etc.
I hit a point in my previous business where I realized my business partner and I had philosophical differences in how we thought things should be done within our business. We no longer saw eye to eye on many topics. It was probably time to move on 3 years before I finally did, but glad I finally made that decision to move on. I’m much better for it today.
I’ve certainly made decisions along the way that I wish I hadn’t. I’ve hired people I shouldn’t have and held onto them longer than I should have. I’ve pursued and done deals I should’ve walked away from. But all of these things make you better the next time you’re faced with a similar situation.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Bishop Image Group – what should we know?
Bishop Image Group designs, prints/manufactures and installs large format graphics and signage. We specialize in taking projects from the concept stage all the way through to implementation. There isn’t a single phase of a signage project that we do not excel in for our clients. In addition to our high-quality products and service; we are known as a company that creates a great experience for our clients – we make it easy to work with us.
I am most proud of the team that we have become. It makes us the strong company we are today. Everyone within our organization realizes we are all part of the larger picture that makes things happen for our clients.
Our problem-solving ability, flexibility and communication set us apart from our competition. We simply create a better experience for our customers, while getting their projects completed at a very high-quality level.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
No one gets very far without the help of others in some fashion. That help manifests itself in different ways, but I try to learn something in every situation I’m in. A lot of times that learning is more of what I shouldn’t do than what I should. All my previous employers, business partners, employees, clients, etc. have taught me things I still use today.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4018 W. Irving Park Road,
Chicago, IL 60641 - Website: bishopimagegroup.com
- Phone: 3127249772
- Email: chris@bishopimagegroup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bishopimagegroup/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BishopImageGroup
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BishopImage
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bishop-image-group-chicago-2
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