Schneider’s friend — Brian Cubbage, owner of Mid-Ohio Harley Davidson — already knew something about running a successful business, so the two men jumped in, even though they had no equipment and no experience.
“We started out with nothing — no equipment, no machinery. I’ve learned everything the hard way. You take as many classes as you can, but then it becomes a matter of trial and error. You keep doing something until you get it right,” he said.
The business was originally located in one of the buildings at Mid-Ohio’s current location, 2100 Quality Lane, near the Clark County Fairgrounds.
After a few years of working together, Cubbage came to Schneider and told him he needed to shorten his list of responsibilities, so the two decided Schneider would run the business on his own.
It was an amicable transition.
“We were friends when we started and we’re friends now — I still think the world of him. I don’t know of very many partnerships that start and end that way,” Schneider said.
Schneider now owns and operates CLS Custom Graphics & Embroidery Co. at 26 N. Fountain Ave. The business has been located in downtown Springfield for less than a year.
He runs the shop mostly as a solo operation, calling on his brother and another friend from time to time.
When CLS started, the company offered only embroidery and screen printing, but has evolved to offer laser engraving, large-format printing and all manner of promotional products such as pens, pencils, coffee mugs and hats.
“Anything you can think of that you can put your name on, I can create,” Schneider said.
The laser has become a favorite piece of equipment to work with.
“This is a really neat tool and the more I do with it, the more amazed I am at what it does,” he said.
Creativity increases business
Schneider can create laser-cut designs on glass, plastic, wood and paper, but has found a niche that’s helped increase his customer base.
He works in the industrial sector, etching identification information on machine parts.
Soliciting customers for his traditional promotional items led him to that market sector somewhat by accident, he said.
While in the scrap business, he met many people in industrial businesses and because of those accounts had connections and knowledge he could parlay into current customers.
“You learn a great deal about businesses, how they operate and what they work with,” he said.
He needed additional work to fill time on the laser and had friends working in the machining businesses.
“I told them I had a laser and started out trying to sell them embroidered items — hats and shirts — and started thinking about what else I could do. They asked if I could laser parts, so I really kind of fell into it,” Schneider said.
Now he has requests from machine shops all over the country.
“I just quoted a job for some parts from a machine shop that makes parts used in the process of measuring tensile strength. They’re only an inch long and a quarter-inch wide. They want laser engraving on two different locations,” he said.
Schneider’s laser can accommodate small parts work, which has become some of his favorite.
“Oh, I love the small stuff. The machine can handle the small parts and that’s the challenge, that’s the fun part,” he said.
A better, more interesting location
Last year was kind of stagnant, but since he’s moved, Schneider said he’s had many new faces come in the door.
That may come as a surprise to some, since CLS is located down an alley — or breezeway, as it’s now called — and sits behind Rose City Fine Jewelry and Loan at the same address, 26 N. Fountain Ave.
Schneider’s space was originally used as a livery stable, then it became a garage that repaired Model T Fords and other vehicles.
“Part of a wall was knocked out because when they brought the cars in with bad brakes to work on them, that’s where the bumpers hit the wall to stop,” he said.
He chose the space because it afforded him more room and a more central location.
And while he appreciates the advantages, he said parking can still be an issue.
Another motivating factor was a desire to play a part in the revitalization of downtown Springfield.
“I’ve lived in Springfield most of my life, so I’d like to see downtown Springfield revitalized,” he said.
Even though he’s somewhat cloistered, people don’t really seem to have a problem finding him. He’s come up with two ways to describe his location that speak to all Springfielders, varying based on how long the person has been around town.
“For old-time Springfielders, I tell them I’m between Meek’s and Wren’s,” he said. “For those who haven’t been around that long, I tell them I’m between BW3s and the Bushnell building.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371 or elroberts@coxohio.com.
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