When the possibility for growth came along, Kevin Hebert of St. Charles Printing/FastSigns took it – three times.
The Boutte-based business grew from its original location to three more in the last 18 months, bringing the total to four stores that quickly became his chain of locations.
“They called us first,” he said. “They thought we would do a good job.”
When a FastSigns location closed in Lafayette, the corporate office asked Hebert if he’d take it and it became the latest new location for he and his wife.
“It’s unplanned growth, but it’s tremendous with having started with just one location,” Hebert said of himself and his wife, Debbie. “It’s not something we ever expected. It’s very humbling we’ve grown the way we had. We don’t take it for granted.”
Additionally, the couple also owns locations in Baton Rouge and Gonzales. Hebert said they’re also “working on something else.”
In New Orleans, Hebert said his business handled work for more than 40 major hotels in the area.
“That is where the bulk of our business is,” he said. “On the local front, Dow Chemical has been a great partner with us and helped fuel our growth over the years.”
Hebert praised Dow’s decision to keep money in St. Charles Parish.
“We’ve been working with them for 18 years,” he said. “And it’s been a tremendous partnership for us for sure.”
In 1989, Hebert started in the business as a salesman for a printing company and then bought the business by 1993. Two years later, he started St. Charles Printing, where he’s been for 23 years in St. Charles Parish.
Hebert said they co-branded the business with FastSigns to show customers they do more than printing, and it worked.
“It brings a different thought process to the consumer’s mind,” he said. “We have 16 employees here in Boutte. We’re not the tiny mom and pop business they think it is.”
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