Success of Family Business No Small Feat For Tiny Vinyl Cutter

Irvine, CA -- June 12, 2000 -- Randy Simkins of Toronto, Ontario, Canada initially bought an eight-inch vinyl cutter to start a little side business for his wife, but once he and his teenage daughter set up the device and started cutting adhesive backed vinyl that same evening, they were hooked. The STIKA is the most impressive little machine I think I have ever seen," Simkins said. It paid for itself the first month I had it."

Simkins first saw a Roland STIKA vinyl cutter at a car show in Toronto, ON, Canada. At the time, he was working full-time at Goodyear Canada and producing adhesive backed vinyl letters and graphic designs by hand for his own racecars as a hobby. He still works full-time at Goodyear but spends every spare minute cutting vinyl on his STIKA and making signs. As he said, its developed into quite a profitable little business.

The STIKA is so easy to use that everyone in the family is involved in cutting vinyl and putting together signs," Simkins continued. Using Print Master Gold" clip art software and the Windows(R) driver that came with the STIKA, the Simkins have created graphics for everything from a rugged military Humvee to a beautiful monarch butterfly -- all in adhesive backed vinyl cut with their STIKA.

Most of their signs fall in the 6 x 8 and smaller range, and have included vehicle lettering, racecars, boats, bikes and signs for businesses such as snowmobile trails, golf courses, banks, Christmas signs with custom fonts and even an 8 x 10 billboard. The Simkins have also donated signs to a variety of organizations including churches and an area hockey arena.

The Simkins run a low overhead, cost efficient business, wasting very little vinyl on the 8" STIKA STX-7. They buy 15" wide vinyl and cut it exactly in half. I can fit 3 rows of 2" letters on the cutter with virtually no waste," adds Simkins. I can even cut letters as small as 1/8" high.

Simkins specializes in customer service. The family lives out in the country and provides free estimates and delivery. Their customers love it, especially since the nearest city is 45 minutes away. I find that it helps very much to meet with customers and listen to what they would like to have done," says Simkins. Then showing them some samples of my work assures them of a high quality product that they will be satisfied with. I can usually come up with a good idea of what they want, one-to-one."

Roland DGA Corporation, based in Irvine, California, makes the STIKA in 8" and 12" sizes. Roland can be reached at (949) 727-2100. Additional information on STIKA vinyl cutters and other Roland products can be obtained from the Roland Web site at www.rolanddga.com.

Contact:         
Juli Korneychuk
Public Relations Manager
Roland DGA Corporation
(949) 727-2100, ext. 216
jkorneychuk@rolanddga.com

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