Today we’d like to introduce you to Ted Spencer.
Hi Ted, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story is rooted in faith—and in learning to trust the process long before I understood where it was leading.
I grew up in a sign shop my dad owned. At the time, I never imagined that world would become my end game, but I enjoyed the work and absorbed more than I realized. Looking back, that shop quietly planted the first seeds.
In my early twenties, I took a job at the local newspaper as a graphic designer. That role quickly evolved into much more. I became the production manager, wrote a regular column, handled sports photography, and did journalism work. It was an intense, fast-paced environment that sharpened my design skills and, more importantly, taught me how to communicate clearly and professionally under pressure.
At 25, craving a new challenge, I joined the Air National Guard. That experience reshaped me. I learned discipline, the importance of precision, and the value of paying attention to details most people overlook. Through my chosen career path, I also became proficient in the electrical trade—skills that would later prove invaluable.
After returning home to McEntire Air National Guard Base, I stepped into the corporate world as an account executive for Hunt Brothers Pizza. There, I learned how standards, expectations, and company culture can make or break an organization. From Hunt Brothers, I moved on to a national sales role with Traeger Grills, where exceptional training taught me the art of selling—and closing—with confidence and integrity.
After marrying my wife, Casey, I felt a pull to stay closer to home. That led me to Glantz Sign Supply, where I worked as a sales representative and visited nearly 200 sign shops across the region. I had a front-row seat to how some truly remarkable work was created, learning through observation and conversation—what I like to call “osmosis.” Then, during COVID, I was laid off.
What felt like a setback turned out to be a turning point.
Everything had been preparing me for that moment. The sign shop gave me the foundation. The newspaper gave me the reps to become a strong designer. The Guard instilled discipline and technical skill. Hunt Brothers taught me culture. Traeger taught me sales. Glantz gave me perspective on the industry as a whole.
All of it led to the creation of Qsigns.
At the time, I didn’t see the pattern. But that’s where faith comes in—trusting that every season, even the difficult ones, is building something greater. Today, I look back and see nothing but purpose. I’m truly blessed.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. Building a business—especially one you bootstrap from the ground up—comes with constant learning moments, and plenty of pressure.
When I first started, I didn’t have much money in my savings account, so I had to get creative. Instead of printing business cards, I designed a digital one and texted it to about 200 people, telling them I was starting something new and asking them to keep me in mind the next time they needed a sign. I even signed up for a free college class just so I could get Adobe Creative Cloud for $24.99 a month instead of the standard $69.99.
Looking back, I have a lot of fondness for that season. There were no excuses—just sheer determination.
Around the two-year mark, I hit my first real plateau. My list of partners was growing fast, but so were my expenses. The work was there, yet the numbers felt stagnant. That’s when I picked up The E-Myth by Michael Gerber, and it completely changed how I viewed business. I’d always understood the importance of branding, but the book exposed some major gaps in my thinking as an owner—especially the difference between working in the business and working on the business.
About a year later, I ran into another wall. Once again, faith and trusting the process led me to the right resource: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The principles—being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, and sharpening the saw—helped me realize that growth in business starts with growth in yourself. If I wanted the company to improve, I had to improve first.
Through every high and low, books have been one of my greatest teachers. A few that I regularly recommend to other business owners and professionals include Profit First, Creativity, Inc., The Tipping Point, Buy Back Your Time, Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Power of Broke, Start With Why, and Atomic Habits.
None of it has been easy—but every challenge has shaped the business and the person behind it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At our core, we do branding, signage, and vehicle wraps—but more than that, we provide ideas.
Qsigns’ slogan is “Ideas That Ignite Dreams,” and that’s not just a line—it’s how we operate. Starting a business is incredibly hard. The numbers don’t lie: roughly 20% of businesses fail in their first year, and about half don’t make it past five. Because of that, we’re intentional about who we partner with. We work with business owners who dream big, care deeply about what they do, and are willing to build something meaningful.
Branding is where everything begins. I specialize in designing clean, iconic, responsive logos—but always with my client’s bank account in mind. By limiting color palettes and focusing on bold, intentional design, we help clients save money long-term on things like embroidery, screen printing, and production costs, while still creating a look that stands out in a crowded marketplace.
From there, we take a white-glove approach to applying that brand across signage and vehicle wraps. Every sign we produce is a one-of-a-kind, custom piece—Qrafted to match the unique essence of each partner’s business. We work closely with our suppliers to ensure the materials we use are the best available. We value quality over quantity, always.
What truly sets us apart, though, is that we look beyond the sign itself. We pay attention to the bigger picture. Sometimes that means helping a client identify a small but costly oversight in their business structure. I once worked with a partner whose storefront windows were completely covered in graphics. While it looked bold, it wasn’t inviting. Customers couldn’t see inside, and that lack of transparency was hurting foot traffic. We removed the graphics, opened up the view—and foot traffic immediately increased.
That’s what I’m most proud of: caring enough to say something, even when it goes beyond what we were hired to do.
In short, we care. We’re passionate. We believe in quality. And we provide ideas that help businesses not just look better—but work better.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Faith and trusting the process have introduced me to some truly meaningful relationships, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.
First and foremost is my wife, Casey. Without her trust, love, patience, and understanding, none of this would have been possible. Entrepreneurship isn’t easy on a family, and she has been my constant support—my rock and my favorite part of life.
Next is my right-hand man and production manager, Russell Lambert. Russell carries an enormous amount of responsibility and has taken a tremendous amount of stress off my shoulders. His reliability and attention to detail allow me to focus on growth and vision, knowing the execution is in great hands.
There are also partners who believed in me early, when belief mattered most. Allen, Rebecca, and Bill at 1st Choice Quality Heating, Air & Plumbing took a chance on me when Qsigns was still finding its footing. Their vehicle wraps became, without question, the most important work I had in year two. That trust played a huge role in helping the business survive and grow, and I’m forever grateful.
Laurence Manning Academy has also become an incredible partner—not just through their direct work with us, but as a marketing platform overall. In 2024 alone, my return on investment from advertising through their Booster Club exceeded $75,000 in business from parents who are also business owners. Beyond the numbers, it’s been a fun and meaningful relationship rooted in community.
There are many others who deserve recognition—far too many to list here—but several of our partners are featured at Qsigns.net. Each one has played a role in shaping not just the business, but the journey itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Qsigns.net
