Have Squeegee, Will Travel!

As a signshop owner, Elizabeth has often experienced her clients' surprise when they see her handling every aspect of the job. "I'll consult with the client, then go back to my shop to run the production. When I come back with my squeegee to do the installation, some people are quite shocked," she said.

Lola Red Design Group was created in 2010 by Elizabeth, whose nickname "since forever" has been Lola Red. She started out as a graphic designer in sign shops and print shops and freelanced for years before opening her own shop.

“I knew I wanted a Roland DG because of the quality. We went with the VS for the white and metallic ink option. It really sets us apart in our market.”

Elizabeth began with a 30-inch Roland DG cutter. Soon she invested in the Roland DG VersaCAMM VS-series 54-inch wide-format printer/cutter with white and metallic ink. "I knew I wanted a Roland DG because of the quality. We went with the VS for the white and metallic ink option. It really sets us apart in our market," said Elizabeth.

Lola Red offers a wide range of products including indoor and outdoor signage, window film, vehicle graphics and trade show displays. Lola Red recently finished a large wall mural project for University of California, Irvine. "They wanted something with shine and sparkle, so we printed metallic and white ink," said Elizabeth. "We set it to print overnight and it came out great."

Lola Red has also developed a niche in labels for several of the small manufacturers that populate San Luis Obispo County. "The clients love that I can produce one label or 10,000," said Elizabeth.

As her business grows, Elizabeth is angling her firm to take on larger and more interesting projects. "I have great people and great equipment. I'm excited for the future," she said.