After spending the past 15 years working in the sign and graphics industry, William “Mike” Short decided it was time to follow in his mother’s and late grandfather’s footsteps by becoming his own boss. On March 7, Short did just that when he opened Streamline Design & Print at 223 N. Main St. in Urbana.
Short, a 1999 graduate of Graham High School who lives in Urbana with his wife, Sarah, said he opted to start his own business for the same reason so many others do: “You know you’re good enough to do it for yourself.”
Streamline Design & Print provides large format digital prints and graphics to businesses big and small, while also offering a wide selection of services to walk-in customers.
“The intention of my business is to take my experience of working with world-recognized names, continue that business, but also offer that same response and quality to the community,” Short said.
Although the majority of his business to date has come via Fortune 500 companies and local manufacturers, Short would love to see foot traffic increase through the door of his downtown business.
“I enjoy when someone walks in with an idea,” he said.
With his current in-house equipment, Short, who holds a two-year degree in graphic design from the Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology, offers customers a wide range of services that include posters, banners, trade show displays, wall graphics, wall murals, frosted film applications, environment graphics, vehicle wraps, digital print signs, canvas prints, dimensional lettering and standoff displays.
“I enjoy working with materials, color, textures and environments,” he said. “I’ve worked with some of the toughest clients to ensure color accuracy on nationwide print projects, and I put the same efforts and respect toward the guy down the street who needs a banner or lettering on his work van.”
Business ownership nothing new for the Shorts
When Short opened Streamline Design & Print in March, he became the third person in his family to start a small business in Urbana. His late grandfather, William Arthur Short, owned Bill’s Body Shop, while his mother, Irene Short, owns TLC Grooming.
Being part of a family of entrepreneurs, Short said, he’s learned a thing or two about what it takes to successfully run a business in this community.
“There’s a long line of hard workers behind me,” he said. “My grandfather had a couple of mottoes he used for his business that will always be with me, and I have always had great admiration for my mother and her business. She instilled in us early that if you want something, you work for it.
“She also loves what she does, genuinely cares about her clients and her service to them, and it shows. That is something I hope the community comes to learn about me and my business,” Short added.
Only time will tell whether or not Streamline Print & Design becomes a fixture in Urbana. Either way, Short said, it’s something he wanted to do for his family.
“Ultimately, I want this to be a success for me and my family,” he said. “They are the reason I am here and the reason I did this.”
