Balancing Fire and Film: A Sign Shop Owner’s Journey to Work-Life Harmony

Rickey Johnson Jr II
Owner | Precision Vinyl & Signs

For many, work-life balance is an elusive goal. But for one Missouri-based sign shop owner, it’s a conscious practice — shaped by decades of dedication to both family and service.

Before launching Precision Graphics and Signs full-time, the owner spent two decades as a firefighter, balancing 24-hour shifts with days off spent lettering fire trucks and police vehicles. “I’d take off the helmet one day and pick up vinyl the next,” he says. That balance continued until a battle with long COVID forced his early retirement from the fire service in 2021.

Luckily, he had a thriving side business to lean into — and a support system at home. Today, the sign shop is a full-time operation, and his 20-year-old son Rickey Jr. III works alongside him. “He gets here early, stays late, and takes pride in the business. But the hardest part is leaving work at work, he says. Even at home, shop talk sneaks in. “My wife is like, ‘You two need to stop.’”
Despite the constant motion, he has learned to truly unplug, especially during trips to Table Rock Lake with his wife. “It’s peaceful. Just sitting on the balcony, looking at the water — that’s what fills my cup.”

Having an office manager has been a game-changer, allowing him to fully disconnect on vacation. “Before, my phone never stopped ringing. Now, I can breathe. We’re almost empty nesters. My wife and I are rediscovering each other — and Friday night dinners are our thing.”

ONLINE EXTRA Q & A

From Firefighting to Firetruck Graphics — A Full-Circle Career

Q:  When and how did you get started in the sign business?
A:  “I started in 2001. At the time, I was working for a fire apparatus dealer and volunteering as a firefighter. They needed someone to install graphics on new fire trucks before delivery, and I said I’d give it a try. I bought a small 12-inch plotter from Sign Warehouse, and it just grew from there. By 2005, I opened a side business, and in 2006, I became a full-time firefighter — but still did graphics on my days off.

Q:  Were you working out of your house in the early days?
A:  Nope, I had a small 400-square-foot shop. It was tiny, but it worked. Being a firefighter helped me network with other departments, so I ended up doing graphics for a lot of fire departments in our area — St. Louis County, Jefferson County, and beyond.

Q:  How long did you continue juggling both roles?
A: I stayed in the fire service until 2021. I became a captain in 2019. But in 2021, I got COVID, was hospitalized for 10 days, and developed long-term COVID affects. After lots of therapy and doctor visits, it became clear I couldn’t return to firefighting. Luckily, I had the sign business to fall back on, so I became a full-time “sign guy.”

Q:  Are you still working with fire trucks?
A: Absolutely! Fire trucks and police vehicles are still a big part of our business. Funny enough, in 2020 we moved into a new facility that used to be my fire department’s original building from 1974. So now I’m doing graphics on fire trucks in the same building where I started my fire service career. Full circle!

Q:  Did you always have an interest in graphics or design?
A: Not officially. As a kid, I was obsessed with tape — masking tape, duct tape, scotch tape… My mom always said she never could find any because I used it all to decorate things or make graphics by hand. I even taped up my bike in different colors. So yeah, I guess it was always in me.

Q:  What are your favorite parts of owning your business?
A:

1. Gratification: Taking something blank and turning it into something eye-catching is just like transforming a fire truck. Seeing the finished product is so fulfilling.
2. Problem-solving: I love helping clients come in with a need and walking away with a solution that helps grow their business.
3. Equipment control: I really enjoy having the machines and tools in-house. We do almost everything here — printing, cutting, wrapping. I get a lot of satisfaction from that.

Q: And your least favorite parts?
A:
1. Prepping for vacation — I love to travel, but I hate the lead-up: getting everything lined up so nothing falls apart while I’m gone.
2. Catching up after vacation — It’s overwhelming, but thankfully, we now have an amazing office manager, Ellen, who helps smooth things out while I’m away.

Q:  Have you struggled with finding and keeping employees, like many in the industry?
A:  No, I’ve been very fortunate. My son works here with me full time, and he’s incredible. He gets here early, stays late, and really takes pride in the business. That’s been one of my greatest joys. We’re hoping he’ll take over one day so my wife and I can retire and travel.

Q:  Speaking of travel, where’s your favorite getaway spot?
A:  Table Rock Lake, near Branson, MO. It’s peaceful, relaxing, and not far from home. We love to see a show or two in Branson and then head back to the condo and enjoy the lake view.

Q:  Are you able to fully disconnect when you’re on vacation?
A: I am now. Before Ellen came on, it was hard — I’d be answering calls and emails nonstop. But now she fields everything so I can really focus on family.

Q:  How do you unwind from a stressful day?
A: I don’t really! My son teases me about needing a hobby. This used to be my hobby when I was a firefighter. Now that it’s my full-time job, I haven’t found a replacement hobby. He goes fishing a lot and tells me I need to do something like that. I’m still involved in the fire service — I sit on the board of directors for the fire department and serve on the city’s planning and zoning board. That keeps me connected to the community.

Q:  You mentioned three kids — tell us about them!
A:  My oldest daughter is 26 and expecting her first child in August, so I’m about to be a grandpa! My son, who works here, turns 21 in October. And my youngest daughter just turned 15. So yeah, we’ve got a lot going on — driving permits, birthdays, and baby clothes arriving on the porch every day.

Q:  So, what’s next for you?
A:  Hopefully growing the business, traveling more with my wife, and watching my son carry on what we’ve built. That’s the dream.