Meet the 2024 Women in Wide Format Winners: Kelly Mattingly

Kelly Mattingly
Owner
Signarama

KELLY MATTINGLY ALWAYS has had a passion for entrepreneurship, a passion that was further fueled throughout her studies at Purdue University. Her time at Purdue was instrumental in shaping her into the astute businesswoman she is today, where she honed her skills and nurtured her interest in and love for business.

Prior to starting her Signarama business, Kelly spent several years working in long-term vehicle leasing where she held high-level positions for companies that serviced the hotel industry. During her tenure, Kelly gained invaluable experience in operations, management, and branding, propelling her desire to explore entrepreneurial opportunities.

In 2019, Kelly opened her first Signarama franchise and was recognized by the brand as its Rookie of the Year for being the top-performing first-year store. Given the success of her first location, Kelly opened a second Signarama franchise in 2023 in downtown San Antonio and earlier this year, moved the business to a bigger storefront that would better accommodate its high sales volume. Alongside her husband Matthew, Kelly has established Signarama San Antonio as not only a standout within the local region but among Signarama’s global network of franchise owners.

What makes women leaders in the wide-format digital printing industry?

“An entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to excellence, and a keen understanding of your customers’ needs,” says Kelly. “You can’t let roadblocks stand in your way. For example, while business growth has been ongoing for our NW shop, the massive floods of 2022 resulted in a series of setbacks that we had to work through to survive. This included water damage and break-ins.”

Despite the unexpected challenges, Kelly remained optimistic and navigated her team through a rebuild that eventually brought them to a new and larger facility in a neighboring community. Her remarkable leadership, which is rooted in empowerment and autonomy and emphasized by the positive environment, she’s fostered her employees a culture of teamwork and success.

Here are some examples of her community and business involvement:

In addition to her work as a business owner, Kelly is heavily involved in the San Antonio community. She’s a founding member of DAS Greenhaus, a local non-profit that aims to cultivate a strong community of innovators and entrepreneurs; a member of the North San Antonio and Boerne Chambers of Commerce; and sits on the board for 100 Women of the Hill Country, where she’s helped raise more than $172,000 for the San Antonio community. She’s also made several signage donations to support local organizations.

As a mentor for new Signarama owners, Kelly plays a pivotal role in guiding and supporting franchisees during their initial stages of business development. This mentorship not only helps new owners navigate the complexities of the signage industry but also fosters a strong sense of community and collaboration within the Signarama network.

In addition to mentoring, Kelly serves on the Signarama marketing board. In this capacity, Kelly contributes valuable insights and strategic guidance to shape the marketing efforts of the brand. Her involvement in these capacities reflects a deep commitment to the success and growth of Signarama as a leading franchise in the signage industry. By sharing expertise and experiences with both new and established franchise owners, Kelly helps to cultivate a supportive and dynamic environment that encourages continuous improvement and excellence.

How does your work push the industry forward?

“I am committed to evolving my business as the industry transforms, meaning staying at the forefront of new trends in strategies, technologies, client services, best practices, and more,” she says. “With the growth in digital engagement, we’ve incorporated social media as a dynamic platform to support our customers. Signarama San Antonio’s digital channels serve as an extension of our customer service, with the team actively engaging with both existing and prospective customers.”

Additionally, Kelly has invested in new equipment and resources that enable her shops to handle a higher volume of multiple projects simultaneously. These strategic enhancements have increased production capacity and reduced turnaround time, enabling the business to serve more customers efficiently.