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Business: The firm, which manufacturers and assembles interior, exterior and digital signs for clients on the Gulf Coast and nationwide, is on a three-year growth spurt. It has grown from $5.2 million in sales in 2008 to more than $10 million this year. Harden, who bought the business in 2005, projects 2013 will be another year of at least 25% annual sales growth. He also expects to hire at least 10 people next year, which would bring the payroll to 90 employees, up from 45 in 2008. “We're as busy as we've ever been,” says Harden, who says restaurant activity and banking consolidations are some of the growth spots.
Industry: One of the more significant challenges in manufacturing, says Harden, is finding employees and managing their benefits. On the benefit side, Harden says the uncertainty of the federal health care overhaul is a sore spot — a frustration he shares with some peers. “Health care is a real concern,” Harden says. “It's a crazy thing that a piece of legislation was passed two years ago, and still no one knows what it means.”
Region: Harden is confident the economy is improving, though he sees signs of potential stalls in tighter margins, potential inflation and cost-of-living increases. “It does fell like there is a positive vibe out there,” says Harden — who adds he has been wrong the last few times he thought things were on the upswing.
Video: Amanda Heisey
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