Texas Border Business
When Eddie Castro decided to launch his own sign company, it seemed only fitting that the first job for AC/DC Signs was an OPEN sign, which was made in the family garage with his wife’s help; that was 1999.
AC/DC is probably the only valley sign company that frequently is called by national companies. His company has all the proper truck equipment with large banquet extensions, which brings a lot of illuminated sign business from national chains expanding the Valley.
“Quality is not achieved by chance. People come to work and stay here. That is one of the reasons we succeed. I take care of my people and they take care of my customers,” said Castro. He teaches every one of his employees how to make signs.
When sales go down, other companies may fire people. “That has never been an option at AC/DC”, said Castro, who is a licensed master sign electrician.
AC/DC’s nine employees don’t call Castro “boss”, they call him Eddie. “It’s more of a personal relationship,” said the boss. And it’s the same relationship with Castro’s customers. “ I don’t feel like a businessman having to do stuff by the numbers. I prefer to lose some of my percentage on the product than lose my customer.”
Usually 99 out of 100 customers have AC/DC do more than one project for them.
Today, Castro is excited because they landed a contract with the Economic Development Corporation of Mercedes to manufacture 25 aluminum life size boots.
This particular boot creation is a job the will keep them busy for the rest of the year but at the same time will bring more recognition to his company and their ability to design and manufacture once in a lifetime creations.
“Our customers refer other business to us. We don’t have any kind of advertising, not even in the Yellow Pages. It’s because of our reputation for quality. Our control is strict on production and meeting deadlines,” he said.
Castro oversees operations, manufacturing, and installation for AC/DC as the general. His brother Felipe Castro also works for the company.
AC/DC has been able to develop good contracts and has a good mix of national, state and local companies that love to work with him because he never misses a deadline. He serves hotels and restaurant chains, and does work for numerous businesses needing project management, sign design, engineering and installation.
“Some customers don’t ask for a quote. They just ask for the contract,” Castro said.
The company’s bread and butter are electrical signs including neon.
“A sign is a 24 hour advertiser,” Enna Castro said about the business she helped her husband start.
The Weslaco teacher revealed that the company name comes from the initials of their two oldest children, Abraham Castro and Dither Castro, but it also has a double entendre.
He has expectations of tripling the business in the next five years, but in order to handle growth at the next level Castro realizes he must learn to delegate, as his advisors have recommended. “It’s hard for me. I feel like one of the guys on the team. People come into my office, and I take care of everything personally. I want everything to go out of here in great shape.”
Yet Castro understands it’s time for him to be on top of the business, rather than physically involved in it every minute. He’s starting to delegate responsibility to others.
Having grown from the garage to small warehouses and now to a custom built facility at the Industrial Park at the Weslaco Airport, Weslaco’s central Valley location anchors AC/DC Signs allowing their trucks to go in any direction easily.
“It’s good for my business,” he concluded. TBB
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