A SIGN OF SUCCESS! – Community Spotlight
Partners for 22 years at JW Signs, Jon Walker and Nancy Woosley have made a lot of friends through the years. Could be because they are so supportive of many Waynedale special events such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Taste of Waynedale, Annual Picnic, Trunk or Treat, Christmas in Waynedale and more. It’s more likely that it’s because they treat people right! Customers not only come back but they also tell their associates.
32 years ago, Jon started JW Signs. He hired Nancy Woosley to assist him. Soon after they became partners and have since shared the responsibility of their growing sign business. The business was originally located at the corner of Bluffton and Alma Streets. About eight years ago, they built a larger building and moved 300 feet down the street to their current location. They create vinyl signage such as banners, vehicle lettering, car and truck wraps like you see on area Goodwill trucks. They are also a major supplier to most all realtors from Angola to Marion. Jon and Nancy pioneered a service placing and picking up real estate signs saving a lot of miles and hours for realtors. They employ four additional staff focusing on supporting that service and installing signs.
Jon lives in Broadview Terrace and is a member of their association board. He is a retired firefighter from Waynedale Station House #5. Initially he would alternate working one day at the firehouse and two days at the shop. John retired as a fireman in 1998, becoming full-time at JW Signs. In his free time, he enjoys collecting Boston terrier Hubley’s which are cast iron doorstops. He and his wife Karen also visit auctions and estate sales in search of Kewpies and cartoon character drinking glasses. They have three sons and seven grandchildren.
Nancy, like Jon, is an Elmhurst grad and has spent most of her life in the Waynedale community, currently living in Mariner’s Ridge. Nancy has two children and three grandchildren who are the light of her life. When she isn’t working out at Curves, she enjoys reading, yardwork, and gardening. Nancy loves her job and it shows. “It’s exciting to drive around Fort Wayne and see something that we made. There is real pride when you can say “we did that!”
Through the years they’ve seen a lot of changes. Their customer base has blossomed although they have never had a need to advertise. People willingly drive across town to patronize JW Signs. Jon remembers “a time where we hand painted signs, but now everything is done on the computer and then printed.” They’ve also seen a real uptick in their internet sales over the past four or five years. They receive a large percentage of their orders through their website. It’s unanimous that the favorite element of their partnership is the wonderful people they have the occasion to meet.
Something else they agree on is that they are ready to slow down a bit. Recently a good opportunity came along and they took it. They sold their business to Jason Price at Graphic X. But for Jon and Nancy, continuing to provide great service to their customers isn’t about to change.
> Read Full Biography
> More Articles Written By This Writer
- Local Families Volunteer Together To Fight Hunger - November 24, 2023
- Neighbors Volunteer At Community Harvest SeniorPak Program - September 1, 2023
- Two Local Churches Add Community Recreation ~ Community Spotlight - October 21, 2022