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Meet Eric Steele of Studio Concepts in Compton

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Steele.

Eric, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Studio Concepts started in 1997 by the grace of chance… I had just recently joined the Local 44 Set Carpenters Union and was building movie sets for big Hollywood features. It was always a dream of mine to be a part of the movie making industry. During the first few months of set building, I met my business partner Craig Bouman on the Air Force One set and we became fast friends. We were both young and eager to learn the in’s and out’s of the industry we fought hard to get into. We worked harder and faster than most of the old timers on the sets but it never seemed to make a difference once the projects started to come to an end. It seemed like if you weren’t somehow connected or related to someone important you were the first one laid off no matter how good your work ethics were. Our movie studio careers were short lived due to the politics of the job but as the saying goes…. “Everything happens for a reason”.

Craig and I set off to use our skills and our dedication to thrive running our own business. We had a passion for success from the very beginning. We were introduced to a company that needed their trade show booth remodeled for an upcoming show in Long Beach. We pitched design concepts to the owners of the company and somehow or another they loved everything we presented. We had a ton of tools and a basic knowledge of what we needed to accomplish but we had never even been to a trade show. We designed and manufactured the first project in my parent’s garage because it was the only option we had in the short timeframe we had to produce the job. We completed the remodel with a very successful first showing of our work and the customer was blown away with our overall competence. That particular project led us to a second project that was so large it pushed us to make a serious step to the future. We needed an industrial building space large enough to accommodate the size and scope of the project. We secured our first lease of a 2,500-square foot facility in Cerritos California and worked night and day to complete a 40 foot by 50-foot trade show exhibit for MHT Luxury Alloys which was a huge player in the aftermarket automotive wheel industry in 1997.

This exhibit was part of the SEMA show in Las Vegas and was a massive success for us and MHT. The exhibit ended up winning an award for “Best Booth” and was written up in Automotive Magazine with a brief article and a few pictures. After that, the phones started to ring and we saw consistent growth year after year. We managed to continue to outgrow our first building in a short time and have since moved two more times to finally land us in a 50,000-square foot facility in Compton California where we have been for 8 years now. We consider ourselves one of the best California based design and fabrication facilities specializing in retail store fixtures, trade show exhibits, and branded environments. Our portfolio of work along with our quality craftsmanship continues to shine brighter than our competition and our customer service is unparalleled. 20 Years in this industry has taught us valuable lessons but there isn’t a day that passes that we don’t learn something new and use that to improve.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No business is always smooth. Especially when you are eager to grow and try new things. The current economy and the retail sector at an all-time low is our current struggle for sure. Luckily, we are diversified enough to continue to succeed.

Studio Concepts – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Studio Concepts is a full-service design and fabrication facility that specializes in custom retail display fixtures, trade show exhibits, office interiors and branded environments. In this day and age, it is rare to find a company that handles a project from start to finish, especially in California where the cost of running a business are the highest in the nation. Studio Concepts can design any retail or trade show exhibit from the ground up and then fabricate all the needed components all under one roof. Being able to have total control of every aspect is what sets Studio Concepts apart from the competition. Most of our competitors are more like agencies who have a good pitch and a good design but they farm the fabrication work to outside fabricators. Studio Concepts prides itself on the attention to detail that goes into every project that leaves the building. Our quality craftsmanship speaks for itself and is what continues to keep our client base coming back for more.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is measured differently by everyone… I consider Studio Concepts a success because we have a 20-year history of successive growth in an environment that has had substantial economic ups and downs. Our success is largely due to our amazing team of employees most of which have been with us for 15-20 years. The dedication of our staff and the working environment we provide has proven to be our marker of success.

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