Company: Giesken Outdoor (Ohio) and  Giesken Outdoor (Michigan)

Markets: Ohio, Michigan

Headquarters: 115 Sophia’s Lane, Ottawa, OH  45875

Phone: (866) 443-7536 or (419) 233-71453

Email: tom@gieskenoutdoor.com

Giesken Outdoor Advertising operates a billboard plant in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, mainly Dearborn Heights with both digital and static billboards.  Tom Giesken started the company in 2000 after stints at Root Outdoor Advertising and Lamar. Giesken is an operator associate in the IBOUSA.  Giesken was the subject of a May 2018 Lima News article.  Insider ran a piece about Giesken’s use of SignSprings to hang billboard vinyl in 2016.  Insider talked with Tom Giesken.

Tom, how did you enter the out of home advertising business?

I started working in outdoor with a well run family owned operation based in Toledo Ohio around 1996 called Root Outdoor. They trained me as a Leasing Agent and how to manage billboard leases and basic operations until they sold to Lamar in 2000. Soon after being let go I started my own company and starting adding new locations with Retrofit Poster panels from Tiffin Metal which no one was doing at the time. Now, almost all billboards have been converted to these type of application.

Tell us about your plant.

I built my company inventory up to close to 200 faces and sold most of them in 2007 but kept my assets in Michigan. As of recently I’ve been rebuilding my plant in Ohio with premier locations which are mostly digital and some static locations. I have great relations with my Lessors, my advertising clients as well as the communities I am in since I do a lot of PSA advertising on my digitals. I actively try to keep 1 spot on each digital solely for Non-Profit advertising.

Who prints your vinyl?

I have used Kramers Graphics based in Dayton Ohio for many years and have been very pleased with the price, quality and quick turnaround of the production of the artwork to vinyl.

Whose digital signs do you use and what have you learned?

I have used Watchfire Digital Signs exclusively to this point because of the customer service provided to smaller companies like mine as well as the great product they produce. However, other LED companies have some great products and some unique and pertinent applications for specific construction situations that would be desirable.

You’ve incorporated drone footage of your signs on your website.  How did you do it?

Yes. Digital billboards are a few steps above the traditional static billboards that only require a still photo. Drone videos are also a step above the average “picture” and can project a much better ‘picture’ of the traffic flow, the positioning of the board and a feel for how the board changes artwork.

Were you really a professional boxer?

Yes, but not a good one. Lol. I started too late in life in my early 20’s(most successful pros start around age 8 or 9) after winning 3 different Toledo Ohio Toughman competitions which are very similar to current MMA fighting. I went 4-1 and “retired” after my first loss. I had 2 children and was working 12 hour shifts at my job loading trucks at the same time.

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