Company: Metro Outdoor

Market: Yakima, Toppenish, Sunnyside and Granger, Washington.

Headquarters: 14362 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Suite 1000, Scottsdale, AZ  85260.

Phone: 866-860-6952

Email: pgrover@metrooutdoorllc.com

Metro Outdoor was formed in 2005 by Peter Grover to operate a billboard plant in Yakima, Washington.  Metro’s CEO Peter Grover grew up in the industry because his dad and grandfather owned and operated their own plant until selling out in the late 70’s. Grover worked as a regional manager for Obie Media, General Manager for a Chicago outdoor advertising company, and Regional Vice President of Bressler Outdoor before forming Metro in 2005. He initially developed locations in Phoenix before switching his attention to Yakima. Approximately 80% of the billboard locations in Yakima were developed by Peter or his dad Steve. The company operated 35 faces including two digital and one tri-vision in and around Yakima.  Insider knows the company well because our affiliate Billboard Loans provided financing to the company.  In January 2016 Metro sold its plant to Lamar.

Peter tell us about your plant?

All high profile locations with 98% occupancy.

What’s the Yakima market like?

Steady like most smaller markets.  Good clients that are loyal if treated sell.

What have you learned about deploying digital signs in a small market?

With the right locations, you can do very well as they provide a tremendous amount of flexibility for the advertiser.

You know from experience that it’s important to insure digital signs. Why?

A fire underneath one of the displays destroyed one of the units and it was replaced by insurance. Without this insurance, it would have been devastating.

You’ve developed lots of locations. What have you learned?

Focus on quality, not quantity and treat your advertisers as you would want to be treated Always under promise and over deliver.

What was Lamar like to deal with?

Lamar was phenomenal to work with.  I’m happy with the price.