Company:  Thomas Outdoor Advertising

Markets:  Kansas

Address: 902 Fair Lane, Manhattan, KS  66502

Email: office@thomassign.com

Phone: 785-537-2010

Thomas Outdoor Advertising operates a plant of over 400 billboards around Kansas.  The company is 78 years old and is an operator associate in the IBOUSA.  The company also operates a sign and banner business.  Insider talked with owner Bart Thomas.

How did you get in the out of home business.

My dad when he was a kid was fascinated by billboards.  An older gentleman helped him get started.  My dad had a great letter hand and was a great caligrapher.  I grew up working in the business.

Who does what at the company

I do a little of everything.  My right hand man and co-owner Jim Wells has an incredible mechanical ability.  He and I weld.  We have a bookkeeper Jennifer Whalen who’s been with us for 20 years.  Another part of our company is my son and co-owner Layton.  He’s coming up through the ranks.  He does it all.  He builds and repairs.

What’s your market like

We’re in a university town.  We’re a mix or signs.  We have some double-stacks.  All of our structures are self-built.  Tornados happen every year.  It’s not if, it’s where and how many.  We got popped pretty bad two years ago.

Do you have any digital signs.

We have one digital.  We use watchfire.  I had to be talked into it.  I had fears but they’ve dissipated.

Are there certain advertisements you won’t run?

There’s hot potatoes.  We probably won’t run cannabis ads.  We don’t take ads for adult stores.  On the abortion issue we chose not to take it either way.  In Kansas we’re very conservative.  The landowners talk.  We have a good reputation because we don’t have those ads on our billboards.

[wpforms id=”9787″]

Paid Advertisement