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PODCAST

The AC Method

Aaron Clippinger

Custom Manufacturing Industry podcast is an entrepreneurship and motivational podcast on all platforms, hosted by Aaron Clippinger. Being CEO of multiple companies including the signage industry and the software industry, Aaron has over 20 years of consulting and business management. His software has grown internationally and with over a billion dollars annually going through the software. Using his Accounting degree, Aaron will be talking about his organizational ways to get things done. His

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

15:43

#135 Your sales team shouldn't do Project Management

The AC Method ·

2026/01/29

Is your sales team bogged down in paperwork while costly mistakes slip through in the shop? It's time to rethink project management.Aaron breaks down the exact system he's used for over a decade to streamline operations, slash warranty costs, and free up his sales team to sell. He reveals the one simple check that prevents chaos, why you don't need to hire an expensive "seasoned" PM, and the communication rule that lets your business run smoothly even when you're on vacation. If you're ready

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47:57

#134 A writer's unexpected path to the shop floor

The AC Method ·

2026/01/24

What does an international writer and filmmaker know about running a sign shop? More than you might think.Meet Peppur, co-owner of Collaborative Sign and Design, who made the leap from the world of storytelling to the signage industry. She shares with us her deep insights on how the core skill of communication connects Signage and Storytelling, the brutal and hilarious realities of a shop's first year, and how to navigate the unique challenge of building a business with your spouse. This is a

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26:10

#133 Stop wasting your talent on boring CAD work

The AC Method ·

2026/01/08

Tired of your skilled team getting bogged down in repetitive CAD work? In this episode, Aaron sits down with Adam from AP Consulting, an automation expert who has visited hundreds of sign shops worldwide. They dive into the real-world strategy of using software to automate design tasks for products like channel letters and cabinets. Not to replace your people, but to make them more valuable and focused on skilled fabrication.Adam breaks down his unique process of shadowing your shop to codify your

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14:55

#132 You need a "no-filter" friend in your life

The AC Method ·

2025/11/20

In this raw and unscripted episode, Aaron shares a powerful conversation that completely shifted his perspective on business ownership. After a call from an old mentor, he reveals a revolutionary way to think about firing employees, why you should be happy about tough decisions, and how to audit where you're investing your most valuable asset: your energy.This is a deep dive into the mindset required to build a business without sacrificing your happiness, your relationships, or your

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9:55

#131 I just saved $50k on taxes. Here's how

The AC Method ·

2025/11/06

Year-end is more than just a party.. It's the most critical strategic period for a business owner. In this episode, Aaron breaks down the essential checklist to close out your year profitably and set your business up for a dominant 2025. He covers how to use your profits to buy equipment tax-efficiently, the right way to pull money out of your company, and how to forecast for growth without the guesswork.Don't let the holiday chaos cause you to leave money on the table or start the new year on

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15:13

#130 What We Learned at the Largest Print Show in the...

The AC Method ·

2025/10/30

Aaron breaks down his experience at Printing United 2025 — one of the biggest and most diverse print expos in the world. From setting up a two-story booth in record time to realizing how much reputation and resilience matter in business, this episode is packed with lessons about preparation, presence, and persistence.He shares how SquareCoil’s first appearance at the show pushed his team to think bigger, adapt faster, and stay grounded — even when things didn’t go as planned. 🔥 Topics

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35:01

#129 How Steve Weist built a 40-year legacy in the...

The AC Method ·

2025/10/23

This week on The AC Method, Aaron sits down with Steve Weist, a true industry veteran who’s spent nearly three decades shaping the print and signage world from the inside out.From learning the ropes in a family business to running large-scale operations across the U.S., Steve shares how his team built trust, maintained excellence, and adapted to the ever-changing world of 3D systems and print innovation. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The origin story behind Waste’s family-run print business. ✅ Why

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22:46

#128 I Pay My Metal Guys $40/Hour (It's Worth Every...

The AC Method ·

2025/10/16

Is "how much should I pay my team?" the question that keeps you up at night? Let’s dive into the taboo topic of pay structures, breaking down the pros and cons of salary-only, commission-only, and hybrid models. Underpaying your sales team is a fatal mistake. So to avoid creating a civil war between sales and production, and create and maintain your company culture, you should start with your compensation plan. Whether you're dealing with seasoned pros or hungry rookies, this episode will

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15:26

#127 What vertical integration really means?

The AC Method ·

2025/10/09

Ready to grow your business by adding new services? In this episode, Aaron pulls back the curtain on his own costly mistakes and hard-won victories with vertical integration. What are the true costs of growth? Timelines and operational headaches nobody talks about.Learn how to decide when to bring a new service in-house, how to avoid crippling learning curves, and why starting small is the ultimate key to profitable expansion. 🔥 TOPICS COVERED: • What vertical integration really means (with

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54:57

#126 How to scale a $10M sign business? with David...

The AC Method ·

2025/10/02

In this interview, Aaron sits down with David Goodson, CEO of Impact, to unpack how he grew his company from a garage startup into a $10M operation with 50+ people and a 70,000 sq. ft. facility.David shares his philosophy on leadership, why culture always comes before profits, and how designing efficient workflows and empowering people has shaped Impact into one of the most respected companies in the industry. From mistakes made along the way to lessons that apply to any business owner, this

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39:59

#125 Design for museums to airports with Annabel from...

The AC Method ·

2025/10/02

In this interview, Aaron sits down with Annabel from SEGD to explore how design goes far beyond what we see—it shapes how we feel, move, and remember experiences. From the World War II Museum to Olympic exhibits and even the way airports are designed, Annabel shares how thoughtful design and signage transform ordinary spaces into immersive journeys. Together, they dive into the role of colors, themes, and branding in everything from children’s hospitals to landmark gateway signs, proving that design

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38:00

#124 Design Huddle: Bridging the Gap Between Clients...

The AC Method ·

2025/09/18

In this interview, Aaron sits down with Dave Stewart, CEO of Design Huddle, to explore how his platform is transforming the way clients, printers, and designers work together. By embedding an intuitive design tool directly into websites, Design Huddle empowers customers to create print-ready artwork without endless back-and-forth revisions.From Shopify and WordPress integration to bridging the gap between client imagination and production-ready files, Dave shares insights on how technology is

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32:38

#123 Old‑School Lighting That Still Works

The AC Method ·

2025/09/11

This episode dives into the magic of retro sign lighting—chasers, tracers, and marquee effects—and why “old-school” still grabs attention (and customers). Aaron sits down with a lighting veteran to unpack controllers, patterns, color temperature choices, and practical ways to bring kinetic motion back to your installs. From go‑kart tracks to storefronts, learn how to design lighting that sells, not just shines.🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ Chaser/tracer basics and marquee aesthetics. ✅ Controllers,

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13:38

#122 Discipline vs. Fear: The Real Key to Starting a...

The AC Method ·

2025/09/04

This week Aaron opens up about one of the biggest roadblocks that stops aspiring entrepreneurs: fear. Through stories from the Iron Oaks Society and his own business journey, Aaron explains why bravery alone won’t carry you forward, but discipline will.From making your bed in the morning to building consistent habits, Aaron breaks down how small steps lead to big results, and why accountability is the secret ingredient to lasting growth. Whether you’re thinking about starting a business or just

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13:33

#121 The #1 Skill Leaders Fail At: Communication

The AC Method ·

2025/09/04

This week, Aaron dives deep into the single biggest issue that can break any business: communication. Through real-life examples—from clients misunderstanding sign specs to employees missing assignments—Aaron uncovers why most leaders think they’re communicating, when in reality they’re not. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The 3 key elements of real communication ✅ Why feedback matters more than the message itself ✅ How body language reveals if people are truly listening ✅ The danger of

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14:28

#120 Estimating Mistakes That Can Sink Your Business

The AC Method ·

2025/08/21

This week, Aaron goes deep into the hard lessons his company has learned by reviewing past estimates—the good, the bad, and the costly. From missing small details to underbidding massive projects, he breaks down the most common pitfalls that can destroy profitability. If you’ve ever wondered why your projects take longer, cost more, or eat away at your margins, this episode will save you from repeating the same mistakes. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ Catching small oversights before they snowball ✅ The

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13:13

#119 Building Stronger Teams Through Radical...

The AC Method ·

2025/08/14

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a real quarterly meeting—wins, losses, awkward moments, and all. From welcoming new hires to unveiling the design for a 28,000 sq. ft. facility, Aaron shares how openness about numbers, goals, and even mistakes strengthens culture and drives alignment. You’ll hear candid lessons from a tough project loss, why profit sharing matters, and the unexpected ways transparency inspires ownership across the team.🔥 Topics Covered: - Why full transparency builds

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26:48

Lasers, Quilts & Signs: Building a 70-Person Business...

The AC Method ·

2025/08/07

This week, Aaron sits down with Clay from Thunder Laser USA — and trust us, it’s not just a conversation about machines. It’s about how one family business turned a quilting shop into a tech-driven operation with 70+ employees, a national sales footprint, and an expanding catalog of cutting-edge tools.From laser-cut acrylic to engraving Stanley cups and prepping for UV printing, Clay breaks down what’s powering the maker movement—and why his company’s customer support gets a reply time under 7

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43:40

#117 Why Your Website Isn’t Converting (and What to...

The AC Method ·

2025/07/31

This week on *The AC Method*, Aaron sits down with Ryan from Striventa and Hyperdrive to unpack why most business websites fail to generate leads—and what you can do to fix it fast. Whether you’re in blue-collar services or scaling a national brand, this episode breaks down the real-world digital strategies that get results.Ryan shares what most agencies don’t tell you, how search engine indexing works in 2024, and why Google’s AI changes are reshaping how your website should be built.🔥Topics

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13:56

#116 The Truth About Confidence (And Why It...

The AC Method ·

2025/07/24

In this solo episode, Aaron opens up aboutwhat confidence really means, how it develops, and why people often mistake it for arrogance. From his own experiences in leadership and martial arts training to being misunderstood and even called intimidating, Aaron walks through the internal work required to become truly grounded — and how to help others get there too. If you’re a leader, parent, or someone building something bigger than yourself, this is an episode you’ll want to revisit. 🔥 Topics

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136 results

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