DATE: Monday, May 19, 1997                  TAG: 9705170538

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Q & A 

SOURCE: BY MELISSA GUNDEL, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   68 lines

SUBCONTRACTS GAVE GRAPHICS COMPANY A JUMP START

When George Tripp opened Graph-Tech in 1995, the company's plan was to focus on drafting and design. Discovering a great need for graphics, he and his partners, Andre Yeager and Essex Watson, added graphic support to their business. The Great Bridge firm not only does draft and design work for defense contractors, they also design business cards and t-shirts for individuals. They have also produced advertising brochures and flyers for events such as the Tim Reid Celebrity Golf and Tennis Tournament.

Why did you decide to start your own business?

Many large companies were downsizing and some design work was being subcontracted out. Basically, that's how Graph-Tech evolved. We went out and picked up some the work that was subcontracted out.

How did you branch out into graphics?

First, we started experimenting with different graphic software. We began with smaller things like business card design, flyers, brochures and it took off from there. From a larger scale, we did logo design for companies and multi-media presentation packages. We also started designing web sites about a year ago.

How are you different from an advertising agency?

Advertising companies like to come up with their own concepts. We try to use as much of the client's ideas as much as we can. We're on the same scale as the advertising company; the only thing that differs is probably our fees.

Do you think your company could have survived with just the drafting and design?

Most definitely. We still do about 30 to 40 percent drafting work for different defense contractors and architectural firms.

Did anyone help you with your planning?

I used a lot of information from people who had businesses. I found out what I needed to do and what I shouldn't do. They told me what to look out for - the cautions, the pitfalls. The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) also told me what I should and shouldn't do and I talked to different individuals at the Chamber of Commerce as far as operations of the business.

What advice can you give to someone wanting to start a business?

Before you do anything, talk to people who are in business and talk to people who have had businesses that failed. As far as establishing yourself, it's going to take time, but you can persevere.

How did you get your clients?

When we first started, we did a lot of networking. We joined the Chamber of Commerce and went to chamber functions. We also went to trade shows. Also, word of mouth helped.

Did you run into any hardships along the way?

When we first started, a lot of people found out about our backgrounds - that we were drafters, designers and CAD operators. The public couldn't grasp how we could provide them with graphic advertising. The only software they thought we knew was AUTOCAD software, but we knew other software as well. We had a hard time letting people know that we were not a fly by night company that produced flyers on the computer.

How did you overcome this?

We did a lot of extra work for clients going the extra mile showing them our capabilities. We went out there and networked a lot harder. And people saw - maybe we could do something from the point of graphic advertising. MEMO: If you have an idea or know of anyone in the business community

who would make an interesting business profile, please fax your ideas to

Melissa Gundel at 446-2531. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

George Tripp

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