In October 2007, Jim and Jen Wagner decided to take a leap of faith.
They opened their own business Wagner Signs and Graphics based in their home.
In 2012 Jen left her job to focus on the business full time.
Customers would pick up signs from a box at their house and a Christmas sale would be held at the high school since they didn’t have an actual storefront.
Expansion followed with the business growing from a home-based company to actual brick-and-mortar location at 109 N. Main Street in 2016. In 2018, Jim left his job as a store manager at Blain’s Farm and Fleet to help run the business full time.
“My past employment was very demanding and took me away from my family,” Jim said. “Now I see them much more and that’s why I left my past employment of 25 years. The best decision I have made for my family for sure.”
On Oct. 23, 2019, the Wagners purchased their building at 209 E. Lincoln and expanded even further. A further expansion of 850 square feet is currently underway.
When they moved to Lincoln Street most of the production moved from their house to the store.
“I don’t miss it out of our home because we now have more of just a family life at home and it allows us to have a separation from our business,” Jim said.
Now the Wagners are able to do full-color graphics, car decals, indoor and outdoor signage, textiles, embroidery and screen printing. The business is thriving.
“We never thought it would grow into this,” Jim Wagner said.
“We have so much support in this community and our customer base outside of St. Joseph has also grown,” said Jen.
To celebrate the Wagners are holding a block party on Oct. 1.
The party will include a 42-foot obstacle course and bounce houses. Those will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Wagners have paired with The Blend Spot to offer free drinks to the first 80 children starting at noon. Roch’s will have a two-man band from 3 to 6 p.m. and Matt Walsh from Engaging entertainment will be DJing from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. The Wagners will also be offering 20 percent off on their entire stock items and they will be giving away gift cards or items every hour.
Jim said the key to the business’s success has been his wife Jen.
“She has been a saint for sure,” Jim said. “She is my organizer and has done so much to grow this behind the scenes. If not for her we would not be where we are today.”
Jim said the business has enabled him to be there for the community in ways he had never expected.
“I have dealt with a lot of emotional things with this business,” he said. . “It’s been so rewarding to be there for our community.”
The Wagners have created shirts and items to honor community members that have passed away in tragic circumstances. The proceeds from the sales go to families or scholarships.
“They are very emotional situations,” Jim said. “And it still brings tears to my eyes every time the families walk into our store.”
While some families may be unable to live and work together, that cannot be said for Jim and Jen.
“Jen and I overall work very well together,” Jim said. “Each of us has our part that we do.”
Jim and Jen work on separate floors at the Lincoln street location and sometimes work different hours.
“Overall, it’s been very rewarding,” Jen said.
During the pandemic, the Wagner’s son Mason worked at the store quite often.
“He can now do all of the embroideries,” Jim said. “He calls himself the master embroiderer.”
Daughter, Brynlee, also helps at the shop.
“This has been very rewarding to work with our family and hire staff within our community,” Jim said.
Community means a lot to the Wagners.
“This community is the only reason we stay in Illinois,” he said. “We are very grateful to this community for supporting us over the years and helping us grow. This is why we try to find ways to give back. We will never forget our roots and will be forever indebted to this community. We love this town.”
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