Life & Work with Ken Hardy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ken Hardy.

Hi Ken, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers. 
I’m not sure how much detail you’re looking at or how far back I should go, but prior to getting my bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State, I was on a not-so-good path with partying and ended up getting on academic probation, which landed me back at with my parents. It was through serving some community service from a court ruling that I ended up connecting with Carteret Community College and decided on a whim to enroll in their Technical Photography program. Through some amazing teachers and mentors, I got back on track and developed a passion for photography and graphic design. I transferred from CCC to ASU and graduated in 2010 with honors. Due to a lacking job market in Boone, my fiancé and I decided to move to Wilmington in search of jobs. An anonymous Craigslist ad would lead me to the nation’s largest wholesale distributor of skate and surf supplies: Eastern Skateboard Supply, where I began as their product and event photographer. In my 11 years with ESS, I developed my graphic design/web skills further by taking on more duties. This is when I developed most of my skillset in web/print media as well as SEO. In 2014, I became Creative Director and developed and managed all aspects of the art and marketing department, which included working on website banners, printed ads in multiple national magazines and websites, Google Adwords management, project management, and customer relationships. One of the most challenging and rewarding endeavors was serving as Project Manager on multiple new B2B and B2C websites for the company. 

By 2021 I found myself very unhappy with certain aspects of a toxic work environment as well as being unfulfilled with what I was doing day to day. I had grown insanely depressed and anxious over the final years at ESS, but fear and complacency kept me from leaving. I had been applying to jobs in and outside NC for about a year but wasn’t able to land an official offer, so in November of 2021, I put in my 2 weeks’ notice without having anything lined up. As the sole earner in our family of 4 (9 if you count the animals lol) and a father of two, it was the scariest decision of my life. But I’m so glad I took the leap of faith because it led to starting my own business which is something I never envisioned for myself. 

Fast forward to now. Hardy Sign + Design is about a year and a half old. It’s the most work I’ve ever done in my life, but it’s easily the most rewarding and fulfilling. I actually get to make connections and serve within the community I’ve lived in since 2010. Each day brings something new and exciting. I’m not sure I could ever go back to working for someone else. The small business community is incredible. Everyone supports each other as much as they can. I love seeing my work out in the world. It’s amazing. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not, and in many ways, it still isn’t a smooth road! But I think struggle is a key component to growth. If I hadn’t struggled at ESS, I wouldn’t have learned new skills or eventually gotten the courage to jump into the abyss. In my brief experience as a new business owner, I would say the struggles are unending, but they’re healthy struggles. They’re struggles that ultimately lead to me learning and growing. I think that’s really a key to being fulfilled…healthy struggles. 

Some specific struggles include starting an LLC, getting a good accountant, finding good help, learning how to manage money (still struggling with this one, lol), and managing customer expectations. Luckily, my wife has been running her own Photography Business (bits of bacon photography) for several years, so having her as a resource has been crucial. But each job brings its own set of unique struggles, and that’s what makes things fun! 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think I covered a lot of this in the bio. Graphic design is something I’ll always love, just like photography and music. I’d say I’m most proud of my kids and getting to play music locally which is funny because neither of those are what I’d call work… more like blessings. I think what sets me apart would be my background, both professionally and personally. I picked other because I’ve held all 3 of those roles at some point in my life. Mixing those perspectives into what I do now is what makes Hardy Sign unique. We specialize in large-format printed vinyl signs, banners, stickers, vehicle graphics, and various printing services like business cards, postcards, and the like. 

Any big plans?
A huge goal of mine is to be able to hire some employees. Right now, we’re busy, and we’re paying bills, but running all aspects of the business doesn’t leave much time for networking, finding new clients, or marketing. Sometimes I feel like I’m doing all I can, and it would be amazing to develop a team of like-minded creatives to really get involved in some cool things. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @hardysign
• Facebook: @hardysign
• Linkedin: @hardysign

Image Credits
Ken Hardy