One critical decision for any business owner is when to invest in equipment, particularly if it means replacing perfectly good existing equipment. Mark and Tracey McCullough, owners of the Signs by Tomorrow franchise in Brentwood, Tennessee, faced that decision for the first time within months of opening their doors. “We’d only been in business since February, but we quickly recognized that we needed to provide digital printing or we would be losing business,” says Mark McCullough.

Mark, an MBA with a career in the healthcare industry, found himself considering opening a business after a layoff last year. “I wanted more control over my career, but I didn’t have any preconceived idea what business we would start. We did a lot of research and looked at a lot of opportunities, and ultimately chose printing because it seemed like a challenging, ever-changing, fun business in which the whole family could get involved.” And family involvement was important for these parents of three kids, ages 13, 11, and 8.

The McCulloughs opened their Signs by Tomorrow shop in Brentwood, twenty miles south of Nashville, in February, 2005. While waiting for the franchise deal to close, the McCulloughs did their homework. “We were reading all the trade magazines,” Mark explains, “and it was apparent that the industry was shifting strongly into the digital market. We spoke to the franchise about opening with a digital printer, but they were evaluating equipment partners and weren’t prepared to support us.”

The doors opened, the customers flowed in, and right away Mark realized that they needed to go digital to compete. “Clients were asking for projects that required digital. We told them we could send it out, and they’d say ‘We’ll get back with you.’ But they never did.” So, six months after opening their doors, the McCulloughs purchased their first digital printer.

“We went to the NBM show in Columbus to check out a different printer,” said Mark, “but we talked to Mutoh and were so impressed with their printers that we purchased a Toucan LT.” Though they’ve owned the printer only two months, Mark is already effusive in his praise for the Toucan LT. “It’s built like a Sherman tank, rock solid. We look at it like an employee who can work all night. And the cost per square foot of producing product is much lower than with other similar printers.”

It’s already a persuasive list, but after pausing only briefly, Mark continues. “I’ve been tickled pink with the print quality. I strongly recommend that other printers take a look at the Toucan LT.”