Today we’d like to introduce you to Britt and Jim Houd.
Britt and Jim, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The AlphaGraphics of West Houston location was started 15 years ago by my grandfather, Craig Hohler. My grandfather worked in the corporate world and traveled a lot. He grew tired of being away from his family and spending most of his time on the road. Fast forward to 2009, I moved back to Houston. I started working for my grandfather with the understanding and plan that it would be temporary until I found a job in the medical field.
Craig saw something in me that I never really did and offered the opportunity to take over the business. I was interested but had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what it would take. In 2014, my best friend and now husband moved to Houston. When Jim moved here, we knew AlphaGraphics was our opportunity to the life we wanted to achieve. With a baby girl on the way, we needed to think of more than ourselves. If it weren’t for our girls, we probably would not have bought the company together.
Jim has a background in heavy machinery and building diesel performance trucks. I have always worked at AlphaGraphics of West Houston but dreamt of being a nurse at one point in my life. Neither of us envisioned being printers by trade.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our first year was a doozy. We encountered many challenges in our personal and work lives. It is hard to have a work-life balance with career driven personalities. Over time, we have learned it’s less about the balance and more about the harmony.
We bought the company in January 2017, still feeling the pressure of a slow economy in Houston. An unexpected stressor was Hurricane Harvey, no flood insurance, and A LOT of prayers in hopes that we did not just sign our names to a company that may or may not be around after it’s all said and done. The stress of waiting to find out what kind of hurricane damage had occurred was enough to turn a whole head of hair grey. I remember asking Jim if we were going to make it and he just stared at me saying, “I don’t know.”
It could be as bad as bankruptcy or as good as nothing is damaged. The thought of filing for bankruptcy at the age of 25 was not high on our bucket list. The moment we were able to get back into work, we hit the ground running. If it weren’t for the support of our family, friends and AG Network, we wouldn’t have made it out with the little sanity we had left.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about AlphaGraphics of West Houston – what should we know?
AlphaGraphics of West Houston is a print, marketing and sign company. We do everything from putting ink on paper to creating company branding and producing office lobby signs. The clients we have would tell you we’re their go-to printer because they can depend on us. There is a certain level of service we strive for because we know most companies will not cater to them in the same fashion we do.
With Jim and I being from a small town, we try to bring that feeling to the big city.
Keeping life simple is the mantra we live by. By keeping communication open and being accessible to our clients while developing genuine relationships with them, it makes it easier for all of us to do our jobs effectively.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Our success comes from the way our families have raised us. Work ethic, drive, strong morals and tenacity are what contribute to our accomplishments.
Contact Info:
- Address: 10700 Hammerly Blvd, Suite 115, Houston TX 77043
- Website: https://www.alphagraphics.com/centers/houston-texas-us553.html
- Phone: 713.785.0300
- Email: us553@alphagraphics.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AGWestHouston/
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