The AC Method

Aaron Clippinger
  • 5.0 (10)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Custom Manufacturing Industry podcast is an entrepreneurship and motivational podcast on all platforms, hosted by Aaron Clippinger. Being CEO of multiple companies including the signage industry and the software industry, Aaron has over 20 years of consulting and business management. His software has grown internationally and with over a billion dollars annually going through the software. Using his Accounting degree, Aaron will be talking about his organizational ways to get things done. His podcast will give you shortcuts to handling situations without having to live it firsthand. With his comedic way of looking at things, you will be entertained by his stories while learning best practices. 

  1. 3D AGO

    #137 This 20-Year success story proved me wrong | "I cringe at employee-owned companies

    What does it take to successfully acquire and lead a 50-person, employee-owned sign company that defied the odds for 20 years? Aaron sits down with Wade Halma from Valley City Sign, a mechanical engineer who entered the signage world via finance. They dive into the counterintuitive pitfalls of buying "too perfect" equipment, why building an in-house engineering team is a game-changer, and how to implement true lean manufacturing beyond the buzzwords. 🔥 Topics Covered: ·        The surprising truth about acquiring a successful employee-owned business ·        Why the latest, most precise equipment can sometimes create more problems ·        Implementing daily lean huddles and continuous improvement cycles ·        The strategic advantage of building an in-house design/engineering department ·        Key analytics that matter more than just sales reports ·        Navigating growth past the 50-employee regulatory threshold 📣 Growth isn't just about more equipment; it's about smarter systems and the right people. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠🔔 Subscribe for more raw business insights and expert breakdowns on The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil.Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min

  2. JAN 29

    #135 Your sales team shouldn't do Project Management

    Is your sales team bogged down in paperwork while costly mistakes slip through in the shop? It's time to rethink project management. Aaron breaks down the exact system he's used for over a decade to streamline operations, slash warranty costs, and free up his sales team to sell. He reveals the one simple check that prevents chaos, why you don't need to hire an expensive "seasoned" PM, and the communication rule that lets your business run smoothly even when you're on vacation. If you're ready to stop being a "project watcher" and start being a true project manager, this is your step-by-step guide. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The critical first step every PM must take to prevent expensive shop errors. ✅ Why training an entry-level PM is often smarter than hiring an expensive pro. ✅ How to free your sales team from admin work and get them back to selling. ✅ The specific communication rule that makes your business scalable. ✅ A simple, color-coded system to launch projects with total team alignment. ✅ Defining the active role of a PM vs. a passive "scorekeeper". 📣 Good project management isn't an expense. It's your profit protection plan. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠🔔 Subscribe for more unconventional journeys and business insights on The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. #businessgrowth #personalgrowth #businessowner #storytelling #signage #sucessstory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    16 min

  3. JAN 24

    #134 A writer's unexpected path to the shop floor

    What does an international writer and filmmaker know about running a sign shop? More than you might think. Meet Peppur, co-owner of Collaborative Sign and Design, who made the leap from the world of storytelling to the signage industry. She shares with us her deep insights on how the core skill of communication connects Signage and Storytelling, the brutal and hilarious realities of a shop's first year, and how to navigate the unique challenge of building a business with your spouse. This is a conversation about finding your niche, embracing the art and science of signage, and discovering the unexpected paths that lead to a fulfilling life in this industry. 🔥 Topics Covered: How storytelling skills make you a better sign maker and brand builder The unfiltered "horror stories" and lessons from your first year in business Setting boundaries (or not) when your business partner is also your life partner Why the signage industry is a unique clash of art and logic The strategic power of finding and dominating your niche The honest loneliness and mindset required for ownership 📣 Your brand's story is waiting to be told. Let's talk about how to build it. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Web⁠⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more insights on scaling your business on The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. #businessgrowth #personalgrowth #businessowner #storytelling #signage #sucessstory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    48 min

  4. JAN 12

    #133 Stop wasting your talent on boring CAD work

    Tired of your skilled team getting bogged down in repetitive CAD work? In this episode, Aaron sits down with Adam from AP Consulting, an automation expert who has visited hundreds of sign shops worldwide. They dive into the real-world strategy of using software to automate design tasks for products like channel letters and cabinets. Not to replace your people, but to make them more valuable and focused on skilled fabrication. Adam breaks down his unique process of shadowing your shop to codify your "secret sauce," the best time to implement new systems, and how a simple internal tool can evolve into a client-facing e-commerce machine. If you want to scale your expertise and stop wasting time on the boring stuff, this episode is your blueprint. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ Automating repetitive CAD tasks to free up your skilled team. ✅ Why automation should make employees more valuable, not obsolete. ✅ The custom process: Building software around your shop's standards. ✅ The strategic best time to implement new systems (hint: not when you're swamped). ✅ From internal tool to automated e-commerce: The 3-stage evolution. ✅ How a hobbyist mindset fuels business innovation. 📣 Don't just work harder. Work smarter by automating the repetitive. Connect with Adam: ap-consulting.com 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more insights on scaling your business on The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. #businessgrowth #cad #automation #personalgrowth #businessowner #businessownertips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min

  5. 11/20/2025

    #132 You need a "no-filter" friend in your life

    In this raw and unscripted episode, Aaron shares a powerful conversation that completely shifted his perspective on business ownership. After a call from an old mentor, he reveals a revolutionary way to think about firing employees, why you should be happy about tough decisions, and how to audit where you're investing your most valuable asset: your energy. This is a deep dive into the mindset required to build a business without sacrificing your happiness, your relationships, or your purpose.  🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The liberating mindset shift to handle firing employees with joy ✅ How to intentionally invest your energy in your spouse and key relationships ✅ Balancing the joy of being a creator with the burden of being a manager ✅ Why successful entrepreneurs can never be "victims" ✅ Finding the positive purpose in every business challenge 📣 Your business shouldn't cost you your joy. It should be the source of it. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more no-BS business strategies on The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. #businessgrowth #mentorship #personalgrowth #businessowner #businessownertips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min

  6. 11/06/2025

    #131 I just saved $50k on taxes. Here's how

    Year-end is more than just a party.. It's the most critical strategic period for a business owner. In this episode, Aaron breaks down the essential checklist to close out your year profitably and set your business up for a dominant 2025. He covers how to use your profits to buy equipment tax-efficiently, the right way to pull money out of your company, and how to forecast for growth without the guesswork. Don't let the holiday chaos cause you to leave money on the table or start the new year on the back foot. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The tax-smart strategy for year-end equipment purchasing ✅ How to close your books and handle owner compensation ✅ Forecasting and budgeting for strategic growth in 2025 ✅ Managing your Q4 pipeline: Overtime vs. seasonal hiring ✅ Simplifying the dreaded physical inventory count 📣 Finish strong. Start smarter. Your year-end playbook is here. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more no-BS business strategies on The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    10 min

  7. 10/30/2025

    #130 What We Learned at the Largest Print Show in the World

    Aaron breaks down his experience at Printing United 2025 — one of the biggest and most diverse print expos in the world. From setting up a two-story booth in record time to realizing how much reputation and resilience matter in business, this episode is packed with lessons about preparation, presence, and persistence. He shares how SquareCoil’s first appearance at the show pushed his team to think bigger, adapt faster, and stay grounded — even when things didn’t go as planned. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The chaos and strategy behind trade show booth setup ✅ What happens when your marketing doesn’t land — and how to fix it ✅ Why every business needs to “earn its stripes” in new spaces ✅ Signs of a coming industry slowdown (and how to prepare) ✅ The power of customer relationships through tough markets 📣 Every challenge is a test of leadership — and a chance to grow stronger. 🌐 Follow Aaron on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Web⁠ 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes of The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min

  8. 10/23/2025

    #129 How Steve Weist built a 40-year legacy in the printing industry

    This week on The AC Method, Aaron sits down with Steve Weist, a true industry veteran who’s spent nearly three decades shaping the print and signage world from the inside out. From learning the ropes in a family business to running large-scale operations across the U.S., Steve shares how his team built trust, maintained excellence, and adapted to the ever-changing world of 3D systems and print innovation. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✅ The origin story behind Waste’s family-run print business. ✅ Why customer trust and service still outperform sales quotas. ✅ The evolution of UV printing and its impact on small businesses. ✅ Lessons from installing printers by hand — and learning on the fly. ✅ The future of automation, robotics, and print production efficiency. 📣 “Innovation isn’t about chasing what’s next, it’s about mastering what works and making it better every time.” 🌐 Follow Aaron on Linkedin | Instagram | Webpage 🔔 Subscribe for more no-BS business strategies on The AC Method! The AC Method is hosted by Aaron Clippinger and sponsored by SquareCoil. Go to squarecoil.com to streamline your custom industry today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min
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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Custom Manufacturing Industry podcast is an entrepreneurship and motivational podcast on all platforms, hosted by Aaron Clippinger. Being CEO of multiple companies including the signage industry and the software industry, Aaron has over 20 years of consulting and business management. His software has grown internationally and with over a billion dollars annually going through the software. Using his Accounting degree, Aaron will be talking about his organizational ways to get things done. His podcast will give you shortcuts to handling situations without having to live it firsthand. With his comedic way of looking at things, you will be entertained by his stories while learning best practices. 

Information

  • Creator
    Aaron Clippinger
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    137
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The AC Method