{"id":34711,"date":"2020-04-09T15:14:45","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T19:14:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/?p=34711"},"modified":"2020-04-10T07:37:41","modified_gmt":"2020-04-10T11:37:41","slug":"custom-wooden-sign-maker-in-malta-to-make-signs-for-yellowstone-national-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/custom-wooden-sign-maker-in-malta-to-make-signs-for-yellowstone-national-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Custom Wooden Sign Maker In Malta To Make Signs For Yellowstone National Park"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Jim Thomson, owner of custom wooden sign company Adirondack Jim\u2019s, made these signs for the Adirondack Park and does work for other North Country and local entities.
Courtesy Adirondack Jim\u2019s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Christine Graf<\/p>\n

Malta resident Jim Thomson, owner of custom wooden sign company Adirondack Jim\u2019s, recently secured a contract to make signs for Yellowstone National Park\u2019s historic Lake Lodge. <\/span><\/p>\n

The lodge was built in 1891 and is undergoing a $19 million makeover. According to Thomson, it was well-known Montana historical architect Ken Sievert who recommended he be chosen to make the interior and exterior signs for the lodge. <\/span><\/p>\n

The signs will measure between 5-8 feet in length and will be framed in logs. Scott Phillips of Adirondack LogWorks in Schroon Lake will be making the frames. <\/span><\/p>\n

For the past 30 years, Thomson has worked full-time as a social worker for New York state. He operates Adirondack Jim\u2019s out of his home woodshop and made his first carved wooden sign 12 years ago when decorating his yard for Halloween. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started, I didn\u2019t know anything about how to carve signs. I spent the next two to three years reading books and watching videos,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The quality of his signs improved dramatically over time and he was encouraged to sell them at craft shows. He first show was in Bolton Landing and was a success. He did several additional shows before deciding to market his products online.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2012, Thomson invested in a website and learned to use social media. He went from being the \u201cmost un-savvy social media person you could think of\u201d to becoming a social media \u201cwiz,\u201d he said. He also harnessed the power of Facebook analytics to determine his target audience. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have a background in psychology and research, so I know all about data and analyzing data,\u201d he said. \u201cIt (Facebook analytics) tells you everything you need to know about who your customer is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomson said his customer base has evolved over time. When he started, the majority of his customers were local. Today, his signs can be found throughout the United States and as far away as London. <\/span><\/p>\n

An \u201caverage\u201d sign from Adirondack Jim\u2019s costs approximately $300. The average wait time is eight weeks. All signs are made from wood that won\u2019t rot or decay.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe wood I use is very expensive,\u201d said Thomson. \u201cI\u2019m not interested in cutting corners.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of his customers have homes in the Adirondacks and are part of what he described as a high-end demographic. They are very concerned with tradition and preservation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy whole marketing approach was based on the fact that I share my passion, which is the Adirondacks,\u201d said Thomson. \u201cI don\u2019t have a hard time advertising because people come to me. There\u2019s a niche market because everyone is using computers and synthetic materials, and I\u2019m one of the few people who actually does wood signs. It\u2019s me doing them. I\u2019m a one-man-show. These signs are handcrafted and take me multiple hours to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

His signs can be found throughout the region including at the Adirondack Welcome Center in Queensbury, Word of Life Camp in Schroon Lake, YMCA Outdoor Adventure Camp in Saratoga Springs and Whitney Industries in the Adirondacks. <\/span><\/p>\n

His wedding signs (trail signs that contain the names of the wedding couple) have also become very popular, he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomson said he looks forward to the day he retires from the state and can focus full-time on Adirondack Jim\u2019s. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always enjoyed being a social worker, but when I\u2019m gone I don\u2019t think anyone will be saying, \u2018Hey, do you remember Jim Thomson?\u2019 But my signs\u2014because of the materials I use\u2014will be around for generations and generations to come. It\u2019s my own little piece of history.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

His website is adirondackjims.com and he can be reached at adirondackjims@gmail.com and 518-207-6205.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Christine Graf Malta resident Jim Thomson, owner of custom wooden sign company Adirondack Jim\u2019s, recently secured a contract to make signs for Yellowstone National Park\u2019s historic Lake Lodge. The lodge was built in 1891 and is undergoing a $19 million makeover. According to Thomson, it was well-known Montana historical architect Ken Sievert who recommended […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":34712,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entrepreneurship"],"yoast_head":"\r\nCustom Wooden Sign Maker In Malta To Make Signs For Yellowstone National Park - Saratoga Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2020\/04\/custom-wooden-sign-maker-in-malta-to-make-signs-for-yellowstone-national-park\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Custom Wooden Sign Maker In Malta To Make Signs For Yellowstone National Park - Saratoga Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Christine Graf Malta resident Jim Thomson, owner of custom wooden sign company Adirondack Jim\u2019s, recently secured a contract to make signs for Yellowstone National Park\u2019s historic Lake Lodge. 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