The AC Method

Hosted by Aaron Clippinger

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149

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Jun 2026

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About the show

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.

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June 4, 2026Episode 15022 min

#150 Why Brokerage Models Fail

If you are running your business from a kitchen table while completely relying on subcontractors to deliver your physical client assets, your scaling potential is non-existent. Your custom brand reputation is entirely exposed to the broken timelines and empty promises of third-party vendors.In this episode, Aaron sits down with Shaun Ensign, CEO and co-founder of Legacy Sign Group, to analyze the heavy operational transitions required to move from basic brokerage models to dominant regional self-manufacturing powerhouses. Shaun pulls back the curtain on how his team successfully navigated scaling from an initial 2,100 sq ft footprint straight into a fully maximized 15,000 sq ft production layout.They break down the friction points of the manufacturing generational gap, how to deploy tech-savvy project management teams to safeguard institutional knowledge, and the exact steps taken to integrate real-time AI modeling and strict EOS structural frameworks into everyday trade environments .🔥 Topics Covered:The Self-Manufacturing Blueprint: Breaking your company's expensive dependency on sub-brokers.The CAD Conversion Pivot: Weaponizing programmatic cut lists to bridge the legacy builder talent deficit .Zoning Audits via AI: Deploying instant automated structural data formatting directly via sales reps .Level 10 Meeting Mechanics: Eradicating internal confusion through structural workflow transparency .Decentralizing real estate constraints: Building satellite production divisions to combat physical facility footprints .📣 "If your team relies entirely on one central figure for every operational answer, you haven't built a scalable business asset—you've just built an exhausting trap."🌐 Follow Aaron on Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/aaronclippinger/🌐 Follow Aaron on Instagraminstagram.com/theacmethod🌐 Go to Aaron's webpageaaronclippinger.com🔔 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 systematically streamline your custom manufacturing parameters today.

May 28, 2026Episode 15144 min

#151 Your Perfect Product is a Logistics Nightmare

You can own the fastest machinery and design the most visually stunning assets in your region—but if your brand rollout cannot survive the final mile of execution, you do not have a scalable business. You have a logistical disaster waiting to happen.In this episode, Aaron sits down with Chad Haar, CEO and owner of Lakota Sky, to pull back the curtain on managing national rollouts for dominant retail chains. Chad shares his transition from an aerial photographer to an installation powerhouse owner, discussing the critical systems required to keep field work simple at massive volume.They break down the cultural problem of on-site communication failures, the true cost of print material wastage in corporate backrooms, and the specific tracking mechanics needed to audit work in real-time so your clients stay entirely hands-off.🔥 Topics Covered:The Last Mile Blueprint: Why field execution is where your margins win or lose.The Value of Failed Competitor Bids: Weaponizing tight timelines to gain permanent client retention.Confronting Corporate On-Site Waste: Saving retail programs by circumventing storefront employee negligence.The Magnet Hack ("Click Click"): Engineering lightweight workflows that cut equipment dependencies by 90%.Auditing on the Fly: Using instantaneous photo logs to completely secure your compliance validation.📣 Systems are king. If you don't build software and documentation into your delivery chain, you're capping your scale potential.🌐 Follow Aaron on Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/aaronclippinger/🌐 Follow Aaron on Instagraminstagram.com/theacmethod🌐 Go to Aaron's webpageaaronclippinger.com🔔 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 manufacturing operation today.

May 21, 2026Episode 14919 min

#149 Stop Pricing Like an Employee

In this episode, Aaron breaks down the #1 mistake killing sign shop profits — underbidding your own work. From the employee mindset that keeps you pricing too low to the fear of losing deals that actually should walk away, Aaron shares the hard lessons every business owner needs to hear.🔥 Topics Covered:Why trading time for money destroys your growthThe four mindset traps keeping your prices lowWhy winning 80%+ of your bids means you're failingHow to stop feeling guilty about your pricesThe 20% test (pick one service, raise it, send ten proposals)📣"You are hurting your company far worse than any material cost change. You are underbidding your company's work."🌐 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.

May 14, 2026Episode 1489 min

#148 Your Shop Is Hoarding Tools (And It’s Costing You Thousands)

Do you actually know how many tools are in your installers' trucks? Aaron Clippinger recently discovered 14 Hilti drills in his shop—for only 6 installers. In this episode, he dives into the massive "blind spot" of equipment mismanagement and the cultural issue of employees hiding broken tools.Aaron reveals the new SquareCoil "Resources" feature: a Home Depot-style tracking system that monitors machine hours, repair costs, and utilization. Learn how to use data to decide between a warranty repair or a trash can, and why 50% utilization on a crane truck means you need a better calendar, not a new vehicle.🔥 Topics Covered:The Hilti Audit: Facing the reality of over-equipped shops.The "Broken Tool" Phenomenon: Why employees won't tell you when things break.Forecasting with Section 179: Spending profit on machinery before tax season hits.Utilization vs. Waste: The 90% rule for buying new equipment.OSHA Preparedness: Digital records for ladder and safety gear maintenance.📣 "Good data equals good decisions. Stop leaving utilization on the table.".🌐 Follow Aaron on Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/aaronclippinger/🌐 Follow Aaron on Instagraminstagram.com/theacmethod🌐 Go to Aaron's webpageaaronclippinger.com🔔 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.

April 30, 2026Episode 14629 min

#146 Your Competitors Are Your Best Salespeople

In this episode, Aaron sits down with Rick Goyette, owner of All Mark Signs and Graphics, to discuss the "total teardown" of a legacy family business. Rick shares how he applied 30 years of corporate operations experience to move All Mark from a safety signage focus to a high-end custom project management powerhouse.They dive deep into the modern realities of the sign world: why answering the phone is your greatest competitive advantage, how to successfully manage a global remote design team, and when to pull the trigger on vertical integration for in-house installation and UL certification.🔥 Topics Covered:Transitioning from corporate executive to small business owner.The "Responsive" Edge: Winning business by just saying hello.Scaling with remote talent in a "hands-on" industry.Strategic Vertical Integration for safety and quality control.Leveraging peer networks to handle national property accounts.📣 Growth is about being found and being responsive. If you aren't doing both, you're leaving 50% of your orders on the table.🌐 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.

April 23, 2026Episode 14513 min

#145 You Are the Bottleneck in Your Own Company

Are you the most valuable person in your company, or its biggest obstacle? In this episode, Aaron Clippinger explains why being "busy" is the biggest lie entrepreneurs tell themselves. He reveals the exact framework he uses to "fire himself" every year to ensure he isn't the cog stopping his company's gears.Learn the "Keep, Coach, Kill, Replace" audit and how to use the 80/20 rule to move mountains instead of just putting out fires.🔥 Topics Covered:The 21-Day Test: Can your business survive without you?Busy vs. Valuable: Breaking the reflex of "running into burning buildings".AI SOPs: How to document your job in 30 seconds.The Fire Yourself Ad: Writing the job description for your own replacement.📣 Your company doesn't need more of you—it needs less of you and more of your vision. 🌐 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.

April 17, 2026Episode 14411 min

#144 Why Your Estimates Are Killing Your Margins

Fresh off the massive success at the ISA Expo, Aaron is pulling back the curtain on the most requested feature of the new SquareCoil platform: Precision Cost Accounting. In this episode, we move past the "cool AI tricks" and get into the brutal reality of shop floor labor, scope cards, and the human factor.Aaron discusses why your team—no matter how technical—has no excuse for not tracking data, and how having those data points allows you to reward your top performers and make smarter machinery investments.🔥 Topics Covered:The ISA Expo Recap: Why the reception of the new platform was a humbling "artist's moment".The Human Factor: Why one-off custom builds defy standard algorithms.Scope Cards: Gaining granular visibility into every department of a project.The 16-Year-Old Rule: Why tracking data is simpler than your team thinks.Incentivizing Speed: How to turn project data into departmental wins.📣 You can't manage what you don't measure. Stop reinventing the wheel and start tracking your data.🌐 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.

April 2, 202613 min

#143 Why Your 20-Year Business is Losing to a Startup

In this episode, Aaron is on the "five-yard line" of the biggest launch in his company's history. Reflecting just days before the ISA Expo in Orlando, he reveals the brutal psychological reality of the long-term entrepreneur: the temptation to quit right before the finish line. Aaron breaks down why a "clean slate" approach is often superior to decades of evolution, how to shift your perspective to solve problems you didn't even know you had, and why the most "high-tech" move you can make in 2026 is actually picking up the phone. 🔥 Topics Covered: The Ground-Up Advantage: Why new companies often outperform established ones in 12 months. Total Rebuild vs. Evolution: Knowing when to stop patching and when to start over. Multi-Location Logic: How to manage transfers and inventory across complex entities. The Perspective Trap: Ensuring your team sees the "whole car" before they start building. The ISA Expo Unveiling: What’s coming next for the industry. 📣 Difficulties aren't burdens—they are the opportunities that make the great stories. 🌐 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

March 26, 202651 min

#142 Why Is Your Business Broke with a Full Schedule?

Is your sign shop acting as an authority, or just another vendor? In this episode, Aaron sits down with Mike Davis of Hilltop Signs and Graphics to discuss the "Cheesecake Factory" trap of offering too many products and how a 3-day deep dive changed the trajectory of his business. They dive into the "Liquid Gold" of customer data, the necessity of wholesaler relationships, and the brutal reality of surviving the 2008 and 2020 crises. Whether you're a second-generation owner or just starting out, Mike’s "7-day plan" for survival is a masterclass in discipline. 🔥 Topics Covered: The Authority Shift: Transitioning from seller to regional resource. The AR Plague: Surviving when the bank account hits single digits. Distributor Partnerships: Why floating credit and training are life-savers. Supply Chain Survival: Bartering and stockpiling during a global collapse. AI in Operations: Automating the weakest link in your purchasing chain. 📣 Success is about being an authority, not just a vendor. 🌐 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

March 19, 202612 min

#141 Why You Aren't the CEO of Your Own Life

In this episode, Aaron challenges the traditional way we look at leadership and potential. Returning from a grueling trip through Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Houston, Aaron reflects on a powerful lesson from the Iron Oak Society: we often fail as leaders because we try to see our own potential in other people's shoes. He breaks down how to stop "telling" and start "sharing," why true CEOs must categorize the people in their lives based on reality rather than hope, and the hard truth about why only 1% of people can lead companies—but 100% must lead themselves. 🔥 Topics Covered: Stop Projecting: Why "if I were you" is the wrong way to coach. Storytelling as Leadership: Giving experiences instead of orders. The 1% Rule: The brutal reality of being a company CEO. Right Person, Right Seat: Categorizing your team for maximum impact. The CEO Mindset: Taking back control of your calendar and your energy. 📣 True leadership isn't about changing people; it's about placing them where they can actually win. 🌐 Follow Aaron on Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/aaronclippinger/🌐 Follow Aaron on Instagraminstagram.com/theacmethod🌐 Go to Aaron's webpageaaronclippinger.com 🔔 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