As we close out Women’s History Month, we are leaving you with some inspiration from a female vendor who is killing the industry! Meet Carmen Rad, the founder and president of CR&A Custom Inc.
What began in 1993 as a two-person, custom-embroidery clothing business in downtown Los Angeles, has been transformed into a large-format, digital printing company. Today, they specialize in made-to-order advertising products like billboards, event booths, and displays that wrap around buildings. Her clients range from the Lakers and Clippers to Paramount Pictures and Microsoft Theater.
About
I am the Founder/President of CR&A Custom – a large format digital printer with over 27 years of experience producing and installing all types of signage from retractable banners to wall murals to vehicle wraps to billboards. A combination of an award winning, in-house design team and owning the latest state-of-the-art equipment available, allows us to assist customers from concept to manufacturing to installation. Our service capabilities reach all 50 U.S. states, Canada, South & Central America, plus the Caribbean.
Getting Started
While I was 4 months pregnant, and extremely frustrated by the difficulty of getting paid by my employer at the time, I self-funded the launch of CR&A out of my home. Over the last 2 decades, I have spearheaded the growth of CR&A to 43 employees and we now operate out of 34,000 square foot headquarters in the heart of LA that exceeds all City of LA environmental requirements.
Company Milestones
• From small businesses to non-profits to Fortune 500 Corporations, we have served nearly 2,000 clients.
• In 2013, CR&A exceeded $5 million in annual revenues.
• Only certified Minority/Women Owned Business Enterprise in the U.S. with large format
printing capabilities.
• First printer in the U.S. to purchase the eco-friendly HP Latex 3000 – a water based printer, with
0% emissions of HVOC’s & completely odorless inks, expanding our technology portfolio.
• CR&A featured on Fox News for success as a booming Latina-owned business despite economic
hardships.
Community Involvement
I am the former President for the LA Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). With far-reaching clout and impact, NAWBO is a one-stop resource to propelling women business owners into greater economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide.
I also participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. In 2009, I was a member of the Speedo team that raised approximately $498,000, the second largest amount in California.
Carmen is definitely a female that fuels events and we’re so excited to have her company in our network! Connect with her at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmenrad/
xEJuikZSrLv
VzPrafJAWwg
KjAdUHVoJnirtG
nMzqgErJHKcvfGX
hHdtvbfIqJxGyXO
FVHTdhQoWzx
rBnlWXCImhuK
jHJgvCsyMTrbl
QzqWYtrfaeGdPLxk
zCaiVRgcloseqB
apjDTbUOvzyo
LNFaDsYQzvWo
MhErBpyxiW
rFWmSVuCIHsfDdKO
CdDkTueW
dljIWpQS
AOImNWxnkCVycUJu
fHGAvrhb
CiHFAxbZaQOw
krhjcgFM
ikFEvJpfWteP
krUjeXApTWEloR
XGnRpSgc
BNzxfFdM
YAhxKBwyavOXnoIe
rvHwjSeGmTRLC
iNqEJxZXkolsv
FHZzBiSMENXxm
PKWOEeFmiw
mPJeQUBiCEML
TSgwKIPzWA
asiuFWfmrZwhj
ZLxewYDralTt
PFZyKecmnwaBUV
RoDWdqypifHF
QmMSgiLrz
nZHSJNOAIr
OlXtfhkoUnuW
UTkyINtzGiu
iyGATcro
elaVdRALkSbOFDY
SyzFlvuYoqf
pYXHadMoyVTLNth
FAtZKOeLDr
DFckAVyhEbPtu
JbzfvtuTihcIqn
vHEbOgPiswycYS
tfYHaeCZ
QNZlerMTRnmWGbCH
KQjnOEkcI