Dream Artisans
Stain & Stamp look to make a difference in concrete and community
A hunch, some bumps, considerable talent and an unwavering belief…all part of the journey that helped the founders of a Central Texas-based custom concrete specialty company turn an idea into reality. Founded in 2005, Stain & Stamp, Inc. stains and seals concrete, polishes concrete and is the inventor of Concrete Hardwood™.
For Shane and Meagan Johnston, the family-owned company is much more. It’s a tangible symbol that hard work, perseverance and a focus on creating opportunities for others is the basis for success.
The Concept
In 2004, while working at a bank and going to college, Shane and close friend and co-worker Josh Keltner researched the custom concrete industry. Hungry and ambitious to start a business of their own, they quickly realized all the potential in this niche market. Both in their twenties with no concrete construction experience, the pair started Concrete Solutions, Inc.
After one year, Shane and Josh decided they were better friends than business partners. Josh kept the business and Shane moved home to Texas to start over. Partnering his love for marketing and art, he founded Stain & Stamp, Inc. in Belton.
“I’ve always dreamed of having my own business, like my father had done, believing that it could provide endless opportunities for my future, a way to contribute to my local community and possibly a way to help others reach their goals and dreams,” Shane adds.
Starting with nothing in 2005, Shane borrowed $4,500 from a relative and bought the necessary tools to hit the ground running. He purchased a brand new trailer, which sat in the parking lot of his apartment while he took a quick weekend trip to visit his then-girlfriend (now wife) Meagan. When he returned home Sunday night, ready to begin his new adventure, he found the trailer with all his tools had been stolen.
Shane says, “I had one extension pole in the back of my truck, [which is] in my office today. It’s a reminder of where God has brought us and to always stay humble.”
A Timely Break
With little more than a few tools and a truck, Shane set out to promote his business and, hopefully, earn a chance to demonstrate the skills he’d learned.
Shane recalls, “It was a challenging time. I’d complete a job, run to the bank to deposit the check and head out looking for the next job. I even had a family member tell me to take my stickers off my truck and get a real job. During this time, there were a handful of nights I even slept in my truck.”
In the first few years, he completed a number of stained patio projects, while continuing to raise awareness about possibilities of decorative concrete. Praying for a break, Shane was contacted by a prominent builder in the area to complete a patio staining job. It turned out to be the door-opening opportunity Shane needed. Since that time, Stain & Stamp has grown 20 percent year over year for nine straight years.
In 2008, Meagan joined the company after graduating from college, while also working at a hospital for a short period. She soon quit that job to work full time alongside Shane. By 2009, the two were married and went from living in an apartment with a trailer of tools to operating out of a warehouse and office building.
“We want all of our people to dream big; just don’t settle.” Shane Johnston, Owner, Stain & Stamp, Inc.
Fostering Opportunities
As a full-service custom concrete specialty firm, Stain & Stamp’s services include stained, stamped and polished concrete, coatings, sealed concrete, concrete countertops and Concrete Hardwood™. Over the last 12-plus years, the company has decorated over 5 million square feet of concrete and has a strong commercial client base throughout Texas and parts of Oklahoma.
To date, the company’s commercial clients span many market segments, including big-box stores, churches, schools and restaurants—with jobs largely focused on polished concrete and epoxy coatings. Stain & Stamp established a stand-alone Commercial Division to handle its growing commercial projects.
Meagan says, “We have worked commercial projects for years alongside our residential operations. With the new division, we will have dedicated crews and additional commercial equipment, including polishers, vacuums, trucks and trailers.”
Currently, Stain & Stamp employs 15 people and is looking to add a few more key positions this year.
Shane and Meagan agree that all their success can be attributed to a deep abiding faith and a no-quit attitude. Meagan confirms, “We believe in believing in something greater.”
“We believe that everyone was created to accomplish great things,” Shane continues. “In our business, we take plain, cold gray concrete and turn it into a unique, one-of-a-kind creation that goes beyond our clients’ imaginations. It is our goal to use that same creativity and passion to encourage and inspire our team to do the same.”
That culture of belief resonates throughout the company. A case-in-point example is operations manager Dale Storie, a key employee who has been with Stain & Stamp since the early days. Dale approached Shane back in 2009, looking for a job.
Shane recalls that day well, adding, “I told him I had two days of work…he’s been with us 10 years.”
Meagan says, “We wouldn’t be where we are without him. He’s not just a hard worker, he’s a leader in his family, in his church, and is an integral part of our company. He’s bought into the vision and has been with us in the most difficult of times. He’s not only making our company’s future brighter, he’s imparting the vision that every individual can accomplish great things no matter where they start.”
“Over the years, we have slowly built a culture where we challenge each other to believe in greater achievements,” Shane says. “We don’t want to hold anyone back. We want all of our people to dream big; just don’t settle.”