Kollins laughs about it now—because she now works with her mom in the same industry—but on a much larger scale. In 2010, Kollins and her mom opened the first Chicago location of Speedpro Imaging, a national chain of large-format printing studios. Kollins works with her clients to design and print customized graphics ranging in size from small window decals to a full vehicle wrap for an 18-passenger bus.
“I never thought I’d go into this; it’s just so funny that this is what I’m now doing,” said Kollins, who previously worked as an art director for Modern Luxury magazine. “But I couldn’t write a better job description for myself.”
There are 80 Speedpro locations in the U.S., and after just one year in operation, Kollins has already earned a reputation as a go-getter among her fellow franchisees. In 2010, she won the company’s “Shooting Star” award for landing the corporation’s largest national account to date, and she set a record for the highest-ever sales in her first month of operations.
Speedpro Chicago also sells customized wall murals. Kollins worked with a local artist to design 10 wall murals for a Chicago advertising agency. As a business owner, she says she tries to give back to the community. She donated her services to Howard Brown Health Center to spearhead the makeover of the Brown Elephant truck for this year’s Pride Parade.
“We really care about this stuff and you can’t compare the quality that we offer,” Kollins said. “I have so much fun at work. It’s just cool to deliver exactly what I sell, exactly what the customer wants.”
See www.facebook.com/SpeedproChicago or email MarketingChicago@Speedpro.com or call (312) 492-7760. MarketingChicago@Speedpro.com, www.SpeedproChicago.com
THE STATS
Name
Shira Elyse Kollins
Meaning
Shira Elyse is Hebrew for
“Song of Joy.”
Age
31
Relationship status
Dating Meg Streit, a freelance journalist (including for Windy City Times)
Neighborhood
Andersonville
Hobbies
Art, music, cooking, shopping, water sports and tech gadgets.
Ink
Has a hamsa hand tattooed on the inside of both wrists, and a blue flame on a finger on her right hand.
Wheels
Drives a Jeep Commander
Pet
Lucky, an 11-year-old rescue dog
Text and photos by Ross Forman