Dale Salamacha has his sights set on revenue growth for 2010, even though his two companies — Media 1 and Wrap this Ink — saw their combined revenue drop by $100,000 last year, to $2.2 million.

“In 2009, people were paying attention to price more than ever, and we lost contracts,” Salamacha said. “We’ve grown about 26 percent every year since Media 1 started in 2000, but last year was the exception.”

He expects to earn $3 million in revenue this year by doubling his space and adding equipment so he can handle more work. his Longwood-based companies are in a 12,000-square-foot building, and he wants to relocate to one that’s up to 25,000 square feet this year.

He also plans to open offices in Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami by 2011. his goal is to reach $10 million in revenue by 2015. Media 1 and Wrap this Ink employ a total of 24 people.

Wrap this Ink does vehicle wrapping — transforming vehicles into colorful ads that incorporate the entire body into a product’s theme. It now does wraps on 60 vehicles each month, including boats, cars and buses.

Media 1 designs, engineers and installs signs, such as those in the food court at the Mall at Millenia.

Clients for both companies include Truly Nolen of America, Middleton Lawn and Pest Control, Mercedes Homes, Broyhill Furniture Industries Inc., Fox 35 News and Planet Smoothie.

Salamacha’s companies got their start in 1984 while he was a senior at Oviedo High School. he formed a company called Dr. S. Signs that earned about $30,000 in revenue that first year, doing vehicle wraps for radio stations WXXL-FM XL 106.7 and WOMX-FM Mix 105.1, and painting signs for small stores and nail salons.

In 1987, he hired two employees, and the company began evolving from a home-based business to a bona fide enterprise. “I didn’t go to college, so I struggled through the years learning how to run a business,” Salamacha said. “Once I had made my first $1 million [in 2001], I had learned better business and marketing techniques by reading a lot of books like Secrets of a Millionaire Mind” by T. Harv Eker.

Throughout the 1990s, Salamacha added employees, including Rick Ream and Damon Coppola, who became Salamacha’s business partners in 2002. By 1999, Salamacha broke the $500,000 revenue mark.

To attract more national clients, Salamacha rebranded the company, calling it Media 1 in 2000.

In 2000, Media 1 brought in $908,000 in revenue and had a client list ranging from radio stations to restaurants. Media 1 launched its mobile advertising subsidiary, Wrap this Ink, in June 2006.

“Media 1 is reliable and the quality is really good,” said Dave Waechter, director of new restaurant support services for Olive Garden. “The requests are completed timely and accurately.”

Media 1’s sign packages for Olive Garden are placed in the kitchen and office area of the restaurants and display the company’s principles and quotes for employees to read, Waechter said.

“I think what makes us so successful is that we never build to minimum standards,” Ream said. “Our employees work very hard and want to put out a high-quality product.”

Meanwhile, Salamacha advises budding entrepreneurs to visualize exactly what they want and stick with that vision throughout ups and downs. “You have to visualize yourself reaching whatever goal you have. It’s all determined by your focus.”

Media 1 and Wrap this Ink Description: Signage and mobile advertising
Top local executive: Dale Salamacha,
president
Headquarters: 150 National place,
Longwood 32750
2009 revenue: $2.2 million
Revenue goal: Hit $10 million by 2015
Employees: 24
Contact: (407) 331-6161; media1signs.com; wrapthisink.com