Island Entrepreneur Shows no Sign of Slowing Down

Owning Vancouver Island’s largest print operation, Victoria businessman, Steve Webb has seen great success. Webb started Metropol back in 2003 as a way to consolidate poster services for event marketing. At this time, before social media marketing, event promoters had to fight for poster space on downtown cylinders. “As a promoter,” says Webb. “I saw this issue as an opportunity to take control of poster distribution and help venues and clubs to stop wasting time and money and to help them get equal representation.”
            From humble beginnings of using the printer in the back of Lucky Bar to print out gig posters to now being the largest print and design shop on the island, Metropol has seen great success. Metropol’s success is due to the business efforts of Webb, who started the business right out of college. “It can be challenging to run a business,” says Webb. “If you don’t enjoy what you are doing it becomes more difficult. You have to invest more than the average person, most people don’t have to put their own money into their jobs and you have to put your personal life secondary sometimes.” By understanding these compromises, Steve was able to realize what was important to him and grow his passion project that started from a love of design and live gigs into the business it is today.
            Metropol has built a strong reputation for customer service. When asked if there is concern over the rising popularity of online print services Webb was confident that due to the benefits customers get of an in-person experience such as, proofs, results and talking face to face, the value of Metropol will stay inherent.
            In November 2018, Webb opened a second, separate business Quazar’s Arcade in Trounce Alley. This retro-style coin operated pinball arcade has been a dream of Webb’s for years and finally came to life late last year. “You get into business and you’ll make mistakes,” says Webb about waiting for the right time to open the arcade. “I don’t do that anymore. I have the ability to look ahead.”

Webb is proud to own two “island owned and operated” businesses. “I don’t have a background in print, the only thing I have a background in is building business,” says Webb. Metropol is currently looking ahead to an expansion including larger studio space and more employees. This island entrepreneur shows no signs of slowing down.

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