Built In Canada

Episode #2 From Apartment Hallway to Multi-Million Dollar Sign Business - Emin’s Journey |

Levon Gyulinyan,

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0:00 | 26:41

What does it take to turn a small side hustle into a successful business serving clients across Canada and beyond?

In this episode of Built in Canada, Emin shares how he went from making signs in an apartment hallway to building one of the leading wholesale sign manufacturing companies in North America.

⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 – The beauty of Canada & the opportunities it offers
01:08 – Emin’s journey: from Iran to Canada in 1991
03:13 – Starting a business while still in high school
04:22 – Making signs in an apartment hallway & first clients
05:54 – Almost quitting: working at a junkyard & big life lesson
07:48 – Returning to entrepreneurship full-time
08:49 – Early struggles: reinvesting everything back into the business
09:20 – Why giving up was never an option
11:26 – Leasing the first commercial space & getting family support
12:28 – Scaling up: trade shows, wholesale manufacturing & big clients
15:10 – The coffee chain challenge: 
17:29 – Installing massive signs on high-rise towers at 23 years old
19:52 – Advice to new immigrants: vision, desire & never giving up
20:51 – Why Canada is one of the best places to build a business
21:59 – Choosing growth vs. family time & finding balance
23:25 – Staying hands-on vs. being a “boss”
25:08 – The wholesale sign business model explained

Emin’s story proves that perseverance + vision = success. Whether you’re a new immigrant, a struggling entrepreneur, or simply someone with a dream — this episode will inspire you to take action and never give up.

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