Mt. Lebanon entrepreneur Conner Boal is the founder and sole employee of CBI Lighting, a commercial signage business founded two years ago when Conner was just 12 years old.
Now 13, Boal first got the idea for the business when he began selling 3D-printed products to friends. What began as a hobby became a realization that his work could turn into something much more.
“I started doing 3D printing when I was around 10, and I always just did it as a hobby,” Boal said. “Then my family started a daycare, so they asked me to make signs for them. And then I found out you can make money from it, and it just spiraled out from there.”
Growing up around construction, Boal was a quick learner and adapted his affinity for 3D printing to include the cutting, sanding and painting that larger signs require. CBI Lighting can provide everything from smaller nameplates and room signs to larger exterior displays. His process varies greatly depending on the project; from the initial meeting with a client to the completion of a finished product can take anywhere from one day to three weeks.
CBI Lighting is a one-man show and has been since its inception. Recently, Boal has investigated expanding his business and hiring another employee. He estimates that he has served between 10 and 15 clients so far, and each project takes careful consideration, time and effort.
“It’s a big change from going to hanging out with your friends to working all day,” Boal said. “Anytime I’m done with my homework, we’re right to work. But it’s really paid off.”
Over his two years of ownership, Boal has grown CBI Lighting entirely independently. After initial financial support from his parents, Boal taught himself the ins and outs of not only his craft, butalso what might be missing from the market.
Boal advertises that CBI Lighting signs are ADA compliant and he offers Braille lettering to better suit the needs of his clients. Working within ADA guidelines can mean only using certain fonts, sizes and backgrounds for regular signs, in addition to the spacing and sizing of Braille. Not all larger sign businesses can cater to this certification, and the site explains that the ability to cater to each client is one of the benefits of working with a smaller business dedicated to good quality.
Businesses are often more than happy to work with Boal because of his portfolio. The signs speak for themselves, no matter how young their maker.
“I’ve had a few people that are a little weirded out by [my age], but everyone else has respected what I’ve done,” Boal said. “They’ve seen my website. They’ve seen my signs.”
CBI Lighting has relied mainly on Google Ads and word-of-mouth so far, but Boal is optimistic about his business and its future. Hiring another employee is just the next step, and he’s still contemplating where CBI Lighting could go from there.
“I’m going to see where it takes me,” Boal explained. “I could grow it when I’m older. I’m thinking about selling it when I’m 18, too, and then starting another business.”
Though entrepreneurship may not be every 13-year-old’s idea of fun, it’s clear that Boal has found his passion. As far as recommending it to peers, he understands that he may be in the minority among teens.
“I get some people not doing it,” Boal said. “But it’s really paid off. I love working, I love it to death.”
To support Connor Boal or find out more about CBI Lighting, visit www.cbilighting.com.
