We were lucky to catch up with Isaac Barrocas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Isaac thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

Before starting my own business, I worked in the large format industry as a designer, producer, and installation specialist. One day, while driving on the freeway, I noticed a massive mural being painted. As a longtime fan of street art, I couldn’t resist the urge to stop and get a closer look. I navigated through a construction zone and discovered that the mural was being created by Shepard Fairey of OBEY, along with his team.

It was a dream come true for me. Growing up deeply immersed in street and skate culture, OBEY had been a brand I admired and wore for over a decade. I watched in awe as they worked, and after gathering some courage, I introduced myself. The lively group of street artists chatted with me for a bit, were kind enough to let me observe their process, and even add a few lines to the mural. I think a few of them saw a bit of themselves in me as they agreed not to kick me out and gave me an observation-only crash course on their techniques for painting such intricate designs on a grand scale.

When I later started my own business, I found a fascinating niche: providing muralists with the same tools and techniques used by the best in the field. It was a thrilling moment of realization—truly mind-blowing!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a lifelong learner, my true passion lies in traveling and immersing myself in diverse cultures and counter-cultures. My curiosity continually reshapes my views and perspectives. As an artist, my goal is to offer my clients and viewers a new lens through which to see the world.

Creating large-scale art is undeniably thrilling, but what truly matters is the message we convey and its impact on the world. Make your message resonate.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Staying operational throughout the Covid pandemic is a significant accomplishment. According to the Federal Reserve, over 700,000 small businesses in the US closed in the second quarter of 2020, with an additional 400,000 temporarily shutting their doors. I’m proud to say that since opening in 2018, I’ve managed to remain in operation every single day.

Adapting my business model was essential. With many businesses and public events halted, I had to completely rethink my approach to client acquisition. Small “WE’RE OPEN” banners, social distancing markers, and mandated mask signage became the new norm. While this shift was controversial and not without its challenges, it was crucial for my survival. Fortunately, these adaptations helped me navigate through tough times and set the stage for even greater opportunities that followed.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

While I don’t exactly “manufacture” a traditional product, there’s one creation I’ve worked hard to perfect that I’d be remiss not to mention.

When I first started my business, my priority was to find clients. I’m a fan of face-to-face interactions, preferring to discuss business struggles directly and explore how advertising might offer solutions. Determined to meet every business owner in my complex, I knocked on over 100 doors in a single day, engaging in numerous fruitful conversations. One such conversation was with Jeff from ProSurface, who had a small project for me. At that time, I took on any work I could, and that seemingly minor job turned into a significant, profitable partnership.

ProSurface specializes in resurfacing basketball and other outdoor courts. When Jeff needed a custom logo painted on a court, he turned to me for a solution. I recalled an experience with the OBEY team, who painted complex building-sized murals with precision and speed. Using this knowledge, I experimented with various materials and techniques for weeks. Eventually, I discovered the perfect combination to achieve the results we wanted. Jeff and I delivered on our promise, and the success of this project gave me the confidence to approach SportMaster, a leading sport surfacing company, with my unique solution.

One trial was all it took. My product was soon included in SportMaster’s catalog, reaching over 100 franchises, and I became their exclusive vendor. This breakthrough led to sending stencils to colleges, universities, NBA and NFL teams, and private courts for coaches and influencers.

I continued refining the product, eventually adapting it for use by artists. I presented it to muralists and Influential Walls, and with their collaboration, we are now working with artists worldwide to enhance creativity and aesthetics on a global scale.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://coastlineprints.com
• Instagram: @coastlineprints
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/coastlineprints
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/pzWdsPhAO2U

Image Credits

Jon Haverstick, Jimmy Danko