Audio Visual Solutions

Owner Graham Jackson

Lights . . . . Camera . . . .

That’s a call to “Action” for Graham Jackson, co-owner of Audio Visual Solutions in Denton , Texas .  

Jackson ’s business idea was born on a bar napkin while he was on vacation in Key West early in 2000.   He had been working in the classroom support services department at the University of North Texas and realized there was a distinct need for an audio/visual rental service in the Denton area.   So from those early napkin notes and a visit to the Small Business Development Center , he partnered with his mother, Jill Brown, who provided the funding and together they opened Audio Visual Solutions (AVS) in August of 2000.  

During the first year of operation, about 50 percent of AVS income was gleaned from equipment rentals.   Needing storage space and a private office, Jackson opted to rent a facility on the Denton historical downtown Square.   However, the trend of the business moved away from equipment rentals primarily because of the drop in retail prices of equipment, and eventually dwindled to only about 5 percent of sales the fourth year.   Jackson found he was spending more time in the field doing systems installations in permanent structures and almost no time in the office, so he moved his business back to his home, eliminating a significant amount of overhead and increasing his profit margin in the process.     

Jackson has been extremely busy in early 2005, anticipating a potential three-fold increase over 2004 sales if the trend continues.    Completing work for the new Denton Presbyterian Hospital , City Hall in Gainesville , and the City of Denton ’s Civic Center remodeling project has kept him busy during these first few months.   Jackson ’s company also received national attention when the television series “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” came to Denton to tape their show and needed Jackson ’s audio assistance.  

Beating the odds that 80% of small businesses fail within 5 years, Jackson has nevertheless had storms to weather.    A divorce, several deaths in the family, and a sour deal on a job that cost him $34,000 in out-of-pocket equipment expenses were each incidents that could have easily wiped out or closed a business.    Jackson says he would make contacts with builders or potential clients, and then wouldn’t hear from them until a year later.   Patience and persistence are definitely strengths of character that have helped Jackson beat the odds in this business.

Jackson remains active in the local community, volunteering his time and expertise to several organizations including the Denton Chamber and the Denton Children’s Advocacy Center .   He has served on the Board of the Denton Young Professionals organization since 2001, volunteering many hours on committees and events in support of that organization. He has also been active with Leadership Denton, becoming the alumni president and co-chair of the class of 2004.   He was honored as the Denton Young Professional Member of the Year 2002, nominated as the Chamber’s Small Business Person of the Year 2002, and in 2004 was named Leadership Denton’s Alumni of the Year.

It’s quite apparent – Graham Jackson of Audio Visual Solutions knows how to heed the call to action!