Inspiring Conversations with Katia Niewiadowska of Phoenix Striping

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katia Niewiadowska. They and their team shared their story with us below:

In the bustling heart of Avondale, Katia once managed and operated the thriving “Damri MMA” Off Avondale Blvd and s of the i10 at the Avondale sports center. However, the arena’s doors had to close when COVID restrictions hit. With her indomitable spirit, Katia moved to Dino’s Italian Food in Goodyear, adapting to her new role as a server. By 2021, her path shifted once more. Exploring the solar industry, she met Andrew — her future co-pilot in business and life. Alongside managing Phoenix Striping and her current college studies at ASU, Katia also embraces the role of a dedicated stepmother, caring for Andrew’s child as her own. With their combined tenacity, the duo soon saw an opportunity in the curb painting house numbers business. With dedication, careful savings, and the unwavering support of Katia’s father, they acquired their first striping machine and trailer, giving life to Phoenix Striping. Like many startups, the journey was laden with familiar struggles — hiring, firing, and learning a niche trade with sparse online guidance. Yet, amidst these challenges, Phoenix Striping marked a significant achievement: collaborating with the United States Air Force. They meticulously laid out the CDL training area to precision, meeting rigorous military standards. The commitment to accuracy was such that a Pentagon member was dispatched the next day to certify the track’s adherence to military specs.

Today, Phoenix Striping, an owner-operated venture, stands tall, championing transparency and fairness. They aim to transform the striping industry, catering to small business owners and industry giants. Their partnerships with fellow striping entities in the valley underscore their collaborative ethos. Whether plotting a project for a local business or liaising with billion-dollar contractors, clarity of purpose is paramount. From managing an MMA arena to pioneering in a niche market, Katia’s multifaceted journey is inspiring.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?

• Hiring/firing people
• Learning such a niche market with little to no information online
• Building rare connections from striping and parking lot maintenance companies worldwide, from Spain to Florida and Washington.
• Learning to read AutoCAD and contractor blueprints.
• Having machine problems and hand rolling sometimes, making a 30-minute job into a 12-hour job.
• Struggling to afford materials and equipment with no financing.
• Going business to business, selling our services, getting denied hundreds of times when we first started, and having people be rude and kick us out.
•  Affording all legal requirements from business insurance to TPT and dust control licenses.
• Being out in the glazing sun at 120° and in the cold at 35°.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Phoenix striping does what It says. Striping for parking lots, warehouses, and almost anything we can get our machines to do. What sets Phoenix Striping apart from others is our clear work plans from a detailed PDF and an illustrator image of every estimate we do so you can have a written and visual image of what to expect without services. We also maintain a short lead time of under 2 weeks, and most of our quotes are delivered within 24 hours. I want people to visit our website at www.phxstripes.com and understand that we believe in caring for people and keeping business as transparent as possible.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
We have done work for the United States military.

Pricing:

• Our minimum job at the moment is $300.
• We quote every job differently based on conditions but expect to pay under $5 a line for restriping.
• New layouts are very affordable, too.
• We do same-day emergency striping, but it comes with a cost.
• No price fits all, but we guarantee a free quote and transparent pricing from the first linear foot to the last.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.phxstripes.com
• Instagram: /phxstripes
• Other: 602-501-7777