Hi Guys, I've been lurking around the boards for a week or so and have finally decided to take the plunge and post this.
I'm laying out a business plan to open an indy shop in the Atlanta area (The SignCrafter - and yes, I plan to craft the signs and avoid the vinyl garbage-on-a-stick if at all possible). I have a degree in studio art (real art- not that abstract expressionism crap) and have 7 years experience in a franchise vinyl shop. Problem is, I left the shop 7 years ago and the industry has moved on a bit since then.
My question to the all-knowing, all-wise veterans here is:
If you were to start your shop from scratch, right now, what would you consider to be the must-have equipment?
I plan to purchase a printer/plotter/laminator combo from signwarehouse.com and take off from there. I am undecided as to whether or not a table router an a blasting booth/compressor, and whether or not to bother with vehicle wraps.
Am I missing something? Is this equipment list too ambitious for a start-up?
Thanks for any tips you can provide. I know many of you are able to charge consultation fees for your hard-earned knowledge. I just want to start as right as possible.
Chris
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Start off basic with what you already know how to produce good looking signs.
You can sub out whatever you don't have the equipment to produce yourself. You can add more equipment later, as the needs arise.
Good luck with your new biz.
Posted by Sam Sanfilippo (Member # 425) on :
"I'm laying out a business plan to open an indy shop in the Atlanta area (The SignCrafter - and yes, I plan to craft the signs and avoid the vinyl garbage-on-a-stick if at all possible). I have a degree in studio art (real art- not that abstract expressionism crap) and have 7 years experience in a franchise vinyl shop. Problem is, I left the shop 7 years ago and the industry has moved on a bit since then."
"I plan to purchase a printer/plotter/laminator combo from signwarehouse.com and take off from there."
Did I miss something?
Questions unasked are the dumb questions. So, here's my questions...
How saturated is the area of Lawrenceville and the general ATL area with sign shops that are doing exactly what you've said? What is going to make YOU so special?
Can you go a year living hand to mouth, wondering where the next bag of rice and beans will be coming from? Last ATL trader I looked at had a couple of the combos you are talking about. Do what you love, but love what you do. Otherwise it's just another job.
If I were to do it again, from scratch as you say, I'd do what wasn't being done by every other shop in town. As it stands, I subcontract to 5 insty sign places in town to do their painting. There aren't many of us brushslingers left in Birmingham. I stay covered up, they don't lose jobs, I make more money and I don't have to interact with their clients.
Good Luck with your new venture. May not hurt to check out Sonny Franks, Nancie Phillips and a few other folks around Lawrenceville.
[ April 13, 2007, 05:20 PM: Message edited by: Sam Sanfilippo ]
Posted by jake snow (Member # 5889) on :
quote:Originally posted by Chris Volion: I'm laying out a business plan to open an indy shop in the Atlanta area (The SignCrafter - and yes, I plan to craft the signs and avoid the vinyl garbage-on-a-stick if at all possible).
I plan to purchase a printer/plotter/laminator combo from signwarehouse.com and take off from there. I am undecided as to whether or not a table router an a blasting booth/compressor, and whether or not to bother with vehicle wraps.
Chris
Auhhhh... I think I'M missing something here. You say you are starting a "Craftsman" style shop and your first investment is going to be a printer/plotter/laminator?? And your not sure about a router and blasting equip?
I guess I have a different idea of what a "craftsman" sign is.
What everybody has said above...BUT... If all of your "sign" experience is from a vynull shop, you might wanna do a little practicing on the "craftsman" style stuff before you jump in with both hooves.
Just my food stamps...aint got 2 cents. Posted by Chris Volion (Member # 7521) on :
Si - thanks for stating the obvious.
Sam and Jake, thanks for saying what needed to be said. I didn't realize how full of double-talk I am until I saw your replies... I need to look harder at my motivations here. For the record- I carve, paint and have done some limited gilding, but it looks like my business plan is more about making a vynull shop instead of a craftsman's shop.
Looks like I need to get into the garage and just start carving and painting to see if I can still cut the mustard.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Chris,
A good business plan is a good start. However, having the finances to back it up is even more important.
I agree with the others comments, if you want to "craft" signs, why are you getting a printer? There are plenty of companies that will print your files and most will ship them to you in a couple of days. Spend the money on something good or save it for a rainy day.
I really can't help you with setting up your shop because I don't know the type of work you really want to do, or the clients you wish to pursue.
Once you have your target demographic figured out, you'll need to determine the best way to service these clients. Is it a retail location in a strip mall or is it a warehouse in an industrial area? Can you work from home and provide the same, or better level of service as your competition?
From there, you can start thinking about equipment because landlord restrictions may not allow certain materials or manufacturing processes in their facility.
Once you have the location and equipment picked out, how much is it going to cost to insure? Remember that rainy day fund? It's probably gone by now
Anyway, since you've been out of the business for a while, I think you need to concentrate on the plan first before you make the leap of faith. If you don't, you may be jumping into a pit of failure.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
I can certainly say this for a certainty and I have Checkers to credit for bringing this to mind; the sign business is NOT the same as it was 7 years ago. I don't know about everybody else but my profit margins are down and the competition is up. If I were not in the sign business today I certainly wouldn't get into it, especially not in Atlanta. There are sign shops going out of business left and right up there. Just a caveat before your leap of faith.
Posted by Nancie W. Phillips (Member # 3484) on :
Hey Chris... gimme a call at your convenience. My phone number is 678-887-3339. There are several of us around the area and if you don't know some key folk, I'd be happy to introduce you to the ones I know. This area is tough to break into in the sign biz, and a niche seems to be the ticket. Sam made some great suggestions, and I may take some of his advice myself. The Letterhead community in our area seems to be really growing...you picked a good time to chime in. Welcome aboard!
Posted by Michael R. Bendel (Member # 5847) on :
I'd say there are a few things missing. You mentioned you "carve, paint & guild". That's a very, very skilled portion of the sign industry.
From what I've seen here & elsewhere, carving/guilding at a master level takes years of general sign knowledge & alot of trial & error.
Maybe you have that, I don't know.
If your background is what you say it is, Franchise signs & an art degree, start with a good computer & plotter & see where that takes you.
Seasoned professionals have started with less.
Price competitively from the get-go & stand out!
Good luck Chris
Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
...Another VINYL shop? Then Good luck! ...An "essential" piece of equipment for ANY sign shop (unless you already have it) is the book, 'Mastering Layout" by Mike Stevens. I'd bet that most (if not all) of your vinyl competetors have NO CLUE about how to layout a sign.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
While I'm certainly not one to be giving business advice, I will agree with Mr. Pickett and say that the one thing that will make you stand out among all the others who are opening a sign business is the ability to do proper designs.
Layout is the key. Everyone sells vinyl and substrate. You can be heads above the competition by selling good design.
The "craftsman" style of signage (whatever that is) is very satisfying but very hard to sell, especially if your experience is in a franchise shop. Practice, have a bunch of samples, and don't promise what you can't deliver.
Posted by jack wills (Member # 521) on :
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