LOL...The only difference in todays world... NO body pays anybody to do their "Going out of Business "sign!!! , they have their own printer and make their own sign and stick it to their window !!
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
Ray, your are inspirational, thank you!
Wondered what I was going to do with all my spare coro and paint when I retire!
Going to donate the vinyl stock and cutter to starving "sticky jockeys"
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Nowadays, can you imagine how much interest would be created hand lettering in a bIg store front window like that? Especially in a high traffic area?
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Scary thing, it would be funny if it weren't true. I was stunned at all the "for rent, lease, sale" signs I saw the other day while driving down the road...both homes and businesses.
Michigan has THEE highest unemployment rate in the nation now. Close to 10% and growing.
I read the other day where we also have the highest percentage of people packing up and moving to other states... a "mass exodus" as they put it. They said the main reason for the move was to search for work elsewhere.
Granholm (our governor) is still trying to put blame on everything and everywhere except the office she presides over...even though she is now over 6 year into her job....and the dem majority just recently voted through the states largest Tax Increase in history - - that will help, won't it?? Pathetic.
There are many causes, I'm sure, but the Unions in this state have absolutely crushed our states economy by their ridiculous demands.
Sorry to rant...but it's a very worrisome condition we're in this little slice of the world.
[ January 09, 2009, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: Todd Gill ]
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm,
I guess that I'll just have to sell to the 90% that still have jobs. Odds I've lived with in the past.
Joe,
Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
Neil, yer right!
MINIMUM $100/hour clear profit on jobs like that and still do it sooner, faster and less cost to the customer than a print!
The fun yer have while doing it and interacting with the public is worth twice that anyway!
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
You're right about the unions, Todd. But don't expect things to get any better on that front; since the B.O.-affiliated libs are in bed with the unions, and are working to expand their power.
That's why so many are leaving Mich; no bright spots in the near future, for sure.
Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :
Well, I'm here to tell you all that there's more truth to that cartoon than you might imagine.
Last "recession"....and this will be the 3rd one I've been through, and lived to tell about them, I made good money doing many such signs for a Receiver in Bankruptcy. This firm handled the liquidation of furniture retailers, and there were many from coast-to-coast. There were big exterior banners, as well as those paper banners that went directly on the store windows.
Most liquidations were deadline sensitive, in that all the banners had to be on location at a specific time, and their deadlines were short. Most stores provided roughly $2,500.00 worth of banners to do, and since I was doing them for the receiver, and not the unfortunate retailer, my money came right off the top of the receiver's fees. I never had to worry about getting paid.
It is an ill wind that doesn't blow someone some good, and the "Going Out Of Business Signs" still have to be made by someone. Hook up with a Bankruptcy Receiver, and there's no reason that you can't make lemonade from that lemon that everyone else is dreading. Posted by jack wills (Member # 521) on :
Although...politics are not allowed by the Mayors, standards there seems to be a lack of personal responsibility no matter what the condition of any economy issues. Where I dwell these days it appears to have a steady economic pace.Basically people are not big spenders here and cost of living is somewhat ideal. If you haven't experienced a mellow exsistence like this I guess the uptight atmosphere can get to you.
I left California in preperation of its downfall and although I do miss a lot of friends and things I could do, it was just perceived that time to be cool was a good fit. So, things move slow here and that's OK. I don't have much going on and no matter who was or is in charge of the government, it would still be a bitch fest for some. I'll watch, get my winter rest and maybe cut a fat hog sometime down the road. For now...a movie,a book or just keep some wood in the stove.
Think Happy...do art!
Jack
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
quote:I'll watch, get my winter rest and maybe cut a fat hog sometime down the road. For now...a movie,a book or just keep some wood in the stove.
Yeah, that will put money in your pocket. Posted by Stephen Faulkner (Member # 2511) on :
Posted by Jeff Wisdom (Member # 6193) on :
Hey this gives me some more ideas for cartoon for the newspaper....(see my earlier post)
I gleaned some ideas from the new signcraft, I think I will update my brochure and target some local ad agencies.
[ January 09, 2009, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: Jeff Wisdom ]
Posted by jack wills (Member # 521) on :
I have lived and worked in manufacturing as a tool maker in the past in Indianapolis, Chicago area and at Caterpillar tractor as well as job shops in Tennessee and Kentucky on special projects. I have been through some rough recessions and lost things because of it. I have also had the unions on my ass for doing the best job I was hired to do which made the slackers look bad I guess and they would cry to the stewards. I moved to Texas, finally in the middle of one winter and made the best money ever as a sign writer and never looked back. Sold all my tools except the Gerstner, box that held micrometers and such and put in my brushes. The sign business is just simply what you make it. If yer not willing to hustle and create a GOOD client base for holdover times, tone down some costs in business fashion, then the crap hits the fan at the survival level. I am not the king of wisdom,only the experienced hanger on'er. That's all. If life hands you a lemon..make forclosure signs.
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