Today I quoted a job for a couple of vehicles. Being that they were on the complicated side, I quoted much higher than usual. And the response "Thanks for your time, I'll get back to you". And then there's the wall job I quoted last Febuary, I haven't heard back from them yet. But it's all good. If everyone says "Yes". You are too low. And I quess if everyone say "NO", then maybe you are too low or you live in a real depressed part of town.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Alicia...You might want to re-read the final part of your comment and change one word from "low" to "high".
BUT I understand what you are saying.
My attitude always was, I'd rather watch TV for free instead of doing work for free.
I also always liked Si's attitude...(Give them a price and if they don't flinch...say 'plus labour or materials', whatever works)
Where we lived, I had a tough time getting $25 for lettering a mailbox for a farmer, but had no problem getting $800 to letter a truck for a trucking company.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
oh its getting to be a real "cluster f***" around here. all of the shops that existed when i was working full time, are still in business..and all have printers. in the last year.....a stretch of road here near my house.........from the race track(5 flags speedway) to michigan ave(cross street)of less then 5 miles.now has 4 sign shops...all tryin to keep a printer .....printing)))) which means that none of em....... have anything to offer the public....OTHER THEN ...doing the jobs for less money(profit)!!!!!!! do i want to get into this CF??? nope......iam better off having one of them do anything i need printed......and sell it.......and get paid for doing nothing more then sending a file and going to pick it up))))))) i still have some vinyl work i do, but iam not out lookin for any.
[ March 20, 2015, 11:48 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Joe...yer just a little like me now...Kinda
Any work I do now is absolutely free. and limited to whatever can be produced on my inkjet printer or subbed out to a print shop in Progreso.
Anything I produce now is gratis and is done for a good cause. Like the Chicxulub Food Bank...
I am happily retired, but still like "playing" with CorelDraw and seem to learn something new every month or so.
Life is good!
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
I think part of the problem, (Not really a problem) is when a design is not designed my me. When I design, I try to keep in mind the customer;s budget. When a customer designs or already has a desgin in mind, they really don't realize how long or how the job will be executed. The van job was to be printed on reflective, well that's just gonna cost or whole heck of a lot more than a regular print or plan vinyl. I evn felt that the price I gave her was pretty reasonable, but she didn't bite.
Posted by Craig Sjoquist (Member # 4684) on :
I enjoyed the days when starting out, knock on doors get 80% of the jobs, now knock on doors get 1% & my work is so much better then it was even 10 years ago.
Now I could careless if they want me to do a job, mainly because the industry has been butchered so much, you give a fair bid & what they end up with is depressing at what ever price, there are so few people that really can design & they are not in the sign shops not like they use to be or they are not here & the graphic firms are not much better.
Schooling for advertising must be a thing of the past.
Here the big schools teach how to push the right buttons, make music & shoot videos, even the library does the same.
Are there any advertising schools other the the one Doc teaches at
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
[ March 22, 2015, 06:51 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
[ March 22, 2015, 06:56 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ricardo Davila:
quote:Originally posted by Ricardo Davila:
Craig,
I just found these people ( after I talked to you ), in the area of San Francisco:
[ March 22, 2015, 06:57 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
Ooops !
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
Being in a new industry where there are no hard and fast prices fixed to my new line of work, it's always tricky to quote.
I've now learned to 'work with them'... find out their budget, find out their expectations, then tweak from there.
Too high, they sprint! Too low, they all want you and then come back for more of the same.
I call this 'quote to suit'. Because putting a hard and fast price on design / art really isn't applicable. Talent and other things factor in too.
Good luck Alicia! Your work is top notch. Glad you price it accordingly!
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
And it happened again. I quoted a price for an a-frame and a few 18in by 12in aluminum signs. I got the "I'll have to talk it over with my partner" line. And this is from a regular customer who I do a lot so little stuff for. I'll just keep on singing this song in my head,, To dream the imposible dream,,,to charge more for my signs, to reach the imposible,,,,,hummm,higher wages?
Posted by Curt Stenz (Member # 82) on :
Alicia, I hate to admit it, but sister, our days are numbered. Dinosaurs eventually become fossils. Keep painti'n girl.
Posted by Ricardo Davila (Member # 3854) on :
Three words:
PAPER SIGNS REVIVAL !!
All it takes is poster paint ( two colors ) and bond paper ( weight 22 lbs )......i.e. a paper sign size 3' x 4' @ $5.00/sq. ft = $60.00 ea/each paper sign.
It should take 10 minutes to do one......So, that is equal to $360/hour !!
Typical amount of copy ( CASUAL LETTERING ) on a paper sign ( Do not use more than two alphabets on each paper sign ):
Name of the product, characteristics of the product and the price of the product.....i.e. PORK CHOPS, $2.00/LB.......That's all !!!.....Of course, make sure that you prioritize the copy, properly, on the paper sign.
Here are some samples of paper signs, which might help you get the idea of what they should look like:
So, get some bond paper and some poster paint and get to work........You can dooooooit !!
Good luck !!
RD
P.S. ----Target anybody who has storefront windows....Such as: Grocery Stores, Supermarkets, Pawn Shops, Bakeries......etc.
[ March 23, 2015, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: Ricardo Davila ]
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
It's a numbers game in more ways than one. This trade has always been plagued by people working too cheaply. Every town had their "wino joe" and some part timers, now, thanks to the computers, they are everywhere using the Wal Mart mentality. The number of people needing signs hasn't risen in relation to the number of people making signs. I basically threw in the towel as far as sign making went , jeez, it was twenty years ago! My last pair of hand painted magnetics were done in 1992, they went for $115. It's truly sad to see what happened to a once proud trade but it is what it is.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
ive come to the point.........for most of the sign business, its not worth wasting a lot of time for little or no money. i still do a few vinyl jobs, full vans or trucks, boats. as far as banners, magnetics, yard signs.......its now become a side line that i build the sign, make a phone call, send the file. wait a couple days, UPS drops it off here, i make a bill and collect my money)))) didnt even break a sweat, invest tons of money or baby sit a printer)))))
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
Yikes!!, I think I got a bite. Gonna have to reel her in slowly as not to spook her.
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
I think i jus set the hook, don't jump off fish!
Posted by Craig Shaw (Member # 1036) on :
That link for paper signs shows a paper sign I painted "Nabisco Chips" they stole from my portfolio on Behance. https://www.behance.net/gallery/Signs-Logos/3057097 NYC sign & Banner Co. stole my work...oh well, ya learn something everyday. Just happened to stumble on that just now. They're using it to market their work! Oh, and I hope you got the job Alicia, sees like good work is hard to come by. Some people are seeking out quality work like yours.
