The Letterville BullBoard: Need Your Expert Advice On Startinga New Sign Biz

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Posted by Steve Barba (Member # 431) on :

In less than 12 months I retire from the military,(THANK GOD), and I'm planning on opening a sign shop, (other than my garage), at that time. I've thought about keeping this a home based shop, but I'm pretty sure that this wont work out. Too many distractions and I think that I have to "go to work" My location is pretty good, we moved to Sturgis SD,(pop. 6000) last year partly because there is no sign shop in this town and Sturgis attracts over 250,000 bikers (annualy) for a week in August for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

At the 10 year point in my career in the military,I made the decision to open a sign shop when I retire, and I worked to that end.

Well- I'm at the end, 9 years later and I would like some advice on how to avoid some of the pitfallls that you have maybe experienced when you were starting out.

Thanks in advance!

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Steve Barba is the proud owner, president, & sole employee of Sturgis Sign Works.
sbarba2616@dtgnet.com

Posted by Brad Farha (Member # 931) on :

I'd say keep it small (one man shop) as long as you can. And don't try to get work by 'undercutting' yourself - it'll kill you! You will be working all the time and wondering why you're not making any money.

There's lots of advice to be given, so I'll defer to someone else.

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Brad Farha, owner
Farha Signs
Beckley, WV
304-252-3778
farhasigns@citynet.net

Posted by Jerry Morrissey (Member # 203) on :

Get a storefront. It helps a lot. Buy used equipment if possible. There is a shop in Omaha, Ne(just down the road from you) that just closed its doors. They have some great equip for sale. Call Mary @ 402-431-1298. Tell her I said to call her.

Think about getting Estimate sign software. It's really hard & time consuming to do quotes when you first start out. This program makes sure you do not give the house away.

Read this bull board. Its great help.

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Jerry Morrissey
Rapid Graphics & Signs
Omaha NE
402-597-3606
jcm@novia.net

Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :

Hi Steve, congratulations on going full time and your foresight to plan ahead. Personally I work partly at home (computer and administrative work) with my actual work shop 12 minutes away at my business partner's house. For me, that arrangement SUCKS!

I can't wait to move to a place where my residence, office and shop are all under one roof. That would be ideal for me because I get struck with flashes of inspiration and energy at odd times and want to have every possible tool at arm's length - even when the tool most need at the moment is a couch or a bed!

On the other side of the coin is my partner who has been so used to a timeclock work environment that he feels he must 'go to work' at a place outside his home. Having the shop in his basement has been tough for him to get used to. In fact, he is compelled to leave in the morning, go to the coffee shop to meet his cronies at 6:30 am then drive to work (back home) to start his labors. Haha!

If you're a family man with wife and children, it can make for a lot of interuptions or solve a lot of scheduling dilemas depending on your viewpoint and flexibility. Most ex-military I know are not all that flexible. Things need to be done at rigidly set times. If that's you, away might be best.

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Joe Rees
Cape Craft Signs
(Cape Cod, MA)
http://www.capecraft.com
http://www.dave-joe-show.com
e-mail: joerees@capecraft.com

Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :

1. Subscribe to the trade magazines. There's a wealth of information there.

2. Become a resident of Letterville. There is a wealth of information here too and its worth the $50 to help keep this site going.

3. I know there are a lot of letterheads here who love being a one man operation working out of their homes. I for one hated it. Too many interuptions, too limited amount of space, and many complaints from my wife about dust and smells. It's not as bad if you have an area you can keep seperate from the living quarters, but my basement shop and upstairs computer area were a pain with customers walking thru the house and hundreds of trips a day up & down the stairs. I bought 20 acres which the shop is on now and our new house will be built on the back 10 acres.

4. I'm still trying to figure out how some people run a one man shop. There are just too many signs that require 2 people to lift, flip, move, mount, etc. because its too big or heavy. I too want to remain small but I need at least one part timer. A husband and wife team are ideal to keep from having to hire help.

5. Invest in good tools. They don't have to be new tools, just durable and the right tool for the job. Good tools are labor savers. This does two things. In the competitive bid situation it can win you the bid and in most other areas it increases your profits Labor is the largest percentage of a signs cost. Cut the labor (not the price) and your profits will rise.

6. Use pricing guides or pricing software.

7. Study design. A poorly designed sign will never do the job for your customer no matter how well its built.

8. The customer is always right is an old saying that I feel is greatly misunderstood, or probably just phrased wrong. In the sign business the customer is not always right! They can't be unless they know as much as the pro's about design and materials. Many times the customer needs to be shown what is right. BUT.... if you can make your number one priority, to be what's best for the customer, you will be successful.

Example: A first time customer came to me for a sign project. He gave me their ideas and budget. I looked at the situation, and what I felt was best for them was a much lower cost sign than what they had budgeted for. They were ready to spend thousands on a sandblasted sign (which I love to make) that would not have been the best sign for this location and what they wanted the sign to do. I convinced them to spend hundreds instead. Sure I lost some potential profit...at first. But this business has since ordered several other signs and I can't even count how many people he has sent to me. I showed him that his best interests were my top priority. The word will get around!

Hope this helps you some.

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Dave Sherby
"Sandman"
SherWood Sign & Graphic Design
Crystal Falls, MI 49920
906-875-6201
ICQ: 21604027
sherwood@up.net

Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :

Sorry, Steve.........but we have collectively decided that we will allow no more alian/Elian's OR new sign shops in the USA! We're full. Heh.........welcome aboard. The guys are right.........start small with a reasonable investment in good used equipment. Don't stick your neck out too far. Make the new shop pay for the new equipment as you go. Hi-tech schtuff is cool, but.......you don't really HAVE to have it. We limped along on an old original Anagraph Mono and a 750 plotter for YEARS! The joint finally (after the suitable number of personal toys required) bought some new Gerber kick-@#$% equipment and...........MORE NEW PERSONAL TOYS! Good luck, and pay your $50 and JOIN UP!! Lots of cool folks here. :^)

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St.Marie Graphics
& Makin' Tracks Sound Studio
Kalispell, Montana
Mkntraks@digisys.net
Carving America into a better shape! PEACE, through superior chisel-power!

Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :

Well, I guess I'll put in my 2 cents worth, not that its worth that much.....

1) SignCraft Magazine.
2) SignBusiness Magazine.
3) "Mastering Layout: The Art of Eye Appeal" by Mike Stevens.
4) EstiMate pricing software.
5) Good quality equipment (the cheap stuff always cost more).
6) Don't work more than 50 hours per week - period.
7) Don't be afraid to charge what the work is worth.
8) Don't bad-mouth the competition.
9) Always under-promise and over-deliver.
10) "Make Your Sign Business Successful" by Chip Carter.
11) Don't be afraid to make a mistake. Otherwise, you aren't learning anything.
12) Have fun and never let stress control you or your shop.

There is a lot more to cover, but you'll come accross it as time goes by. And if you are ever stuck, don't be afraid to ask a question here. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

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Design is Everything!
Glenn Taylor
in beautiful North Carolina
http://members.tripod.com/taylor_graphics

walldog@bbnp.com

[This message has been edited by Glenn Taylor (edited April 24, 2000).]

Posted by Kevin Landry (Member # 1352) on :

I did the same thing last Oct. Retired from the military and we are learning one small step at a time. I disagree with the purchase of used equipment.
Market yourself and introduce yourself to everyone you can. Try Business Networking International. For around $400 for a years membership it will pay for itself very quickly.
Buy new. It is not that expensive. $5000 - $7000 for a good plotter and computer is not really that much. With proper marketing you can clear that in three months.
Stick with tried and true software. Stuff that is proven in the field. Corel Draw is a good one.
Talk to a good tax accountant and lawyer. It sets everything up easily.

I could go on and on but good luck. The sign business is fun and a lot more challenging than the military.

Kevin Landry
K&L Signs and Imaging

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Posted by goddinfla (Member # 1502) on :

Just a couple of suggestions.
If a customer asks if you can do a certain type of job, the answer is always YES. It is always better to learn while being paid.
Don't buy equipment until you need it. For example if you're thinking about buying a generator, wait to see if you're going to use it much. If you only need one a couple of times a year, rent it when you need it. If you're going to use one on a large job let that job buy you one, and you'll have it from then on. Large jobs are a great way to justify new tools. Establish a group of associates in your area to help when you need an extra hand, and usually you'll pay them back with just a hand when they need it. You'll be surprised how often you'll need just a small piece of a certain color of vinyl or other material. It's nice to be able to borrow rather than buy. Good luck.

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Dennis Goddard
Excalibur Signs & Graphics
Tampa Fl

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