The Letterville BullBoard: are we just selling "signs"? or is there more to it?

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Posted by captain ken (Member # 742) on :

Ok so I am going to do it! I am going to start a new business. what do I call it? Moreover, what am I selling? I am sure that I am not the only one that thinks the term "signs" does not describe ALL that we do. I'm like a some freaky John Handy, or Jack of all trades:
Signpainter,
Sign designer,
Logo designer,
airbush artist,
'custom' auto painter,
arcithect,
builder,
landscaper,
carpenter,
sheet metal worker,
auto body,
cabinet maker,
buisness coordinator,
marketing developer,
color advisor,
interior designer,
salesman,
accountant,
and now I gotta be a webmaster?
so I guess I'm asking; what is this called, what I do?
Signs?
Lettering?
graphics?
design?
what?....
I need to covey that I am an "artist" that can hand paint a mural, or pinstripe yor truck, as well as design web graphics, or create a corporate image, and am the same guy that makes a pretty sign for your church
or antique store and also airbrushes skulls and demons on your fat-boy, but can also make a No Parking sign, or a carved / guilded
wood sign etc.... etc... so does "Signs" sum it all up or does it leave it very vague?

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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?"

Ken McTague
The Witch city
Salem, MA

Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :

Never mind what you call it...more important...do and be the best you can..if you do a good job....your clients will come...the ones you want and need....

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Michael Boone
Sign Painter
5828 Buerman Rd.Sodus,NY 14551
Ontime @localnet.com

Posted by Marty Happy (Member # 302) on :

Hi Ken:

I struggled with a designation as you have many years ago. Especially for my business name. I just didn't want to be limited as a sign painter/maker even though that is my bread and butter because I have 14 years of experience in the media advertising profession as an artist and happily take on graphic arts projects. Variety in work helps keep me fresh even though I still spend most waking hours of most days on something business related whether it's production, marketing or just researching ideas, creating and dreaming. Hence, a long-winded business name...."Happy Ad Sign & Design". Still doesn't help in many cases because I still have clients comment...."I didn't know you did that!" Interesting how clients can sometimes 'typecast' you with a specific type of work. I guess I'm not communicating my range of services well enough.

Good luck and happy signing.....Marty

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Marty Happy
Happy Ad Sign & Design
Regina SK, Canada

306.789.9567

e-mail: "happyad@sk.sympatico.ca"

website: "www.happyad.sk.ca"

Get Happy & Get Noticed!

Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :

Gee! do you do all that stuff? I thought that it was simply slap some black and red letters on a white piece of "whatever is on sale, cheap" and send it out the door!

And, don't forget...you must beat the other shop's price, so as not to lose a potential customer!

Yeah! Right!

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Si Allen #562
La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
ICQ # 330407
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"

Brushasaurus on Chat

Gladly supporting this BB !

Posted by Jerry Mathel (Member # 526) on :

Hi Ken,

I'm not sure there really is a title that describes everything a custom sign shop produces. In fact I don't know of any two sign shops that do exactly the same kind of work, nor am I sure that any one shop should even try to do everthing that is associated with sign work.

When you are first starting out, you need to first of all decide what direction you intend to go. Do you want to stay a small shop specializing in one of a kind custom signs? Do you want to specialize in low cost, volume signs, or are large electrical sign installations your bag?

From what I hear you saying, you are interested in custom work as opposed to high volume production work. I don't think what you call yourself is near as important as getting known by your potential market. When you are getting started, it's important to do things like have your name on a card when that "Fat Bob" you airbrushed goes to a show. Drop in on the local picture frame shop and let them know you do gilding, or the glass shop to let them know that you do glass etching and glue chipping. Take the time to go to the Chamber of Commerce Wednesday morning coffee clatch and introduce yourself to other local business people. Set up a pinstriping or tee shirt booth at a car show. You might or might not make a lot of money there, but you will get a lot of exposure.

After a while, enough potential customers will learn what you do, and you can ease off a little. It takes a while to get established, and if you are anything like me, you will change the direction of your business many times over the years. This may not be the perfect solution to starting a business, but it has worked for me.

Jerry Mathel
Jerry Mathel Signs
Grants Pass, Oregon
signs@grantspass.com

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Posted by Louis A Lazarus (Member # 763) on :

Cap'n K...we all sell....something. The product in our case is signs but no matter what you do...you still sell. The same principles apply to this business as any other business. The nice thing with our business is that we do get to do all those things you listed. That, to me, is a pro...not a con. You could be putting dome lights on Ford Taurus' all day long. You could be holding a flag on the side of a road all day long. You could be working at the Department of Motor Vehicles all day long. What could be better than working for yourself, getting to design and build something from start to finish and then getting paid for what you did? What we get to do is almost not work...it's fun. Do the best you can everyday and everything else falls into place....

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Louis A. Lazarus
Milt's Sign Service, Inc.
20 So. Linden Ave. #5B
650-588-0490
fontking1a@aol.com

Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :

If you are looking for an all-encompassing name suggestion, try this one:
Alphabets & Graphics

Granted, it doesn't say signs, but it does convey a bit more. Also, from a marketing perspective, this name will get your business right up front in directories or publications that list alphabetically.

Whatever you choose, good luck in your venture.

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Ken Henry
Henry & Henry Signs
London, Ontario Canada
(519) 439-1881
e-mail kjmlhenry@home.

The grass is often greener on the other side, because they've been in deeper kaka.

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