I just moved to the Phoenix Az area, and I'm looking at starting a home based sign business. Anyone in the area able to give me info on local suppliers, local pricing, and demand here? Thanks, KRM.
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Posted by Karen Sartain (Member # 241) on :
Hi Kyle
Well, from someone who just LEFT Arizona ...what types of signage are you looking at doing? There are lots of suppliers, some good, some not so good. Montroy Supply (ask for JK), Southland Supply, Multicraft, Wholesale Banner (ask for Jeff Burr & tell him I said hi )Home Depot Of all the places that there are in Phoenix to buy from, I still recieved the best service & best prices from Midwest Supply out of Denver (yes, it is a day lost to shipping, but well worth it that they always have in stock exactly what I need, when I need it. ask for Tony or Jo)Another place I've always used that is out of the valley is SummaDirect out of Seattle...same reasons. Going there from a very tiny town, I was really excited to be able to have a whole huge city of Sign Suppliers available to me..what a let down. Not that they are bad, just seem to be indifferent to your needs at times. The key is to find a person in each place you buy from & always ask for that person, otherwise, your order tends to get lost in the shuffle. The BEST business a person could start there is a sign supply business! If you need any contacts with really nice sign people there, find Brad at Artisan Signs in Phoenix and Aaron Miller at Caliber Signs in Tempe. Good people & they can steer you in the right direction with materials etc. Hope you like REALLY hot weather and when you think it's too hot...just drop a line to Mike Pipes in Lake Havasu, it'll be 10 degrees hotter there on any given day than Phoenix is
If you'll let me know what types of stuff you plan on doing, I'll try to be more specific on where to look for your materials. Good luck on your venture
Karen
------------------ Karen Sartain 4030 J75 Drive Paonia, Co 81428
We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey." -Stephen Covey
[This message has been edited by Karen Stein (edited June 06, 2001).]
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
I just L-U-U-U-V-V-V-V Paonia. I even have a Paonia t-shirt! I used to go to that BMW rally they have there every year! I've ALWAYS been a COLORADO person at heart from 30 years of motorcycle touring thru your State! I'm in Prescott, Az, just 100 miles north of "crispy" Phoenix. I lived there for 15 years! Hot?......OYEAHHH!
------------------ Bob Burns Bob Burns Signs
1619 Oregon Ave. Prescott, Az 86305 1-520-778-5879
Posted by Karen Sartain (Member # 241) on :
Hey Bob,
Well, are you going to 'ride'thru this year for the "Top of the Rockies"? Break out the bike & come on up I can't say as I'm missing Phoenix very much right now and since you have acually been to Paonia, you know why. There is nothing like a Colorado summer. (We'll talk winter at another time said the grasshopper to the ant )Ah heck, after 2 summers in Az, I can stand to shovel snow! We were going to drive up to Prescott at some point, but everytime we headed north from Mesa, the traffic just got to us too bad & we'd change our minds & head south instead. I used to live in Parks, Az & Jeff spent summers in Chino Valley when he was younger. Back in the late 70's, I even painted a few holiday windows over in Prescott. Nice country for sure, but overgrown by now no doubt. Luckily, Paonia didn't change too much while we were gone. If you get back up this way, give us a call!
Karen & Jeff
------------------ Karen Sartain 4030 J75 Drive Paonia, Co 81428
We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey." -Stephen Covey
Posted by Brad Funk (Member # 1351) on :
Kyle, Welcome to Arizona. What kind of signs do you produce? I would recomend Wholesale Banner for most sign supplies, talk to Jeff. We do alot of sandblasted signs for other shops in the area, if you need a source for these please give us a call.
Bob, I never realized you were in Prescott, I make it up there once in a while. Id like to meet ya and shoot the S***. ------------------ Brad Funk Artisan Signs Phoenix, AZ www.artisan-signs.com
[This message has been edited by AZBrad (edited June 07, 2001).]
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Kyle, Welcome to AZ, and like Karen said, no matter HOW HOT it is in Phoenix, it's 10 degrees warmer up here in "Hotter Th'n Hell Havasu"..
I order some things from Wholesale Banners right there in PHX, but I've recently started ordering from Ameriban who has a distribution center not too far from me in Cali so orders still get to me next day via regular ground. Other than that, I dont have much more info for ya because since I have to have everything shipped in, I go with whoever has the most convenient online ordering.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Karen;Brad:
Yeah....stop by anytime! I ALWAYS break loose for a cold beer! I gave up the scooter riding due to some medical problems (check out the 'profiles' page), but I have been known to use a car on occasion, to trip to Colorado.
As for Phoenix suppliers, Wholesale Banner, Regal Plastics, and Southland are the ones I use, but I get the bulk of my vinyl from American Traffic Safety in Florida. Low prices...Free shipping! You have to plan ahead...the shipping takes about 5 days.
I'm just now getting into "large format" so that might change things...we'll see!
------------------ Bob Burns Bob Burns Signs
1619 Oregon Ave. Prescott, Az 86305 1-520-778-5879
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
I will be visiting Prescott this summer to possibly look for some property and a warmer climate to live in. Sonny tells me theres real friendly people living there.
------------------ HotLines Joey Madden,47 years in the Classic Art of Pinstriping Grants Pass, Oregon Learn something...... http://members.tripod.com/Inflite
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Joey, It's great here, but it was a lot better 20 years ago. It's gone from 6500 people to 50,000!!!!! Lot's of retired people....LOTS OF CONSTRUCTION (homes....highways, etc.). When I started my business here in '78, there was me and ONE full-service shop. Now, there's 22 sign shops in the local phone book, plus WalMart, Home Depot, and all the print shops doing signs! It's pathetic. The only reason I stay busy is because I've been here so long, and I stay on top of current trends!
------------------ Bob Burns Bob Burns Signs
1619 Oregon Ave. Prescott, Az 86305 1-520-778-5879
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Bob,
Mind if I come up some time to cool off and use your Home Depot? =)
Oh how I long for a Home Depot... that's the one major thing I miss, but fortunately we have one under construction although it just ain't goin' up fast enough for me!
Talk about construction... I recently read a short story in a local online paper that's emailed to me every morning, about there being a drywall/sheetrock shortage in town because of all the new construction.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Mike.... C'mon over.......there's a front porch and a cold beer waiting for you
Do you, or DID you know Jimmy Cleveland in Parker......RAINBOW SIGNS!
------------------ Bob Burns Bob Burns Signs
1619 Oregon Ave. Prescott, Az 86305 1-520-778-5879
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Bob,
Nope, I didn't know Jimmy. I dont get down to Parker very often unless it's screaming down the river at 65MPH on a jetski.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posted by J.T. Gazaway (Member # 2001) on :
Ok....you talked me into it. I'm moving to Arizona.
...what types of signage are you looking at doing? There are lots of suppliers, some good, some not so good.
)Home Depot