Is it all the terrorist thing?
I dunno. But I bet I am not alone!
In any event....how 'bout a "brainstorm session" for innovations/methods to inmprove and broaden sales and promotions!!
C'mon big thinkers how 'bout some fresh ideas!
Barry
" Be nice to strangers "
Things cycle, it's normal. Some types of sign sales are discretionary. Buyers might hold back temporarily on things that aren't absolutely necessary. On the good side, a lot of signs are not optional. People gotta have them to stay in the game. Our solution is to stay flexible and tighten our belts. As only a two man company, that's not too difficult. I feel bad for larger operations that have many employees to maintain (been there).
The one thing I have learned to NOT do, is panic. I'm convinced people can smell that and they get nervous. And I found out the hard way that complaining about being slow to my clients was a big turn off to them. A fisherman friend of mine tole me about his "Captain Andy's Bad Man Policy". And boy, does it seem to work. It got me out of a big slump a couple years ago. Want to know what it is?
Captain Andy says be a little mean to your customers. Act busy, almost arrogant. Even though you've got nothing at all on the board you tell them "You want what? Who sent you? No, I'm way too busy, I couldn't possibly get to that for two weeks." Make an appointment (half reluctantly) and initiate a little discussion about their budget, making it clear your time is not to be wasted on triflings. Then sit on your hands if you have to for the two weeks, go to the appointment and spell it out in no uncertain terms - this is what I need, give me a deposit now and I'll get to it when I can.
When Andy told me about that I said "Yeah, right!" But I agreed to try it, I had nothing to loose. I immediately ceased telling anyone I was slow, started bragging about how swamped we were. The next call that came in let them know I was way too swamped to jump on their request, made an appointment for them to come to me the following week, and went about my daily tasks with an air of indiference about taking on new work. Man, I tell you it was like magic! It was like some karmic floodgate had been opened. Everybody wanted a piece of the success. "I know you're busy, I'll do whatever you say if you can fit me in". Hahaha.
Now that it's slow, I have been holding people off a little. I have a $1000 quote I'm making the guy wait on a few more days (I'm awful busy ya know). And the phone is definitely starting to bring encouraging inquiries. Go figure. Thank you Captain Andy. You bad man you.
that analogy doesn't work for me..
But speaking of Walmart.....did anyone else see those two color coroplast and step stake signs they had with the patriotic slogans?
$3.95 doublesided with the stupid step stake!!
No wonder half the customers think we are thieves!
THere is no way to compete with that---that is LESS THAN COST by the time you factor labor....
'course it is ironic that those PATRIOTIC signs were probably made in CHINA..... COL LOL 
sigh.....
just moanin'.....
Barry
i am always on the move regardless if it is slow or not.
It only takes a few phone calls to good customers to say hello.
october is traditionally slow.
don't sweat it.
i have a little trick to make the phone ring,
i pick up my martin guitar i keep here at the shop and play it for a few minutes and the phone will ring everytime with someone asking,
"Can I speak with the person in charge of your long distance telephone service?"
uh oh, gotta run, the phone is ringin'
mark
(some day i will learn to type and i won't have to edit my posts so much!!! LOL)
[ November 07, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Fair Signs ]
Good news is that I am catching up on watching movies on TV! LOL
Total cutback.
Lots of pricing but no commitments.
Everyone wants something for just a Dollar!
I've been tryin' to paint some new "style" on my new ride for four months.
Slow down?
Swamped! Things can always change. It take effort to keep things the same. Flow with the change. Less effort more life.
P.S.
If I get in a bind... I sell the truck.
It doesn't matter if there is not a single job in the store the customer needs to hear - Business is good. The store has room for more work but we are doing just fine. It may be hard to make your deadline, but for a special customer like you, we will be sure to meet your deadline even if we have to put your job ahead of everything else in the store. You don't have to lay it on this heavy, this is just to make the point. Then when the job is done "We appreciate your business"
Success in part is acting successful.
The week of Sept 11 was surreal. Nobody wanted to do anything. It took about three weeks to get back to more or less normal. It always slows down this time of year, so I don't know how you would know whether it is normal slowdown or recession slowdown.
Acting like you don't need people or telling them that business is great is not a sales tool. I don't think many of us need to act successful, we already are. Do some mailers, sales calls, network a little, and if there is business out there, you will get it.
After the bad October, we got some great jobs right in a row to put us back over the hump. You never know what's around the corner due to quotes and sales calls from months ago.
I have to go with David on this one. The whole notion of arrogance and "meanness" just plain leaves me cold.
I have had probably one of the best late summer early fall seasons that I've had in a long time. Since most of my work is trucks and/or boats the lower interest rates on vehicles has turned into a real deal.It hasn't quit yet.
On the other hand, I don't depend on signwork to make ends meet-- the Social Security bit, and retirement income from my other long-term job leave me in a situation probably quite different from most of you. No apologies for that, I "paid my dues" for a long time.
I know that business for others in other parts of the country is slowing down but I believe this is just normal set back for this time of the year and though the threat of terrorism lies among us persons will still need good artwork or signage for their projects as well as their businesses.
If'n ya want, I'll give 'em yer phone #!
heeheehee
You say "Sure Im the man you need.. and I'll answer all your questions, I just need one piece of info up front. YOUR home phone number. What? You say you dont give that out because people might call and harass you? And your point??"
Then before I let them off the hook, I say "delete me from your database, its the law you do it if I ask".
So far its slowed things down about 30% I'd say. And no, not one of the SOB's has given me their home phone number yet...
we were talking about barry's slow time.
(stir the pot barry, there is always business out there,
don't wait for it, go git it!)
(a public service anouncement by...
er...uhh..
the phone is ringing...
gotta go
This has been headed downhill for at least a year and a half (so don't blame "W") the first it reared its ugly head around here was when the fools in Florida could remember how to count votes ...it really got tight around here for about a month after that. Just as it was getting back to normal another group of fools run into a skyscraper or two and wammo back to nothing.
Least wise thats how seems around here...I've learned over the years not to panic (that doesn't make it feel any better) but as long as you've "put some back" you should ride it out just fine and never alter your life style.
As for the captain andy routine? I've never been impressed with a sales person that treated me like a jerk so I can't imagine any of my clientele being happy about it either.
I do know that over the years if another shop asked how biz was you always and I do mean ALWAYS told them how good biz was how backed up you were and when you were going on your next vacation...no matter how bad it actually was...It was like an inspiration to make the other guy get off his dead ass and generate even more business...it seemed to work.(Kinda like having an unattached sales force out there working for everyone) ya know what I mean?
Well anyway hang in there it could be worse...ask someone whos lost their health.If you got that you got everything!
In light of 9/11... the client for whom I'm installing today first called me in late August. I gave him a proposal on Sept. 9. On Sept. 12 he called to confirm the order with a deposit. Confidence is as contagious as fear; three more jobs walked in that week. I'll never know who didn't pick up the phone because of 9/11, so why worry about it?
Hey have you seen the places that set up Christmas trees next week? The early bird gets the worm.
Did you know Bars and hotels will be advertising new years parties on a-frames. Taking orders now.
Flower stores sell lots of roses on valentines day...especially with a banner.
There's just to much work out there for me to do by myself, Go Get Some!
ps. I have never been slow. Some of that franchise marketing training must have wore off on me I guess.
For me it is doing the heinous cold-calling! Got to do it. Grab a stack of cards and hit the streets. It always erupts in a vesuvious of new work and all it takes is a shoeshine and a smile! You just have to keep walking on the sunnyside of the street, kids! It is out there. Ask any sign painter who survived the depression (if there are any left)....those who hustled, always had work...those who waited for someone to come to them, starved. Phone not ringing...time to make some calls as the line is now free.
that applies to ourselves and to our customers. we're having a BIG recession out here on the silicon coast. there isn't a retail store that hasn't felt it, and ALL of those stores need POP displays, window splashes, sale banners and other "temporary" signage.
calling on customers to how THEY are doing is a good way to let them know you care about their success (and that you're ready to help them). thats "warm" calling, not "cold" calling. you could even have some ideas ready before hand like "We know everything is a little slow for some of our customers, so we've come up with some special pricing on Xmas season banners" or whatever. (No, you don't have lower your prices... just tell them its "special pricing").
