I wonder how many of us take advantage of the free advertising of adding our shop name to our work? It is the most effective way I know to let people know we are out there, yet very few seem to take advantage of it.
There are other advantages as well, e.g. Because my name is going to be on the job 24/7 from here to the year dot, I have to make sure I don't cut any corners and that my work stands out, it keeps me on my toes. This results in "word of mouth" so when people call me it's because they have either seen my work or have heard of me from someone, so I rarely have to bid against other shops. When they come looking for me they are looking for my kind of work, It looks more expensive so they tend to be clients that are prepared to spend a bit more to get a better job. I don't use yellow pages at all (other than a basic listing) I have found that yellow pages attracts the price shoppers.
I only use my work to advertise my work, so how many of us are taking advantage of this excellent medium?
RobC
Posted by david drane (Member # 507) on :
Hi Rob I also don't advertise in Yellow Pages but I don't sign my work either because I feel if the customer has paid good money for a sign it is his and he shouldn't be advertising for someone else as well. The only time I sign work is if I have done a special deal for a friend or charity etc. I know you do very good work and I am sure word would be out that "you get what you pay for" and your clients own mouth would be your best ad in Bundaberg. Merry Christmas.
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
I agree Dave. The customer is paying for the sign, not me. The advertising rights are his not mine. Any obvious attempt by me to place any very noticiable signature may not go over well. A manufacturing sticker should be enough to serve that purpose. On the otherhand, I do believe, the artwork is the property of the artist and that artist does have the right to sign the artwork(not the sign) or incorportate a signature is desired.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
It varies for me.
If it is something I'm really proud of, I'll do something very small, but tasteful - sometimes a small engraved brass plaque on the sandblasted or carved stuff. I've found that most customers like it because it shows I have a sense of pride in what I do.
On some of the quicky vinyl stuff, I do put a small sticker on the back of the sign if possible - never on the face side.
I've never "frogged" a window.
Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :
Just keep it small. I haven't bought a car yet (or much anything else, either) that didn't have the manufacturer's name on it.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
when i paint...i sign it! not an advertizement...just a name...of who did the work...vinyl...only vehicles, and i ask the owner if i can put a small sticker somewhere, and most will let me...i dont put an name on any corplast signs....heheheheheh
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
We can't. We're wholesale, and when a $35,000 mural goes up for an architect, the architect gets the credit. We get the $$$s. Pi r square, mon.
Posted by Terry Bull Sign & Custom (Member # 1876) on :
I used to paint a small credit but know I have got some li'l stickers that I will use on vehicles or facias If they dont clash colour wise i'll put them on- in over twenty years no one has ever complained ,they seem to expect it and have only mentioned if i have not used one
if you look close at my pizza pick up pic )say that Rob after a few tinnies )
you'll see one over the word kebab
If your proud -be loud! yes?
Terry
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
I sign most of my work.. all my jetski, ATV and car/truck graphics get a good logo in a nice visible spot. I used to think I shouldnt do that but then realized that EVERY aftermarket product company does it with their own products so I wouldnt be doing anything blasphemous if I followed suit.
All the business cards I design and have produced also get my logo and contact info printed in black on the back side.
Websites I design also get a "Web design by" blurb with a link back to my site, on every page.
Every custom paint job I've seen at car shows has the painter's signature on it somewhere, and in a case like that it's more of a status symbol than advertisement.
Posted by ticks (Member # 575) on :
Hi Rob, yeah mate, I normally sign my work as most is different to the norm around here, not that I need to really, but it is a good free advert. You would be surprised just how many people I get that ask me if not tell me to put my name on it. I dont sign small basic stuff, but do sign anything that is worthy, and hopefully I do stuff that is worthy. I have travelled all around Australia (and overseas) and when I do so I always look down the bottom left to see just who did that great sign, but some times get dissapointed when there isnt a signature. I think its a signie thing One little trick I do some times is put a "small" "rod tickle signs" tag just above the door handle, this way its almost guaranteed to be seen but small enough not to dominate.
Merry Christmas Rob.
Heres cheers!!
Rod Tickle
*ps: did ya get my message? I tryed to return your call last week but got the electronic Rob Clark..
cheers mate, keep up the great work!
Posted by Lettercraft (Member # 268) on :
I don't sign anything! 2 reasons: 1. I don't like car dealer advertising on my car, like license plate holders, etc. I feel putting my name on a sign that someone else pays for is not totally kosher. 2. (even more important) Almost everything bigger than a 4X6 is illegal in my neck of the woods, but I HAVE DONE bigger stuff for my customers. Since I don't do installations, I can get into serious trouble if my name happens to be on an installed 4X8! I don't need the hassle. I stay plenty busy the way things are.
Posted by Bill Dirkes (Member # 1000) on :
Sometimes I do, sometimes I forget. sometimes it doesn't seem appropiate. For a different take on the subject, after completing a wall job this summer, the customer, a body shop owner, called me and asked me to come back and put my name on the wall. He was getting too many interruptions to answer questions about who did thw sign work!
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
I don't sign any of my work for 2 reasons.
1 because if it's an outstanding piece the person will ask Who did that? Word of mouth will get you more business.
2 And if it's a piece of crap I did on one of those off days! Nobody will know it was done by me!
But the real reason is as said before The customer paid for this advertizing and I don't think I have the right to be a flea on his back with my small blurb.
Posted by Rob Larkham (Member # 2105) on :
Let's see...I'm drinking a soda and on the side of the can that I paid for it says Coca-Cola. I'm working on a computer that I paid for and it says Gateway on it. My printer says Lexmark. My paint says oneshot. I even have brushes that some sign painters have their names on along with the maker of the brush. The music I'm listen to has the name of the ARTIST on the cover ( GO FIGURE ). So yes, I do sign my work. In this day of such competition I want everyone to see who produced my sign. It's not ego it's just business.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
I remembered another reason why we started "tagging" our work. A couple years ago, developer saw a sign he liked. He called around and wouldn't you know it, the very first shop he called said they did it. Well he went in, they had a few discussions about the sign and how it was made and so on. Then they quoted him a price for his sign.
Sticker shock.
He decides to do some checking around.
He stops by my shop and ask if we can do something similar to the "Wilson Country Club" sign that So-n-So Shop did.
"What sign did they say they did?", I asked.
I grinned and then pulled out the paid invoice of the sign that we did.
He got mad. Not at us, but at the shop that lied to him.
BTW, we got the job and he brought several other clients to us as well.
Put your name on it.
Posted by Rob Clark (Member # 787) on :
Think about it.......Would anyone buy a painting if it didn't have the artists name on it?
In 27 years, I know of only one client that objected to the signature, cause thats all I do, I just sign my name to it. He simply peeled it off, & thats fine with me.
It works, and thats enough indication to me that it's the smart thing to do.
RobC
Posted by Brad Ferguson (Member # 33) on :
I used to be in business in Arkansas and I was the only sign artist in the area who regularly tagged work. I signed practically everything, even lighted signs (on the face, not the can). I can't count the number of times customers told me they didn't know who else to call and that they figured I was the only sign person in the county. I got credit for not a few jobs that I didn't even do! Occasionally, if I didn't put my bug on a sign, a customer would ask 'Why not?' Only once did one object, and it was on a sandblasted sign. I told him there was nothing I could do about it since my name was carved into the wood.
Incidentally, when I bought my last truck, the first thing I did was peel off the vinyl "Ford" that was on the tailgate. I guess I have a double standard.
[ December 21, 2001: Message edited by: Brad Ferguson ]
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Of course I sign my work, nobody else is going to get credit for it, and I'm proud to sign my work. Just yesterday I finished this pick-up and the customer left.. after an hou or so he came back and asked why I did'nt put my name on it, he askes am I proud of this job? And the guys just forgot to put it on. After I put it on he said NOW its finished and he went off with a smile on his face. So there are many reasons to sign your work. If you're proud of it you should sign it, as a matter of fact I think our work is Artwork and it should be signed, Imagine If the great Artists never signed their work it would be worthless... now I know I'm using extremes here, and I'm not suggesting you plaster the sign with a great big decal but tastefully sign your work and be proud.. I am. Neil
Posted by Alan Johnson (Member # 2513) on :
I don't advertise anywhere ,all my work came by Word of mouth , And they need a signature to track you down , and it should be as small as possible . except for you Dewaye maintain AJ
Posted by Kookaburra (Member # 254) on :
I sign all my stuff But then, I ain't selling it.. If I was, I'd still be signing all my stuff. If it looked good
I don't advertise anywhere ,all my work came by Word of mouth , And they need a signature to track you down , and it should be as small as possible . except for you Dewaye maintain AJ
