posted
Hi guys. The HECK with vinyl. I refuse to go down as a vinyl guy (No offense). I know I have a long way until I can get to speed at carving since I only carve (a little) at meets. But thinking about the business part of the deal, how do you sell dimensionals(besides word of mouth)? What do you do to convince people that their sign is the first thing their clients see?
Thanks, Felix
-------------------- Felix Marcano PuertoRicoSigns.Com Luquillo, PR
Work hard, party like a tourist! Posts: 2274 | From: Luquillo, Puerto Rico, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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I suppose it is like selling anything else. You will have to let folks know that you do that type of work. We have our show room walls covered with samples and photos of works that we have done. We also sign our name to every job (at least to the good ones).
When someone asks about signage, we always find a way to mention the dimensional work that we do and try to steer the conversation to that direction. Even if we don't sell them a job, we have planted the information and they may need one the next time, or pass the information on to someone else.
Often, we will do a very nice sign at a substantial discount if it is going to be seen in a prominent place (I call it my yellow page ad) - especially if it is where we would like to do more work. Sometimes we will lose a few dollars on one job to make more on the ones that follow. This must be done carefully, though.
It doesn't happen overnight. Word of mouth is still your best advertisement. Of course, brochures, a nice web site, and mail out post cards with photos of your work help a lot too.
Mostly, there has to be a passion for doing this type of work. If you don't love it, it will be just another chore.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 816 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
Thanks guys. I gotta tell you, I went to bed at ?in the morning reading AMAL over & over looking for reference on sample signs. I think I'm going to start with some house numbers & show them off at boat shows.
-------------------- Felix Marcano PuertoRicoSigns.Com Luquillo, PR
Work hard, party like a tourist! Posts: 2274 | From: Luquillo, Puerto Rico, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
Hey! I just got a really cool idea! I'm going to ask Latigo if I can do a "show and tell" for carving simple stuff! I bet that would get you started, no? I could post pictures? Its much easier than you think! I'll ask when he gets in. I came to town early with Dad. Lat gets here at 6 and I'll ask.
posted
First off youy have to build yourself a dimensional sign which is a STUNNING example of what you have to offer.
Draw up some samples... maybe even make some models... they work great for us.
I find I don't have to go out much to sell... in fact not at all. With a few outstanding and outrageous works on display the folks who want that type of work will soon beat a path to your door.
Hone your design and fabrication skills to the point whaere you KNOW you can design and build outstanding work... every time.
Build it and they will come!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I started doing residental signs near my house. I just went door to door spread across a neighborhood, which is very large and did some small free ones (v-carved, bevel lettering & reliefs) on the agreement that it has to be displayed and visible from the street. Talk about domino effect. But it might be different over here, it's a middle class so-cal neighborhood with very trendy people. Everyones lastname here is Jones.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I'm going the same direction as you, Felix. For starters I carved my logo in HDU and gilded it for display. I am also in the process of getting a small cedar sign blasted that will hang in the entrance (which will someday be called a showroom ) Third, I'm building myself a new sign (finally!) with carved letters. I have absolutely no intention of competing with any quickie shop, though coroplast does make me good money.
Rosemary, I'm really looking forward to your step-by-step. Very cool idea!
posted
One of the best examples of someone selling dimensional signs is Mark Yearwood. Several years ago he made a conscious effort to upgrade his business and put more emphasis on dimensional work. Now he is swamped with jobs - high end stuff with great designs. I'm pretty sure that he will also tell you it didn't happen overnight, and that he just didn't shake those jobs out of his sleeve, but he is accomplishing what he set out to do.
And he's in a small town in Oklahoma.
Several of those old time Letterheads did the same thing...like Mike Jackson, Noel Weber, Gary Anderson, Jay Cooke, and many others. I got an email yesterday from Jay Cooke and he has just built a log cabin on 32 acres of land just outside of Stowe, Vermont. Now, I would say Jay is someone who knew how to do it right.
If you build it, they will come. Contact Mark - he'll tell you how to do it.
[ April 22, 2005, 09:16 AM: Message edited by: Raymond Chapman ]
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
As Ray said, I am in a smaller town. I have not limited myself to just working in this town, though. Our work is spread all over and mostly from word-of-mouth. One nice jobs sells another.
I don't even advertise in the phone books anymore or very little elsewhere. I put some extra work now and then into a sign that will be highly visible and write that up as "advertising expense".
The showroom and portfolio has been changed to feature only the type of work I want to sell. The shop image is now reflected in the cards and I now have a nice 8.5x11 promotional piece with pictures of our best work. These are sent out to potential "pre-qualified" clients from time to time with good results.
Learn the medium you are working with. Learn it well. Don't cut corners. Be "picky" about the details from the paint finish to the burnish on the gold leaf. Be "design smart". Study what other successful craftsmen are doing and why. Glean ideas from things around you. Books, art, architecture, nature. Remember, you are charging more for a "handcrafted sign" and must give the client something that's a cut-above the rest.
Once you have a system that works, be confident and let that confidence shine through when selling the job. The client will pick up on that enthusiasm in your work and put their trust in your ability to give them a fine finished product. You will find that very little price haggling goes on when dealing with these high end signs.
Yes, there are many people out there who do not want junk and are willing to pay for it. Even in a fast food, drive thru world.
Patience, Perseverence, Passion.
[ April 25, 2005, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: Mark Yearwood ]
posted
I think you have it nailed Mark... 'cept for the order of the last three words...
I'd reverse them to read PASSION, PERSEVERANCE, PATIENCE
Those who know me yunderstand I have those attributes in that order with patience sadly lacking.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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