posted
Today I quoted a job for a couple of vehicles. Being that they were on the complicated side, I quoted much higher than usual. And the response "Thanks for your time, I'll get back to you". And then there's the wall job I quoted last Febuary, I haven't heard back from them yet. But it's all good. If everyone says "Yes". You are too low. And I quess if everyone say "NO", then maybe you are too low or you live in a real depressed part of town.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3814 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Alicia...You might want to re-read the final part of your comment and change one word from "low" to "high".
BUT I understand what you are saying.
My attitude always was, I'd rather watch TV for free instead of doing work for free.
I also always liked Si's attitude...(Give them a price and if they don't flinch...say 'plus labour or materials', whatever works)
Where we lived, I had a tough time getting $25 for lettering a mailbox for a farmer, but had no problem getting $800 to letter a truck for a trucking company.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
oh its getting to be a real "cluster f***" around here. all of the shops that existed when i was working full time, are still in business..and all have printers. in the last year.....a stretch of road here near my house.........from the race track(5 flags speedway) to michigan ave(cross street)of less then 5 miles.now has 4 sign shops...all tryin to keep a printer .....printing)))) which means that none of em....... have anything to offer the public....OTHER THEN ...doing the jobs for less money(profit)!!!!!!! do i want to get into this CF??? nope......iam better off having one of them do anything i need printed......and sell it.......and get paid for doing nothing more then sending a file and going to pick it up))))))) i still have some vinyl work i do, but iam not out lookin for any.
[ March 20, 2015, 11:48 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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I am happily retired, but still like "playing" with CorelDraw and seem to learn something new every month or so.
Life is good!
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
I think part of the problem, (Not really a problem) is when a design is not designed my me. When I design, I try to keep in mind the customer;s budget. When a customer designs or already has a desgin in mind, they really don't realize how long or how the job will be executed. The van job was to be printed on reflective, well that's just gonna cost or whole heck of a lot more than a regular print or plan vinyl. I evn felt that the price I gave her was pretty reasonable, but she didn't bite.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3814 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
I enjoyed the days when starting out, knock on doors get 80% of the jobs, now knock on doors get 1% & my work is so much better then it was even 10 years ago.
Now I could careless if they want me to do a job, mainly because the industry has been butchered so much, you give a fair bid & what they end up with is depressing at what ever price, there are so few people that really can design & they are not in the sign shops not like they use to be or they are not here & the graphic firms are not much better.
Schooling for advertising must be a thing of the past.
Here the big schools teach how to push the right buttons, make music & shoot videos, even the library does the same.
Are there any advertising schools other the the one Doc teaches at
posted
And it happened again. I quoted a price for an a-frame and a few 18in by 12in aluminum signs. I got the "I'll have to talk it over with my partner" line. And this is from a regular customer who I do a lot so little stuff for. I'll just keep on singing this song in my head,, To dream the imposible dream,,,to charge more for my signs, to reach the imposible,,,,,hummm,higher wages?
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3814 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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All it takes is poster paint ( two colors ) and bond paper ( weight 22 lbs )......i.e. a paper sign size 3' x 4' @ $5.00/sq. ft = $60.00 ea/each paper sign.
It should take 10 minutes to do one......So, that is equal to $360/hour !!
Typical amount of copy ( CASUAL LETTERING ) on a paper sign ( Do not use more than two alphabets on each paper sign ):
Name of the product, characteristics of the product and the price of the product.....i.e. PORK CHOPS, $2.00/LB.......That's all !!!.....Of course, make sure that you prioritize the copy, properly, on the paper sign.
Here are some samples of paper signs, which might help you get the idea of what they should look like:
posted
It's a numbers game in more ways than one. This trade has always been plagued by people working too cheaply. Every town had their "wino joe" and some part timers, now, thanks to the computers, they are everywhere using the Wal Mart mentality. The number of people needing signs hasn't risen in relation to the number of people making signs. I basically threw in the towel as far as sign making went , jeez, it was twenty years ago! My last pair of hand painted magnetics were done in 1992, they went for $115. It's truly sad to see what happened to a once proud trade but it is what it is.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
posted
ive come to the point.........for most of the sign business, its not worth wasting a lot of time for little or no money. i still do a few vinyl jobs, full vans or trucks, boats. as far as banners, magnetics, yard signs.......its now become a side line that i build the sign, make a phone call, send the file. wait a couple days, UPS drops it off here, i make a bill and collect my money)))) didnt even break a sweat, invest tons of money or baby sit a printer)))))
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Yikes!!, I think I got a bite. Gonna have to reel her in slowly as not to spook her.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3814 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
I think i jus set the hook, don't jump off fish!
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3814 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
That link for paper signs shows a paper sign I painted "Nabisco Chips" they stole from my portfolio on Behance. https://www.behance.net/gallery/Signs-Logos/3057097 NYC sign & Banner Co. stole my work...oh well, ya learn something everyday. Just happened to stumble on that just now. They're using it to market their work! Oh, and I hope you got the job Alicia, sees like good work is hard to come by. Some people are seeking out quality work like yours.
-------------------- Craig Shaw Shaw Signs & Designs 11028 Green Valley Rd. Sebastopol, CA 95472 Posts: 24 | From: Sebastopol,CA | Registered: Aug 1999
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