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During this Covid 19 time, it si becoming very obvious how the trickle down works. Several projects cancelled because customers couldn't forsee August business to justify May investments. I'm getting to enjoy a lot of time playing in my woodshop. What are others doing with the time opportunity?
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6812 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have been kept pretty busy stopping the ducks fornicating in our pool, playing with baby kittens and building birdhouses. Sure not like the last 77 summers. Jer/Artworx
-------------------- Gerald Barlow Artworx Turlock, CA
95380 artworx@bigvalley.net Posts: 230 | From: Turlock, CA 95380, USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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I did get a little time out. Planted a vegi garden and washed my fleet (2) of trucks. But now it's back to normal. "Dam the torpedoes, full speed head!"
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3943 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Business is slow, but not stopped. Yesterday I worked on a painted wood sign that says "Circus Main Entrance". I made it look like an antique, with wear marks and fake rust running down where screws would have been. It's nice to able to go for bicycle rides without a lot of traffic out there.
-------------------- Chuck Peterson Designs San Diego, CA Posts: 1073 | From: San Diego, CA USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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We finished up our big paying project this afternoon. It has kept us busy through this weird time. Our phone is still ringing with enquiries. I've done some design on future projects but everyone is reluctant to commit to anything big for the time being.'
I find when business is slow I am often actually busier than when the shop is full, following up on every possible lead.
We have a large personal project on the go that will keep us busy for the duration. There is always yard work and things to do on our small acreage. My e-bikes are begging to be ridden at least a bit each day.
And my hot rod is in the shop with lots to do there as well.
I'm not at all concerned about finding enough to keep myself busy i the short term.... it's the long haul that is more worrisome... but then again all the worrying in the world won't change things.
So I'll try my best to simply be mellow and enjoy a bit slower pace. The weather is perfect these days!
-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: 8765 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Grandpa Dan, I'm glad your grand kids are close by and you'll have time for that. Mine are 3000 miles away and there is another one arriving on this planet late next month and I'd sure like to be there to meet him. We're probably staying home and trying to change the tickets for a later date.
There is plenty to do, but generating an income looks questionable. For younger folks that don't have a savings and that are burdened with vehicle and payments and mortgages and young kids that outgrow shoes before they show wear marks, they are a big concern.
I'm still getting checks for jobs completed prior to the covid thing, but soon they will cease.I expect a few months lag time till new checks start arriving.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6812 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Funny thing, I have been doing a lot of painted lettering and pinstriping on trucks lately. Yeah, it's not a profitable as vinyl lettering, but it's what i am trained for. Me and my little paint brushes.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3943 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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We've been getting several vehicles. Very basic utility type. Mostly repeat customers wanting exactly what they had on previous trucks. New businesses....what's that? They don't seem to be happening. More downtown vacancies than ever before. Many stores have not survived this.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6812 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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We are very fortunate in that our kids and grandkids live on our property. We are all in 'our safety bubble' together. Our workshop is on property as well. We work and play together daily. It wouldn't work for every family but it does for us, thankfully.
While it is very sad that some existing businesses are going to close, those unfortunate failures will create a vacuum in the future when the good times return... and the new businesses will need new signs.
We are still working on designs for new businesses although everyone is hesitant to pull the trigger until there is less uncertainty.
There are bright spots however. One of our current customers in a small town has a drive-in restaurant and they are having a record year by far. We are currently helping them build a mini golf which they expect to open soon with appropriate planning and precautions. I'd place a large bet that this new business will far exceed expectations as well this year due to limited outdoor activities this summer season. If they do as expected, it will mean more business for us next winter as we build more features and signage for them as they take a phased approach in their improvements(as per the original plan of last year).
During the financial crisis a decade ago I spent our slow time making dimensional sign samples. While it was definitely slow for a long time and we did go considerably backwards financially during that time, those samples I created brought us a ton of awesome work since and paid for themselves hundreds of times over. In the slow times ahead we'll keep busy working on some amazing projects that will purposely position us for a quicker recovery when things turn around. These projects will also position us for premium work as well. While most are hunkering down we are spending our efforts to build our reputation for quality work.
It is undoubtably going to be a challenging year but I believe we will get through it by working together as a family. While we may be tempted to despair if we tune in to all the bad news, the reality is that the sun is still shining, and we are still having fun and laughing together if we choose.
-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: 8765 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have been doing hand carvings, Caricatures, architectural and comfort birds. We have been clearing fallen trees in our 30 acre forest and using the small limbs to fill in some deep muddy ruts on the main trail going up the hill. Now that the snow has gone, and it is above 45F, we have gone for several 10 -15 mile rides on our e-bikes. ( we added e-assist motors because we have a lot of steep and 1/2 mile long steep hills.) Got the gardens rototilled and the plants started.
-------------------- Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 12020 518 885-9899 signs@balchsigns.com http://www.balchsigns.com Posts: 1725 | From: MaltaNY | Registered: Jan 2000
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6812 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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My sons are running the show for the most part. I go in for pinstriping and jobs requiring my help. I decided to teach my grandsons how to turn a wrench so we found an old bike in the garage and we took it completely apart and are painting it and cleaning and repairing all parts before reassembling. Been fishing and fishing has been good. Took me over an hour to fillet yesterday’s catch. Work is starting to come back. Thank God for all our great customers who didn’t forget about us.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2115 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Gee Ricardo Wow!! Thank you!! A couple weeks ago, I painted a replica ghost sign for City of Deadwood, SD. Did it in 3 days!! My good buddy, Mudflap Girl, produced and sent the pounce patterns!! She's going to post the pix here, for me. You'll see before, after, and the photo I took at sunrise on my way out. Again, many thanks!!
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3943 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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I can't do it,,,,waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3943 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Hi Jean....the owner helped me position the pounce pattern and was my part-time lift chauffeur!! Otherwise, I worked alone and, besides the letters, I gave each brick some love with a large grout sponge!! Sun
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