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Hi I am new to the site and wanted to try my hand at this. I have been working for varios others in the sign business for 5-6 yrs and on the side have been pinstriping and custom painting very occasionally. I would like some help on how I can convert my hobby to my profession. I have read all the books and so on, but getting that first paying job to spread the word with is just beyond my reach. I always schedule and they dont show or I never see them again after I quote a price. And I know My prices are well below the area competion Thanks for listening any ideas would be great
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Hi Scot..if you price too low, people will wonder. It is just like selling a car.....if you are priced so low, they will think something is wrong with it. If you price it high....they will think they are getting a nice item. I think you should check out going after a few jobs you really want, and design a layout and present it to them. Set your goals high! Best of luck to you. And have fun!
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
First off Scot, Try raisin your price! Do you want to get to be known as the guy who makes $500 signs for $300, this will haunt you in the future if you do. Also from a customers standpoint, they will be wondering what am I not getting with your lower price, service?, quality of materials? Starting out aint easy when you are the unknown. So I would suggest take the time to make some small sample signs and go nuts with them. Now you can show your potential customers what you can do for them. Go nuts with lettering and graphics on your personal vehicle, again, this will show what youre able to do, plus, get your name out into your community just by driving around or parked at the shopping mall etc...
-------------------- Tim Rieck Signs Halfmoon Bay, BC Posts: 736 | From: Halfmoon Bay, BC, Canada | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
thank you for the information. I do have my truck painted but since painting it the tailgate had to be redone. So I have to repaint my logo on the back. I gues what is aggravating is when some one says yes I want you to do that and then dont show up.
when they say "yes" get a deposit on the spot . tell them its "just to hold the appointment" or "so i can begin sketching some designs out to show you when you bring your vehicle in."
if they really want the work done, they'll give you a deposit. if they aren't sure, you'll know it, and you can find out what their concerns are.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
That is a great tip I did not think of that. I usually get a deposit when they drop off the vehicle but I never thought of an (art Charge or somthing simular)
Don't take the "no show" too hard. I'm sure it happens to all of us (I get it sometimes for sure)! Sometimes things come up and the poor 'ol sign guy gets schuffeled to the bottom of the list. I'm surprized soo often when a customer orders a truck, goes thru all that hoopla, then calls me to letter it (needs to be done YESTERDAY). My take on it is it's all part of the business. Others plan well in advance.
A couple of months ago I got a call after my day was all rapped up(meaning I was showered and enjoying a beer)for a lady who was having her "Grand Opening" the next morning. She had arranged with one of my competitors to letter a couple of windows in front of her shop and HE DIDN'T UP! COOL! I was slow at the time and this was right up my alley! Perfect timing!
It's how it goes sometimes?!
Get your Truck Lettered, get your cards out and keep your prices competitive.
Good luck! Keep comming back to this board, you'll get hooked!
-------------------- Mark Neurohr "Ernest" Paintin' Place 141 Sunnyside Road Kittanning, PA 16201
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Really there are only two things ya will need to get the ball rollin'.........
1....Like it was said before......Get your truck about a radical as possible showing what ya can do........The rest will take care of itself.
Ed Roth had every one of his personal vehicles ccovered with everything imaginable in his paint arsenal. He was NEVER without work.........I've even run into him striping cars in parking lots at supermarkets. This was simply because someone saw his car, and wanted some just like it, and HE WAS READY, right there on the spot.
2. Never fail to hand out your business card, and ALWAYS have plenty of them on hand.
3. Always be READY to work, have your act together so you can do the job when it's needed. Hell..........go to the park to do some work on your own truck.
If you're any good....everything will fall into place........if not, then work at it till ya get good enough that people seek you out.
PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE.......!! Practice in front of people that may just want ya to something for them..........
WORD OF MOUTH IS THE "BEST" WAY TO GET THINGS GOING !!!
Oh Yeah.........Did I forget to mention..... Get your prices up to "AT LEAST" that of any of your competition........
...............cj
[ September 25, 2002, 07:05 PM: Message edited by: CJ Allan ]
-------------------- CJ Allan CJs Engraving 982 English Dr. Hazel, KY 42049
posted
check your spelling and layout . .. . then check it again . .. .. just before you do the job . .. CHECK IT AGAIN !!!!
nuff said
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 822 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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Scott, Don't undercharge, but DO give some away for judicious advertising. Example: give out a coupon for a discount for your work at a local car or bike event. Give away a free "Image pinstripe" (a real simple little job) at a chamber of commerce luncheon or church fair. At every place you do a freebie, make sure you get to spread around your flyer and business cards.
HIT THE STREETS. When I first started my own business in 1980, I actually did COLD CALLING. Stop at every likely location and ask to talk to someone - anyone who will listen. Give out a little flyer with some pics of your work on it, and a coupon for a free sample or discount.
Hope these ideas help. And oh yeah, GET A DEPOSIT AND A SIGNATURE ON A WORK ORDER EVERY TIME you make an agreement to do some work. Call the customer the day before to remind them of the appointment.
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Hi Scot, Getting that first paying job - what a historic place to be in your burgeoning career...
My best advice is "work breeds work", and starts that word-of-mouth referral maching in motion. The easiest jobs I know of to get IMMEDIATELY are sign repaints. Find a shop with a faded wall sign over their entrance. Come with all the paints and ladders you'll need and walk right in and pitch them. Get right to work and be seen. When you're finished go right down the street to the next candidate and approach them too, with "Hi, I just repainted the sign for your neighbor. I've got some more time this afternoon and I could make yours all bright again for only $75"
In addition to putting fast cash into your pocket, it GETS YOU SEEN! I've done this during slow times and it never fails to generate more spin-off jobs. In fact it's common for people to drive up and approach you while you work to come give them an estimate next. Cool. Now you're established. Good chance one of those 'repaints' call you for their next new sign and/or pass your biz card to others.
Oh, and get yourself to Letterheads meets soon and often. You'll do fine.
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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IF you like working on vehicles, get cozy with the body shops in your area. It will quickly become apparent who does the best work, and good shops tend to be looking for a good sign and stripe guy, for touch ups, fender stripes, and what have you. I'm always getting good leads from body shops.
Bruce Deveau
-------------------- Bruce Deveau 331 Main St. Amesbury, Ma USA 01913 Posts: 139 | From: Amesbury, MA USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
Hi Scott, I have to agree wholeheartedly with Joe's suggestion: whenever I am out working in public (like lettering a window, for example), it never fails to attract attention. People stop and watch for a few minutes, maybe chat a bit, and sometimes ask for a business card. Sometimes, as Joe said, they ask you to stop by and talk to them about their signage. This is especially effective if you are actually handlettering the window, because as everyone knows (and my competition insists on telling those who don't), no one does that anymore. (except for dinosaurs like us!) If you decide to use this technique, be sure to do your work at a location where there is a lot of foot traffic. One more suggestion: if you can't find a window or other suitable signage that actually needs work, ask a store owner (at a very busy location) if you could paint a design on their window. This could be a punched-up version of their name, or something entirely fanciful and ficticious. Just let them know that you will remove it at the end of the day if they don't want it on there. And be sure that you are cheerful and upbeat when you talk to those who stop. Hope this helps. Good luck!
-------------------- Brian Oliver Paxton Signs Fort Collins, CO paxton@peakpeak.com www.paxtonsignsofcolorado.com Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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