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I had a customer who is opening a small real estate office in a kiosk in the parking lot of a shopping mall I do a lot of work for. She was very particular about every detail, letterstyle, color, etc. She gave me a "layout" she did in her real estate software, and showed me fabric colors to match. The outdoor sign has to match her furniture inside the office. Nothing I suggested meant anything to her. The only reason I didn't turn her away was the mall management gives me a lot of work, and they asked me to help her. After she comletely changed her design four or five times, she settled on a yellow background with all black letters so it will "stand out". I told her it would look like a YIELD road sign. "If you want to be noticed, you have to stand out" she said. (this is a very nice, upscale mall) Her name, long list of services and phone number all in a Copperplate light. The mall approved it, probably because they were tired of listening to her and she probably won't stay long. So, I went ahead and finished it, just a couple of 12" x 72" sandblasted signs. I did adjust her "layout" some, she didn't notice. She called me and asked "How do they look?" I said "just like I thought they would". She loved them, paid me. She called yesterday and said "you should have made some of the words red, but I'm not gonna make you do it over" Thanks.
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Send her a boquet of flowers for her kiosk warming and thanking her for the business. Include a proof of the sign you think she should have. Be sure to mention this one would of been only $200 more. When she realizes that she picked the wrong sign she will pull that picture out and order a replacement from you.
-------------------- Chuck Churchill, It's A Good Sign Inc. 3245 Harvester Rd, U-12 Burlington, Ont. Phone: 905-681-8775 Fax: 905-681-8945 Posts: 633 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Good idea, Chuck, I think I'll do that. I forgot to mention, the reason it had to all be in Copperplate Gothic Light is "That's our logo, we had somebody do it" Hey, I've had worse customers.
-------------------- Chuck Peterson Designs San Diego, CA Posts: 1052 | From: San Diego, CA USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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What IS IT about realtors and yellow. I have one who insists on yellow with brown letters. yuk. Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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There was a cute article in the March/April 2002 issue of Signcraft about female customers. What made it so cute, it was written by a woman. The P.I.T.A. fee should apply in your case Chuck.
-------------------- Kathy Joiner River Road Graphics 41628 River Road Ponchatoula, La.70454
Old enough to know better...Too young to resist. Posts: 1891 | From: Ponchatoula, LA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Its simple. Every woman is born with a designer gene in them that us men don't have. This gives them the ability to decorate homes, pick out clothes, and know what colors work in all situations.
The only exception of course is gay guys. They too have an instinctual flair. Now if only I were a gay women I could design the ultimate sign!
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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tell her the time for suggestions had long past and that maybe you would have made some changes based on your knowledge had she not already showed you in the beggining what she thought of your suggestions. take the money and run!
-------------------- Norris Sign Works 102 Doogle Lane Shallotte, N.C. 28470 Posts: 117 | From: Shallotte, N.C. USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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I do alot of boat names and I deal with the women 85% of the time. The man will say "Honey, you take care of the interior and the boat name, and I'll take care of the rest". So I have to deal with the Admiral of the boat and get paid by the Skipper.
-------------------- Ray Skaines League City, Tx www.srsigns.com Posts: 130 | From: League City, Texas | Registered: Mar 2003
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Psychology suggests that yellow stimulates memory. They say if you're selling your home it's a good idea to have something yellow in your lawn near the from of the house. It could be flowers or something.
Undoubtably realtors have picked up on this, whether it's effective or not isn't for the likes of you or I to decide.
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
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I have been fortunate enough last year and this, to have only had three customers that chose their own coloration, and or layout. Most just want me to handle it, and conform to there existing surrounds. Of course their is a few pre-designed logos, that I have to work with, but sometimes it is interesting trying to make them fit.
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3486 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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