posted
all this week i've been walking around to local businesses and giving out "Peace" signs I printed up. Its fun seeing my work in the windows of a lot of businesses, and I've already increased my "name recognition" by a huge ammount. I'm sure that it will eventually translate into some work. So it got me thinking that I should print up some standard "OPEN/CLOSED" signs to give out to businesses.
Right now, about 75 percent of the small stores and restaurants in my neighborhood have signs printed by "Snyder Signs". They are all the same, and I'm assuming they got them at CostCo or WalMart or Sysco or something like that. A lot of them look to be more than a few years old, and I'm sure the merchants would accept a new one for free. Of course, it will have my company name and phone number on it, should they need additional signage in the future.
So, has anybody here tried something like that? Does it work? And do you have any suggestions on materials or design issues?
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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Scooter, I've always kicked ideas like that around in my head, and this has got to be one of the best ever! If you got a micrometer,and found the exact center of the bull'seye, your arrow would be there. Offer differnt styles for different places. I have two custom looking "open signs" hanging in my shop, Inever got around to mass marketing them. And I didn't come up with that self promotion angle either. Would it be possible to go back and retrace the thought process that led to this? It's nice to have things like that documented. Thanks, you da man. Jim
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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CJ, I hate to disagree, but it takes only a little hate and violence to make peace worthwhile. I'v been a part of too much violence, man. sincerly, Jim.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
That is a great idea Scooter. I dont agree with your peace sign approach but the open sign thing is a great idea. Just out of curiosity has any one asked for a Support Our Troops sign and if they did would you make one for them?
-------------------- Ryan Young Indocil Art & Design indocil@comporium.net 803-980-6765
I highjacked Letterville!! Winter Muster 2004 Posts: 904 | From: Rock Hill, SC | Registered: Sep 2001
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ok, the topic has drifted a bit... so i'll answer in two different posts. first, to address the issue of Peace.
Mr Bush says our troops will come home when PEACE is restored. I didn't make signs that say "no war" -- I made signs that say "Peace".
And yes, I would gladly make signs that say "Support Our Troops". Its not what I choose to do for free, but I'd probably do them for 20% off list, which is my "non-profit" rate.
I would not make signs that say "Kill Arabs" (or "Kill Jews" or "Kill Christians" or anything of that ilk).
If you want to talk about this more, I'd love to hear from you -- privately. I'm trying to keep to the topic at hand -- signs.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
James, i think my first post IS the documentation of my thought process, but I'll outline it.
1. giving out signs with my shop name on them is fun. 2. i like seeing my signs in store windows - i like seeing my "art" out on the street when i walk around. 3. my logo is on my signs, so its free advertising. 4. many stores have generic "Open" signs that are old, dirty, or just boring... and they didn't get them from me. 5. if i give them "Open" signs they will be promoting MY business in THEIR business... and they'll have my phone number handy (on the sign) if and when they need other signage.
So -- anybody have a nice design for an "open" sign they want to share?
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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I repeat, that is a great idea for getting in the door with the open signs. This is on your topic though. Has any one asked for an Support Our Toops sign? I am only wondering if you are hurting a small portion of your potential customes by only offering one sign. I am not judging you by any means and dont feel you should not exprees your feelings on this subject. I do not agree with you but that is not the reason behind my questions.
-------------------- Ryan Young Indocil Art & Design indocil@comporium.net 803-980-6765
I highjacked Letterville!! Winter Muster 2004 Posts: 904 | From: Rock Hill, SC | Registered: Sep 2001
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sorry, No, nobody has asked me for a "Support Our Troops" sign.
Since you asked about widening my potential market reach, I've only had two or three people NOT want a Peace sign. Our here in San Francsico the general sentiment seems to favor peace. Keeping up with the Peace signs is keeping me busy enough anyway.
(I was in both of our local daily newspapers last week, so about 500,000 people read about the Peace signs, and a few people asked for other signs, but none asked for any signs about the troops.)
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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I just checked out The SF Chronicle and saw the article that they mentioned you in! Very cool!
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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another good idea is to have post card printed as thank you cards to send to customers a couple of days after you have finished your transactions with them. it lets them know that you appreciated their business. i have had customers call me and thank me for the thank you card. i have one as a sample if you don't understand what i am talking about. it only costs .23 to send one. i lived in CA for 2 1/2 years there are some weird folks out there. not saying you are one. be careful about comments about soldiers, they are the reason we have the freedoms we enjoy everyday.
posted
I don't like the idea Scoot. I feel that it may hurt you . I'm thinking "Gee, this guy gives away his work, so, if he's gonna charge me for a real sign, he must be cheap". I would consider giving an open sign to a new client after he places an order for his store front, but not before I get a deposit for some real work. The one idea mentioned here, which I thought was good, was to loan a new business a grand opening banner, after you get the deposit for his real sign - something much nicer than your typical screen printed poly banner.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Scooter, I was in a hurry before, and must not have worded the reply carefully enough. I thought it was a neat idea, and I was wondering how you GOT the idea. Like did it just pop in your mind, or were you looking at worn open signs then thought hey... That's not really an issue. While I was driving home, I was thinking that maybe the essence of two recent posts, introspection and pawn signs,was about people wondering how much control they had over their career as a sign maker. Having more potential customers would give a sign person more control over what sort of work they wanted to do, as opposed to doing whatever came along. That's why I liked the idea. It's not like a calender that might go home, the open sign would stay at the bussiness. Maybe even be seen a couple times a day, if they turned it over. There was a guy I used to know that had a slogan on his business cards, it said: Signs are your "silent" salesman! Thats what this open sign reminds me of. Jim.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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Scooter, My first thought is this is a good idea if you want to compete with a screen shop that is printing "OPen" signs by the thousands. And selling in bulk to retail outlets/discount stores. I think your business would become identified with that type of work; rather than some higher end (and higher profit) type of work. I would rather invest in a nice run of photo montage flyers to promote the work I prefer doing than starting off trying to upsell a client. Just my humble opinion!
-------------------- Bill Dirkes Cornhole Art LLC Bellevue, Ky. Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are. Posts: 591 | From: Bellevue,Ky. US | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
At this time I've already printed almost 2,000 "Remember 9/11 - Support our Troops - God Bless America", signs.
A local business man has placed three orders so far and is considering another next week. He is distributing them at a small markup to cover his costs. He is also giving them to families with relatives in the service.
I thought about it but I'm really glad that he's doing it. It would involve way too much time on the phone and the counter to still keep a "normal" business going.
We've also printed around 500, "Pray for Peace" signs which is pretty hard to disagree with whatever you opinion of the war is.
I just hope that it's over soon,...and finally finished!
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1357 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
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It's an excellent idea Scooter...we did some for the local chamber of commerce (in anothr town we were in) Chamber info on the OPEN side and our info on the back (so it's seen by the client everyday). That was 14 years ago people are still using them (not as many left now) but once in a while we still get a call , or someone will mention them.
Go for it...I think it's better than self promtion disguised as patriotism.
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
posted
You've no doubt heard about "whipping a dead horse", well, people are gonna think I'm the guy that could whip a horse UNTIL it was dead! But please bear with me. When a great idea comes along, I like to know how/where the idea came from, so that I'm not overlooking others like it. Since I can't even know where all of my ideas come from, I certainly don't know about yours. So I'm thinking about a diffrent approach, distiling it down to it's essence. So far, I see three (qualifications?): 1: mass production/silk screaned. If it were made individualy, it really would violate Checkers' comments. 2:That it be seen regularly. Maybe not everyday, but regularly. 3: That it be for bussinesses. With that in mind, I thought maybe certain safety signs would work in a similar way. One year, at the family holiday gathering, I gave everyone fire extinguisers as presents. It was a HUGE hit. Maybe there's some revelence here. HA! now that I think about it, my brother in law used his to stop an occupied appartment building from burning down. (He was at home, smelled smoke from the apartment next door, kicked the door down and put out the fire.) Anywayyy, This reminded me of some ingenious signs I've seen or heard of, and I think I'll make a separate posting about that. (Go bug somebody else for awhile!) Jim
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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these are all useful comments -- thank you everyone. here are my random thoughts:
Promotional items: my current customers don't seem to "shop around" much for signs. they really have NO IDEA where to go for a sign, short of opening the yellow pages or seeing a shop with a storefront location. promotional items are less costly than yellow pages or retail rents. its a foot in the door.
Satisfaction: 90 percent of my work is within walking distance of my home and shop. i REALLY enjoy seeing my work when i'm out walking the dog. i'm excited about the idea of seeing my OPEN signs in almost every business in my neighborhood.
Marking Territory A store with one of my OPEN signs in the window is almost like telling competing sign shops "don't bother, the Coyote was already here".
Advertising I like the idea of the safety signs, but those are only seen by the people inside the business -- an OPEN sign is seen by people outside the business (and even seen when the besiness is CLOSED). I'm not saying people will write down my number from the 12 pt type on the sign... but its got to have some effect to see my truck, my "bug" on regular signs, and then my name on a hundred little signs.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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