For those of you who may have read our earlier posts may remember that we were employed at a signshop in our small town in upper Michigan and there was some debate on if we would buy out the sign shop.
Months ago we were offered the chance to buy this particular sign shop. The conditions were just not good enough as well as the price being to expensive.
Since that time the owner gave us a month before she was going to close the shop. Then she told us a week, and finally it was over in less than an hour.
Sad to see the shop close because we really loved working there. But as it is now we registered our own new business two days ago and it's been pretty busy since.
We did order a Graphtec 24" CE3000 Vinyl Cutter and would appreciate any comments about this cutter?, is it good enough for a starter cutter?
We dont want to leave this business and we're prepared to work our butts off for this.
We are currently setting up our office in our home but I must say We sure will miss the walk-ins from the store front.
I guess we will have to market outselves stronger being we are going to be working from home for this first year.
How many of you are actually working from home, and if so, how do you feel your businesses are fairing compared to main street store front? We would certainly welcome any thoughts on this.
Any comments are more than welcome...
Thanks,
David and Jenna Nyman proud new owners of Nyman_Signs
-------------------- David Nyman Nyman Signs 100 South 8th Street Escanaba, MI 49829 Posts: 80 | From: Escanaba, Michigan USA | Registered: Nov 2002
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Congratulations on your new opportunity! I work from home, but I'm on a main road! I feel like I'm in a fish bowl most of the time as everyone I know feels compelled to honk like I'll know it's them. It's convenient for everyone to stop by. I would go nuts in a neighborhood based home/shop situation. No exposure, hence your dilemna about marketing.
You could put in an ad to start with on one of those pages full of lil 2"x2" business ads...in our lil paper they run $20/month.
You could plan to go have coffee or breakfast at the same time every morning...somehow keep a high profile...and be dependable. You don't have to sit there but for a few minutes. The less time you spend there the harder it will be for them to catch you and they will try harder and harder till they do...LOL. Once you get busy, lessen your trips to one or two set days a week. You'd be surprised how many jobs you'll get talking out loud about signs and artwork in a public place. Folks will just start entering your conversations and soon their money will start entering your bank LOL. This works in small and big towns alike.
There are so many other ways to get their attention, like making sure you get exposure on installations, as oppossed to letting your clients apply the vinyl.
Get some shirts with your company name on them, do up your vehicle and volunteer with town events. The volunteering I do is painting faces at the town social. I paint faces and charge nothing. I do get to hang a banner on the front of my table and that creates a lot of opportunites. Folks that don't know you will ask and those that do can stop and praise your dedication!
The most reliable thing I do is tything. I raised two girls with that plan and am still vertical and really happy!
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Don't buy a tool till you need it. Let a job buy it for you and then you'll have it from then on. Rent expensive tools until you need it enough to buy one. Then let a big job buy it. Sub out until you do something often enough to justify buying the equipment. Sell jobs in sizes that match your scrap substrates. If somebody asks if you can do something, the answer is always yes. Learn on their dollar. Get your deposits up front. Most of all enjoy the freedom. Sometimes you'll feel more tied down, but it's worth it.
-------------------- Dennis Goddard
Gibsonton Fl Posts: 1050 | From: Tampa Fl USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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By the way...the Maaco post reminded me...you could go to them and similar shops that redo company trucks and offer to be the one they call to do the graphics on their clients vehicles. I got a lot of jobs from them in Georgia. Make sure you warn them to do a good job so you can do yours without problems!
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Pat had a wonderful post, think I'm going to print that and keep it tacked up somewhere.
Set your prices in the beginning and don't do a job for less than normal pricing because you're slow. The lower price will become your regular price as far as customers are concerned.
Learn how to use the search button here. I have lost entire afternoons researching something then finding something else I was wondering about by accident. There is such a wealth of info on this board. Well worth resident taxes (hint, hint)
Do a search on the 3 tier pricing system. I have been using it for a while now and since I've started it, I've only had 1 customer go for the lowest tier.
I keep big rolls of normal colors of vinyl, but I order odd colors in 10 yard rolls and usually get the next day.
Find a meet and get to it! There is sooo much you get out of a meet. Little tricks you see others do, friends, suppliers.
Since you are home based rather than having a store front, no matter how busy you are dedicate at least 1 day a week to doing sales visits. Or if you're delivering a sign, dress decent (no paint, no hairy armpits sticking out of your shirt), grab your portfolio and see where you can "visit" on the way back.
Don't bad talk any competitors to customer or potential customers. Instead of saying what the other shop did/does wrong, say what you would do better.
Set up a "job sheet" include specifics on materials, etc. and use one for every job. It may be a pain in the at times, but it helps should you have failure on a product, or need to know what you used when they order another sign next year. It's more professional to look at your notes than to have to go out & look at their sign.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Hey everyone, Thanks for taking the time to send your thoughts, much appreciated!
Si, the rent where we were is much more than our starting up budget allows, at least for now. Not to mention our boss left unpaid utilities that someone would have to pay for to hook things back up. (I think)
We are just excited to be ready to open so soon, silly me was thinking we would have the summer off, not so! we got customers following us right away and jobs lined up already. It is a good feeling to be working again tho.
I have to say Letterville is a wealth of information and we want to thank all of you who were so kind to welcome us newbies. Some where along the way we hope there are some helpful tips we can share, but I fear being so new into this business we are more likely to be reading a heck of alot more than posting.
Have a good day to all...
Jenna and David Nyman
-------------------- David Nyman Nyman Signs 100 South 8th Street Escanaba, MI 49829 Posts: 80 | From: Escanaba, Michigan USA | Registered: Nov 2002
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I cannot add too much else other that I wish Letterville was here when I started. Alot of us flew by the seat of our pants which makes an unpleasant flight at times.
My old boss told me this once...You have to make a profit from your friends, cause your enemies won't support you.
[ June 13, 2003, 07:51 AM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3503 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Yeah Rick, We definately lucked out having this great place to come too as we are just starting out on our own. Intresting saying from your boss, as a matter of fact the first two customers since moving over to the house are friends of ours. Good reputation and word of mouth, a couple keys to help in becoming a success. Hey Rick are you above or below the bridge?
Jenna and David Nyman
-------------------- David Nyman Nyman Signs 100 South 8th Street Escanaba, MI 49829 Posts: 80 | From: Escanaba, Michigan USA | Registered: Nov 2002
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I can picture Pat's advice as a plaque hanging in your shop. It says it all. The King's also have enough class to own a weiner dog.
When I anounced I was going into business, my dad told me I should know the secret of the "clamp" trick.
When he was a young machine designer he worked under an engineer who was extremely hard to please. Dad was determined to do his best and please this guy -- even taking work home until he thought it was right. On one project they were working on a machine that had converyor belt on it. The engineer reviewed my dad's blueprint and said, "Are you done, Bill?" Dad said he was, so the engineer said, "Well I think you need to put a clamp over here." My dad, utterly frustrated said, "I've been over and over these plans and I assure you we don't need a clamp there."
The engineer said, "I know that and you know that, but this customer we're working with here is anal as hell and he'll find something wrong no matter what. So we'll put this clamp over here in a place that's easy to spot and easy to erase. Then he'll spot the flaw, suggest a correction and get his jollies.
To Dad's amazement the customer scanned the plans until he spotted the unnecessary clamp and his eyes lit up. He asked Dad if he was done. Dad said he was. Then he said, "Well I think you did an admirable job here, young man, but do you think we really need a clamp over here." Dad looked at the engineer and the engineer said, "You know, I don't think we need a clamp there, and we could probably save a bunch, considering how many machines we're making. Let's take that clamp out.
The customer puffed out his chest and said, "Very well then, proceed with the plan minus the clamp." Before the customer made his way out the building, Dad received a wink from the engineer, grabbed the eraser, and low and behold that clamp was gone.
We use the clamp trick from time to time, and you'll need to too. When we get an anal customer like that, Jane will look at me and I'll look at her and will both say at the same time, "CLAMP TRICK!" This is usually leaving a phone number out of the design or maybe even misspelling a word on a sketch if a big enough clamp is needed.
Good luck, though, I do think this is one of the greatest businesses. Not the greatest money, but the satisfaction you'll have from doing a job-well-done, you can't put a price on.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2111 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Hiya David, Everyone has great advice and I can really relate Bill's clamp story. Monte's advice hits home though. 50% deposit and balance due upon completion. No Exceptions. Check into getting the space or at least, the old phone # from your previous employer. Since you're a new business, you can't be held liable for her debt however you can try to capitalize on her dicision to discontinue her business in that location. If you can take over the location, be sure to change your identity, so people will know it's a new or at least a different business.
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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""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3503 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Jenna & David, First of all welcome. This is one heck of a BB for any sign person to find and use, we've been in the business for almost 20 years and every day there is something new here to learn from some of the most talented people doing the trade. The Graphtec 24 is a great machine. Ours has been running non stop now for 9 years and we just purchased a FC5100 60 to take some of the load off the smaller one. What part of the UP are you in. I spent my high school days in Marquette. Way to cold for me. Pat had a great post and I think those words will work for any business today.
-------------------- Richard Girard Girard Signs & Graphics Oakland Park, Florida richard@girard.com 954-772-0059 Posts: 148 | From: Oakland Park, Florida U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Thanks Richard, We agree, this is a great place to be and the responses have been wonderful. Some real good advice!
I (Jenna) am from Marquette Michigan originally and now live in Esky, i'm sure you must be familiar? My hubby David moved here over a year ago from Goteborg,Sweden. Long way to travel just to open a sign business hey? LOL actually hes been over here several times in the last 7 years. We had to pick a place to live after we married and decided to stay here in the good ole U.P. Oh yeah, cold? we thought winter was never going to end here. Thanks again to all your great people for sharing your tips of the trade
Jenna and David Nyman
-------------------- David Nyman Nyman Signs 100 South 8th Street Escanaba, MI 49829 Posts: 80 | From: Escanaba, Michigan USA | Registered: Nov 2002
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