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Hi I have been running my sign shop for 11 years now, we have a Roland 40¨ and an Encad 50¨ inkjet printer, but lately it all seems boring, and more than,that sales are down. Is there anything new I can add to my store, of course within reasonable amounts for a two people store, for now we handle the obvious banners, vehicle lettering, some posters etc., but for now we are really being left behind, any help, thanks.
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Hi! Talk to Frank Manning @Chromatic/Spraylat/1-Shot or Dennis @ Ronan...see if they will send you a starter kit of lettering enamels, talk to the folks @ Lazerlines...get a couple brushes, go to the hardware store & pick up a quart of turpentine...buy a Mike Stevens mastering Layout book from SignCraft. It's never to late to learn how to paint! And all for about $200... What about doing window splashes? They would look great out there & you would have a blast doing them! Love- JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Are sales down in general for your whole area, or is it just your shop.
You say you are being "left behind" which says to me other shops are getting the work and you are not. You need to find out why you are losing the business and correct it.
OR, you can find a product that your competition can't provide and find a niche for yourself like the others above have mentioned.
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If you want to learn hand lettering, you are about 7 hours away from free classes offered by one of the true masters of the craft on November 7 and 8. Raymond Chapman will be training. Proceed North on I-35 from Laredo approximately 300 miles to Temple.
You live in a beautiful place. I have been to Garza Garcia many times. A good friend of mine lived on the road up Chipinque Mesa until he married a girl from the states last year and moved here. The suit I wore to the Kingdom Hall last night and the shoes I am wearing now were purchased there two years ago.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5106 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hi, when I hear "sales are down", then maybe a new marketing campaign would help faster and easier than adding new equipment (money!) or skills (time!). How about new flyers; or make unusual or funny signs to advertise for yourself. Only creating them should take the boring out of your workday already. By the way, it would be nice to have a real name to go with your post Lotti
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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rikalife, I checked out your website from your profile - very impressive. (ps, you need to edit the hyperlink - it has a space before the dot). How much of that work did you design? It kind of doesn't matter, because you can obviously wrap those busses, a specialized market that is probably fed by advertising agencies more than by independent sign shops. If it's slow, work on your affiliations with agencies that can send you more of that work.
That kind of work bores you? You must really like challenges. I'd think you would get the biggest kick out of seeing your work pass you on the road. (ok, that's just me). Your work is clearly heavy on the digital side. Maybe you need something more hands-on to add some spark to your creativity. Start building dimensional stuff out of wood and metal, then paint it - that should send you screaming back to the comfort of digital nirvana. Hahaha
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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Marketing is so important. We have a steady stream of return clients, but have to continue reaching out to new ones. This keeps us on our toes. Keep your eyes open for naked trucks when you go the grocery store or gas station.
Keep your eyes open for new construction sites, or make it a point to notice signs that are showing signs of wear. It's all about being agressive, sharp and observant.
Sometimes we begin to rest on our reputation and laurels and can forget the hungry times. Keep an active portfolio, and go get em!
[ October 11, 2003, 10:08 PM: 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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Love- JILL
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