I set up a price guide for my business six years ago that outlined my shop terms (minimum cost per order, 50% down required etc.)and some pricing guidelines for clients (banners - various sizes/$$$, mags, vehicle graphics, etc.) I have kept it up to date and available for my clients.
For me, the guides have helped to reduce the number of "comparison shopping" callers but it is possible that I am also losing clients who look at the numbers and not the business.
In your opinions, is having your pricing right out there, a deterent or an asset to business growth?
posted
El Wi, Having good samples along with your prices and policies should be an enhancement to more sales. People have something to make comparisons to, with your price ranges you can also have samples from plain to super custom jobs. I find it easier to sell something if the customer can 'see' an example instead of a 'description' of it is 'this big' with 'these colors' and it 'costs this much'. Sell your ideas not your signs! Today almost anyone can make 'signs' but few can 'create', make that a sales pitch to set you apart from the rest.
------------------ Larry
Elliott Design McLemoresville, Tn.
If you can't find the time to do it right, where gonna find the time to do it over?
Posts: 486 | From: McLemoresville, TN. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think a very important factor is presentation. Your price list sounds like a fine idea if it is presented with photos of your work (the samples Larry mentioned). Our experience is that if you have the price in the customer's hand, nicely presented on an estimate, within 5 min. of their request it tends to blow their mind because other shops don't behave this way (yet).
This gives you the opportunity to actually show them how "on the ball" you are the first time they deal with you, and this can often allow a higher price because they trust your company.
------------------ Mark Smith Ampersand Signs & Design EstiMate Sign Estimating Software www.ampweb.com/estimate 1-888-304-3300 Hailing from beautiful Asheville, N.C.
Posts: 724 | From: Asheville, NC, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hello Liz, good topic and a difficult one. Here down under I find folk want quotes for everything, rarely do I get a 'do-and-charge' job. I tend to price each job individually, having good quote software (I use MYOB) helps a lot. I don't put out price lists because every job is so different. One exception to that might be safety signs, eg. a 3'x 2'Danger sign with standard text in standard materials, I might have a price guide for varying sizes of that sign. As far as my understanding of pricing, I have been helped by 'bouncing' the price off another signwriter I get on well with, we compare prices and help each other.
------------------ Gray Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania.
Printer-friendly view of this topic