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Seem like most of the jobs I have been doing recently the customers try to get me to put some kind of logo or something on there vehicle for my business! I have not done so because it doesn't seem to me to be in good taste, but wondering what others did. DO you put your sign on theres? These customers seem to be so happy with the work that are wanting to advertize for me!
------------------ Steve Garver Iola Computer Products Iola, Kansas sgarver@kscable.com
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You don't take that as a compliment? Have you ever noticed people wearing articles of clothing with logos/names on them? They do this as a status symbol. That your customers are requesting this should be a "sign" to you that you're doing good work; it could be that they want to show off that YOU did the graphics on their vehicle. No, this isn't tacky...it's a compliment. And I wouldn't waste a minute making up logos to begin "signing" my work if I were you.
But I could be wrong.
Sam
------------------ “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.” - Anais Nin www.samazon.com sam@samazon.com
Posts: 387 | From: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I don't letter their trucks, But They Beg me for my t-shirts. The shirts have pinstriped sleeves and my full color logo over the pocket, 100 percent cotton of course.
I have the shirts EMBROIDERED for a quality non-fading look. There are days when my truck pulls in and someone comes over and says..."So Your Lettercraft Signs....Can I have a shirt?"
I say, You buying a sign? thats what it takes to get one. I had a parking lot paving company start having thier own customers order hanicapped parking signs just so they could get the shirts.
Strange but true.
ps. I wear other companies shirts too IF they are really nice. Some of them I have designed, so it's back scrathing at its best.
------------------ Mike Duncan Lettercraft Signs Alexandria VA
From here on down, its all up hill.
Posts: 1328 | From: Centreville, VA | Registered: Oct 2000
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I personally don't see it as bad taste at all. Some truckers I've dealt with BEG for logo stickers on their trucks because it's easier for them to point at my logo and tell people to call me direct rather than juggle a bunch of my biz cards. Truckers are always eyeing other trucks.
I have some tiny decals made up. Silkscreened on a clear background, my logo is in one color black and one color white, so it works on light or dark backgrounds. My phone number is below. The decals are small and discreet so they don't take away from the work.
These little decals have brought me repeat biz. Not long ago a truck that looked familiar to me pulled in. No graphics on it, but my logo was! Seems I had lettered it, then the owner sold it, and when the new guy saw my logo, he came right over to me. Interesting!
I can relate 100% to what your saying, I also feel it is tacky to put a logo on a customers truck.
I have been asked to do the same as well.
My goal is to make the customer happy, If I succeed they will become my personal salesperson, now when one of your friends highly recomends a movie, would you be more inclined to see it then if you had just seen an ad?
You bet ya!
So my goal is for word of mouth and I don't put my logo on trucks.
This is just my current view on this matter.
People pay me to put their name on vehicles...not mine.
------------------ Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA bob@creativesignworks.com
"Some people's kids"
Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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There is a sign shop here in town that has been around since the beginning of time and they put their name on everything- and I mean EVERYTHING! You see their name all over town. It always struck me a little funny to see their "tag" even on the simplest coroplast FOR RENT sign. But you know what, when a customer doesn't have a regular sign company and aren't sure who to call, I'd bet anything that company gets the first call! I don't put our name on everything but if something goes out the door that I'm proud of and would like to attract similar work, I will "sign" it.
------------------ Terry Whynott Andesign Inc. www.andesign.ca Kitchener, Ontario terry@andesign.ca
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Hell yea I'll sign the work, if the customer requests it. I grab my smallest brush, usually a #2 Sharf that 95% of the hairs have fallen out and sign the work very tiny, discreet place, so you gotta look real hard. I personally like when painters sign the work. I know that I'm not the only person here that see's a new lettering or custom job, and guesses who did it.
Friend of mine has a new Jeep and was asking me how to remove the thin,(and I mean thin) vinyl stripe that wraps around it. I looked at it and found a signature IN THE STRIPE. He had the Jeep for 6 months and never saw the sig. He liked the stripe after that.
I guess the point is- do what you want- you will anyway. HA
------------------ Steve Barba is the proud owner, president, & sole employee of Sturgis Sign Works. "B0LT" on the chat room thing. 209 Oak Drive Sturgis SD 57785 sbarba2616@dtgnet.com 605-720-7667
Posts: 768 | From: Sturgis South Dakota | Registered: Nov 1998
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------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
Its not tacky at all to sign your work. We do this all the time, except I use a cartoon figure of myself holding a paint brush that has contact info on it. Its the size of a business card. I stick it under the name of the local car dealship sticker on the back of the truck.
Not only that, I have seen body shops stick there stickers on after they make repairs.
Car dealerships do it, auto body places do it, custom car add on companies do it so whats the big deal?
Just do It
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA Get To A Letterhead Meet This Summer! See you there! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I do it when they ask me to. Especially on racecars! (thats good advertisment) I recently did torn looking set of graphics on a bran new tiburon. The guy put my racing logo on the car (he shows it) now im in the process of designing 4 more custom vehicles for this month, all off of that one little sticker. Two of the jobs came from people that just saw my logo and took the number down, they didnt even know or talk to the car owner. I go half and half some jobs ill put my logo on some i won't. And all only if they ask me to!
------------------ Ryan Ursta Ursta Graphics 27 West Shenango St. Sharpsville Pa. 16150 Call: 724•962•2206 "letters of Recommendation"
If it's something that I make via my online business, I use some discretion and provide a matching decal instead of signing the actual graphics.
Now, signing your work could be bad if your work is perceived as lousy, but if you have a good rep or if your work looks great, by all means sign it somehow.
In the world of custom cars and trucks, a shop's signature is a status symbol for the vehicle owner, like they're saying "Yeaaaaaaaah, 'X' shop did my graphics and they did an awesome job.".. these guys LOVE showing off who did their vehicles.
Sometimes, customers say something like "If I let you put your logo on my vehicle, would you give me a discount?" I just say (in a joking voice, with a goofy grin) "I already sign everything I do, so if you don't want my signature it will cost you more."
Anyways.. it's not tacky at all.. just develop a logo or signature that flows with the particular work you did.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Steve, A good artist always "signs" his work. Something discrete & simple, preferrably your logo. It's also known as a bug - or that's what it's supposed to look like. Havin' fun, Checkers
------------------ a.k.a. Brian Born Harrisburg, Pa 717.652.9073 members.home.net/sign-it/ This isn't Burger King, you can't have it your way.
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