posted
Here goes a simple sign topic. Today,I put some stikkies on the window at the court house in town. The graphic listed the hours for court clerk and actual court. I made the whole layout fit on a sheet of 15" when rotated..save material,still it looked good.Just the right size. The wind is blowin like stink today(that's sailboat people talk) so I got some help. I taped the graphic on the window...measured,centered,etc. Hinge,helper hold corner of small graphic,stik it dry! No bubbles at all. Problem...molding on top of window is all distorted..and I measured from it..... My graphic was so off level...I even stood back and gave it a look before application.I always say..hey..if anybody checks my work,they will do it with their eyes..not a tape maeasure. Sure enough,I trust a measure anyhoo.
What did I do? I went back,cut a new graphic,and re-did it. No helper now.Ask the Mrs to go.. She took one look...says.....who the ^&#$% is gonna see THAT? I said.....ME... Its maybe a $75 job.....and now,its done right. I coulda easy got away with it. Would you?
posted
You did the right thing Michael. It would have bugged you for a lot longer than it took you to re~do it. Unlevel, or uncentered stuff drives me crazy.
------------------ surf or MoJo on mirc Cheryl J Nordby Signs by Cheryl Seattle WA.....! signsbycheryl@hotmail.com The person who laughs at himself will never cease to be amused! http://www.thisismycool.com/signs/
Our company has been around for 5 years. Our intention was to be a silent supplier to other sign shops in dimensional,channel, cans and creative work remaining dedicated to anonymity as a loyal issue to our clientele....until.......we realized that we were spending as much time educating them as we would a retail client and getting paid a lot less. Not only that... but when an issue of time delay or screw up on their part was encountered, that at that time, we found out our name would come up as the excuse for their unprofessionalism. Well...we have officially gone retail 6 months ago and are loving every minute of it...for obvious reasons....
so the next time you think that changing out the graphics is a good idea....remember folks like us just waiting to replace you!
The neat thing about this board is that we represent everything good about the way a good sign should look and as a supplier to over 250 "franchise" stores for the past 5 years, I guarantee you that maintaining quality and service is going to keep your clients coming back to you and away from "them".
Drmwvr
------------------ Robert Beverly Dreamweaver Graphics House Arlington, Texas
"Dreams come a size too big so that we can grow into them"
posted
Boy...just had to throw some more thoughts on the fire!
I just met with a client a few months ago that was referred by a friend (because we had just gone retail and no one new about us). After explaining over the phone how I would approach their package, he commented "You are the first sign company (out of 5 "major" companies as he put it) that actually knows what the client wants!"
Not only does that make us feel good of our abilities compared to others but it was worth 20k...(that's lots of dimensioanl letters) since then we have done another package (restaraunt) and are working on another now for them. We have gained the total trust of the client and have gone from creating all of the signs to doing all interior glass work and sculpting a figure that is going in the main foyer in bronze. You can't imagine how much mileage we have gotten out of this project both in confidence but marketing tools.
Another was a set of glass panels that were personally delivered to a new Ford dealership 9 hours away. The panels were 6' x 9' and after thinking about the house that we would have to build just to get them there, we decided it would be in our best interest to hand deliver them. After arriving, the designer was in shock to know the company owner...me...delivered them over a weekend....than to say the least ask if I would stay and help oversee the installation...which I did. I had no idea that there had already been 2 attempts from a local sign company at something a lot simpler...She was elated and we have great hopes fot the future with this designer.
Then last week our company installed some entry signs made from all copper in a posh residential development. The signs were to be inset into stone faces. The stone was so tight that they had to get their crews out to cut/chisel the openings (even after an mdf template was provided). The client of course loved the signs...but...I made sure he new that my staff might need to make another trip out to address an issue that I felt needed to be taken care of...When my staff installed the signs, they were jimmied into the opening thus possibly removing the protective coating placed on to ward of oxidation. I suggested the possible need for a silicon seal or a recoat onsight...My client was very surprised (not haveing dealt with us before) as to my interest/concern. He was extremely thankful!
And last but not least, we got our first introduction to a very large developer in the Dallas area a couple of weeks ago...They asked us to consider a sign package for a restaraunt located inside a new Hilton they just built. They had been given designs created by a design firm (supposedly renowned) and were dissapointed. They ask if we would take a look and offer an alternative..I spoke with the head person a few days ago and she said that regardless of budget restraints, they feel very confident that the owner will pay any reasonable price for the ideas that we submitted. Having been in the closet and just producing products already defined for so many years, we are excited about the future.
and why?....because we will never except anything less than great...no matter how many times it takes to get it right!
FYI...I am an engineer and I owned a woodworking manufacturing plant up to 6 years ago when I saw my talents artistically were not being expoited. We had never made signs prior to that. I hope this inspires y'all to keep aspiring for the creative and the very best you can do!
Drmwvr
------------------ Robert Beverly Dreamweaver Graphics House Arlington, Texas
"Dreams come a size too big so that we can grow into them"
posted
Michael, the one thing that bothers me(ok,two things) 1- if you did it with Rapid Tac(wet) you would not have needed a helper(cost savings)
2- had you applied it with Rapid Tac, you could have stood back,realized the error, pulled up one corner,sprayed more Rapid Tac under as you removed vinyl. Then you spray it again and RE-apply the same piece(no stretches). Would have saved you a trip back to shop, more vinyl , and the "helper" as well !!
Just a couple tips !
Roger(cost saver)
------------------ Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated Waikoloa, Hawaii
I have done the same, and still do. If something don't look right, I pull it off and redo it. A lot of times, I have just wanted to walk away and think no one will notice or not care....then I remember those other quiky-stiky guys and how bad their work is and it hits me like a rock between the eyes....I just don't want to leave a job like that and fall into the same catagory of those others.
Great topic thread on job integrity.
------------------ 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
[This message has been edited by Dave Draper (edited July 06, 2001).]
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
ZZZZZZZZZZackly what I woulda done. And my better half fusses about it too.
------------------ "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."
Albert Einstein
Failure to advertise is a lot like blinking in the dark. Nobody, but you, knows what you're doing.
posted
Hi Michael. What you did is what enables honest folks with Integrity to sleep peacefully at night. It's also the sorta thing that enables one to walk down any street, at any time without worry that you'll encounter someone you owe something to, or you know that you short-changed in some way. This sort of action is what will insure your presence in this trade long after those with lesser standards have fallen by the wayside.
That little voice inside that compelled you to make that extra effort is your professional conscience speaking. You had a choice, but chose to take the higher road...even though it may have been less profitable in the short term. I salute you for that decision, since it speaks volumes of your personal & professional integrity. This trade needs more people with that sense of pride in their work.
------------------ Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail kjmlhenry@home.
Some days you get to be the dog....other days, you get to be the fire hydrant.
posted
A lot of people are very sensitive to things being out-of-level, and they would be the ones to notice. You did right. We've done the same thing. We always have an 8" level in the toolbox which comes in very handy...especially when doing doors. It's good as a double check when something doesn't seem quite right.
------------------ Diane Crowther, Metaline Graphics Ltd., Nova Scotia, Canada, ID #285
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I'da done the same thing... The butterflies in my stomach wouldnt let me sleep at night, knowing at any minute somebody's gonna notice it and call me on the phone.
------------------ 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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posted
I decal firetrucks for a large manufacturer. When he first hired me, he told me how many mistakes the previous signmaker made, and never telling him. Patchworks here and there, things off center, etc. He told me to TELL him if anything is remotely questionable, as he liked perfection.
The key to doing his kind of work is not rushing, however odd little things do happen when you do alot of work for a customer. I was so use to nitpicking my work, because he'd come along, touch his nose to the vehicle and examine everything.
I think I'm ahead of him these days. If I bring something up, he brushes it off as nothing. But let me tell you, having your work examined for years in this manner, you do it perfect or don't do it at all!
There is nothing worse than viewing a job daily that you drive past that you aren't happy with. Better to fix it and save you the grief.
posted
Definately fix things that aren't perfect in your view. It drives me crazy if I mess something up. Even things that are off just a little bit and are most likely unseen by the normal individual. My husband is like your wife, "no one is going to notice that little @#$%^&*!"
------------------ Amy Brown AMBO Design Lake Helen, FL jabrown@cfl.rr.com
"If only my toddler was better with paint & computers!"
Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Reminds me of a job I did for an architect & mechanical drawing firm.
Put dimentional letters over the receptionists desk. Owners came out and swore it was crooked and off center.
I explained that I used a tape AND a level. Not good enough.... I explained that the track lighting they chose was causing a drop shadow that made the left side one inch and the right side 2 inches giving the whole sign a curved look to it at the bottom.
Next day, they called and said you're right, we had recessed lighing installed and it "looks" perfect now.
Gee..."Thanks".
------------------ 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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