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Hi everyone, it's been a while, sorry. Ihave been in the sign bus. since 1980 and lately i have been thinking of calling it quits , i still love what i do but it's getting pretty hard to make a living, i live in a rural area where you can work about 6 months out of the year, the problem is i recently got some competition and there wasn't enough work for one shop in the first place. Now I'm faced with the reality of getting a "REAL" job, and it's really freaking me out! Should I swallow my pride and go speak to the competition. Help
Thanks Alex
------------------ Alex Pate Alex Fine Signs Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Alex, what does the competition do? How do they do it? Are they another Computer/Plotter shop that fell out of the sky? If they are, I'll bet that no amount of talk is going to make a difference. Are there things you could do that they can't?
------------------ 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! :^)
If your market can't support the industry, you may want to expand your capabilities. Screenprinting would be a good place to start. If you can screenprint decals or panels, why not try screenprinting t-shirts?!
Diversification is what has allowed us to last as long as we have. Today, about 70% of our business comes from out of town. You can do it too.
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Don't quit unless you are sure you are absolutely finished. You will definitely regret it.
Like Glen said, adapt and change. Be aggressive. Find out what makes them tick but don't give up. If you only worked 6 months a year what were you doing the other 6 months. Advertise, flyers newspapers, loud van...don't let them forget you. If you have absolutely done every thing you can and the bottom line shows you it is time to quit then quit. Oh yeah, before you start take a few days off and think about it. Recharge!
------------------ Kevin Landry KnL Signs Halifax NS knlsigns@hfx.eastlink.ca
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Why not try acting like a fellow human being and go over to meet them? BOTH Pride & Competion is all in your mind! What is the worst that could happen,they hire you with all your knowledge? Take some friendly advise from an old gesser like me.Lose the PRIDE crap! Because IF you don't,your"REAL JOB"you are thinking about won't satisfy your PRIDE either.From there it will go on and on and on. Hope this helps
------------------ PKing is Pat King of King Sign Design in McCalla,Alabama The Professor of SIGNOLOGY
Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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From what I've seen recently, Nova Scotia NEEDS more sign people!!!! I saw very few decent signs, and asked a shop owner in Digby where she goes to get her signage needs met (her's were pretty bad) "Oh? We have a couple of 'artists' in the area that do signs when we need them' Uh huh........that explains it!
Pat's right, stick it out, literally!! Do up your van, truck, stationwagon, scooter...whatever and stir up work in your area!! Nova Scotia is pretty big and spread out, I understand your feeling isolated, but I think there is more work around you than you think! Try networking with other NS signmakers (Landry's and Deveaus' are great folks!) and see how they handle the isolation. Bet you find there are a lot of people that feel the same. I was tempted to solicit biz while I was there a few weeks ago, I can tell you a job right now that needs doing...want the number? Fly me out, I'll help ya get something started!!! No kidding!!!!I mean it! Adrienne Don't give up too soon, we are here to encourage you!
------------------ Adrienne Morgan Splash Signs www.splashsigns.com "Rainkatt'on chat
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I am not the eternal optimist that some of these good people seem to be. If you have been in the biz there for over twenty years, I figure you already know what can and can't be done there. (At least better than I do.) Either you're: {A} not a good enough businessman to do very well self-employed; {B} in an area where people really just don't care to spend money on signs (these places DO exist - I know) and need to relocate; or {C} just too burned out and in need of a different profession. Only you can know (or find out) for sure.
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If there's not enough work for you, what makes this other shop think there's enough for them? If they're not a franchise, can you cooperate with them as a cartel?
Bruce Williams Lexington KY
------------------ Bruce Williams
Posts: 945 | From: Lexington, KY, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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You're getting some good feedback here Alex.
I'd like to confirm Glenn - ADAPT, and expand your market area.
After being in this biz (and self-employed) as long as you have I bet you'll find it extremely frustrating and maybe even impossible to work for someone else, in or out of the sign field.
I tried getting out of signs and working in other graphics related fields at a burnt-out stage of my career once and discovered after a three year attempt that I was uttery UNEMPLOYABLE! Too damn headstrong to take dumb orders from idiots and not being utilized to my potential. Not to mention being underpaid. Signs had ruined me.
The only good thing about it was being able to rethink what I wanted from my chosen profession, reinvent myself, and open a new company with a far clearer purpose. That was four years ago. Today I can say the only blockades to reaching whatever goals I want from this business are in my own head. What other competitors do or what the local economy does are not factors that effect me anymore - at least not for long. Because I'm able to see over them to a broader picture of what direction I desire. I'm unstuck.
If you leave the sign business maybe you'll get lucky and find satisfying employment. But don't sell your tools or burn any bridges. There's a good chance you'll be back. Recharged and better mentally-equipped to be proactive in choosing your direction rather than reacting to outside influences. Whatever it takes to get there. Maybe a sound trouncing in the job market would help.
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Thanks guys, I guess i needed a bit of a pep talk. Pierre these guys ( my competition) only do vinyl, and i have never been a person to put down other sign shops but from what i see so far they put only what needs to be put into their signs and no more, very little graphics and over all poor layout. I like the idea of reaching out a little further than what i am doing now, what do you guys find is the best way to advertise? Back to my competition if I go to these guys with the intention of joining them and they say no, what then? PS. i have never shown you guys any of my work, so if i can figure it out I'll post a pic. Thanks for everything.
Alex
------------------ Alex Pate Alex Fine Signs Nova Scotia, Canada.
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"When the going gets tough, the tough get going!" Keep plugging along buddy! Do what you do and focus on quality. Advertise quality and give quality. It make a small amount of time but all will turn out ok. People like to buy from people who do good work. The cheaper people will flock to the cheaper companies and the division will be just like that. Let them be known for cheap jobs and you'll be known for quality and eventually people will know which way to go for their needs and you'll make better money for less work! ....just my two pence.
------------------ Robert "Bobby" Salyers Airbrush & Graphics Studio Clearwater, FL website:http://airbrushbobby.com
He put in your heart certain wishes and plans, in my heart he put other and different desires. Each man is good in his sight. It is not necessary for eagles to be crows.---Sitting Bull
Posts: 505 | From: Clearwater Florida USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Alex welcome to the world of Signs.. I know were you live and thats South/West of St. Pete's, Grande Greve,Rockdale.... Small town you are in no doubt! I live in the HRM area and believe me the competion is stiff. First things first! Sit down and make one of the most dazzling business cards you can with help if you need too! Walk and talk all around Cabe Breton with this card on your off days.
Remember image is what you are selling and if yours is the ****s then they never call you back.
Fair pricing on the work. As anywere here in Nova Scotia the belts are tight.
Do customer call backs on check ups about work in the future or qoutes on the go! More times out of 10 you will be turned down by pricing but when they get riped off by the compo then they may come to you and ask what happened.. Have the answer or tell them that you will find out!
If you have a question pick up the phone and call me or drop a note on the board.. Everyone here will help as much as we can!
If I travelled to your area and did a head to head qoute with you on a customer. Remember good design and research on materials and quality work is a selling fact.
You may figure that if you under cut on price it will give you the job... No it will give you the headache!!!!! Cheaper prices only produces cheaper quality.
Also there are 4 seasons and with this there is holidays or tourist industry as well.. Plan a flyer for each and everyone of them to hand out to the customers. Make them know that you can do this for their needs.
Paper Signs. Banners (Interior or Ex.) Pylwood or Plastic Signs Carved or Airbrushed Vinyl lettering or Hand lettering Window displays Point of purchase signs The list goes on and on!
Good luck and think straight!
------------------ Raven/2001 Airbrushed by Raven Lower Sackville N.S. deveausdiscovery@sprint.ca
[This message has been edited by Stephen Deveau (edited July 18, 2001).]
Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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I have been out there, and what I am trying to do is introduce to my new area a differant look (blasted, carved and dimentional ) As other people have said on this board...adapt and re-invent!
It also starts the juices flowing!!!!!
Mark
------------------ Mark Fuller Fuller Signs Keswick, Ontario CANADA
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Thanks again everyone, it's always nice to know that there is such great support out there, you all have helped me look at things in a different light, thanks.
Alex
------------------ Alex Pate Alex Fine Signs Nova Scotia, Canada.
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