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In light of the post about things slowing down, I'm wondering about how other shops are expanding their services or changing the focus of their work, and why. Do you change in response to what you competitors offer, to what your customers ask for, or to satisfy your own desires for a fresh challenge?
The major addition in my shop has been the purchase of equipment to produce custom decorative ironwork. For those that haven't heard this story, I bought out the tools used by the retiring owner of a shop where I had brackets built. This included a welder, cutting equipment, an arbor press, and two custom-built scroll benders, designed to bend mild steel into spirals for scrolls. Since then we've built several dozen custom brackets of all sorts of shapes and dimensions, for ourselves and others (and yes, we do sell to the trade!). Currently we are involved in a proposal for larger ironwork projects, including a fence and arched gateway for a client's outdoor showroom. Adding this equipment has been a way to add value to our core business of dimensional signs, providing us with another way of offering a totally unique product vs. that offered by competitors. Not to mention that designing, bending, and welding steel is fun and creative, as well as profitable.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988"
Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Recent events and downturns have not discouraged me from my plans. October 1st I went ahead and purchased a used Edge/plotter/software package that I have been wanting for a long time. It hasn't been easy parting with that much money when I would feel more secure with it staying in my account, but 23 years in the business of ups and downs makes you bolder. It's only money, right?
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2786 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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Cam, If you don't already know about them http://www.kingmetals.com has a catalog the size of Sears & R. full of affordable adornments for ironwork. I am concentrating on getting a cnc router. I still fully intend to hand carve the nice stuff, but cutting aluminum and board shapes is not fun anymore. My other project has been to build an entire workshop in a 50 foot trailer (road type) and get the mess out of our gallery. I have been working for one hour and cleaning for twenty, too many times. I works fabulous, for under 5000.00 with Heat and A/C. Bronzeo
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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Cam, I have talked to you in the past about making some brackets for me I am still interested, the stuff in you portfolio is awesome! Have you thought about drawing up maybe 6 "standard" shapes and making up a little price list that we could choose from? Then you could do some email business: "I will take 3 of style A at 48" and 1 Style B at 24"... then you can start doing custom shapes: "Hey cam here is the shape of my panel, can you make me somthing nice to go with it?" come on Bro, marketing! marketing! lets go!
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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