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Is your business as efficient as it needs to be? Any plans to invest in new technology that will improve your ability to compete?
This article points toward what appears to be a disturbing trend...even if you run a state of the art shop, are the types of customers you serve at risk?
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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I don't think this "article" has anything to do with the type of sign business we as Letterheads enjoy. EVERY sign project I have produced would qualify in the "CUSTOM" category. Joe's food store Jacks baber shop Nellies beauty salon etc.etc.etc. The BIG BUSINESS boys are not set up for anything other than MASS PRODUCTION
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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[ July 03, 2003, 10:29 PM: Message edited by: Ron Helliar ]
-------------------- Ron Helliar Marysville Sign 11807 51st Ave. NE Marysville, WA 98271 (360) 659-4856 Posts: 263 | From: Marysville, WA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Interesting response Ron..I am currently, and have in the past, been lettering highway trailers for a customer. It started out that I was hard pressed to keep up with the influx of trailers from the manufacturer..These days, I can keep up easily, my customer is REALLY annoyed at the lack of production/slowness of production of a HUGE company, when a small outfit like myself (with temporary help hired) can keep up with whatever is needed.
GOD BLESS SMALL BUSINESS!!!!!!
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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I like your topic, Jon.... Those on this board with memories better than mine will recall that i have been pushing the competitive angle of the vinyl cutting business for a long, long time. There is a reason that we (Graphtec) build the machines that we do...and make no bones about it. If you feel the need to compete, then you'd better be more capable than the guy up the street. hk
-------------------- Howard Keiper Independent Contractor Benicia, Ca. thekeip@comcast.net
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with so much computer stuff around us, its easy to think of "technologies" as meaning "expensive gadgets." A lot of this is because its easier to buy (and easier to sell) "stuff" than "experience". Every day we're bombarded with ads telling us to buy more things and that we need the newer things to "survive".
the technologies i'm interested in improving are: 1. better use of my time (time management technology). 2. better use of my hands (digital technology!) 3. better understanding of paints and finishes (emulsion technology). 4. better design (aesthetic technology)
i'm planning on improving #2 - #4 by going to the Letterheads on Mars meet!
better gadgets are important if i wanted to do MORE work -- right now, i'm only interested in better work. my game plan is to improve myself and decrease my reliance on machines and the buggy software that runs them. my 2 year old plotter is now "obsolete", but my six year old Mack quills are still "state of the art".
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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Technology has really been a bittersweet topic for allot of us. The up side being some of the amazing communication, design, and output technologies we now have that truly make our jobs easier, and profits higher. The downside is how easily we can get wrapped up into the games of upgrading, new new new, better better better, etc... I watch people ( and have done it plenty myself) spend more time trying to find a way to make a computer or other technological breakthrough device save me time, when I should be just DOING the task at hand. Computers are an a amazing resource when implemented correctly, and will serve us well, as long as we define where and when they are needed, and also accurately predict what benifit new technology will bring our business. When I started back here at the Rapid Tac offices I flooded the place with all of these "time saving" technological ideas. I'm Glad the bosses (Mom and Dad) talked me down a bit, because the result may have been an extremely advanced office and manufacturing enviornment, but would it really have helped us serve our customers better? Would it have increased productivity? It's all about balance. (Thanks Mom and Dad) Dad has always made reference to yin yang ( in fact.. remember Yin Yang Waterbeds?? sorry.. little inside joke there Dad). Even today I have to stop myself and look at the overall picture and really think about what will serve us all the best. Some things more than pay for themselves.. others... well.. They look neet all shiny and new, but I think allot of our technology falls into the "bragging rights" catagory.
-------------------- Jeff Bailey Rapid Tac Inc. Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 231 | From: Grants Pass, Oregon, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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