posted
Just Got my edge last week... (YEA!!) I have a customer who wants some bumper stickers - black on white... No problem... My question is what size and how much do i need to charge?
ANY SUGGESTION WOULD BE APPRECIATED
KEN
-------------------- Kenneth Scott Ken's Custom Tees 311 River Road Cumberland, Ky 40823 kenscott@setel.com Posts: 31 | From: Cumberland Kentucky | Registered: May 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi there - I haven't had my Edge but about 6 months, and can totally appreciate the basic nature of your question. As a matter of fact, I haven't been on this board in weeks and for some reason felt like chacking in - I do believe you might have called my name
The size is sort of arbitrary. If you can do it, make the stickers 11.81 long (wide) because that is your maximum imprint area, and then there is no waste and after printing you can just chop them apart on a papercutter. If you need them bigger, then you have to rotate them and stack them side by side. You just divide the 11.81 by 4 and it will give you 3 stickers almost three inches tall, or by 3 and they will be almost 4 inches. Then your Signmaking software will allow you to duplicate and paste any number on a strip. I would keep the number you print sort of small, maybe 25 - 30 at a time for starters. You can just reprint until you have filled the order, that's just in case something goes wrong during your learning curve.
About pricing it, just write to me directly and let me know how many. I'll run it through my trusty Signpricing program, it'll take less than a minute.
-------------------- Myra A. Grozinger Signs Limited Winston-Salem, NC
signslimited@triad.rr.com Posts: 1244 | From: Winston-Salem, NC USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
A couple things you need to do to help get you started with pricing..... 1) Contact Stouse and get their catalog. 2) Invest in a pricing program like EstiMate.
When it comes to bumper stickers, you need to realize that there is a cross-over point where screen printed bumperstickers is cheaper than Edge printing.
Most bumper stickers measure 10.5"x3" on average. I recommend using something like Gerber's "ImageCal R". It is a calendared vinyl with a removable adhesive.
My price breaks are as follows..... 25, 50, 125, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 5000, and so on.
Here is how it breaks down for a 1 color print....
These are my retail prices. At these rates, I double my money or more.
If you compare these to Stouse, you'll see that their short runs are more expensive and their long runs are cheaper.
You can lower your costs and improve your profits by using Gerber's Colorset foils. And, you can also improve your prices and profits by using 3rd party foils and vinyls.
I should also add that my prices are based on my $68 per hour shop rate and an automatic 30 minutes to cover office and sales time.
[ June 11, 2002, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: Glenn Taylor ]
posted
On a one color job with a simple bumper sticker cut I would charge at least $5 per sq. ft. I would also probably want $25 for set up even if the client brings the file on disc. If there are at least $100 worth of stickers I might waive the set-up. On $200 or larger orders I may go down to $4 or even $3/sq. ft. if I can use less expensive materials. I never run anything on the edge for less then $50 so even if they only want a dozen stickers you will need to make at least $50 in my opinion. (of course when your new, the chance to learn & make some money, is better then running samples for yourself all day, so...)
Also, many bumper sticker customers will be expecting the stickers to be cut through the release liner & provided in a stack. Without transfer tape. This is always a discussion I need to have before doing the work. I offer to die-cut through vinyl only on the plotter with about 1/8" to 1/4" space between & apply transfer tape for free (take it or leave it - no savings to leave off the weed & tape). This is their cheapest option & their order would be provided on a roll weeded & taped. If they want them cut on a paper cutter I factor this time in on my price, or offer the client to do this themselves instead of paying me $50 an hour to do it. If they will be cut this way I would set up the repeats with no space between stickers & no cuts done by the plotter. This way I could use exact inch increments totalling 12" (6x2, 4x3, 3x4) if there is no printing at the edge of the sticker, the print file will still be inside of the 11.8" limitation but the paper cutter that has inches printed on it will speed up the cutting process.
[ June 11, 2002, 06:11 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
posted
i used to buy vinyl stickers $35/100 if i ordered 300 or more. One color screen printing.
This is just a basic sticker with a logo.
However, an edge would be able to do some really high class bumber stickers. And i know that would make them worth much more.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
The following shows the "Hard Numbers" of Edge printing 250 10.5"x3" bumper stickers, one color as discussed earlier....
Now, lets suppose I lower the price to match the screen printed price.....
Again, these prices are based on using all Gerber material, a $68 per hour shop rate, and an additional 30 minutes was added to cover office and sales time.
posted
I think Bob and Glenn should just have a boxing match to decide on the Roland vs. Edge thing. Letterhead could sell tickets and pay-per-view it and make big bucks. I'd pay. HA!HA!
-------------------- John Thompson JTT Graphics "The big guy with a little sign shop!" Royston/Hartwell Georgia jtt101@hotmail.com Posts: 626 | From: Royston Georgia | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Aw come on you guys, we gotta have something to watch, just keep it clean and don't bite off each others ears.
[ June 12, 2002, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: John Thompson ]
-------------------- John Thompson JTT Graphics "The big guy with a little sign shop!" Royston/Hartwell Georgia jtt101@hotmail.com Posts: 626 | From: Royston Georgia | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic