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Hello, I have been manufacturing just about every kind of sign and doing tons of vehicle graphics in vinyl for the past five years. I just landed a huge contract for an executive office park and needless to say I am inexperienced in this kind of signage. We usually sub-contracted it to another company. However, presently I have all the contacts necessary to construct a monument sign, and the building materials are on site, I just need to find out how to do it, basically. The order consists of individual interior signs, exterior directional, (1) monument sign, and (2) archetectual marker signs for the north and south end of the complex. In addition I will be installing exterior marker signs, between posts, for each business. The owner and I agreed that we should accentuate the buildings colonial characteristics in the marker and monument signs. I could really use some input on where to find product knowledge, and product info for this kind of signage. I am not familiar with the product availability, much less where to order them from. The complex is designed with colonial architecture. I have chosen to design the signage in the same fashion. I have begun to sketch a 'dollhouse' version of the main building for the monument sign. There is to be a flagpole incorporated and some gardens on each end of the building. ther is a 'crow's nest' atop of the building which I have located the flagpole. He would like lighted lettering, standing away from the wall for the individual, interior signs. I am thinking of gemini lettering, but he does not like the way they tear away the drywall when they are changed. I was trying to find a way to hang them, but other than a plaque of sorts, I can not see how to achieve this? As for the marker signs I thought I would use HDU in between 4 x 4 posts continuing the colonial theme in the sign frames and fonts. I plan to research the kind of fonts that are used in colonial times for this problem.
Any and all input would be appreciated. I desperately need to find manufacturers, other than Gemini, for the plaque signage and the individual signs. I am just trying to produce options for my client to choose from. Or is that unecessary??
Thank you for your time! Respectfully, Craig Shaub Dig-it All Sign Company 2504 21st Street, Racine Wi 53403 shaub001@uwp.edu
-------------------- Craig Shaub Dig-It All Sign Company 306-30th Avenue Kenosha, Wi 53144 262-553-9519 dig_it_allsignco@hotmail.com Posts: 34 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Jul 2002
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Hi Craig, i've been on both sides of that kind of project, so i can offer one suggestion: have ONE person (an employee) who is the "project manager" in charge of tracking each little part of the job. Projects that this typically have many little signs, and you need somebody to check the spelling on each one, check it off a list, confirm its location, have the customer sign off on each one, etc. its a lot of little nitpicky stuff, and probably shouldn't be done by you or by the sign fabricator/s. (its a good job for a receptionist, office manager, spouse, or other non-sign maker). if you don't have somebody like that, you might want to consider finding a temp or part-time person. building the big sign/s is easy, but making sure that you have all 35 of the "fire extinguisher" or "room occupancy" plaques can be a real pain. (i know, its not exactly what you asked about, but i've seen a few large architectural projects go astray at the last minute because room number signs got installed wrong or other "simple" things got messed up).
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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Hi Craig! Don't let a 'big' contract intimidate you. Scooter is right-on. Organization is really going to help you on this one. Make that check list. Just like organizing anything you need to know the goal. Write things down and don't rely on memory. For whatever you need, start surfing the net and see what is available. If you choose one that you're not quite satisfied with, don't use them next time. I see it as your job to weed through the available vendors and present maybe two options to your customer. If you give them too many options it's overwhelming to them. I think if you put the whole job in number order, as to what to do next, it will flow easier from beginning to end, and once again, check it off as it's done and use a third party to proof your work. Take a deep breath, enjoy what you do, have fun, and make some money! Post some pictures too!
-------------------- Pat Foley Foley Signs 35812 Wells Road Coarsegold CA 93614 foleys@sierratel.com (559) 642-6264 Posts: 73 | From: Coarsegold, CA | Registered: Jan 2002
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