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Can mom and pop signs shops compete with established digital players?
- Thread starter sjm
- Start date
Pro Signs & Graphix
New Member
What do you consider an established player? JMO, the printer is a tool that should be used to enhance what you do now, as well as profits.
Talk the talk, walk the walk, but never BS customers. Make sure you can design good solid designs that are assets to your customers, sub out what you can't do and bank the check.
Develop and use good people skills, don't lowball, cultivate long term customer relationships, utilize social networking for great advertising, check your ego at the door, and never stop learning.
Yes you can compete. There are a lot of customers out there that want to deal with you, not some huge service bureau that makes them fill like just a number.
Develop and use good people skills, don't lowball, cultivate long term customer relationships, utilize social networking for great advertising, check your ego at the door, and never stop learning.
Yes you can compete. There are a lot of customers out there that want to deal with you, not some huge service bureau that makes them fill like just a number.
Craig Sjoquist
New Member
agrees with...cf beagle
But you got to find your nich what you do best, add the best service, hustle, stay focused, your bookkeeping will tell ya your profit high points which will help ya figure other stuff
Egad I got to do this myself... ouch lol
But you got to find your nich what you do best, add the best service, hustle, stay focused, your bookkeeping will tell ya your profit high points which will help ya figure other stuff
Egad I got to do this myself... ouch lol
sjm
New Member
That's where I think you make the mistake. Design company's are paid to design. Advertisers to advertise ... Sign Companies do not design they execute a design. Otherwise designers and advertisers would jump into the mom and pop we can do it to fanfare.
Sign Ninja
New Member
Find a wholesale digital printer is what I do. All the benefits, none of the costs. http://www.pcsigns.biz
You compete by combining the functions of a design company and an advertising agency with your production capabilities.
80% of the business community don't want to use design companies and Ad agencies... they've neither the budget nor the demand to justify using these specialist suppliers. If you can provide a scaled down version of design + advertising + production then you have a package most businesses are crying out for.
Lots of people get blinded by the technology... some machinery does enable you to make signs more efficiently... however, if you don't have the first idea how to design, create an effective advert or produce what you've drawn up then all the technology in the world is pointless.
80% of the business community don't want to use design companies and Ad agencies... they've neither the budget nor the demand to justify using these specialist suppliers. If you can provide a scaled down version of design + advertising + production then you have a package most businesses are crying out for.
Lots of people get blinded by the technology... some machinery does enable you to make signs more efficiently... however, if you don't have the first idea how to design, create an effective advert or produce what you've drawn up then all the technology in the world is pointless.
sjm
New Member
I thought my post was well qualified but just in case we are talking about taking it to the next level, not just a mom and pop reality sign.
Billct2
Active Member
Maybe that's true for some but not me.
I got into this because a samll operator sign shop was a jack of all trades who also got to be a designer, architect and contractor.
Of course since then the business has changed radically, but i still think the small shop can be most successful by solving the customers problem on time and on budget.
I don't want to be just a "Print(Sign) Service Provider" and neither do my customers.
sjm
New Member
Yes, I don't disagree. However can you do it on a national scale and for example a cosmetic company?
Fred Weiss
Merchant Member
You can if you develop a network of shops to carry out your installs and permit pulling. That's one of the things our new Network Registry is aimed at doing for members here.
You will definitely get lots of disagreement on the designers design aspects of your statements. Most designers have no clue or concern for anything beyond the printed page and websites. Designing for signage both requires additional concerns for file preparation as well as engineering, production and fulfillment.
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sjm
New Member
I see your point and it's a valid one. Though a good designer has access to that same network. Whether it be for a cosmetic display indoors or for that matter I suppose an outdoor billboard.
Billct2
Active Member
Maybe I misunderstood, are you saying how can a small shop compete with nationwide sign companies? Only one way, sub it, but then you're acting as a sign broker. But I really don't see that as an issue for a small shop, we're trying to survive in our markets and trying to compete with a company that has 12 wide format machines running 3 shifts or a design/marketing firm with 20 staffers just isn't realistic. Being able to provide a solution to your (local) clients problem is the game. I have some large clients and one of the hardest problems is the logistics of dealing with a big order while keeping the day to day stuff flowing.
Flame
New Member
So confusing... of course a small sign shop cannot handle a multi millionaire dollar account. They are not structured for it. They are setup (or should be) for short run manufacturing, design, all in one shop to quickly and effectively handle small businesses advertising/marketing needs.
Plain and simple.
And yes, you can compete against big boys like sign a rama and such.
iSign
New Member
sjm, I think you are having a difficult time making yourself clear.. but maybe it's just me who doesn't have half a clue what you are really trying to say even after 5 posts on this thread. It is starting to sound like you have some specific situation in mind though, and in trying to make a general question it's leaving it hard to fill in the blanks in what I am finding too vague to understand... great discussion though ..waiting to happen
B Snyder
New Member
You're not alone Doug.
sjm,
1st - we need to define the term established.
Established based on what? Volume? Employees? Size of market served? Capabilities?
2nd - You say "Sign Companies do not design they execute a design." This is true for wholesale sign manufacturers but even many of those provide design services. Post a poll and find out how many sign companies here both design and build.
3rd - Your original post said nothing about competing with "established players" locally, regionally, nationally or internationally. Only after Billct2 explained that he does provide both design and build services did you alter the argument.
4th - Is a "mom and pop reality (sic) sign" a sign made for a mom and pop realty company or a sign made for a realty company by a mom and pop sign company?
5th - "I see your point and it's a valid one. Though a good designer has access to that same network. Whether it be for a cosmetic display indoors or for that matter I suppose an outdoor billboard." This is where I think you lose iSign and I.
Flame answered your original question in post 16. I bet most here would agree. If you have another question please be clear and concise to avoid any misunderstanding.
sjm
New Member
So confusing... of course a small sign shop cannot handle a multi millionaire dollar account. They are not structured for it. They are setup (or should be) for short run manufacturing, design, all in one shop to quickly and effectively handle small businesses advertising/marketing needs.
Plain and simple.
And yes, you can compete against big boys like sign a rama and such.
I think, you are limiting yourself to growing by your statement. I can accept you embraced digital after the market was well established. Commericial Colour Labs bought early into to digital for example and continue to grow.
Malkin
New Member
While this may be true, it's not a bad thing. I think it's unwise for a business to try to target markets that they are not prepared for, and have little to no experience in.
As an example, I'll turn away dirt bike graphic requests because I know it usually involves templates I don't have, materials I don't keep in stock or have much experience with, and designs styles that I'm not fluent in.
Now if I had a dozen requests a day, I would certainly change my tune, but 3-4 a year ain't enough.
sjm
New Member
Fair point but as I mentioned in my opening post the lines are being blurred. If a screen printer and a commercial photo lab can do it, what's to stop you?