I suggest that most all of us in the sign business think relatively small. The question to ponder is: "How can it be that everyone thinks big?" Wouldn't that "big thinking" just become the norm, forcing yet another leap in thinking size, along with even lower prices?
No, I think you're wrong in how you worded it.
Not most all of
US in the sign business, just people without a game plan and settle for taking a chance here or there in the sign business think small.
Most
ANY business person will think big, look at the overall big picture and bring home the big bucks.
Thinking big doesn't equate to big prices or big ideas. Do you think Ikea, McDonald's and any other successful business gets it's rocks off complaining about everytime a mouse runs across the floor or a spider climbs a rack that they shriek and run around bitching ?? Heck no, they meet it dead on, take care of it... all while not missing a beat in the process. They all have set standards which no one else can maintain, or they wouldn't remain where they're at in the business world.
If some of the people in this membership and other industries would simply worry about themselves and not what's in the neighbor's backyard, they'd be much better off. While you were installing your window lettering, did you happen to mention that you could indeed provide him with the same product, but of a much richer quality and yours could be custom fabricated ??
Learn to use key words and set your business above the rest, merely with words and key phrases. Learn to interact and be observant of your surroundings and act on them. Get your customer to be in awe of you so he calls you for everything and if you can't do it... you can point him in the right direction, but you'd be glad to take of his/her needs if they'd like.
Play the game and don't lower your standards by letting someone blindside you. I was recently blindsided by a customer a few weeks ago when they wanted me to do something for him in which I told him it won't work. I said, tell ya what, you call this person and see if you can really do it. He wanted me to use an old Pittsburgh Pirates team logo and he had every reason why he could do it and I told him flat out NO, you may not do it. Call the team headquarters and see if they'll give you permission. I thought I lost a customer, but a week went by and I got a phone call from him and he said, I must thank you for not letting me make a dreadful mistake. I had no idea things were how you told me. The Pittsburgh man told me to thank you for standing your ground and instead of going with the other guy who was going to do it for me.... I'm bringing all the teams to you and we're going to start getting all of our stuff from you. I apologized for being stern with him and he even went on to say, he was glad I did, that he learned a very valuable lesson. He said he's been in this business for almost 20 years and never knew this. He thanked me again and said I gained his respect for sticking to the truth rather than just taking a buck like all the others have in the past.
So, rather than caving in to Staples, Ikea or whoever and thinking they are the enemy, think of it.... they can't do the things you do and that's why you're at the top of your game. You da man and know how to do al the things they can't do. So now...... charge the big bucks and let it be known you are the tops in your area and beyond.
