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New Assignment is a'comin'
- Thread starter THATgirl
- Start date
:signs101:
darinbushman
New Member
I agree
Lorraine,
I tried to get his topic rolling about a month ago and got nowhere... maybe if the teacher throwse it out as an assignment we might get some place.... Great idea...
Darin
Lorraine,
I tried to get his topic rolling about a month ago and got nowhere... maybe if the teacher throwse it out as an assignment we might get some place.... Great idea...
Darin
SA-SignGuy
New Member
Marketing is always a great topic to discuss, as it brings us business, and that generetes money, so I'm for it!! Also, something that would be interesting as well is to see what small one to two person shops are doing for time management. What i mean is that im a one man band, and at times I almost want to pull my hair out, all the calls, the quotes, the deadlines, the "oh, can you change the color?", the rush customers, ordering parts, getting prices.......uugghhh. I can not be alone in this rat race, and im sure others have been here and found ways to manage it all. Some days its great, others........well, hectic is a good word to use. What do you think teach?
Fred Weiss
Merchant Member
Take a lesson from the franchises. They
1. "Cut for production" which is to say they will waste material when it saves them time. They typically average $200 at retail per hour in production from their installers/appliers.
2. Price your work to provide for reasonable profits and growth instead of trying to meet the lowest bidders.
If your work is good and your services professional, most clients will see that and be willing to pay a fair price.
You may not be as busy but you'll make more bottom line and you'll like your business a lot more.
1. "Cut for production" which is to say they will waste material when it saves them time. They typically average $200 at retail per hour in production from their installers/appliers.
2. Price your work to provide for reasonable profits and growth instead of trying to meet the lowest bidders.
If your work is good and your services professional, most clients will see that and be willing to pay a fair price.
You may not be as busy but you'll make more bottom line and you'll like your business a lot more.
SA-SignGuy
New Member
very wise words as always Fred, but a lil off of the subject i was referring to. I was trying to get specifics on how others are managing time in the shop, and out of the shop, as far as how does evryone keep a balance. Do they always make to do list, always order supplies on tues, do installs on only two days out of the week.......anything, im just looking for advice on how to not lose it. Im a one man shop and im getting really busy, meaning long hours, lack of sleep, and sometimes at the end of the day i look back and wonder what the heck it is ive done all day. Any idea? Anyone?
Jay Are
Jay Are
Fred Weiss
Merchant Member
I thought I was pretty much on topic but may not have been clear.
My point is that if one gets reasonable prices for their work, they don't have problems of staying organized or being overworked because:
1. You can afford to do things like waste a little material to save your time.
2. Employ others to get the work out, either directly or through outsourcing.
3. Carry larger inventories of materials and consumables.
4. In general, have the funds and the profits to be able to manage your business efficiently.
There is also a lot of streamlining one can do when they reach a point in this business that they can afford it. For example, I rarely go out on a sales call or deliver work. My clients come to me. I specialize in those areas of signmaking which I can do efficiently and refer off or outsource that which I cannot.
I deal with several suppliers but my most valued one is my local guy who gives me same day delivery on anything I order by 11:00. His rates are 5% to 10% higher but he's worth it since his services reduce the need for me to carry larger inventories or even stock certain items while still being able to offer them.
But the bottom line, in my experience, is that if one is disorganized and overworked, it can usually be traced to either pricing, marketing or being stretched too thin.
My point is that if one gets reasonable prices for their work, they don't have problems of staying organized or being overworked because:
1. You can afford to do things like waste a little material to save your time.
2. Employ others to get the work out, either directly or through outsourcing.
3. Carry larger inventories of materials and consumables.
4. In general, have the funds and the profits to be able to manage your business efficiently.
There is also a lot of streamlining one can do when they reach a point in this business that they can afford it. For example, I rarely go out on a sales call or deliver work. My clients come to me. I specialize in those areas of signmaking which I can do efficiently and refer off or outsource that which I cannot.
I deal with several suppliers but my most valued one is my local guy who gives me same day delivery on anything I order by 11:00. His rates are 5% to 10% higher but he's worth it since his services reduce the need for me to carry larger inventories or even stock certain items while still being able to offer them.
But the bottom line, in my experience, is that if one is disorganized and overworked, it can usually be traced to either pricing, marketing or being stretched too thin.
Craig Sjoquist
New Member
classroom assignments news to to me hmm like the challxnge though be looking forward to what comes up now
jimdes
New Member
Just my two cents, how about posting a picture of a vehicle, come up with a ficticious name and the general point the customer is trying to convey? Then we all take a stab at it?
It's also been a dream of mine to get a panel jam going too . . . had little time to focus on that lately though.
It's also been a dream of mine to get a panel jam going too . . . had little time to focus on that lately though.