One man shop growing pains

[Boudica]

Tex you've been watching too much 80s porno. Quit being so cheap and update your collection.

Quit sharing your library. He's millinial, you're Gen X. Be the example you want to see Mr elder gen.. Wait, your talking about porn. Perverts... Both of you, in the corner, nose to the wall!

 

[Boudica]

So you don't make signs on the cheap but you work as a professor on the cheap.

As I've seen from rhs, He has his business, with the experience... Doing. He lends his experience to students. Props. That doesn't equate to a monetary value. Teaching, and knowing you have taught well is it's own value. Doesn't have to be monetary, to spend time teaching, mentoring... To feel rewarded. Unless you're a bitter lonely person... Then I see your complaint. So I say Keep that complaint to your bitter lonely self.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

Quit sharing your library. He's millinial, you're Gen X. Be the example you want to see Mr elder gen.. Wait, your talking about porn. Perverts... Both of you, in the corner, nose to the wall!

Don't act innocent. I know you have 2 chargers on your nightstand.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

Don't wow me Tex, you do too.

 

[Boudica]

How?! One for the phone. . the other for the watch.
I know what you inuendo... I have a husband for that. Don't bother me in the morning... I'll be busy.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

How?! One for the phone. . the other for the watch.
I know what you inuendo... I have a husband for that. Don't bother me in the morning... I'll be busy.

Bzzzzzzz

 

[McDonald Signs]

I'm also a one man shop in small rural town with one helper. But we have been covered up with work for several years, more than I can do, putting in 10hrs a day. It is stressfull. But that is a good thing in a way.
Raise your prices? Maybe Specialize in a few of the kinds of jobs you like to do and make the most profit on and just do those? But be careful turning down alot of customers. The economy may/will slow down at some point and the business/customers may not be there and you might be looking for jobs. I've been in the sign business 27 yrs and I've seen it running wide open like it is now, and customers not complaining about prices much, but I've also seen it where there was very little work out there. I'd rather have it more than I can do myself....

 

[Gino]

I'm also a one man shop in small rural town with one helper. But we have been covered up with work for several years, more than I can do, putting in 10hrs a day. It is stressfull. But that is a good thing in a way.
Raise your prices? Maybe Specialize in a few of the kinds of jobs you like to do and make the most profit on and just do those? But be careful turning down alot of customers. The economy may/will slow down at some point and the business/customers may not be there and you might be looking for jobs. I've been in the sign business 27 yrs and I've seen it running wide open like it is now, and customers not complaining about prices much, but I've also seen it where there was very little work out there. I'd rather have it more than I can do myself....

How can you be a one-man-shop, if you have an employee/helper ?? Doesn't that add up to........ two people.

 

[Scotchbrite]

How can you be a one-man-shop, if you have an employee/helper ?? Doesn't that add up to........ two people.

The helper is a woman.

 

[Gino]

So..... ?? Doesn't she count ?? Seriously.

 

[Scotchbrite]

He said one man shop, not one person shop.

 

[Stacey K]

The helper is a woman.

 

[Gino]

He said one man shop, not one person shop.

I forgot the terminology has changed over the last buncha years. I forgot what the title of this thread really meant. I didn't realize this thread was off limits to females. What about the other 58 genders on file, now ?? Can't they mingle, either ??

 

[Stacey K]

I call girls "guys" all the time. Then I wonder if I offended anyone...then I figure...who cares...and I realize that NOBODY cares LOL

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

We don't have that problem in TX... we just say yall. See, we've had a more inclusive terminology the whole time..

 

[rjssigns]

So you don't make signs on the cheap but you work as a professor on the cheap.

It's a good gig, pays well, gives me perspective and keeps my "chops" up.
You'll find out in short order where your skills are lacking with software, RIP's, imposition software, interpersonal skills and keeping an Indigo press running.
I know more about that than I want to, but a new press isn't in the budget for a year or two.
Upshot is I get to use all the "toys" in the lab. Digital press, UV flatbed, flatbed cutter, roll to roll printers, hydraulic shears etc...

Some of what I do: Training students how to set up sandwich print business cards for an Indigo is an adventure.
Going in tonight to finish that up. Next week students go for onsite training at one of the biggest print shops in the United States.
From intake to preflight, soft proofing, color correction, press proofs etc... they are going to learn a professional workflow at a multi-billion dollar company.
They're hiring too.

 

[Stacey K]

I had a time wasting customer yesterday that I hung up on and another one stop in today. This post came to mind!

The phone guy wanted me to give him banner scraps and cut him letters so he could piece them together for a banner for his truckers convoy display in his front yard. He wanted per letter pricing, I said I only do square foot. Then he wanted me to donate it because I should be supporting the truckers. He was getting real snippy with me so I threw a couple prices out and said that's that, those are my prices, I'm open till 4, thank you and I hung up.

Today - had a guy come in who has been stopping in since I opened - never shuts up - drives me nuts. I think he just wants to egg me on and argue about politics. Long story short, he left mad because I wouldn't engage in an arguement and wouldn't order him 2' of cream vinyl.

I have some jobs I'm working on this week that are very large, and some other really nice jobs with great customers. I sure don't need to spend time trying to save these two yahoos a few pennies.

I thought of Gnubler both times since we talked about time wasters on this thread.

 

[Pski89]

I had a time wasting customer yesterday that I hung up on and another one stop in today. This post came to mind!

The phone guy wanted me to give him banner scraps and cut him letters so he could piece them together for a banner for his truckers convoy display in his front yard. He wanted per letter pricing, I said I only do square foot. Then he wanted me to donate it because I should be supporting the truckers. He was getting real snippy with me so I threw a couple prices out and said that's that, those are my prices, I'm open till 4, thank you and I hung up.

Today - had a guy come in who has been stopping in since I opened - never shuts up - drives me nuts. I think he just wants to egg me on and argue about politics. Long story short, he left mad because I wouldn't engage in an arguement and wouldn't order him 2' of cream vinyl.

I have some jobs I'm working on this week that are very large, and some other really nice jobs with great customers. I sure don't need to spend time trying to save these two yahoos a few pennies.

I thought of Gnubler both times since we talked about time wasters on this thread.

ohh boy!!

I've had x2 people now, after measuring a trailer, and them requesting, text, designs, logos, artwork, and all this stuff.. we get to the pricing.. then its never mind this, forget that, less wording, to the point, it was literally the phone number and business name.. and im like, I spent hours designing all this just to get a never mine.

however i have been in "business" for 6mo and have only done a dozen jobs, making enough to pay for ink and paper! lol anyone wants to send some jobs my way i'll take them!! lol

 

[CanuckSigns]

ohh boy!!

I've had x2 people now, after measuring a trailer, and them requesting, text, designs, logos, artwork, and all this stuff.. we get to the pricing.. then its never mind this, forget that, less wording, to the point, it was literally the phone number and business name.. and im like, I spent hours designing all this just to get a never mine.

however i have been in "business" for 6mo and have only done a dozen jobs, making enough to pay for ink and paper! lol anyone wants to send some jobs my way i'll take them!! lol

Rule #1 don't design anything without a deposit, it makes sure you get paid for your time and has the added benefit of weeding out the cheapskates.

When you give away design for free, you are telling the client it has no value, like getting a free poorly fitting shirt in a case of beer.

 

[gnubler]

Today - had a guy come in who has been stopping in since I opened - never shuts up - drives me nuts. I think he just wants to egg me on and argue about politics. Long story short, he left mad because I wouldn't engage in an arguement and wouldn't order him 2' of cream vinyl.

I have a few of those, the 80 yr old men with all the time in the world who stop by to socialize more than anything. I have one who actually orders things. The other one seems to come by once a month to talk about getting a dashboard decal made for an old car...ONE sticker, needs to be recreated from scratch. After the last visit I told him we've spent too much time talking about one sticker, that it would cost at least $500, and that I can't help him anymore.