Rick
Certified Enneadecagon Designer
Investing 200k+ doesn't make the father rich... he was sweeping the floor
and is probably there to watch his investment.
I'm sure the move from New York to South Carolina was a strategic one,
you need a Sign erectors license in New York, and you have to deal with
a long permit process, South Carolina you don't have all that. I don't think
he's an idiot, he got this far without blowing his fathers investment. I don't
think you need to be an artist to be in the business, I've seen a lot of crap
from "artiste's" and have little to show for their efforts. I think as a manager,
he has an opportunity to learn from this and let his employees do their job.
Unless it's was stated somewhere else, the designer does not have a lot of
time in the business. But he seems to be able to communicate things better
than most designers I know. I'm surprised he said 3 weeks for a lit sign, and
even more shocked the boss said 1 week. Typically, - even on a refurb - it's 6
weeks for most shops. I believe that sign was originally non-illuminated, so I
would think the permit process would take a few days. Giving ballparks is not a
bad thing, but I know quite a few sign shops who do not. Butting in on a sale
would have had me walk.
One thing he has going for him (besides the 200k) is he's smart enough to get
the right people, but he (or they) do not know enough to get a process going.
I counted 8 employees, 700k is not a lot for 8 people. But it is a lot for 3 years...
To be the biggest in the state, he would need some beefier equipment and
knowledgable employees to run it. Without a process, I can't see him being
able to make that transition, micromanaging it would make it that much harder.
He needs to streamline his process now, or he'll only be a storefront shop.
This guy is typical of most business people... especially sign people with no
training. I deal with this all the time. I was talking to a guy who owns a franchise,
I was asked to let him bid on a job we are working on, he was a total dick... pulled
out his contractors license and said, "you have one of these?" I said "nope, I don't
need one, I only design" he looked at me as if I was from another planet, how could
I get paid to design signs, I showed him my portfolio and that took care of that, so
I asked how long was he in the sign business, he said 5 years... I asked, how long
have you been licensed? He said 5... you need to be a journeyman sign person to
get one, so I'm sure he had to lie about his experience... and he knew where I was
getting at. That guy had the potential to bid on hundreds of thousands of dollars of
work. But his limited knowledge of the business is keeping me from doing business
with him, but he had one thing going for him. his designer is one smart kid and very
likable. I'm sure that guy does okay because he has a smart and friendly designer.
My last "real" job was a project manager for a company with 16 employees.
They did 2.5 million. When I had my first meeting with them, I asked how
many worked at a sign shop, only one guy raised his hand. I ended up quitting
because the expectation of training everyone from the designers, to the
fabricators and installers was an impossible task, especially when very few
spoke english. They are still pulling in those numbers without me, but they make
a lot of mistakes. I don't see that ever changing because they only hire people with
no experience. It's my belief that most business owners are their own worst enemy...
(myself included)
and is probably there to watch his investment.
I'm sure the move from New York to South Carolina was a strategic one,
you need a Sign erectors license in New York, and you have to deal with
a long permit process, South Carolina you don't have all that. I don't think
he's an idiot, he got this far without blowing his fathers investment. I don't
think you need to be an artist to be in the business, I've seen a lot of crap
from "artiste's" and have little to show for their efforts. I think as a manager,
he has an opportunity to learn from this and let his employees do their job.
Unless it's was stated somewhere else, the designer does not have a lot of
time in the business. But he seems to be able to communicate things better
than most designers I know. I'm surprised he said 3 weeks for a lit sign, and
even more shocked the boss said 1 week. Typically, - even on a refurb - it's 6
weeks for most shops. I believe that sign was originally non-illuminated, so I
would think the permit process would take a few days. Giving ballparks is not a
bad thing, but I know quite a few sign shops who do not. Butting in on a sale
would have had me walk.
One thing he has going for him (besides the 200k) is he's smart enough to get
the right people, but he (or they) do not know enough to get a process going.
I counted 8 employees, 700k is not a lot for 8 people. But it is a lot for 3 years...
To be the biggest in the state, he would need some beefier equipment and
knowledgable employees to run it. Without a process, I can't see him being
able to make that transition, micromanaging it would make it that much harder.
He needs to streamline his process now, or he'll only be a storefront shop.
This guy is typical of most business people... especially sign people with no
training. I deal with this all the time. I was talking to a guy who owns a franchise,
I was asked to let him bid on a job we are working on, he was a total dick... pulled
out his contractors license and said, "you have one of these?" I said "nope, I don't
need one, I only design" he looked at me as if I was from another planet, how could
I get paid to design signs, I showed him my portfolio and that took care of that, so
I asked how long was he in the sign business, he said 5 years... I asked, how long
have you been licensed? He said 5... you need to be a journeyman sign person to
get one, so I'm sure he had to lie about his experience... and he knew where I was
getting at. That guy had the potential to bid on hundreds of thousands of dollars of
work. But his limited knowledge of the business is keeping me from doing business
with him, but he had one thing going for him. his designer is one smart kid and very
likable. I'm sure that guy does okay because he has a smart and friendly designer.
My last "real" job was a project manager for a company with 16 employees.
They did 2.5 million. When I had my first meeting with them, I asked how
many worked at a sign shop, only one guy raised his hand. I ended up quitting
because the expectation of training everyone from the designers, to the
fabricators and installers was an impossible task, especially when very few
spoke english. They are still pulling in those numbers without me, but they make
a lot of mistakes. I don't see that ever changing because they only hire people with
no experience. It's my belief that most business owners are their own worst enemy...
(myself included)
