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Sign Shop Whore

dlndesign

dlndesign

New Member
Maybe the title of this post is a little off, but I think it speaks true to what I am starting to consider myself.

Since working in the industry I have worked at a total of 7 sign shops in my total of 9 years in the business. 2 of them simultaneously.

Now I have come to learn some great tips and techniques from each shop, making me a better designer/production/sales employee.

So my question to you is how many shops have you worked for and do you think that its been a benefit or not, explain. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.
 
J

Just Another Sign Guy

New Member
as a consultant i have worked for hundreds upon hundreds and have learned something from all of them...of course the more ppl you are exposed to is a benefit because you either learn better ways of doing things or things that should be avoided these lessons are very hard to come by working in a bubble.

as an employee i have worked for 6 shops not including the 2 i have owned additionally i have worked for 2 sign supply/equipment companies.
 
Gino

Gino

Premium Subscriber
A few shops myself until we opened out own business, but even then, in the beginning, I still farmed myself out to other shops for more work. Something I feel is even more important than how many shops one has gone through is the people you worked with over those years.

I've managed to work next to some really good talent over the years and learned quite a few techniques, ideas and problem solving techniques.

Ya never quit learning... or at least you probably won't if you keep your eyes and ears open. Just today, one of the guys designed a new jig for laying down some track and it will probably save us time... which means money and the good part.... it seems like it will be more accurate then the jigs we were using.

He came in yesterday and said he had been thinking about a project all weekend and did some experimenting at home. He set it up this morning, got my blessing after seeing his prototype work and now we're making three of them so we can have three sets of hands working in this job.

Yep, ya never quite learning. :thumb:​
 
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SignManiac

SignManiac

New Member
I never had the opportunity to work for anyone else so I'm self taught. Unfortunately, being self taught, you make a lot of mistakes by trial and error which ultimately, is an expensive way to learn.

Even after a lifetime of making signs, I'm still learning and have met others who have better ways of doing things than the way I've learned. Working solo does limit what you can learn from others.
 
BobM

BobM

New Member
I never worked for another sign shop, just opened my own. Having visited with many in the last 7 years, I wished I had worked for several of them as I would have been a great benefit and made my start easier. Thank God for Signs 101 that has helped me transition from a vinyl slapper to a sign shop.
 
Deaton Design

Deaton Design

New Member
I would have given anything to have worked in different shops back when I first started.
I have only worked for myself, and learned everything by doing, or reading. Signcraft was a big help though. Sure wish I had that experience though.
 
OldPaint

OldPaint

New Member
never worked at a sign shop. seems i was exposed to SIGN PAINTERS at an early age. was privileged to spend time with them(no pay)but they was willing to teach...............i applied at a couple of SIGN PAINTER SHOPS, before the plotter, but starting wages there was less then i was getting at present jobs i had.
seems i always had a "side job" painting a sign, no matter what else i did
1986, i got fired for the 1st time in my life, and the guy that fired me was dumber then me..........so i picked up my brushes, and went lookin fo sign work.................and never looked back.
as for my business sense, i said before my parents owned a BAR. my italian mother taught me "bookkeeping."
1970, i wound up working for a NAPA jobber in caribou, me. i was asked to do the OUTSIDE SALES. and trying to SELL ANYTHING TO MAINE PEOPLE............will give you more selling & marketing skills, then you can ever get in any books or courses. they ARE TOUGH. most never say much, so you cant figure if they are gona buy or ignoring you!!!!!!!!!
i wound up back in pa, and did the same NAPA OUTSIDE SALES there, when i moved to sarasota fl, did the same thing there. i always say this, if i can speak to the buyer of the sign, I ALWAYS MAKE THE SALE!!!!!!
lot of word play, information relaying, to customer, tellin them WHAT A GREAT DEAL THEY ARE GETTING FROM ME)))))))))!!!!!!!
 
Pat Whatley

Pat Whatley

New Member
Started at a shop as a temporary job. Worked in that shop for 16 years. Bought the shop. Still here.

So much for getting back into the advertising business.
 
Rick

Rick

Certified Enneadecagon Designer
Where do I start....

When I started getting into graphic design I went to an Art School hoping to become an imagineer. My early mentor was an original imagineer who told me I really did not want that, dropped out of school after 6 months, there were 2 shops, in-house, design firm, graphics and model making for interior designer. Then I went into construction, but always freelanced here and there. Then I left construction to get into it again and learn the computer part. I started at a vinyl graphics shop as a grunt, then a few shops working my way up the design ladder too architectural, worked at 2 architectural sign places then environmental graphic design firm, then went to tradeshow/exhibit, did not like that and landed back at an environmental graphics design firm, now I am on my own.

Every place I learned something new, at shops I learned to work at production speed and various sign types, at design firms I learned about large jobs and themed graphics which was always my intent.
 
David Wright

David Wright

New Member
Being self taught and going on my own most of my life, I find I am like a sponge whenever I'm around another sign person or their shop. Mental notes and pictures galore along with a little interrogation.
 
Jake - Advantage Signs

Jake - Advantage Signs

New Member
Well... if you want to count photo labs, since I moved into signage by way of a commercial photo lab that transitioned to POP and tradeshow graphics... 6.

But again... photo labs included. Does it make it worse that it was over the course of 9 years?
 
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