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What new markets is their?

heyskull

New Member
Being all signmakers or sign people on this forum.
What new markets would you suggest getting into?
Business has slowed right down (almost stopped) and just looking what other work for us people with large format printers, plotters and other signmaking gear their is?

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Marlene

New Member
first off, what can you do besides large format printing? what did you do with the prints you made? banners? signs? wraps? what can you do, meaning, do you make signs an dif so what kind. the reason I ask is you need to have a direction and a sense of how you will do it. can you paint a background and letter it with vinyl? can you sandblast? work with metal? it is more about deciding what you can do and if you can do it
 

heyskull

New Member
I've been in the sign game since I was 17 (46 now) i know nothing else except I was an apprentice electrician and engineer, this has helped as I am very apt at repairing stuff myself saving thousands a year.
I run a shop were we specialise in Vehicle Graphics, Wraps, Banners, Shop Signs, etc. etc you know.
I was originally trained as an engraver/router operator in the first sign shop I worked in. I started just as computerised vinyl letter cutting was starting (Graphix 4B etc.) So I missed out being a proper arty signwriter.
I have operated routers, Lathes Millers and most machinery found in most sign and engineering shops.
Over the last 10-15 years buying in lightboxes, acrylic letters and ready made sign blanks has been the norm. As it is uneconomic to manufacture myself as their just isn't the market to support the ongoing cost of such machinery to make this.
I am trying to find another opening using the current printers, plotters and laminators we currently use as their is no money for further investment.

Hope this makes it a little clearer.

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Wraptrick

New Member
I would say if business has slowed to a crawl, you might want to look into different advertising and marketing methods.
 

heyskull

New Member
I would say if business has slowed to a crawl, you might want to look into different advertising and marketing methods.

What different advertising and marketing methods should i look into?
I am at a loss lately what to do next as probably I have already tried other methods of drumming up new business.

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klingsdesigns

New Member
I dont know about everyone else but it has slowed down around here.. But it is picking right back up as it does every year around this time. I do canvas prints. with my printer seems to help for slow times. Also do apparel that keeps stuff moving in winter time.
 

401Graphics

New Member
its been dead here for a few months. Its just now picking up again. (thank god cuz im almost broke). Anyways, have you thought about maybe doing apparel, heat pressing with thermo vinyl film.?
 

mikefine

New Member
I think you have an amazing opportunity since you are from the UK to really utilize this site to come up with creative ideas and markets, without having to “reinvent the wheel.”

I would check to see what the vendors of this site are selling to the US. Then try to find products or markets that have not really been introduced or picked-up in your part of the world. For example, retractor stands or the roadside swooper flags. They are real big in the US, but the markets are saturated with competition.
Are they big in the UK? How about the small snipe (18”x 24” coroplast) signs?
 

Marlene

New Member
can you move more towards making signs using the equipment you have. over here, we have to have UL listed cabinets and our shope buys them and then does the rest. does it work like that where you are too? if you could get into making non-illuminated and illuminated, it would get you into another end of the biz and might be what you need to do. that guy still giving you trouble? this might be a way to make sure he can't compete
 

ThinkRight

New Member
You can laminate for traditional printers . ( menus, card stock outdoor table cloths)
You can also start printing and selling custom dry erase boards.
Inventory stickers for manufacturing companies.
Keep trying
and good luck
 

ThinkRight

New Member
This could work also...

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollyw...s-off-with-vision-of-a-3D-printing-revolution
SXSW KICKS OFF WITH VISION OF 3D PRINTING REVOLUTION
The 27th edition of South by Southwest kicked off Friday with a bold prediction that desktop 3D printing will unleash a new industrial revolution guided by "creative explorers."

Inventing or replicating everyday objects in three dimensions using laser beams and molten plastic is a major theme of the interactive segment of the 10-day SXSW festival that also celebrates independent film and music.

Delivering the opening talk, Makerbot co-founder and CEO Bre Pettis unveiled his Brooklyn-based start-up's latest shoebox-sized desktop 3D copier that will carry a $2,200 pricetag when it goes on sale this fall.
 
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