Just opened a small store -- plenty of sign jobs arriving through the front door

[slice&dice 2,450]

Hi derrick, I'm glad that you've been inspired to open a store (and also Jim in Vancouver).

These days, it's not easy finding cheap (smaller) spaces to rent, as most locations are in strip-malls and are priced very high.

You just have to be creative and find a spot that may be useless for most retail operations, but would work perfectly as a studio/workshop. That's exactly what I did, taking over a garage that was not situated within a built-up business district, but still has lots of traffic passing by. Because of my out-of-the-way spot, I stick out like a sore thumb and the place is VERY visible and recognizable as a sign making store. Plus, I have a parking lot, for easy in easy out.

So, here we are, as April is half over, and the people keep coming in for me to do their work --

REIKI practice

Funeral Home

Garden Center

Landscaper/Mulch supplier

Asphalt repair contractor

Veterinarian

Barber

and on and on...

My MH871 is doing it all.

[odokie 8]

Congratulations on your success!

What are the plastic holder for the application tape rolls. you mentioned in the first post?

And where are you getting your -- coroplast sign blanks (in bulk w/stakes 100/case)?

What did you end up putting on your front window?

post more pictures if you have time.

Thanks for for the info!

Mary Ann

[AAndrews19 53]

Looks like you've got a good thing going. I'm running out of my basement.... not too many people come wandering in there that's for sure. Everything I do is just word of mouth. I wish I could just quit my current job and go into this 100%, but it's too risky. For now I'll just stick to my handful of customers each month and continue my juggling act. It's tough working this around a 12 hour swing shift, but since I feel like I'm still in the learning process it's okay for now.

Good luck! Keep us updated on how things are going.

[slice&dice 2,450]

I sure don't think I would be doing this at all if I hadn't been laid-off (then hired by another company, then let go from there, too)

The very idea of running a storefront has a high element of risk, and trust me, when I signed that lease, it was not without the feeling of "Oh Sh*t, now what have I gotten myself into?!!"

And to do it with the lowest-priced "budget" MH machine in the market, how crazy is THAT???

(I still don't have a backup machine) Some days I open the store, thinking, "Is today the day my 'parachute' fails to open?")

MaryAnn --- The plastic Transfer-Tape dispenser is brand-name "Tape Owner" and there was a brief discussion about it (and other types) on these Forums

http://forum.uscutte...-tape-dispenser

Do a search on EBay for "tape owner" and you'll find it available for $30.

You must clamp it down to the table, using a gizmo called bar-clamps (not included -- I got mine at a local close-out discounts place)

Regarding my front window at the store, I never came up with a good idea of what to put on it, so it's still a blank slate.

If you have anything in mind, please share.

USCutter offers cases of coro. at a fair price, and I highly recommend using Spider-Stakes instead of those wire things.

http://www.uscutter....ated-Plastic-65

Basically, they cost under $2 and I'm charging $18.50 per sign (that's less than VistaPrint offers them for).

The 'bandit signs" market is absolutely overflowing with cheapo online sources, including printed/silk screened in bulk quantities for around five bucks (or less).

Honestly, I try to avoid getting into that war.

You want another picture? No problemo, here ya go.

Here's the van I just completed ------- simple, easy, effective, and $350.

[odokie 8]

Thanks for the info, I work from my basement and most of my sales are wall vinyl through my website ( www.putthewritingonthewall.com ). but would like to get more local jobs like vans and store front advertising. The "Yard Sale" signs are a great Idea!

Thanks Again!

Mary Ann

[slice&dice 2,450]

Cinco de Mayo already? My, my, how time flies when you're having fun !

OK, just my luck, cutter went kaput yesterday (my fault, actually, I dropped a roll of vinyl onto the blue USB cord, and it destroyed the USB socket connection, literally breaking the pins away from the circuit board) --

Not a major thing, US CUTTER sells a replacement board for fifty bucks, which I've requested, and since I'm already ordering, I added an SC-model cutter to be shipped, too. Never hurts to have a backup, and as I said earlier in this thread, I planned on getting one anyway.

Here are a few notes from the past month -----

1. Having a 34" machine is unquestionably worthwhile, and I am constantly producing jobs that require the 30" vinyl width (by the way, along with my SC cutter, I chose the option of ordering a 10-roll selection of 30"x10-yards Oracal, which by my calculations, will generate sales that will cover the cost for the SC machine many times over)

2. I've been making a lot of the 19"x48" coroplast signs (with 2 step-stakes) and the customers love them (instead of the 18x24 regular bandit signs). If you have never tried offering that extended size to your clients, I highly recommend making a sample and seeing their reaction when they discover the DOUBLE-WIDE impact of that product.

You'll obtain 5 strips of 19" from 4x8 sheets.

3. A comment about business cards: Never go anywhere without them.

I was shopping in a local warehouse club, happened to strike up a conversation with a guy, turns out he needed signs, I gave him my card & a few days later the job was mine. Charge for work -- $1400.

Cost of business cards -- ZERO. (bizcard.com)

and so it goes...

[mabscotthandyman 1,410]

Good sound advice. Hope it keeps going well for you.

Dan

[waytoomuchboost 6]

the layout seems neat and organized for the space you have to work with. nice work man!