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I got a call the other day from a "potential" customer. Young guy got my name from a current client. This guy wants to get a vinyl cutter to do the windows on his Karate studio as he has it changed throughout the year and wants to save some $. I can't blame him, it adds up after a while.
I said that he can run right down to Seattle and pick up a decent Summa for roughly $2500 (you could almost hear a pin drop). He mentions, I've seen them for $200 and asked what the difference was? I said that it was most likely a hobby type machine and that the Summa was an industrial machine, larger, etc. He'd need to figure out where to get vinyl, learn how to use it and learn to use a vector art type program, cutting software etc.
After a while of educating him, he decided that after ordering his letters online that he'd try me next time. Ahhhhhh...education, can't blame him for trying.
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
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Many karate guys want banners for a few weeks at most. They change them like babies change diapers. Sell him on paper type banners so he can switch them out as his business cycle changes. Usually about 8 times a year. They are just like those old style super market paper panels.
Also if he has a marketing company,, they send premade layouts every month. If you can print them for him using temp products as I do on my old trusty encad you will have a monthly customer.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5273 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Thanks Brian, for educating another one for us all! So many customers . . . so little time.
I get at least one of those a year "I think I'll just buy my own vinyl cutter . . ." I educate them the same way - $3000 for the plotter, $1000 for the software, buy the correct vinyl, then you'll need a roll of good premask . . . I usually lose them at the premask - "Pre what?" I have patience with them, most of us are on a very tight budget. But then, educate them on paying an expert to do a good job will get a more professional looking product (which is good for business), that will last longer. Temporary signs are a problem, but like Curtis said, inexpensive paper signs is a good alternative.
-------------------- Kathy Weeks Weeks-End Signs & Graphics Lake Elmo, Minnesota Posts: 248 | From: Lake Elmo, Minnesota | Registered: Mar 2009
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i usually show them my 10 foot long glass-top table and tell them if they really wanna do it right, just build yerself one of these babies!!! someone getting their own plotter probably could come out on top if they stay cheap and use white vinyl and don't mind putting in the time to do it themselves ... most people won't take the time, however, or are too busy with other aspects of their business.
another good alternative, if there is a place to hang them in window, is coroplast or cheapie poly banners. Try to get the customer to come up with something he can use more than once on a rotational basis. You can even peel dates and times and prices off of the signs and change as needed. let them do the peeling and just sell them the sticky stuff to apply it themselves. I do this all the time and customers seem to like this arrangement.
on a smiliar note: my shop helper wants his own professional recording software too ... and a small studio ... only about 20 grand worth of equipment and space ... or he can spend $45 an hour to rent a studio as needed ...
... you make the call
and maybe the "pre-mask" should be called "pre-unmask???" or post-mask. or how about just "masking.........."
-------------------- Michael Gene Adkins The Fontry 1576 S Hwy 59 Watts OK 74964 Posts: 845 | From: Watts, OK USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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While I don't use my cutter for signs...just to cut vinyl for resist, I have some of the same comments from my son. He thinks that I can just cut some 'stickers', without thought of how it is done. The vectoring, the sizing, the cutting, the time. When I sit him down to show him what is involved...he looses interest pretty quickly. Kinda like he did when he figured out that etching wasn't just 'squirting dirt' on a piece of glass! AHHH! The price of education!
Kerri Brownlee Glorious Graphics and Gifts Mayflower, AR
-------------------- Kerri Brownlee Glorious Graphics and Gifts 312 Hwy 89 N Mayflower, Arkansas 72106 Posts: 20 | From: Mayflower, Arkansas | Registered: Feb 2011
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Thanks for the additional tips on providing him with some paper banners or more upscale banners that he can use on a rotational basis.
I did suggest some splash work but he said that he had that done and it looked "to cheap". Ahhh Grasshopper, he must not have gotten it done by a true professional as I've seen some pretty awesome splashes done by folks on this board (Jon Peterman of Grants Pass OR being one of them).
I'll give him a ring back with a few suggestions, maybe a few "nicer" banners or something on coroplast. It'll cost more up front but he can use them for a long time.
Have a great day everyone!
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
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Brian Tighten up the information.These kind that are in business add up the money they spend on vinyl signage.They think if they buy a plotter they save money and make some extra cash from their buddies.Don't be gullable...keep your information to yourself.I know most everyone associated with letterville will agree.
-------------------- Bill Wood Bill Wood, Sign Artist 3628 Ogburn Ave., NE Winston-Salem, NC 27105-3752 336-682-5820 Posts: 397 | From: Winston-Salem, NC | Registered: May 2006
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