[bpoulin]

These are beautiful pieces of work. The one photo shows you using a syringe, what are you using for the fill? Also what size router do you have? I have a 15x15 CNC, I would love to put it to use, but I think it's a bit small.

[Joe Crumley]

B.

The photo showing the State of Oklahoma seal has a smooth background made from epoxy which I've colored with One Shot enamel. Like you have observed, the epoxy is applied with a veteranerians hypo. The Hemingway sign was done the same way except I used several different colors and mixed them as I went.This seal was placed at the top of the Election Board sign shown in the photo.

I have a 5'X15 EZ-Router. I started out with a ShopBot but couldn't get the quality I needed and it required continual updates. I threw in the towel on that one. The EZ seems to fill the bill. Both of these are low end equipment.

Joe Crumley

[gmfoster]

Joe
No doubt your an artist...
Beautiful work..

[bpoulin]

I should have been more specific, I didn't know we were talking about CNC's in feet. That 15x15 I have, is in inches lol.

[Joe Crumley]

"Joe, What been the most challenging aspect of sign building"?

I'm not sure I answered Jack Halley's question properly.

It seems to me there are a couple of major challenges. First, find a lucerative Nitch Market. For me, I follow the money. Anything which has to do with medicine is a good nitch. For example, Veterinarians, Chiropractic, Dentists, Maxiofacial, Sports Med., or anything that has M.D. in the title. The second challenge is pricing. If I loose a job due to price, it's a shrug of the shoulders. It frees up my time to search for another good client. If you get a reputation of being cheap it will haunt you all your life.

Presentation is everything. It's even more important than price. I've walked away with contracts when my competition didn't put their best foot forward. When I started out I didn't have a portfolio. So I made up a "Concept Book". I clipped photo's out of magazine showing beautiful signs putting them in glassine sleeves, three ring binder. It was a big beautiful collection. It worked too. Clients would point to a pix and say could you do something like this? You DON'T need lot of your personal work to show but you do need to show the customer something. Make sure you let them know it is for concepts and not your work.

While driving by a professional business that has a "Run Down" sign, that's you're opportunity. If you make up a nice little drawing, wire frame, no color and drop it by, you've baited the hook. Place it in a folder, with your business card, and a nice letter telling them you would like to work for them on a sign update. Most of the time your client will want to know the price up front. That's the easy part. Tell them prices are based on a squre foot price. I'd suggest not making more drawing without a commitment. Some clients will lead you down a dead end path.

There's plenty of good out there but sometimes you have to ask for it.

Joe Crumley
wwwnormansignco.com

The attachment below was for the telephone book ten years ago. It was moderately successful. It got the phone ringing but the cost was way too expensive. I no longer use yelllow pages adertising.

[BaySigns]

I noticed an earlier question about installation that did not have a response. We are a full service sign company that designs, builds (all except electrical), and installs signs & graphics in a large metro area in the Southeast.

The going rate for ground installations in our region ranges from $60 - $100 per hour. Obviously a lot of variables involved but it can be more profitable than fabricating some sign products. Like many of the previous comments about 'what to charge for a sign', your knowledge of what the customer & market will bear will impact your quoted price.

If you have the skills and time you should consider quoting installation any time a client asks for it. One less reason for the client to go elsewhere...

[Joe Crumley]

I have a deep and abiding respect for tallented artists who have refined their skills. The manual process of installation might best be left to dedicated installers.

Perhaps you overlooked my previous response.

"Of all the unknown area's of this trade, installation tops the list. I learned this lesson the hard way. So, no I don't do much installation. A client should be informed, up front, they will be hiring you to build a beautiful sign. You may want to include the installation price in your bid, but it should be stated, "Installation by Others".

Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com