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what can I do with this first billboard customer?
I have to see a customer tommorow and provide a quote for the entire makeup of the actual billboard, printing and the install of a 20×10 foot print. subbing it all out. I am thinking of printing on my machine but then have had second thoughts on printing it in house so see how goes. never been involved in the billboard part of things but what would people recommend and what questions am i likely to be asked?? I have already been asked whether i would be subbing the work out by the client to which i replied that i will. is that a good thing or a bad thing?? what would i need to be prepared for with regards to likely questions??
thanks all 🙂
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2 Replies
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Stuart, nothing wrong with subbing out, most companies will do it, and the biggest ones do it all the time. the issue is, can you get better rates as a trade buyer than your customer can? and still make a profit.
One off jobs are hard to negotiate a meaningful discount from suppliers, and your client may well be able to get the same rate, if he knows where to look.
you need to make sure that you add enough mark up to allow for warranty problems that may arise in the future, the client will be chasing your ass, not your suppliers,
I dont do billboards, so cant give advice on likely questions, your customer sounds like he may have had them done in the past, so he is at an advantage, you are up against the odds to win the order, sorry to sound negative, but if you need to know what questions will be asked, then it may be to late to provide answers…
I get asked to quote for jobs out of my comfort zone, and rarely win them.
simply because of trying to buy in from companies that also retail the product.
as an example, only today I had an enquiry for chapter 8 reflectives for a van, but the chap already knew how much the kits could be bought for, from reputable companies, on the net, so in effect I could only compete on the fitting chargeGood luck anyway,
Peter -
Hi Stuart, we’ve done several of these in the past, and at 1st used to sub it all, but one of us went with our subby to see what was involved in it, and now we are able to do it all our selves.
I think the best advise is to just be honest with your customer, and tell them exactly what bits you may do your self and what you are subbing out, and act like a project manager of sorts for the job. and you may find that it will lead to a lot more of them once you no what and how to do them.
If you need any more help email me and I’ll help you were i can mate.
cheers
Jus
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