Been at it 15 Years…

[Phill Fenton]

Yes there has been a great deal of change. When I started 29 years ago, it was all about vinyl cutting. Very few had printers capable of making outdoor durable signs – the Gerber edge was the prevalent means and very expensive. The internet was in it’s infancy – very few had email so invoicing and quotes were all done by letters. Sign making software was very expenzive – but it was a one off payment unlike the subscription based methods used by vendors to ensure an ongoing revenue stream. This method of subscription based is being adopted almost universally. Accounts packages such as Sage use it, even my wifes car has a subscription based option to have automatic headlight dimming. The system is in place in her car – but a monthly subscription is required in order to activate it. I could go on and on but I’m sure there will be many others contributing their thoughts?

[Robert Lambie]

I am 36 years in the Industry and there have certainly been a lot of changes. (feels a bit like an AA meeting, this)😂🍺
I see many newcomers coming into the trade complaining about this and that, how this isn’t fair, business is hard, I can’t compete and so on. Their comments make me scoff and think, “Grow a pair!”

From the traditional signwriter and his brush, to neon, cut vinyl, print, routing, laser, 3D print, LEDs, digital screens and more. We select our weapons of choice and fight the sign game battle. 😀

However, even if you are great at what you do, the general day-to-day running of a business can pull you under on its own. There are so many different aspects of running a sign company that you need to juggle, just to pay the bills and keep your head above water.

What lacks most in our industry is “proper” education, training and skill… it really is the pits.
Starting out new is not the problem. Everyone has to start somewhere. But your willingness to learn, improve and adapt dictates how far you progress.
Unfortunately, the “let’s have a go at this” approach to signs, print, and wrapping is all too common these days.
Throw in the biggest looming vulture of our industry, which will close down more businesses faster than ever before. “The Government”.

[Martyn]

Yep, at the old age of 41 i have been in the game now for 26 years.

From starting weekends for a small firm while at school, to going full time then off to another small firm, then to a larger firm on an industrial scale, to self employed subby, to starting on my own from a cold damp farm barn, to moving countries and starting again – its been a rollercoaster.

Like you say much has changed and now it seems to be atleast that everyone wants your money just to turn the lights on in the morning. I prefer the old ways of buying outright and am still just about holding on, still using cs5 but once this computer kicks it, im guessing i will have no choice but sign-up.

I was actually saying to the wife the other day that i feel like the old guy in the game thats stuck in his ways and not keeping up with the changes. I guess everything is just going ok and i dont see much but added stress with all the changes that would happen.

I’m much of the mindset “if its not broke……” but i know that shouldn’t be the attitude if you want a successful high flying business.

[David Hammond]

The pandemic, and recessions were nothing compared how things feel at the moment. It’s almost like people are sat on their hands, waiting for ‘something’, but nobody knows what. As Rob said the government aren’t doing any favours at the moment and I don’t expect the next budget change that.

It does feel a bit counter-productive at times, I’ve spent many a day or afternoon sat at home as there’s nothing to do in the workshop. I’ll be heading home shortly today. But the business is still profitable.

[Martyn]

Well, if your not up to your neck in debt and your still earning enough, take this time to enjoy life a little. Don’t stress about what you can’t control.

Its funny, I’ve always been a high passed person. I think the industry and lifestyle in england makes you like it if you want to succeed. Its normal.

I used to work by the hour, knowing any wasted time was time out of my pocket. Then over the years it turned to a day, then a week….. now i’m at a month but i can see in the future me only worrying about if the year hits the numbers. I think a lot of that comes with progressive growth and not taking on debt to run your business.

[David Hammond]

My eyes were opened when visiting the far east, a completely different way of life. People living with very little who were all quite happy and content, no rushing and stressing. Did make me wonder what on earth I was doing. I told a friend about this when he went with his dad, thought I was chatting rubbish and came back with the same mentality.😂

[David Rogers]

Jees! Just realised that it’s 31 years in this industry. Maybe should have stuck to being a sparky…

[Paul Hodges]

Interesting thread..

If I was starting out right now, I wouldn’t go in to this business. I think the time to do it was early to mid 90’s when products still had some value. As David says, prices for bread and butter type items have evaporated, and there are too many people low balling all the prices, which although we don’t have to do the same, it does put pressure on your sales when you’re trying to get adequate prices for your services.

One of the biggest changes though, is in the employment of people. If you have a handful of people working for you, that actually becomes quite a big operation with everything you need to do these days to make that run, and the cost of employment is skyrocketing to the point most businesses are not contemplating taking more people on, they’re looking at who they can let go.

I don’t think it’s going to get much better either. While costs are being artificially inflated like this, it’s going to be very tough, and we’re all going to have to put our prices up again next April!

[David Hammond]

I agree, if I was in the position I was 15 years ago now, I wouldn’t set up a business of any kind, unless I picked up a trade but even that brings its own headaches.

I’ve zero intentions of employing staff, that doesn’t mean my prices are rock bottom either, being lean and efficient is my advantage. Today I’ve been up into Lancashire and applied graphics to 35 motorcycles, with another 5 due next week and more arriving at another dealers in December. I like that I can get the job done and take myself off home, not having to manage others.

I’m fortunate that I’ve been at it long enough to have a reputation and I’ve some excellent customers I’ve worked with for years… it’s still a tiresome slog at time though.

I was laughing with another signmaker last week, saying I wish we could have charged what do now 15 years ago. I’ve found there’s a huge gap between rock bottom prices, and ‘proper prices’, some are just taking the p**s but people seem to be paying it.

[Colin Crabb]

Without sounding old, I started in the ‘print’ industry at 12 years old, so with close to 40 years, I’ve seen a lot of changes, some big, some small.

Since Covid, I do feel that there has been a shift to ‘cheap bottom prices’ by larger players, and unfortunately, a shift in making it harder to employee people, both due to generational attitudes and Government.

I do feel if starting up now there are big advantages in the technology available streamlining both production and business sides – but it all comes with a cost, EVERYTHING now has addon costs / subscriptions / fees….

My one tip for new starters would be ‘make sure your production machines are covered by warranty’! yes it hurts to pay out each year for a extended warranty, but modern machines breakdown a lot more easily and harder / costly to fix, than years ago, when you could handle it in-house to a higher degree.