Goodbye, well kinda

[John Singh]

Sorry to hear the news Martin
Good to see you want to stay in the sign game
As you say things might pick up later when you’re in a better position to give it another go.

All the best

With that I’ll say “Speak to You Soon!”

John

[Simon Clayton]

Bad luck Martin,
Good luck with what you do next!
Simon

[Sparky]

Hi Martin,

Me too m8 ……… really sorry to see another little business struggling 😥

We only hang on by the skin of our teeth sometimes, but always seem to scrape out of it. Trouble is, it’s too easy to take a guaranteed wage when things get tight !

What’s the troubles down there, is it too many signmakers in a small area or just tight butts not wanting to let you earn a living ?

Whatever ….. I hope it all pans out ok for ya & you can start again soon 😆

Best of luck

John

[Timmy Mallet]

Hi Martin,

Sorry to hear your throwing in the towel, good luck in your new Job and hopefully we’ll all be wishing you well in your next venture 😉 soon

Timmy…..

[marty_j]

Thanks very much for your comments guys, and thanks Joe for the phone call this afternoon.

Sparky to answer your question, it was just the overwhelming overheads which i took on from the previous owner, i was tied into another 6 months of a lease and at nearly 900 quid a month rent it was crippling me, wage what’s a wage I haven’t seen one of those since i took the company over in May 😕

[Joe McNamara]

Funny how this group can change your views………

There was a time I’d have been happy to see another sign company near me go under ( there are a few I still would 😉 ) but I genuinely feel sorry for Marty. When I saw the post earlier I gave him a call to see how he was and the spirits seemed good.

I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him though, as he’s got a lot of enthusiasm for the business.

I speak from long past experience when I say that this experience will make you so much the wiser and stronger and you won’t let it happen next time because you’ll recognise the mistakes before they happen 😳 .

Like I said on the phone, if yer stuck for some vinyl to be cut, don’t be afraid to call.

Cheers
Joe

Ps Overheads are the killer in this business……
Why do you think Mike’s got it sussed with the studio…….shed……shedio!

[Joe McNamara]

blimey,
they’ve change me pic……
Lambie, you’ve got too much time on your hands 😆
Joe

[Phill Fenton]

So sorry to hear you have had to call it a day with your present company.

Perhaps this is an ideal opportunity for you to start afresh. From what you have said you inherited the present company (and presumably some of it’s problems) from the previous owner.

Starting afresh means you can now plan a business from scratch that suits your particular needs.

It’s very tempting to go and work for somebody else, but there is nothing more satisfying than being in control and running your own business.

I would urge you to sit down and plan a complete re-start based on the experience you already have. Draw up a plan of where you want to be in five years time and work out what you need to do to get there.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do – and keep us informed.

All the best 😀

[Lee Attewell]

Really sorry to hear this Marty. Use the experience to come back stronger and more equipped to make it succeed. It sounds like it wasn’t your fault, so don’t blame yourself.

Lee

[MJ Designs]

Gutted for you mate 🙁

Chin up, I’m on MSN if you need to chat 🙂

Gareth

[Texcat]

sorry to here this mate. As someone else said we are normally happy if someone goes down, less competition. But it shows what Robert has done here and created a Family who look out for each other.

What ever you do next, good look.. Someone said once “If you reach for the stars, you will get there. Reach for the ceiling and you will bang your head”

It could be a blessing in disguise.

Stay on the boards and let us know how you get on.

Good Luck

Andy

[marty_j]

Joe, my spirits were high yesterday when you rang because i was just pulling up to my cousins house to chill out by the pool and enjoy a few stellas and a nice steak BBQ. *drink* 🙂

Texcat, wasn’t that S-Club 7 who said “Reach for the stars”? (?) (?)

All joking and putting a brave face on things aside.

Phill cheers for the advice / encouraging words, I’ve already planned my next move with some great deal of thought.
I’ve got a business meeting with a family friend this evening who has been in the sign trade for nearly 18 years and has now moved over to interior design. Saves me the trouble of purchasing or funding replacing my equipment as she already has some in storage in a workshop about 5 minutes away from my current (current for about the next day or so) premises.

Hopefully if all goes well I’ll be back up and trading within the next couple of months.

[Mike Brown]

Marty – I’ve just got back from four days away to read yours and many other posts…

What a bummer! – sorry you’ve had it rough and it’s so unfair as you were trying to keep an existing ‘marque’ going too…

Well, for my part, I would remind you of the old saying:

“…what doesn’t kill ya’ makes ya stronger…” so build on that and let’s hope we see you back on form very soon. Good luck in all you do from here on…

more soon

mikethesign

[Martin C]

Chin up. It’ll work out for the better. £900 a year overheads would do me in, let alone a month!!

I have a sign in my workroom, just where I bang my head on the way out and the perfect remedy for those off days. It reads…….

‘I had the blues cos I had no shoes……..until upon the street I met a man who had no feet!’ Count your blessings, not your troubles…..

Rarely very appropriate but it does allow you to calm down, focus on the good things in life and help get you going again…………. (:)

[steve]

Marty have you thought of this idea- why not simply get signwork in and get local trustworthy firms or any of us UKSG members (except Gray!) to make the signs for you, mark it up and pocket the profit its called a “middle man”I have worked for a lot of middle men over the years they all live in big houses and drive fancy motors it makes sense no machinery no outlay no premises plus you know your job!
There must be at least 10 of us willing to do your work- think about it

[Phill Fenton]

quote Martin C:

‘I had the blues cos I had no shoes……..until upon the street I met a man who had no feet!’ Count your blessings, not your troubles…..

Excellent advice Martin, Thanks 😀

[Robert Lambie]

there is not much i can say thats not been said already mate.. im very sorry things turned the way they have. if i can help in anyway i will.. just say.
as steve has said. doing work for others is a good way to pick yourself up again…

what about vinyl fitting only? its a start… 🙄

[keith]

Marty,
sorry to hear about you Hiccup.
If you are going to start up again with your family friend would it be possible to get you business tel number transferred over. That way you will be able to pacify existing customers and at least if you have an entry in yellow pages will still be able to answer any new enquiries

Just a thought

Keith

[Martin C]

Cheers Phil 😎

I don’t mean for this to come across as being flippant (in light of the current closure of your business Marty) but that particular phrase…’Count your blessings not your troubles’ comes from a book written in the 30’s depression by a guy called Dale Carnegie. His most famous work is a sales/networking manual titled
‘How to win friends and influence people’. which in my opinion is a lot of bull…however….

The phrase in question comes from his second offering
‘How to stop worrying and start living’ and believe me it’s full of wisdom and examples of getting on with your life following upset and the general minefield of existing in a competitive world. I defy anyone who reads it and absorbs some of the catchy slogans to feel as bad when they’ve put things into a similar perspective. BUY IT, It’s worth every penny…..

WHY NO FEET?

Carnegie was off to the bank in need of 5,000 dollars to keep the farm going for another month. He needed more but felt pretty sure the Bank Manager wouldn’t lend it to him. On his way he met a war victim, a guy with no legs straddling a Skateboard. As he passed the man said’ What a beautiful morning, have a lovely day sir’. Carnegie was shocked, this guy has no legs and there am I worrying about money. He went to the Bank full of renewed vigour and tabled a request for £20,000 dollars which he duly received. He then married a princess and had 7 dwarfs for servants…..

Ok I made that last bit up,,,,,,,,,,but you get the idea… 🙄