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help and advice with regards to starting out on your own.
Hi All
i have been procrastinating for some time when it comes to going it alone i have worked in several sign companies and types of signage e.g stone signs , slate signs , shop signs and general sign and print to vehicle graphics and so on….
i used to watch my taid (granddad) painting away in his garden shed traditional signwriting and wishing one day i can do the same sadly he passed away before signage took a real hold on me so i never learnt the skills he had to offer.
basically im looking for advice on starting on my own how do you get your name out there to begin with and what sort of jobs should i be looking for.. i have a graphtec cutter some decent software and thats about it at the moment.
any advice much appreciated :thumbsup:
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13 Replies
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Hi David, are you based in Wrexham ?
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hi yes i am born and bred :smiles:
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Don’t think because you’re new, you should be taking on every job that comes your way, it sounds counter productive to say no, but some jobs just aren’t worth doing.
Similarly don’t think because you’re new and ‘learning’ you should be cheap, if you get pricing wrong could end up known as the cheap sign man, and possibly end up a busy fool.
Take a deposit.
Stipulate lead times are from when the customer approves the proof – don’t be stressing because you’ve booked a van in for Friday morning, and they haven’t approved it until Thursday evening.
When talking to prospective customers, try an find out if they’ve dealt with anyone else, and you’ll soon learn what the local companies are like. We often hear that companies don’t get back to them, they’re too expensive, can’t fit them in for weeks… you do the opposite 😉
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You must know Pete Wynne if you are from that neck of the woods.
Drop me an email or text, I’ll be happy to fill you in on the basics
07881627231
info@ngagegraphics.com -
hi yes i do know him i had his job when he went off on his own.
im not sure what hes up to these days since he left i know hes not doing any kind of signage anymore
i will give you an email if its ok i need all the help i can get ive put it off so long because ive seen so many people attempt and it not even get off the ground .
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Confidence, everything else can be learned on the hop, if your work is good it will sell.
What’s the worst that can happen!
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If you have a current job which it sounds like you do I would strongly recommend building your business on the side, meaning weekends and evenings. Maybe your all ready doing this as you have a plotter
When you are so busy you cant handle it, then maybe that’s the time to take the plunge.
To leave a job and try to start a fresh is difficult and will take time to build up.Personal circumstance will come into it, if you don’t have many overheads time will not be so much of an issue.
But it can take a long long time to get up and running. It certainly isn’t plain sailing and many that try cant handle it and will go back in employment. On the other hand it is also very rewarding being your own boss and doing something you enjoy.Other than the obvious social media, leaflets, Word of mouth is the best form of advertising so a few nice jobs should lead into more and hopefully will snowball from there. I would also recommend a good website.
I agree with David, try to avoid being a ‘busy fool’ and not turn into the van for £99 brigade.
You obviously have experience so use it wisely and to your advantage.You have this website which is an invaluable source of information to help you along. Many of us oldies would have killed to have something like this when we started up, and never be afraid to ask questions. There are a couple on here that started out and were never afraid to ask questions no matter how trivial and now run very successful sign businesses.
If you do it, as said above be Confident in what you and being young have plenty of drive. ( something you tend to loose as you get older 😉 )
Good Luck
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quote Martin Cole:being young have plenty of drive. ( something you tend to loose as you get older 😉 )
Perhaps I’m just getting old… I thought it was those customers grinding me down… I might have to consider growing up. :yikes:
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No worries David, I shall look out for your mail :thumbsup:
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Peter is running BPD Wrexham as far as i know, so still in the game
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hi jean thats where i am working at the moment pete left to start out on his own i was told
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oh thats news to me, Im based in Oswestry so not far from Wrexham, happy to have a chat if you need any pointers jean
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thanks all for the advice ill probably not be going anywhere any time soon probably start something small on the side and see where it goes from there so for now it will remain a dream 😆 .
thanks jean oswestry isn’t to far away atall!
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