Roll-up stand pricing help.

[Jamie Wood]

Is this for an economy stand, like a grasshopper?

[David Hammond]

I put a post on linkedin about this yesterday!

10+ years ago I was selling roller banners at over £100 each +VAT.

Now, we’re doing them around £65.00+VAT, from artwork supplied. Using a resonable stand, not the really cheap ones. Even then I’m told we’re too expensive.

I can buy in a finished banner stand for less than half what I charge, and that’s deliverd UK wide. It is this that’s killed the prices. If you don’t have the stands and material in stock, outsource it and make a modest profit for very little.

[Adam McMonagle]

Roller/Pull up banners are a good example of trade prices being offered to the general public. I saw this first happening in the 90s when I worked in Litho printing. Once digital machines arrived, the price of leaflets and stationary plummeted, we used to sell stationary for good margins but now you can get 500 business cards with lamination for a tenner. Large format machines exploded in the early 2000’s and prices for display graphics have gone down to unprofitable levels (unless you are a volume supplier). If my client wants to buy them cheaper online thats ok, I would rather spend time on jobs that are profitable.

[David Hammond]

Seen very much the same thing, as we originally started off in Litho/Digital print.

We ditched all our small format set up, as like you say we can buy in the finished job cheaper than producing it ourselves, and still make a reasonable margin.

Gone are the days of rep’s popping in picking up Zip discs, and CD’s of artwork, popping back with a hard proof to physically sign off. Unfortunately I feel signage and display is going the same way, I’ve heard customers picking up 8×4 panels printed for £70!

[Adam McMonagle]

SyQuest were my favourite 🙂 we used to charge £90 for an A4 proof (matchprint)

The basic part of sign and display has definitely gone that way, I think I prefer doing the specialist/bespoke work anyway, a greater sense of satisfaction and margins are better 👍

[RobertLambie]

Karen, like you, we buy our stands in for around £30ish.
Stands can be bought in for around £13 each for economy ones, but they are lightweight and not worth the hassle. no two budget stands sit the same when set up. they lean back or forward. terrible looking!

We give a decent weighted stand on good quality material, no laminate, and they start at £130+vat based on artwork being provided. £150+vat would get them a general layout of information and graphics, but no real “design work” as such.
we can get stands the next day, so there is no need for us to hold them in stock.
We will do this type of work when asked, but it is not our core business or something we chase.

We do them more for our current customer base rather than general enquires, pretty much because someone wanting one or two will shop the internet before chapping our door and are already in the mindset they will be paying buttons for them.

What you need to focus on when first speaking to your customer is to explain “your buying the product, not the design”.
if they scoff at you for this, you should refer to the internet searches where they have found the prices and ask “how much do they charge for the designing?” of course they will have to tell you “the customer provides the artwork” at this point, you have them!

The same thing applies to everything in our game. signs, vans, banners and more…
they are asking you for a quote on a product covered in graphics. manufacturing the product and the graphics are what you are quoting for, NOT also providing the design work. at this point, you must explain this part is separate, as are the prices they see online, because those sites often do not even offer design options.

in the past 4 weeks, I have won two, printed-wrapped vans from two existing customers.
only for a day or so later, they want to know where are their “design options?”… yes, options with an “s”. not happy wanting one, but they want a selection. 🤨
do not get me wrong, their price included “a general layout” based on their provided artwork, logo etc.
but not wrapped van design.
the best of it is, these types of people are the most argumentative. one of them actually complained when we told them this, she said… “No, I was very specific, I wanted my van designed with a Game of thrones medieval theme!”
cut to the chase, I then declined both jobs and moved on. I have now seen both vans completed and I swear I laughed out loud when I saw them. the game of thrones one is a killer, I was in tears laughing. I hope I can get a photo of it and ill post it here. it is so bad and it’s NOT a wrap. I’m smiling typing this, so funny.

Anyway, how did I get onto Game of Thrones from the price of banner stands? 🤔🤣

[David Wilde]

For what it’s worth, I stopped doing them in house ages ago. I quote £70 + Vat for ‘Budget’ stands and buy them in online for £27 delivered to the customer direct. I always used to offer prices for quality stands and laminated print, nobody ever seemed interested, always looking for the cheapest option they’re a race to the bottom I’m afraid and most decent brands/companies/venues try and distance themselves from them these days in my experience.

Had more luck offering fabric stands and fabric pop ups recently, bought in of course, but this has been of more interest to companies who aren’t just after the cheapest possible option and want a reusable product.

[Karen White]

thank you everyone for your views. i think i will stick to my original price and if that doesn’t suit the customer, tuff! 🤣
i do not do them often and there is no point doing them if i am not making money. my time would be better spent on something else.

thanks again ❤