Activity Feed Forums Sign Making Discussions General Sign Topics Should you worry when the local competition start to move in on your patch?

  • Should you worry when the local competition start to move in on your patch?

    Posted by rob-lambie on August 30, 2023 at 12:53 am

    I pulled up at a set of traffic lights in my home town today, only to see a shop getting a new sign fitted.
    This is on a busy street, right at a crossroads. I had to take the photo because I was in disbelief at so many different things I spotted within the one minute that I sat there in my van.
    Thankfully, there was a fourth guy there to pass them up the spirit level. 🤔

    Colin Crabb replied 1 year, 1 month ago 7 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • David Hammond

    Member
    August 30, 2023 at 10:41 am

    Nope. I actually unfollowed most sign companies on my personal social media. Head down and concentrate on myself, and my own business, it’s actually been quite beneficial.

    There was a picture shared on Linkedin the other day of a local company working from a van roof installing a sign, and someone suggested it was fine, because perhaps the shop keeper didn’t have the money to pay for a professional company 😮 Like that’s some defense and make the risk worthwhile.

    “Sorry Mr Hammond, you’re never going to walk again, but the good news is Ben saved £100 and 30mins in his sign installation”

  • Duncan Wilkie

    Member
    August 30, 2023 at 1:40 pm

    Nothing seems to change…

    • RobertLambie

      Administrator
      August 31, 2023 at 1:58 am

      at least they are wearing steel toe-cap boots! 🤔🤓

  • RobertLambie

    Administrator
    August 31, 2023 at 2:16 am

    @DavidHammond

    There are about 6 relatively close sign companies to us. But I have never followed or monitored any online. I honestly couldnt care less about them. However, I see their work continually and it doesnt get any better! 😏
    I am not trying to say my work is the best, we all make mistakes, take the odd H&S risk and ocassionally erect a crappy designed sign. But as long as you “know” you have made a mistake and are always striving to give your customers well made, well designed and properly installed signs. Then you are on the right track!

    Unfortuantely, we all have to deal with local cowboys 🤠and the ones shown in my photo are exactly that!
    It was the state of the Scaffold that caught my eye first!
    * The wheels are missing from one side.
    * Some of the cross brace bars are the wrong length and in the wrong positition, making the interlocking sections skew.
    * The platform is too high.
    * There is a guy climbing up the outside of the tower and working from there.
    * The guy on the ladder is working on an angle and the ladder could easily shoot away. maybe the idle guy watching could be holding it or turn it to at least be straight.
    * The amount of tools, wood, wire etc all over the pavement for pedestrians to trip over is crazy. will they have publica liability cover? I doubt it!
    * Three or them are wearing running shoes.
    The list goes on and on… 🧐

  • Jeff

    Member
    September 1, 2023 at 7:40 am

    🤣🤣 that is pretty bad. but every town and trade has them. you have to wonder how they make money with 4 men doing a 2 man job. another thing. where is the health & safety scouts when clowns like this are working???? 😤

  • David Rowland

    Member
    September 2, 2023 at 7:19 am

    Hey ! Well we used to be the dominate sign maker in town, however the other company ended up becoming the no1 and we changed plan, staff changed and most of them ended up at the other company. The other company went bust but had a established sales base. Now we got many sign makers in town.

    I walked past the pub the other day and the franchise pizza place had all their staff under a sign as they had it down for some reason, think they were getting wires in but I decided to stay clear, just made me laugh that anyone these days will give it a go.

  • Colin Crabb

    Member
    September 5, 2023 at 5:13 pm

    Well.. they are using a fiberglass step ladder to prevent conductive electrocution ….

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