Some Advice please

[Nigel Pugh]

Graham my first question would be do you have enough funds to be able to buy the XC-540 or another printer and be able to cover your out goings for at least one year at least.

[Matty Goodwin]

Good point Nigel.

Graham,

You seem to have a lot of savey and ambition which will be in your favor. Your right in saying that the competition is tough, it is, believe me!

At this stage, (stage 1) I’d sub the printing to see what sort of response you get from customers. You could end up with printer and plotter collecting dust!

I’ve been in the industry 25 yrs (From design, manufacture, print and fit)and was freelance for over 2yrs vehicle wrapping which is what I do now.

After saying that, I wouldn’t commit to my own printer and I have a customer base.

Test the water and see how it goes. Its not the only plotter for sale!

Good luck mate

Matt

[Jason Davies]

Depends what sort of deal you can get from him?? Is it possible that he will sub any work yto you as part of the deal??

It maybe a good opportunity to get into print especially as you have been working with this machine.

If it doesn’t go to plan you can always sell the kit??

[Graham Dungavel]

quote Nigel Pugh – Grafityp:

Graham my first question would be do you have enough funds to be able to buy the XC-540 or another printer and be able to cover your out goings for at least one year at least.

Hi Nigel,

I would say that I could gather enough funds to get set up reasonably well, I’m sure we could work out a reasonable deal on the equipment.

As for to cover all outgoings for one year I would say definitely not, It would certainly be a case of playing it as it comes.

I do have a couple of cheap (or free) options for an initial print room/workshop however.

I would say the financing of all the various aspects is what worries me the most, being totally honest.

quote Matty Goodwin:

Good point Nigel.

Graham,

You seem to have a lot of savey and ambition which will be in your favor. Your right in saying that the competition is tough, it is, believe me!

At this stage, (stage 1) I’d sub the printing to see what sort of response you get from customers. You could end up with printer and plotter collecting dust!

I’ve been in the industry 25 yrs (From design, manufacture, print and fit)and was freelance for over 2yrs vehicle wrapping which is what I do now.

After saying that, I wouldn’t commit to my own printer and I have a customer base.

Test the water and see how it goes. Its not the only plotter for sale!

Good luck mate

Matt

Hi Matt,

The printing bit is probably what attracts me most to have a go at this. I fancy doing things like canvases and posters. Of course you are right though and it’s not the only piece of equipment for sale.

Out of interest, do you mainly do solid colour wraps or print wraps?

quote Jason Davies:

Depends what sort of deal you can get from him?? Is it possible that he will sub any work to you as part of the deal??

It maybe a good opportunity to get into print especially as you have been working with this machine.

If it doesn’t go to plan you can always sell the kit??

Hi Jason,

Unfortunately I don’t know any specific details on what the potential deal might be at the moment (only found out today).

It’s possible there might be a little bit of printing to come from him although the specific mediums that the machine was used for are, in all likely hood, going to be phased out.

Yes I am trying to view the whole situation as being an opportunity to get into this sort of thing, I suppose it is just deciding if this is correct opportunity to grasp.

[Matty Goodwin]

Hi Graham,

I’d say it’s a 50/50 split. Half print half single colour.

Matt

[Nigel Hindley]

quote Graham Dungavel:

Good evening all,

This may be in the wrong forum?

A little background, for the last year I have worked for an outdoor advertising company that also does vehicle graphics, which was mainly what i have been doing as well as other graphic design tasks for the company, I took over from the last guy who I had worked as an assistant for previously.

Now the graphics side, due to a number of reasons has not been pulling its weight recently and seeing as it’s basic function was to pay my wage (I am the only employee) I am now in the unfortunate position of potentially being out of work come the end of the month as the graphics side is being scrapped and there is not enough design work in the company to keep me on full time.

Now my boss has mentioned he will be willing to do me a deal on the equipment (Roland XC-540, Gerber plotter) if I wish to have a go at it myself.

Now my first query is, how much is a used XC-540 worth? Bearing in mind it will need some work to get it to a standard I would be happy with (possible couple of cap seals/drain tubes as well as a damn good clean/service.

My other thoughts are, is it worth me getting into this on my own seeing as I am relatively inexperienced and it is such a competitive industry with people happy to pay low money for crap work, I do enjoy the printing/prep work etc however I am not so keen on fitting due to my inexperience.

I have been interested in other aspects of the sign industry for a while now also but rarely had the opportunity to do anything not vehicle graphics/printing based.

Since I am part time as of tomorrow I am going to do some phoning round suppliers and do some number crunching over the next few days to see what I am up against, but..

..would you go for it if it were you?

G.

If the company wont be using the machine, they will want rid asap and they will not want to go through the hassle of advertising etc. and risk it not selling, we are in a recession! In effect you are doing them a favour removing it, bear that in mind and dont rush into it. See how your severance goes and play your cards close to you chest and tell them you are looking at other options.

Im not sure of its value at all, but do more research and unless you get an absolute bargain, a bargain so good that you can sell and recoup money fast if it doesnt work out.

You seem like a nice guy, the fact that you are getting the boot and now they are trying to fob the machine off on you. (thats how it looks to me) just make sure you do get a bargain or there is no point in you getting the machine from the folks that are firing you. They should be giving it you as severence. You will be doing them a favour, bear that in mind.

NigelH

[Dorian Marks]

If you can make it stack up I would have a pop at it.

However, not wishing to rain on your parade, ask some fundamental questions like.

"..the graphics side, due to a number of reasons has not been pulling its weight recently … "

Why is this? What proposals do you have to do things differently and get a decent ROI?

Now my boss has mentioned he will be willing to do me a deal on the equipment (Roland XC-540, Gerber plotter)

As mentioned your former Boss is probably looking to get some £££ together and you would be doing him a favour taking it off his hands. Remember this won’t fit in the back of a car so factor transport and commissioning in to your bargaining.

My other thoughts are, is it worth me getting into this on my own seeing as I am relatively inexperienced and it is such a competitive industry
Can you find a niche locally using your existing experience and talent?

I do enjoy the printing/prep work etc. however I am not so keen on fitting due to my inexperience
Do I assume by prep work you mean design and layout? In relation to fitting you you can always sub-contract this out to others. You need to build a team of people around you who can trust and who can help you out in areas you can’t manage (and I don’t just mean fitters, accountants, suppliers, etc. etc.)

I have been interested in other aspects of the sign industry for a while now also but rarely had the opportunity to do anything not vehicle graphics/printing based.

Nice will it pay the way?

Since I am part time as of tomorrow I am going to do some phoning round suppliers and do some number crunching over the next few days to see what I am up against, but..
Before you call anyone, write a list of potential customers and call them to establish if there is a market for what you propose to supply.

Remember profits come from sales to customers

So to answer your question, ..would you go for it if it were you?

If, there is a potential for making profitable sales, the family circumstances are okay, the equipment is ok and at the right price and you have confidence to make and sell then I would be inclined to chance it… sure as hell beats the dole!

Best of luck in your decision making…

DM