Rocco

It's getting to be really difficult to walk that fine line between keeping customers happy (even the 'good' ones) and being able to get and keep good employees. You need a full time HR person, lawyer, architect, engineer, social media liason, insurance expert, IT person, and more just for the paperwork. The owner of a small company has a hard time wearing all those hats.

It's almost certainly a case of their insurance company wanting to limit their liability "just in case". Say one of your employees was a deep undercover KGB spy (hey, these insurance types actually think of these things) and went into a bank where you were installing signs and... It's nuts. I won't do Walmart work because they want I-9 form (imigration) on all employees. My secretary is my sister and some my kids work part time and I know they are legally here. And by the way, make sure to read any fine print on secondary pages of PO's. Some companies are sneaking in things like this. Ruggles (one of the best nationals) now has in their PO that I cannot use anyone that was incarcerated for more than a year (might be 18 months) on their work. I think that this is the way that the world in turning towards. While society often says that we need to give people a chance to turn their life around (say they got in legal trouble at age 18) the insurance companies and large corporations think otherwise. Maybe it's time to call in the ACLU about things like this becuase it might be an invasion or privacy. I mean you aren't allowed to ask someone if they are married or not during an interview (at least I think that's correct). I'm no lawyer, just a simple sign guy, so YMMV.

Thanks! TBH I was wondering because they seem to be blanketing the country with small jobs like MC used to do. Now I won't always turn down small work because you never know where it might lead.

Lately I've been getting a fair amount of RFQ's for installation work from Signs Unlimited USA from Durham NC. Does anyone have any experience with them? So far the quotes aren't for huge jobs but IDK what tomorrow will bring. Thanks!!! Rocco

Nice Paul! i guess I'm really getting old since I don't think of vinyl lettering as "old school".

Nikki, I thought that we were still on the Stratus vendor list. IIRC we recently got an rfq for this. It's probably because our insurance renewed at the end of june and the darn agent didn't get all the coi's sent out. Anyway, the contractor didn't specify anything about being an approved vendor but I'll let them know.

Angel, thanks for the reply. I'm bidding this for a construction company and of course they don't have the info. I'm going to go by local PS signs and be VERY specific in my bid with a an option or two. Also, this is a "historic" town and won't allow 20% of what PS wants and am sure we'll have to revise when we apply. Again, thanks. Rocco

I've been playing with signs for way too long but DAMN I wish we had these 35 years ago. I have the same basic unit at Paul and it's paid for itself in a few months. I agree, it's become as necessary as cordless tools.

I'm bidding a new Public Storage location near me. The sign package page (for once there is one) states that we have to follow "Public Storage Sign System Design Intent Drawings, dated 1/16/2019 v3.0"." Does anyone happen to have a copy of this they would share? I've looked online and they look to use white face lit letters, but I'm sure it's more involved than that. Thank You Rocco

Hi all, We've done surveys for years and years and I've always had to tight with the customers (usually national companies) over survey costs. Some seem to think that we can examine each and every aspect of the building in twenty minutes and only want to pay accordingly. Others realize that a good survey does take time, plus the office time to scan/email the photos, plus the inevitable call asking about some small detail, plus plus plus. So what amount of time do you allot for a standard (yes I know that there really isn't anything "standard" in the sign business so let's call it 'regular') shopping center survey with a sign band and perhaps a tenant panel in the pylon and some window dimensions? I'm not asking what you charge, because that rate varies from area to area, but how much time do you charge for? Or at least try to charge for. i usually allot two or two and a half hours including travel time for an average survey. i have one employee who seems to think that 3-4 hours each is very fast. i don't send him out too often.

I recently bought a graphtec plotter as well though I bought the CE 6000-120. My first plotter was a Gerber 4B, which was delivered by Fred Flintstone, which I eventually hooked up to a computer. It was so nice to be able to have more than six fonts! And retirement? What's that? I'm sixty and figure I have about another 35-40 years before I can afford to think about retirement.

As usual I'm late to the party. Erik, Happy B-day. And it beats NOT getting older - this from an admitted dinosaur.

We like the plastic clips. I completely agree with the 1-2 click rule. Having that extra travel has saved us a few times. We get the face fairly tight/smooth then go around the whole thing depressing the clips another click or two as needed. The tensioning tool makes short work of that last little bit. Puckering might be a sign of having it too tight as well. Yes, I've done that. Either that or the sign needs additional supports. Its amazing how much tension a flex face puts on a cabinet, especially if it was not designed for a flex face originally.

A good friend of mine almost went under because of Image Point but he was able to get about 75-80% of the monies owed to him. I think he had to go after I.P.'s customers in some cases. And as far as the vast majority of these national service companies are concerned, I echo Paul's sentiments. Do it on my terms or not at all.

I guess this is a west coast problem? I can get all the 1/4" clear acrylic I want from harbor sales in Baltimore. They also have Weldon 16 but only in pints and small tubes.

Thanks Cindy, For this location they used Entera and I've already spoken to them. I'm waiting on approval of the stacked design.

I'll give them a call. Thanks!!!

Hi all, I've been asked to mount a freestanding sign for a different chain store (Mavis Discount Tires) on top of a BK sign at a site currently under construction. The two stores are sharing a lot and the town will only allow one freestanding sign structure. I need to contact whoever makes the BK signs to see how this can be accomplished. The BK sign would need a stub out the top or maybe two SF cabinets mounted on the pole. And yes I suggested a simple rectangle sign with both logos but of course each wants THEIR exact sign type. If anyone can help me out here I'd appreciate it. If I get the chance I'll post the drawing I was given. It's sure to give you a laugh. Thanks! Rocco

At first i was a bit annoyed (am old and decrepit and dislike change like a typical old coot) with the new landing pages, but I've come to like it.

My shop is outside of Philadelphia, across the river in NJ. Yesterday there was a protest march here, but it remained peaceful. I had to run into the city yesterday and at least where I was, there was no damage and all was quiet. Maybe i was just up too early in the AM? Several stores were boarded up, though I doubt that would stop a dedicated bunch of looters. There is a section of the "Rocky Balboa" neighborhood (dislike those movies but that's a subject for a different venue) in Philly where a row of stores were burnt out. I'll be a few blocks away next week and will probably bring an extra pair of hands just to keep an eye on the truck. It's one of the roughest neighborhoods in town and you need to keep everything under lock and key in normal times. May we all come through these times with ourselves intact and our families healthy.

Just trying to lighten the mood a bit. I saw this truck in a local H.D. parking lot a few weeks back. While I do admit that the design sticks in your head, IDK if it really gives great advertising value. Plus I suspect that the "artist" might have been a bit on the high side when this was done.

So far, we are still working daily though we are a tiny operation compared to some. I'm having some issues getting materials (i.e. normal steel supplier in Philadelphia closed for at least two weeks) but can find other sources on this side of the state border. I'm seriously considering not going over into Philly but don't know if I can pull that off. The suits in the corporations don't care about people. There is a driver non-cooercion law, see below for an excerpt. "The Coercion Rule explicitly prohibits motor carriers, shippers, receivers and transportation intermediaries from coercing drivers to operate in violation of certain FMCSA regulations, including the drivers' hours-of-service limits, the commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations, the associated drug and alcohol ..." I'm hoping we can get something similar about not coercing contractors to finish jobs if we have issues due to Corona. In Phila. and NJ they have closed restaurants, bars, etc. Schools are closed for at least another week. Restaurants can only sell take out. They even closed the casino's in Atlantic City and that's a big revenue stream. My daughters college is doing the rest of the semester with online classes. i have several very large projects that are now on hold, if only because the township offices are closed and we can't start permitting on them. We just finished a couple of restaurant jobs and they are not going to be able to open. Both are good customers (one paid already) and I will get paid by the other though I may have to be patient to get the balance due. We're making sure that everyone washes up regularly. My hands are dry and raw from all the hand washing. We are running low on iso alcohol because we are using to wipe things down. I'v eeven considered buying a still to make my own alcohol - for cleaning only of course. TBH, I think it will get worse before it gets better but am keeping my hopes up. P.S. (and I hope this doesn't double post) but I was about to buy a 5x10 router and have put that on hold. Plus there were other upgrades that I've been considering but am holding tight for now. Eventually things will go back to normal, or something close, and we can get back on track.

Another good book (out of print so you will have to search for a copy) is Sign Structures and Foundations "A guide for designers and estimators". it was a Signs of the Times book and the author is Peter B Horsley. The copyright date on mine is from 1984. I did a quick google and there are some copies out there. It's a great book to help you to get basic footing, wind load, etc. calculations using basic math - no calculus required. Way back when we road dinosaurs to work, I made a spreadsheet using it and have been using that to get me pretty darn close for freestanding signs for many moons. Of course no engineer I've ever asked about my spreadsheet will even respond. After all, I don't have that piece of paper and so can't possibly be able to do math. ? It also goes into lighting design but of course doesn't have any info on LED's.

When I bought my ATR-41 it didn't have the jib but I bought one and it's on the truck. I'm having my hydraulic guy come later this week to make the connections. And no, I don't want to do it myself. I'd rather have someone who knows how do it properly. I'm wondering if anyone else has done this and where is the best place to put the valve to operate the hoist. I was considering making a bracket similar to the control box of a scissor lift. That way we can hang it from the platform where it would be out of the way. Or I could permanently mount it, but the only decent spot is on the steel platform support next to the harness ring. I'd like to put it in the main control area, but there really isn't enough space unless I have the whole thing redone. Any thoughts? Thanks!

I use the Vector Doctor. Vectordoctor.com. The last logo I had done by him cost $24 but it's usually under $20 if it's fairly simple. He has pricing examples on the site. Send him the art and he shortly gives a price quote. And the finished work has minimal points, smooth curves, etc. I'm never converting a logo myself again.