chatterbox

Graphtec 54" Cuting Pro FC5100-130. Cuts vinyl up to 52" wide. $1,500 A money maker. Will go fast. Power cable and the USB cable included. Works with Flex-sign, SignLab, or Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW PLUG-IN. Call Mike at 310-503-0484 (Los Angeles County, Torrance, CA) email: btrmike@gmail.com

Erik, If you need something let me know...

A line and a word underneath that line that says, APPROVED. They sign it. That's it. Date it also.

Very, very interesting.

Used, in good condition, GRAPHTEC CUTTER (for sign company, vinyl company, sticker company, or tint company.) SERIES NUMBER CUTTING PRO FC5100-130 48" wide to 54" wide. NEEDS cables. Call Mike at 310-503-0484 .....EMAIL: btrmike@gmail.com TORRANCE, CA (Redondo Beach/Gardena/South Bay area) Going to GO FAST. $2,500 (FIRM)

This is Mike from Chatterbox Designs in Los Angeles. I was researching the web as I do on a number of topics as is customary based on my job as Business Development in the Sign Industry. I am no expert on NEON or LED. I have been involved with designing signs for about 10 years with both electrical components. I came across this article on ELRO SIGNS. I wonder if you could read up on it and authenticate the information. As you are the expert, as are other members on the Sign Syndicate. http://www.elrosigns.com/ Please let me know as, to me, it just sounds like surface information. There is a lot more to this NEON vs. LED thing. Thanks. Mike B. Chatterbox Designs Los Angeles, CA

LOOKING FOR INSTALLATION COMPANIES: Flynn Signs & Graphics Inc. in LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA (Southern California) is looking for Independent Installation Companies (any size crew, and any size trucks). Must be an INDEPENDENT INSTALLATION SIGN COMPANY. Contact us. We want to talk to you. There is installation business at Flynn Signs. Thank you. Please contact: Mike Burke, Director Business Development Flynn Signs & Graphics Inc. 1-800-458-2784, x226 email: mburke@flynnsigns.com

Sign Installation Position - Hiring(free posting on The Sign Syndicate.com) HIRING EXPERIENCED JOURNEYMAN SIGN INSTALLER LONG BEACH, CA Must be an Experienced Journeyman. Do not apply, if you are a novice. Must have 5 years experience, minimum as a sign installer / service tech. Because of the volume of work at Flynn Signs, you must be dedicated to sign installation. Requirements:  Must be computer literate with email, Internet research, and navigating Windows operating system.  You must have a “Can Do Attitude.”  Must be a “team player.”  Must be “safety conscious.”  Must have a clean driving record and insurable  Must be dependable.  Must have “attention to detail.”  Must be able to “think on your feet.”  Have the ability to read engineering specs / blue prints / floors plans  Must know ADA-compliant signage  Must have customer service skills; know how to interact with people  Willing to work overtime, if necessary  Willing to travel and work out of town, if necessary Email only. Do not call. Email a brief introduction of yourself in an email with your resume attached. If you are interested in this position and fit “all” of these requirements, please email Install@FlynnSigns.com, and cc: info@FlynnSigns.com. Please call today. Thank you. Flynn Signs & Graphics, Inc., 1345 Coronado Ave. Long Beach, CA. 90804

One thing I am running into over and over again is how to focus and customize organization, management and elements about how business is handled within one particular business, whether it is a sign supply company, wholesale sign company, or retail full service sign company. Having a sign design book publishing company, my company is different, and needs to be approached differently than most sign companies. That said, I am not a sign company. However, I understand sign companies, since I have worked for many. Gemini Inc. continues to do a PRINT version of their catalog and has been noted to believe that the PRINTED MEDIA allows people to HOLD their product in hand. Since signs are a physical product to sell. Customers looking for signs are looking for visual impact. PRINT MEDIA is not going away, it is only less focused on, and rightly so, it cost money and less people utilize it. In today's (and it changed overnight) world of business (and whatever you consider your business model), a reduced amount of a printed BROCHURE is very, very important. I do not believe we need CATALOGS, in the since of a larger, item-by-item booklet showing everything. Brochures can fill the need for the "Instant-This-and-That" Society. We are beyond the MTV generation. However, providing TWO (2) PDF's of your companies brochure (and perhaps a digital catalog) are a must in business. Why two? One, a PDF download should always be provided on your website for easy, convenient access to customers. A PDF brochure should be located on every sales persons desktop/laptop/netbook/iPad/and even mobile device (my web designer sends a link from my website on his iPhone). The PDF brochure should be easily accessible for sales persons to EMAIL a PDF brochure to a perspective client/customer requesting the document. Visual brochures of your product and services, accompanied by photos and information, BOLD and SIMPLE to read, with your company information IS A MUST today, just as it was yesterday. I always look for a PDF download when I go to a company's website. I wouldn't even argue the point with colleagues. This a no-brainer. End of topic. Mike B. Chatterbox Designs & Digital Media. Torrance, CA.

Let's stop promoting the idea that anyone from anywhere can just jump into our industry and "Just do it." The Sign Syndicate author. I talk about this point in my book, "INSIDE SIGN DESIGN." There is a pervasive myth that the sign business, or making signs, or sign design is "easy." I get so many sign designs, or at least, attempts at sign designs by Architects (any sign companies agree?), graphic designers from marketing, branding and ad agencies, as well as (some) sign companies who "had" to hire someone who knew a drawing program. Most "real" sign designers are taken by the big companies, or sign companies that pay right. I know this to be true, because I started in the industry with the idea, "I have been designing for 20 years, I can design signs." My first boss (sign company) laughed and smirked. He said, "You know nothing about signs." There is a pervasive myth that the sign business and everything about it is easy. When I begin explaining signage to graphic designers, their jaw drops. "I didn't know."

Its a retro-fit. Nice job. I never seen this madness before. Nice colors. Red letters on blue background. I guess Indiana has no code.

If you are a threat, people don't like it. If you are a voice, people don't like it. If you are not a part of their tribe, people don't like it. Blaze your own trail.

THOUGHTS FROM CHATTERBOX DESIGNS. At The Sign Syndicate, we believe this portal is for experienced sign companies, sign owners, and sign industry people who want to know more about all the details of every facet of the business, including making quality signs. Just about every business (and the new ones opening) needs a sign, and a large percentage, electrical signs. Could we possibly sell more signs, and better designed signs, if the Sign Industry (the experienced sign people), interacted together and shared the knowledge of how to beat the marketplace? Are sign company owners interested in learning from one another, or do they just, "know-it-all." Is there a pervasive, kinda-a-like, "paranoia" that is in this industry, or is it something else? What I have seen in my 10 yeas is a thought, "if it sticks sell it." "If it doesn't, oh well." This is not my opinion, this is what I have seen from small and mid-size sign companies in many Western states. As a small business owner, I don't understand this attitude. I have never once, seen sign owners, I know, open to learning how to sell signs better. Most sign owners have the attitude, "Let's see how long this salesperson will last." There is absolutely no training involved." No weekly sales meeting, with a little training each week, feedback, and "how-do-we-do-it-better," mentality. What sells signs? How do you increase sales? Some factors to consider: 1. Initial assessment BEFORE even taking a job to determine if the customer is going to "buy" or is just "fishing?" QUALIFY the sign buyer. 2. Is it the "fast-talking" sign person, someone new to the industry hungry to get a sale, just a good sales person (without knowledge of signs), or experienced sign sales people that sells a sign? 3. A good sign design, a properly formatted sign submittal? Does it really help, or not? Does the customer need to see a design, or not? 4. The vibe of the market at any one time in the year, or a business needs sign regardless? 5. Fact: the customers needs a sign? Oh well, they may go to your competitor. Sometimes it is all about price, and the customer will go somewhere else. This is a given. But what about increasing sales by 25%, 35%, or more? Most people, in every small business, just want to make a quota, pay the mortgage, and get by. GET BY? I think America needs to wake up. EVERY OTHER NATION ON EARTH is nipping at our shores. Americans better wake up. Period. Do sign companies set goals for sales? Or, it is just that, sign companies love to make signs, and, oh well, it just happens to be a business?

Did they even talk about neon signs? Joe, take your hands out of your pockets. You're on national TV.