Sharing Those Little Techniques

[Joe Crumley]

Sharing with others

The “Letterhead Philosophy” of taking a novice by the hand to show techniques and business practice bas been way of life for thirty years. When I started out, sign painters were suspecious keeping all their trade secrets from one another. As luck would have it, I stubled on to the Letterhead movement and my life turned around. I started making good money and the quality of my signs made a big leap in quality. I was no longer a little secret sign shop, but part of a community of artists. I would like to see this happen to the CNC community also.

Not only am I willing to share my processes and technique, I freely give out information about pricing too. If my competitions wants to visit my shop, I'll give them a guided tour. For me it's like fishing. If a fellow wants to sit down beside me wondering what bait I'm using, I'll give some of mine. I want him to have good luck too. And so it is with business. Petty fears aren't in my quiver. What we all want is to have better products and enjoy the financial benefits.

I'm by no means the cheapest sign maker in the town. My prices are high but fair. I loose some work but by keeping the quality at it's highest there are allways customer willing to pay.

One way to be more successful is to work together. Don't squirrel away little secrets and hide your successes. Make friends with your competition. I know it's hard to do. I have one shop in my community who refuses to be cordial. I wish them the best. But I get lots of work from other sign people who now trust me and we get along very well. I will even call them when I think we are cross bidding. Sometimes we flip a coin, over the phone, who will contract for the work. Working together is better in every way.

At this time I send out most work which comes over the phone. My technique is to refer the client to Company X and let them know if that doesn't work out, call back and I'll help them find another shop. You wouldn't believe what good PR this is. What I'm saying is, working together and sharing is the better method.

Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com

[electric2u]

i have a question about painting signs, i'm make a little sign for family i'm traying to paint the letters. the letters are v carved and there are some are profile cut out(poping out .25"). i'm have a hard time painting it. is their an easy way to doing this with out getting paint on the other colors. painting a straiter line. i'm thinking tapping it, but i look at it and go how or when cnc'ing it paint then tape and cut some more

how do you do it?

thank you
kevin