Fume Extraction, Time Review and More Sign Business Advice

“If you don’t know what to do, there’s actually a chance of doing something new.” — Philip Glass

FABRICATION Dust and Seam

1 “If your business uses lasers to engrave or cut plastics, inspect and make sure your fume-exhaust system is performing as it should,” advises Thomas Nance, Signarama Louisville Downtown (Louisville, KY). Fume extraction not only removes the smelly fumes, but also keeps the laser’s optics and the motion-control system cleaner by removing smoke and debris particles before they can settle on components inside the cabinet, he explains. Meanwhile, Matt Robinson of Eastern Sign Tech (Burlington, NJ) suggests showing the seam for material constraints on drawings and not hiding it halfway in the final product.

PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO

MANAGEMENT Time Master

2 Ian McLellan, Hill House Graphics (Bristol, RI), has spent the past month or so re-evaluating the time he spends after regular business hours to “push jobs through.” Trying to focus on the value of his time in business and personal life, thereby achieving a better balance of that time, seems to increase both his business productivity and his personal fulfillment, McLellan says.

INSTALLATION Dependable Investment

3 Having built a consistent team of contractors, It’s A Good Sign (Dallas) is moving to an “elite team” model for installation, enabling them to match jobs to the best-suited contractors for more efficient work, says Gayle Goodman Lynch. Out west, Jeremy Vanderkraats, Signs by Van (Salinas, CA), recommends decking out a Ram ProMaster van with a carbon copy of your install tools. “It’s great for transporting signs safely as well as being literally a rolling toolbox. One of our best purchases,” he adds.

CUSTOMERS Top of Leads

4 The Mad Signtist (Myrtle Beach, SC) gives out a gift bag with personalized gifts, flyers and branded merchandise to the top 50 local real estate agencies. “Our area depends on personal customer service and this is way better than advertising anywhere!” says owner Kelly Bookheimer. Up north, FastTrack Signs (Bellefontaine, OH) has started pre-qualifying leads by asking about budget and timeline early in conversations with customers. “It’s helped us focus on serious inquiries and freed up time to pursue larger, more profitable jobs,” owner Dennis Schaub explains.

FINANCES Math Curious

5 Compare key numbers month over month or year over year, or compare them to plan, to see what’s working in your organization and what isn’t, advise Jack and Suzy Welch in their book The Real-Life Mba: Your No-BS Guide to Winning the Game. “You need to be relentlessly curious about the variances that tell you how the business is doing, where it’s going, why and how fast,” they write.

PHOTO BY GABE GRIFFIN, CLEAR SIGN & DESIGN

SHOWCASE EXCELLENT PHOTOS

6 “Some may consider [showcase sign photos easy], but there are just as many ways to do this wrong as there are right. Armed with your top-of-the-line finished good — and optimal control of light and time — explore different focal lengths, exposures, angles, reflections and lighting techniques. This is when remote-flash capabilities can really shine,” advises Gabe Griffin, general manager of Clear Sign & Design in San Marcos, CA, and to our knowledge, the best sign photographer in the game. “Walk around your building and search for some unique places to stage your products. Test out that glass tabletop, well-lit wall, and even try outside in direct sunlight,” he adds. For more on taking better sign photos, see signsofthetimes.com/092508.

Tip Briefs

• Training a new sign designer? Turn their desk 90º so that they are sitting 72 in. away from the screen for objectivity they otherwise would not have or develop. — Edward DeZuzio, Butler Sign Co., Wayne, NJ
• Weekly production meetings to go over every project with key team members help keep us all on the same page. — Rick Ream, Media 1 Wrap This, Sanford, FL
• Removing toxicity is a game-changer. It’s amazing how relieved you will feel immediately after eliminating problem employees or clients. — Sara Geiger, Fox Cities Sign, Appleton, WI