Overcoming sticker shock when you quote a wrap
There’s no doubt about it. Well-executed vehicle wraps pack a lot of potential for high-impact advertising. They are also potentially quite profitable for… Read More
Online Exclusives
Take a look at what others charge for 3 x 10 banners
Though it’s important to know your production costs, it also helps to know what others charge for certain types of work. Last week… Read More
Letter the truck, not just the doors
Surely the most captivating thing about a vehicle wrap is that it turns the whole truck into a sign. But not every small… Read More
Boring rectangle? Cut it out!
Sign substrates come in nice neat rectangles. Panel cutters and table saws precisely cut them into smaller rectangles. It’s quick and easy—but does… Read More
How others finish HDU board
John Ralph, Quail Run Signs, Hamilton, Virginia, suggested we ask Trade Secrets readers how they handle some of the processes sign shops use… Read More
Nice sign, but what did it sell for?
Ever see a photo of a great-looking sign in Trade Secrets or SignCraft magazine and wonder what it would sell for? You’re not… Read More
How to save a sign sale
Closing a sale is easy when the customer seems positive, then says something like, “That sounds good…” after hearing the price. But what… Read More
6 ways to add life to lettering
Sign makers have long been using special effects to make letters on flat signs more intriguing. Years ago it was common to add… Read More
Download this form today to make design work easier
Click here to download a version of theform that you can start using today. A key part of being a successful designer is… Read More
What would you get for this semi door lettering?
In our most recent Trade Secrets e-letter, we asked readers what they would charge for this typical project: lettering the doors of the… Read More
10 Great-Looking Shop Trucks
It only makes sense that a sign shop should have an effective sign and effective graphics on the shop vehicles. Yet, so often,… Read More
A quick formula for killer layouts
Ever wonder why some signs have so much more impact than most of the others? It’s because the designer used the basic design… Read More
Try this approach to estimating
Ever wish there was a formula you could use to check your pricing? Here’s one we learned about from Jim Jackson of Artcraft… Read More
No more lost design fees
One of the ongoing issues for anyone who designs signs is the question of who owns the design. So often the client will… Read More
8 ways to ramp up your flat sign designs
In the recent SignCraft feature on Braun Bleamer, Jet Signs Inc., Palmerton, Pennsylvania, we noticed how many great-looking signs he did on flat… Read More
What would you get for this 4×8 sign?
Kevin Wright, Wright Signs, Adrian, Michigan, did this drawing for the Design and Price feature in the upcoming September/October issue of SignCraft. You’ll… Read More
What would you get for this 4×8 sign?
We recently asked readers of our Trade Secrets e-letter what they would charge for this typical 4×8 sign project: A real estate developer… Read More
Who says the graphics have to stay inside the border?
“I hate to see a plain white rectangle,” says Greg Scott, GSWorx, New Philadelphia, Ohio. “It just seems that there’s so much else… Read More
More great image-driven websites
About a week ago I featured the websites of three sign companies, each of which was loaded with photos and kept the copy… Read More
