Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Back to School - Back to Business ?

Well here we are. Summer has once again come and gone. Back to the normal grind of school and work. Will back to school mean the economy will get back to business ? With the temptation of summer vacations and trips now gone, will the focus be once again on the workplace ? I sure hope so ! With every season and climatic trend there is new hope for things getting back to "the way they used to be". How long can this nervous economic situation last ? It gets harder and harder to have the optimism when each season comes and goes with the same results. People are still afraid to spend their money, still afraid of investing, or just plain still afraid. Everyone is trying to find ways to save their dollar. The only problem with that is the plain and simple fact that as sales go down, cost many times go up for the vendor. Then the vendor has to absorb that additional cost to stay competitive, and also may have to reduce that price even further. How does this help the vendor ? The vendor then makes less profit and might just have to consider a layoff. So then we have an entirely different problem ... unemployment. Many shops like mine do custom work. Anytime you do custom work, it costs a little more. Each piece is created specifically for the customer, no "cookie cutter" sales here ! Heck, it takes time to just talk with each customer, give them good advice and direction, and bill their job. But now we are even being asked to lower our prices even further because "the economy is so bad". If you ask me, it is compounding the situation. Making us fall deeper into the abyss. If we don't support our local businesses, we will lose much needed revenue and jobs. The little guys or "good guys" who work hard for you are now being asked to work almost for free. Then those guys must scrimp and save and try to make enough money to support their respective families and thus repeat a viscous cycle. Let's show these guys some respect and when you get a great custom job from a respected vendor ... be happy to pay him for it ! Your money is never wasted when spent in the local economy and just may help turn around this disturbing trend. A great resource to check out when purchasing local is http://the350project.net. Let's stop knocking each other down and get back to the prominence our great country deserves ... let's work together to change it !

Monday, August 24, 2009

Another mindless BLOG ...

Okay, so I missed a month of blogging. Does anyone care ? Ha ha ha ha ha ... wondering that same question for myself. It is time to get the word out ad start doing some more vehicle wraps. In this economy ... I know, something i keep touching on ... a vehicle wrap makes fantastic sense ! Or dollars and cents ! How many other forms of advertising allow you to pay once and make valuable impressions every day for 8-10 years !!!? Not any I can think of ! If you calculate the average wrap price, even on the high side, and divide it by how long the ad campaign can run, you come up with a highly economical form of advertising ! You might average somewhere around $30/month or even less ! Yellow pages are 20-30 times that cost and the almighty yellow pages are becoming obsolete. Back up your web campaigns and advertising efforts with a highly targeted vehicle wrap and drive your traffic, which will grow your business. We offer new customer discounts and will work with you to get your project to a comfortable price range. We will also match competitive offers from other sign companies in an effort to win you over and let you see the difference good design makes ! Give us a call at (804) 342-1120 or visit 24/7 online at Richmond Sign & Design Services, Inc.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Why Blog ?

Well here I am again ... a sign guy mindlessly blogging. Why does a sign guy need to blog ? I do ask myself that question ! They tell me that every good business must have a blog, but that is my line ! It used to read ... every good business has a SIGN ! Clearly, in this new era of increased technology, it is a true "sign" of the times ... so to speak. Many traditional medias are going by the wayside as we speed through the internet highway. Searching online for products and services, social media websites ... it is just the way things are going whether we like it or not. Does anyone actually read this stuff !? Just curious ... but at least I guess I am getting information out there that may find somebody ! Or, if not anything else, these blogs can give you some insight into me, the person. Sharing some of my ideals and opinions may just give you a better feeling about doing business with me. Well, I sure hope so ... or I just shoot myself in the foot ! What can you do ... well ... BLOG ! I do believe that blogging about political issues, sports and such can be very engaging. Those topics continually have issues that demand discussion, but the sign industry ? Hmmmmm ... I wonder !? Nonetheless, here I am ... wiley ole sign guy ... blogging. At the end of the day, just remember this ...
If you need signs or vehicle lettering, I will do my very best to provide you with top quality design, top quality vinyl films, top quality fabrication and most important .... excellent service ! Give me a chance to help with your graphic needs and you won't be disappointed ! Check us out at www.richmondsigns.com !!! Thanks for stopping through .....

Friday, April 10, 2009

Signs of the Times

Okay ... I guess I will write about signs this time, for I AM a sign shop ! This time of year, fishing is on my brain a lot, too ! To get back to the topic of signs, what can I say ! The last 12 months has been real tough on all of us. Regardless of the continuing support and loyalty of my customers ... regardless to the high level of quality and service we put out ... it is still a struggle. Customers are happier than ever and we continue to grow and improve our products, but people are just not spending. The competitive business spirit is alive and well in these times, so you really need to place yourself ahead of the others to survive. One way to improve your image and promote your products is through signage. From POP displays to temporary sale banners. From vehicle lettering to the sign on your building. What does your sign say about you ? Many people do not realize the importance of first impressions, a place where customers can be won or lost. Or what if you don't have a sign at all ? Like they say in this industry ... a sign with no business is a sign of NO business. Bad signs insinuate a bad product coming from within. Even a nice sign that has been neglected and weathered can reflect negatively on a business if not attended to. In a climate where we are looking for all the business we can get ... why would you drive around all day, all around town wasting gas without advertising YOUR message ... YOUR company !? Typically, you pay for signs one time and get many years of loyal service, unlike your employees. Signs don't call in sick or take holidays and they work for you 24/7 - 365 days a year ! If you call us now as a new customer you can even receive additional discounts on your order ! We are happy to give you a cost free estimate and survey your site for suitability and make recommendations for your project. Why would you go to the place the "so called" world goes for signs, when you go to the place RICHMONDERS go for signs ... Richmond Sign & Design Services, Inc. .... The Best Little Sign Shop in Virginia !!! Give us a call ..... ask for Darian !

Sunday, March 15, 2009

It's that time of year ... Crappie Fishing !!!

For the first time on this blog, this article is not about business ! It is about our third love and passion ... FISHING ! The fish called a "crappie" is a native favorite of mine and is spawning right now in your local lakes, ponds and rivers. When these fish spawn, they feed very aggressively. With a little knowledge, even the casual fisherman can have a blast catching fish and have just as good a time at the dinner table. Some people have issues with keeping spawning females, because of the eggs they are about to lay. I think it highly depends on the health of the fishery and the fishing pressure put on it. The limits the state puts up are regardless of time of year and have worked well on some publicly managed waters. If this gives you a personal issue, well ... don't keep em ! Or, just be selective and look for the darker colored males. Typically they have a much darker area just under their gills than the brighter females, and many times the females are engorged with eggs and you can tell by the bulge. Either way ... when larger than hand size, they are delectable when cooked in a variety of your favorite ways (i can give you recipes) .
I believe the best way to catch these tasty fish is the traditional minnow and bobber technique. This time of year, you can find them in anywhere from 2-5' of water, which is how you set your depth. Slip bobbers are best, and I will go into detail with the rig in a video soon. But crappie can also be caught plentifully on jigs, as well. From time to time, they actually prefer a jig. Roadrunners, crappie jigs with spinners and just plain old jig heads with a skirted tube all work well. As far as the minnow goes, small or medium work best and I usually hook them in the back, close to the tail for a lively swimming action. Some nose hook, I think when they are biting it doesn't matter ! Sometimes I "double" hook them when they are really biting to preserve minnows. I usually take 6-10 dozen with me and many times use them all ! I never want to run out of bait when they are really biting ! When you buy small minnow say at Green Top, they are only $1.19 per dozen, so not bad. An aerator is a must to keep them alive.
This kind of fishing is what can hook kids for life and I take kids every chance I get ... to see the smile on their faces and the joy and accomplishment is priceless ! Just the other day I watched a two year old precious little girl just beam with the excitement of reeling in a crappie ! It was great. I would love to help turn on as many as possible who have the desire.
Many times, fishing can be much more than just catching some fish. It many times puts you in a serene environment in nature, bearing witness to small marvels you would have never seen had you not gone. To me, fishing is like therapy. No matter what the stress of the day with work or whatever you may be going through ... when I am out on the water, most times it is just where am I going to cast next ? What fish will tug on my line next ? When the fish just aren't biting ... take advantage and just relax. But if you listen to some tips and ask some questions you may get like me ... and have no time to relax ! One way or another, I am going to figure out how to catch some fish ! I will be following soon with some more info on my fishing page on my website ...
so please feel free to follow along and throw questions on the comments below and I will do my best to answer them. I am well versed in most species of freshwater fish and know the james river very well. I have trophies of 6 different freshwater species and 23 in all. I tell you this not to gloat ... but for credential purposes ! And of course ... any of you fishermen/boaters out there need graphics or letters for your boat ... we can do that, too ! Thanks for stopping by !!!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Are you kidding me ? So many reasons why we are in a recession ...

Okay ... this is the kicker for me. I am a sports fan and often listen to espn talk radio. Today I hear that my favorite team, the Redskins, are going to make a huge signing of the best defensive player in the league, Albert Haynesworth. You would think I would be excited about this. In years past, maybe ... but now ? What made me stop in my tracks with disbelief was the reported 100 million dollar contract he will be offered, with a 35 million dollar signing bonus. Are you kidding me ? In the wake of Jim Calhoun being questioned about his salary from the state, people seem to be seriously thinking about some of these ridiculously inflated incomes out there. And he we are, the general public, fighting just to keep our heads above water. Why is a talented actor worth 30 million dollars for one movie ? They're not. We, as the general public, elevate them to this status. What do you think would happen if people stopped going to movies ? Or stopped going to NFL football games ? Do you think salaries would go down, along with ticket prices ? I do. That would be the natural sequence of things. What if we demanded hollywood and professional sports gave back ? Sure ... they all have their respective charities for posterity, but does anyone really need to live as lavish as some of these CEO's with their golden parachutes ? Even down to the government, when all you have to do is serve one term in congress and "we the people" fit the bill the rest of their life ? Public servant ? More like us serving the public official. So do i really need to ask why we are in a recession ? Greed, greed and more greed. It is a good thing that I once watched a show where a mediocre NBA basketball player went into the closet, in his mansion, and boasted of his 350 pairs of custom made, imported Italian shoes at 15K-30K a pop, and you go into the neighborhood where he grew up and find poverty. When did we lose the connection to our own communities ? Why the hell did we allow this to happen, to elevate the few to a platform where they look down upon us from their throne. I thought we were a democracy ... oh that's right ! Capitalism rules the day here .. the almighty dollar. THAT is our problem. If you want to support the arts ... support a local artist instead of going to a movie. If you love sports ... go play them yourself or support your local youth organizations and schools. Want to support the CEO's golden parachutes ? Then don't buy their products. Let's get back to good old fashioned morals and ethics and take care of one another once again. The rest will take care of itself !

Come by and see me at www.richmondsigns.com !

Monday, February 16, 2009

Random Blog and Rant on Business Today (Part 2)

Another rant on the economy as we know it today. What to do ? When you have a business that needs to STAY in business ... what do we do ? I have already adressed the value of vehicle advertising in my recent blog, Smart Marketing in a Sluggish Economy. So, of course, I subscribe to these principles and participate myself with both of my shop vehicles. But what to do when this isn't bringing in new customers ? When consumers just aren't spending, or even looking to spend. Of course there are all sorts of advertising and marketing techniques, but I consider many of them to be an uninvited intrusion. A way I prefer not to start off a conversation with a prospective client. Many will argue that the hit you in the face style marketing with due dilligence has its value and a proven track record. I just have issues with that. If I HAD to do something of this nature, I guess I would prefer to visit a business in person. So at least my intrusion comes with some genuine accountability for my actions. My intent being merely as an introduction and offering of services ... leave a business card. NO SELLING or sales tactics ! I sell by giving good information and honesty. I try only to give that information when expressly asked for ... we all hate a pushy salesman. So again .. what to do ? What can we do to keep our message out there (like vehicle advertising) that doesn't add to your monthly expenses, that doesn't intrude on potential customers. Well there is at least one thing you can do, one that I have been diligent with myself. Optimizing your website to be search engine friendly and relevant. What better way to start a dialogue than someone who is looking for you ! Someone who has already searched the great divide on the internet and decided to call you. If you've done a good job, they already like what they see and that is why they are calling you ! This is a great way to start a conversation and hopefully a long lasting relationship with the customer. As always, you have to follow through. ALWAYS do what you say you will, and in a timely fashion. Make sure your delivery is professional and consistent with what led them to you in the first place. Taking excellent care of your customers leads to one of the most important, FREE forms of advertising you can get ... REFERALS ! One good thing leads to another. So now we fall back to loyalty, morals, ethics and good ole honesty. Things none of us should forget. If we all practice some of these principles maybe we could avoid the next "bailout" from our greed !


Good luck to all the small business out there through these trying times. If there is any way I can help personally, visit me at Richmond Sign & Design Services, Inc. !!!




Friday, February 6, 2009

Random Blog and Rant on Business Today

It's not personal, it's only business ! My GOD, I HATE this phrase. The three dreaded words ... it's only business. Okay ... i am a business owner. Everything that happens negatively in the business, I personally am negatively affected. My family and whole way of life can be negatively affected. So how is this not personal ! Just another way for someone to legitimize screwing you a new one. We have somehow made it okay to take advantage of other people under the guise of "business". How did this happen ? Seems to me it is the lack of moral fiber that has sent this country straight into a recession. Greed. What happened to business ethics and morality? You do good things for people, and people want to do good thing for you. Do unto others ... the golden rule which has been seemingly lost in today's business environment. I was raised in large part by my grandparents, a product of the depression. I was taught not to waste, to work hard, and most importantly ... take care of your fellow man and woman. Too many people get dollar signs in their eyes and hold that in higher regard than any other. We can do it the RIGHT way. We don't have to take advantage and deceive to succeed. One of my favorite quotes: money isn't real. Meaning, the REAL things in your life that are most important have nothing to do with money. You can always make more money ... you can't go back to your daughter's second grade recital ! You take care of the REAL things in life and money takes care of itself. Find something you love doing, and do it better than anybody else, and work hard. My formula for success. I have always said, if someone would pay my bills, I would work for free. I take much satisfaction from HELPING my customers, seeing the smile on their face when they get their new sign. This is what makes the world go around, helping each other ... not using business to screw each other. Of course, money is a necessary evil. We all need it to survive. So until someone offers to pay all my bills, I will continue to charge for my services, of course ! But I do not need to nickle and dime my customers, and sometimes I don't charge what I should to help out a given situation. Sometimes I don't do the job at all, if I am not the best person to handle it for my customer. I call this customer service. I don't know what the hell they call it when i try to get help out there sometimes ! It is more like customer run around, or customer dis-service ! It would be nice to see greed give way to compassion. Materialistic wants to wanting to help others. Big business corporate ways to small town values. This is what we are missing. We need to help each other much more. If you agree with these sentiments, you would be very happy doing business with http://www.richmondsigns.com/ ! We look forward to hearing from you !

Monday, February 2, 2009

Smart Marketing in a Sluggish Economy

What do we do when business is slow ? We advertise ... right ? But what is the most effective way to do this when your business is slow and funds may be low. The yellow pages only come out once a year, and the costs for a large ad are very high and recurring every month. Sure, you get some business from it, but you also waste a lot of time trying to help potential customers who are looking at nothing more than the bottom line .... price. Customers only consumed with the cost are not necessarily the customers you want to grow your business. These are the customers that will leave you the quickest and give you a false sense of security with your business growth. You would hope that consumers would realize the value of high quality products and excellent customer service, but in a struggling economy, many times the overwhelming factor is price. The yellow pages do target your industry, but not necessarily the TYPE of customers you want to target. Many other forms of marketing also employ a "broadcast" technique, many times wasting your marketing dollar in areas where it is not needed or received well. I personally hate telemarketing. Do you like it ? Why smack your prospective customers in the face with uninvited intrusions on their valuable time ? And what about mailings ? Sure, they work too. But have you seen the return rate percentages ? High volume, low results ... also uninvited and many times simply disregarded. So how can you put a message in front of perspective customers every day without intrusion ? How can you get the public to focus on the quality of your service or product, and not the price alone ? How can you pay for a marketing technique ONE TIME that will reach millions of prospective customers ? One that will keep on communicating for you and your company for more than 5 years ? This is my favorite part ! VEHICLE ADVERTISING ! It is getting more and more popular and utilized, but not nearly enough ! There is a whole market out there you are not reaching if you underestimate this medium. Let's break it down real simple like for everyone. You pay anywhere from $2000 - $6000 for a full vehicle wrap, depending on the kind of vehicle. With a good designer (like myself!) you come up with an image that is completely unique in the world that strongly communicates YOUR message, and your message only. Every day you are on the road, heads turn to read your message (it took me a while to get used to it in my company vehicle ... i kept thinking people were staring at me ! ). With an effective design ... they continue to look and appreciate the graphic and create a lasting visual impression of your image. A well thought out design conveys to your prospective customers the attention to detail your company will provide.
One good phone call and new customer can easily pay for the entire advertsing effort. The beauty of it is that it continues to work for you as long as 5+ years !!! Wraps also help you build an image for your business in the community that is long lasting and memorable. Even if we are not the ones to help you with your project, this is an opportunity that should not be ignored. We hope we can be the ones to help and invite you to check out the video of our work samples at our http://www.richmondsign.blogspot.com/ and our other services at our website ... http://www.richmondsigns.com/ ! Thanks for reading and contact us if you have any questions we can help you with ! Thanks again ....

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Richmond Sign & Design Services, Inc.

Richmond Sign & Design Services, Inc.
We are now offering our customers the same video production service used for our work portfolio video. This video is MUCH more impressive than standard slideshows, utilizing and incorporating the music soundtrack. It is a fantastic way to promote your companies work and services. Average length is about 20 photos that runs for 1-2 minutes. You provide the photos and text and we will arrange them in the video. We can also take the pictures for you (locally) at a rate of $60/hr. Your video can be burned to a DVD, playable on all DVD players for $25. We can burn a CD for you with an mp4 file which you can post to most sites on the web for $10. For an average length video we are doing an introductory special offer of $150. We will ad 10 additional photos for $50. Custom requests will be given a quote for the service. Please contact us if interested.
We are YOUR SOURCE for all kinds of signs and vehicle lettering. Cutting edge designs, high quality materials and excellent customer service is what we offer our customers at a competitive price. Your project will be handled in a prompt and professional manner, utilizing over 20 years of experience in the industry. Call us for a cost free estimate. Visit us on the web at www.richmondsigns.com !