Full Version: Perpetual Plaque of sorts?
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#6]
5 Jun 2006
To: Jo (OAAE) [#5] 5 Jun 2006
I know the type of plaque you're referring to. I think you can do better than that.
Has the customer given you a proposed budget to work within?
That will dictate what type of product you can provide.
From: Jo (OAAE) [#7]
5 Jun 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#6] 6 Jun 2006
No David he hasn't. But like all clients I'm sure it is small. He is wanting somewhere in the neighborhood of "cheap." But after reading your item on pricing I'm thinking I won't be cheapening my expertise.
I would love to hear what you have to offer.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#8]
6 Jun 2006
To: Jo (OAAE) [#7] 6 Jun 2006
Jo,
If I were asked to do this project, here's what I'd do:
If "cheap" is the requirement; for starters, I'd use a single, vinyl-finish plaque board, such as the JDS mahogany plaque. No hanging, add-on plates. Too much work, for what they're willing to pay.
The mahogany finish makes a nice looking plaque, which, so far, hasn't been over-exposed, making your plaque a little more unique, than what they've probably seen, to this point.
I'd lay out the plaque, (per Joe Hayes' suggestion) with room for a header plate and whatever number of indivual plates will be required; leaving more room for the header plate, which will become the focal point.
I would laser engrave "keylines" into the plaque, making for easy placement of the individual plates, as they're subsequently added.
For the header plate, I'd use a goldtone, brushed aluminum plate and employ the "wow factor" that full-color sublimation can provide.
The header plate would include a logo, if any, and incorporate colors in that logo, (or colors complimentary to the gold plate and mahogany finish) for use in a simple border and a tasteful use of gradients, for the background.
By using this "cross-platform" approach, you've already sent any challengers, who rely on a single process, i.e., laser, rotary-drag, silkscreen, monochrome sublimation, back home.
What I'd be striving for, is something the customer has never seen before, that's so intriguing; so captivating to the eye, that proposals from other companies will be instantly discarded.
Even though "cheap" is the goal, you can still honor that request, but don't be surprised if the customer is willing to go a little bit higher on their budget, to secure your unique concept, to be hung proudly, all around the town. :-)
EDITED: 6 Jun 2006 by DGL
From: Jo (OAAE) [#9]
6 Jun 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#8] 6 Jun 2006
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#10]
6 Jun 2006
To: Jo (OAAE) [#1] 6 Jun 2006
Is he talking about a rectangular, (or shaped), piece of acrylic that is lasered with information? Then two holes at the top to hang off wall hooks, two holes at the bottom to hang the tags with 'S' hooks. This should be 1/4" thick. If you want to get fancy you could even color fill the lasered image before removing the masking.
Each plate could be acrylic in 1/8" with two holes at the top and bottom. Again 'S' hooks.
From: JHayes55 [#11]
6 Jun 2006
To: Jo (OAAE) [#4] 6 Jun 2006
Jo
No photos
Price was in the $30 range - I did about 30 or 40 for the one organization. Charge $2.00 for small plate each year.
JDS - page 50 - bottom of page - groved plaque GWME79 (7x9) GWME810 (8x10) GWME912 (9x12)
Used Gold to Black engravable plastic. Quick easy with a laser. Beveled the edges.
If you need for me too send a private message with a email I can send the Corel File with the layout - but it's really very simple.
Is that enough answers ;-) ?
Let me know if I can do anything else. :-)
EDITED: 6 Jun 2006 by JHAYES55
From: logojohn [#12]
6 Jun 2006
To: Jo (OAAE) [#7] 6 Jun 2006
We make plaques like these in any size and even some trophy bases.
Just laser a thick box on it at first. Size the add on plate to just meet the gold border. Once attached you have to look close to tell isnt all one plate. It is easy to send them through the mail with no removing screws for the customer.
If you laser has time you can even laser the boxes into the wood like the jds plaques.
http://www.trophiesinc.com/plaquesperpetual/13_Ruby71_PerpSpecial.jpg
If they want the ultra cheap formed plastic plaques they can be ordered through an ASI type supplier if the quantity is high enough.
.
From: Jo (OAAE) [#13]
7 Jun 2006
To: ALL
Thank you everyone for all your help. Here is what I've come up with. When I get it finished I will post a picture. I haven't proposed it to the client yet.
Anywhay, the local High School mascot is a bulldog. What I did was cut out a piece of purple plastic in the shape of the bulldog.
My proposal is to cut holes in the feet, attach some type of ring or chain and hang the years from the feet. I'm not sure what to charge, it is about 8 x 10 and I lasered the wording in and cut the bulldog shape out. The run time was over 30 minutes. Todd thinks we can cut the time down somehow. My thought it to resize the bulldog to about 6x8 or so and charge around 15 to 20 bucks for the dog and $5 each for the years.
I thought I would use a gold and/or yellow plastic to engrave the years.
What do you all think? Any thoughts or feedback is appreciated. Good or bad :S
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#14]
7 Jun 2006
To: Jo (OAAE) [#13] 8 Jun 2006
He will have to cut down the run time a lot. I have just raised my retail charge for laser time from $90/hour because I have to be paid for my time and wear and tear on the machine. My wholesale time on the laser is still $60 per hour because it is all repeats, but I am wondering about that.
$20 for 30 minutes of runtime will not cover much, wear & tear plus loading and unloading time will eat most of that up, almost nothing left for profit. (Oops, forgot the overhead costs. Yikes you might even be losing money in the long run at those prices.)
From: Jo (OAAE) [#15]
8 Jun 2006
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#14] 8 Jun 2006
Thanks Harvy, you didn't make my day :P We will take that into account and figure out what we are going to do.
Thanks for the eye opener.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#16]
8 Jun 2006
To: Jo (OAAE) [#15] 8 Jun 2006
I'm lovin' the design concept, but it doesn't sound like a bargain basement item.
More like a high-end creation.
I know you stated "cheap" was the goal, but do you think your unique design would have your customer digging a little deeper, into their pockets?
From: Jo (OAAE) [#17]
8 Jun 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#16] 8 Jun 2006
I know you're right but our location dynamics makes it difficult for us to charge what I know we are worth and what I know we should charge based on equipment run time and wear and tear.
He wants 50 of them so I would like to find a way I could sell them at a reasonable price so he would be happy, we would be able to provide a specialized product then in the future he might bring us more business and I wouldn't feel bad about charging a little more. Does that make sense.
Hopefully I can finish my prototype and show you all what I've come up with. My next hurdle is to figure out how the recipient will hang them.
Thanks for your input Dave.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#18]
8 Jun 2006
To: Jo (OAAE) [#17] 9 Jun 2006
There are no doubt, differences in pricing thresholds, between the bigger cities and smaller towns.
Even with that dynamic in place, when I hear people say their market won't bear a certain price, I'm willing to bet, they haven't tried to see what their market will bear.
Here's a story, of some friends of mine, who were new to the awards industry, about 15 years ago. Probably longer.
I'll call this couple Eric and Charlotte (E&C), because their names are Eric and Charlotte. :-)
E&C were doing everything right -- Clean storefront, with a nice display of products; either of high quality or high perceived value. They were also very professional in their demeanor.
Despite their fastideous operation of the business, there was a problem -- They weren't making enough money.
After considerable hand-wringing, over the thought of raising prices (in their minds, they knew that would be the death blow to their business) the couple decided to make a bold move.
Not only would they raise prices; they'd raise the prices to a point of high profitability. It would be a substantial jump!
Their mindset was, "We'll either go down in a heap, due to the price increases, and go back to 'day jobs', or we'll make the money we deserve."
Damn the torpedoes! There will be no mid-ground!
Since I've mentioned E&C have been in business for at least 15 years, you know which way their business went.
After the price increases, much to their surprise and delight, they saw an overall increase in their customer base and their volume of work.
"We should have done that much sooner!" they said.
You asked:
That does make sense, as long as the "reasonable" price gives you a reasonably good profit.
If that's the case, not only will your customer be happy, the most important people in your world will be happy as well.
Yourself, Todd and your kids.
From: Carl (CSEWELL) [#19]
31 Jan 2007
To: Jo (OAAE) [#13] 31 Jan 2007
Jo;
Did you forget to post the picture or did you give up on the idea?
From: Joe (SMITTY61) [#20]
31 Jan 2007
To: Jo (OAAE) [#1] 31 Jan 2007
Jo,
You can make the plaque with a wall mount slide-in holder that you can engrave 2x8 or 2x10 plastic plates that can be removed and replaced by just sliding the plates in or out of the holder.
From: Jo (OAAE) [#21]
31 Jan 2007
To: ALL
Hey!
I didn't forget about posting a pic. I put something together, school ended and he never returned my many phone calls.
Worked out for the best. I guess.
Thanks for asking and getting me back to reading the board again.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Jo
Show messages: 1-5 6-21