Full Version: Newbie needs help
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#5]
4 Apr 2007
To: Tricia [#3] 5 Apr 2007
There are at least two other Trophy/Awards Stores in Kernersville......are you sure you want to get into the business??
Tri-City Awards and Superstar........ "Framed Impressions and Awards"
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#6]
4 Apr 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#4] 4 Apr 2007
From: Carl (CSEWELL) [#7]
4 Apr 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#6] 4 Apr 2007
Harvey;
I've done several searches lately using "PDU" and "JDS" (3 characters, correct?) and they appear to work. Or am I being misled?
EDITED: 4 Apr 2007 by CSEWELL
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#8]
4 Apr 2007
To: Carl (CSEWELL) [#7] 4 Apr 2007
"One or all of your search keywords were invalid. Search keywords must be no shorter than 3 characters, no longer than 84 characters and must not appear in the MySQL stopword list"
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#9]
4 Apr 2007
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#8] 4 Apr 2007
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#10]
4 Apr 2007
To: Tricia [#1] 5 Apr 2007
I'm glad you found us. Engraving is a perfect tie-in for your picture framing and gifts.
Were you using engraving in the business (through other souces) before you decided to bring the process in-house?
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#11]
5 Apr 2007
To: Tricia [#1] 5 Apr 2007
Tricia,
Attempt to find out what the pricing practices were for the failed business. That very well could have been their demise. Learn from their mistakes.
Being in a strip shopping center, were they more award or gift oriented?
I would recommend that the best tie in for your business would be plaques, engraved plates and select gift items. If you get into the trophy aspect of the business you are going to begin confusing your customer base. New customers aren't going to know what exactly the focus of your business is.
It is good to offer complimentary products and services, but don't make the mistake of trying to be all things to all people.
EDITED: 5 Apr 2007 by DGL
From: Jerry (JERRYERVIN) [#12]
5 Apr 2007
To: Tricia [#1] 5 Apr 2007
I also am a North Carolina Custom Framer adding engraving to my business.
There are quite a few of us lurking around out here and we are sharing info when we can.
If you will send me an e-mail jerry at cedarwoodgallery.com I can help you all that I can.
If you need engraving work done, I'm not too far away. I do some framing for a photographer in your area.
From: Tricia [#13]
5 Apr 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#4] 5 Apr 2007
Thank you Chuck for your response. To question one, why did they go out, it was for very personal reasons that I cannot go into on the internet, however it was not for lack of business as I was one of their customers.
Second question, I found out too late to purchase their equipment as they sold it to another existing business in another city, and it is gone.
So I have to start from scratch.
Thank you for the source list, I have requested catalogs from some of them already thru the Engravers Journal, however my delima right now is finding someone to outsource some immediate need work to until I can get set up..... Was hoping for someone not too far away, however they might see that as competition and not want to. So in rethinking that I may be better off using one of you guys!?!?!
Let me read some other posts and get back to you , looks like they got off track of the subject here for a while.
I am Framed Impressions
Tricia
From: Tricia [#14]
5 Apr 2007
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#5] 5 Apr 2007
Tri-City is the one who went out of business
I am Framed Impressions
Tricia
From: Tricia [#15]
5 Apr 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#10] 5 Apr 2007
HI David,
Yes I was using this shop as they were right behind my shop downstairs. They were Tri-City trophy, and had a great business, just had a lot of personal things come up that made it impossible for them to continue in this field, not for lack of business, just the opposite, I think they lost some near the end because of their irregular hours and lack of interest.
I am glad I found you all too, I have already learned a great deal, but still looking to outsource some immediate need work until I can get set up so as not to lose customers.
Interested>?
Tricia
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#16]
5 Apr 2007
To: Tricia [#14] 5 Apr 2007
When you say outsourcing are you asking for just the engraving portion or the whole trophy/awards process
EDITED: 5 Apr 2007 by PENINSULATROPHY
From: Tricia [#17]
5 Apr 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#11] 16 Jul 2007
HI Dave,
Thanks for your suggestions, however pricing was not their demise, it was personal reasons that I cannot go into online. They had a great business, had been downtown and moved near me about 6 months ago, and could have done more if they had kept regular hours.
We are going to add this in with the frame shop at first, but may release where they were and keep it separate! They did it all from plaques to trophies to gifts, although I think the plaques and trophies were the main part of the biz.
Thank you for your thoughts,
Tricia
From: Tricia [#18]
5 Apr 2007
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#16] 5 Apr 2007
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#19]
5 Apr 2007
To: Tricia [#15] 6 Apr 2007
We have engravers in your area, who may be interested in becoming a behind-the-scenes provider of engraving, until you decide if bringing the technology in-house is desireable.
Although I'm 3,000 miles away, if you'd like me to become such a source of engraving, I'm up for the task.
Don't forget color graphics as a viable means of marking. I'm a sublimation enthusiast from way back and provide plates for a number of award and picture framing shops.
Although I've branched out, my primary business model has been that of a behind-the-scenes artisan (secret weapon, if you will) for many of SoCal's engraving and awards outlets.
That's as much of a sales pitch as you'll get from me. Probably makes more sense to work locally, but I'm here if you need me. :-)
From: Tricia [#20]
6 Apr 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#19] 6 Apr 2007
Hi David,
YOu say "We have engravers in your area, who may be interested in becoming a behind-the-scenes provider of engraving, until you decide if bringing the technology in-house is desireable."
Who is "we"?
Is there a club I need to join:-)
Can you email me directly to
Art2impress@aol.com
?
Thanks
Tricia
From: UncleSteve [#21]
6 Apr 2007
To: Tricia [#20] 6 Apr 2007
You are ALREADY a member of the "club"..... The club being EE!!! :D
From: Tricia [#22]
6 Apr 2007
To: UncleSteve [#21] 6 Apr 2007
Thank you guys!!!! You all are so helpful!!!
(angel)
Look forward to "meeting" all of you at some time.
Is there a convention of engravers like we have for the framing and gift industries??? IF so where and when???
I guess I will see all than information when I receive my first journal, but thought just came in my mind to ask here.
You all seem to know best.
Thanks again
Tricia
From: UncleSteve [#23]
6 Apr 2007
To: Tricia [#22] 6 Apr 2007
There are also numerous regional shows around the country... smaller but you usually get more time to talk to the vendors.
If you can make it out to LV next year, you will meet up with many members of the group at the Beach Party held by EE.
For a bit of encouragment to make the show, do a search for "Beach Party" and you will find photos of the past two parties and get to "meet" a number of members...
Warning! There is a photo of "someone" who thinks HE is a hula dancer and a few of the members are folically challenged... 8-O
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#24]
6 Apr 2007
To: UncleSteve [#23] 6 Apr 2007
I GREATLY resemble that remark!