Chuck and ALL: Hey buddy! You certainly are exposing yourself to interesting opportunities. But be patient and only seriously pursue those that you can do and/or manage successfully. Cause, if you don't do it correctly as promised, you'll do yourself more harm than good. Remember, you're in the Islands. A bad reputation will get around. Then what?

Anyway, you have received very valuable feedback here; particularly from Jim and Sei. Without addressing the value of the Accent Sign Co. ADA manual (and I'm sure it has value), virtually EVERYTHING mentioned here in reply to your thread, we came up with in conducting research on the internet for a project "opportunity" we had come our way.

Ultimately, we passed on the opportunity for multiple reasons. Mainly, it was because we were (are) so busy. Even outsourcing was going to be a time-consuming challenge because you are still the customer's "main guy" and there are SO MANY nuances to be aware of in speaking the language and walking the walk.

In the end, it all comes down to what it is you want to be. With our equipment, we might have the "technical" capability to pull off "signage'. Maybe even ADA signage. But it is a whole other world with a considerable learning curve. We opted to focus on what we are making money on NOW, based on what we've learned so far. Maybe when we are a LOT bigger and considerably more successful, we'll revisit this end of the marking and visual graphics industry. Maybe we'll have a sign division within the company. But not now. There are too many other ways to use our equipment within the confines of our gained "expertise" to date.

Sei - which part of your conversation with the architect isn't correct? It all sounded like the conversations we get here with them. Did you forget about the color combination matches that match nothing in the universe, oh, and the comment about price being no object? Until you get the prices to them, and suddenly price is a big object.
Boy, I've sure learned to charge like a professional when dealing with architects. They respect nothing else.
I had a chuckle over your faux conversation, but it sounded real to me:)
Cindy M

Chuck,

The ADA Signage Manual from Accent Signage is defeinately worth the $295. It is a compilation of Reuven Rahamim's knowlege, experience, and expertise throughout the signage industry for over 20 years. Can you really put a price on knowlege? Not only does the manual give you step by step instruction on how to create signage, but it also breaks down the laws and regulations. If you are wanting to get into the ADA business, your best bet is to understand the laws and regulations. The ADA signage manual has been written in a language that is easily read without legal jargon to sift through. There are so many other wonderful advantages of the manual and you would be at a great loss if you didn't invest the $295 into your signage business in Hawaii.

Please give me a call if you need more information. That's why we are here!

Angie
Accent Signage Systems, Inc.
612-377-9156

Chuck, I'm not a signmaker and know nothing about ADA signs beyond what I've read here, but it sounds like there's a lot of details involved.

Something you might want to ponder before jumping into it is: If there are a lot of signmakers on the islands, and none of them do ADA signs themselves... why not? Is it just because they don't own the right tools? Or is it because learning all the details and keeping them straight is too big a job for them? Or because any simple mistake or omission might make them liable (as the "expert") for the cost of redoing a massive number of signs on a large job? Or can they get it done so cheap on the mainland that you might not make a profit trying to match (or beat) the prices they are getting now?

I don't know the answer. I'm just pushing the question out there for you to think about.

Hi Gang....

Thanks for all the information....I have NO idea how this thread came to be in focus again, because I had given up the idea of ADA signage a long time ago, BUT, thank you all for your input in reinforcing that it was the right thing to do....
American Pacific Awards...is developing it's own focus and taking on a life of it's own...which is ok with me :) 

Doh!

I think I helped contribute here Chuck. I've just started visiting here again, saw this ADA post (an area I'm familiar with) saw the time stamp which looked current.....except that it was 2005 and not 2006.

I'm really glad you abandoned this idea. Tactile sign fab is a huge pain in the keester.

Mike,

I know, first-hand, that one man's pain in the keester, is another's inroad to job security and a unique niche. :-) 

very true Dave. I carved out the interior architectural signage niche for myself and pretty much owned the market in Omaha and surrounds for many years. Omaha is one of those strange places that defies simple logic. There are a number of International Fortune 500 companies headquartered there like ConAgra for example, the Union Pacific Railroad. All have huge campus complexes of buildings employing thousands, all needed signage on an ongoing basis. Add a huge insurance industry, Mutual of Omaha, Physicians Mutual and several of the world's largest architectural/engineering design firms like Leo A Daly and it was a good place to have a niche and be noticed. One of my accounts was USWest. I got plugged into them when they were headquartered in Omaha as Northwestern Bell. After the consolidation of all the baby Bells in the late 80's, I ended up supplying interior signage to most of their properties in a 14 state region. I probably made 20,000 tactile signs and other ADA compliant signage for them over 10 years. I never wanted for lucrative high-end projects. I have work installed from Pacso, Washington to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and points between....

....end of credential rant.......just trying to let prople know that I do understand this product and market.

It is doable. The point I was trying to drive home is that getting involved with ADA compliant tactile signs is more involved than drilling holes and inserting beads. Much more involved than a typical engraving job. But if someone is up to the challenge and sees a way in, Go for it!