I agree. No one has a big enough showroom to show all that could be displayed in our industry. I display what I sell the most of, and everything else is either just displayed with one sampling of an item, or is in a catalog. I would rather display plaques, which I sell a lot of, rather than a whole wall of trophies, which I sell maybe 50 a year of. We have a large display for our wedding items, a large plaque display, a business item area and a large industrial engraving/plastic engraving area. There are companion pieces to each area also.
One thing I've heard from many clients is that they love being able to "see" what is there, so overcrowding doesn't do a good job selling items. Nice, simple, displays seem to work best for us. Add some greenery, nice display shelving, good lighting and keep your showroom spotless and current.

Cindy

David, is there an example of one of the frames, or otherwise, on their webpage of something you have engraved?

Thanks

John

Hi Lynn

I am currently in Texas and have just recently visited All American Awards ( Roy Brewer ). I have also visited Award 4 U in Tallahassee ( Sam Varn)
Both businesses had an extensive array of displayed plaques, tropies, promotional and gift items.
My quest was to jump start my new business, and the advice I received was that you do not have to display EVERYTHING....but a good sample of what you can do. The rest can be done via catalog.
With the understanding that I am new also, I hope this help.

Chuck Burke
Pacific LaZer Works
Woodinville WA.

John,

If you look at their pic gallery under, "Tarantula" and "Collector Firearms" you'll see the frames contain engraving plates, but there's no detail in the photo. It's there, but you can't see the wording or typeface etc.

Under "Special Services" there's a listing for imaged tiles, which are a combination of my wife's photography and my sublimation.

I've worked with this company for years. Chances are, if you see engraving, sublimation or lasered plates, I've supplied them.

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

LJ,

Your comments about engraving showroom samples is some very sound advice. I was guilty, in the early stages of my business, of not wanting to "waste" my inventory by engraving it as samples. Boy, have I come full circle on that concept.

Customers have no visual concept of what an item will look like engraved. By engraving your items you will actually get your customers in and out more quickly. They will typically take the foundation of what is engraved on the sample, tweek it a bit and be on their way.

On the subject of single-piece, customer-owned engraving, why don't you at least quote them a price that makes it worth your while to disrupt your production? By doing that, you will at least capture the worthwhile portion of that business.

Just guessing here, but the time it takes to initiate the job with the customer, take down their specs, and figure the quote is already a disruption from production. And given the value these jobs would need to be to justify the break from high volume work, the majority of them will likely be refused anyway, so why bother?

Sei

Chuck,

Now you could get me in serious trouble with this post. My wife gets more than a little irritated when I get the credit for her gorgeous showroom. She will be quick to tell you and me both that it is *her* showroom. Here's hoping you'll edit your post replacing "Roy' with "Shirley."

kidding mostly, but Shirley has created one of the nicest medium sized showrooms in this part of the country and anyone traveling through Arlington TX should visit.

To all,

How could I be so, callous, so cruel, so.. so... so.....blatantly mistaken about All American Awards in Arlington Texas.... my career in this idustry is over before I start...sigh...I am doomed. I must jump out of the basement window......

SHIRLEY Brewer, has in fact created a magnificent showroom and when I visited I found myself to be most welcomed by this very professional and open woman and her family. It was like my own little tradeshow....

Chuck

Chuck,

Atta Boy! Now I'll hopefully be allowed back in the house!