Do you have a sign in your shop showing what services you provide?

We need something like that, describing:
1) What we can do (rotary, laser, etc.)
2) Caveat for "customer's own" items
3) Minimum charge

If you have something like that, would you mind sending me a picture of it, or sharing the text with me? I know some of what I want to say, but I'm sure it's not everything that NEEDS to be said.

TIA!

Cody

You fell int the same trap that I did. The customer does not care at all about the types of engraving you do, just if you can please them.

"We encompass many types of engraving to serve you better.", will get far better results than listing the types of engraving that you do. If they want to know the types of engraving it opens them up to start asking questions.

Just like my rule of NEVER saying, "May I help you?" We use, "Can I answer any questions?" Pays big dividends by not putting the customer on the spot prematurely. Twice I had a couple in that started sputtering when I asked that, my response was that "No' was an acceptable answer. Both times I got laughter. That really broke the ice.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

I don't think many customers understand what rotary or laser or heat transfer or dye sub or many of the other terms we use really are.

If you're going to put a sign in your shop, which I think is a good idea, I believe it probably should be several signs with examples of what each service you provide looks like.

I agree 100% with Dave on the importance of that engraving sign in his window.

We didn't think about neon, but this past Monday we did have "ENGRAVING" and "TROPHIES" added to our sign out front.

It's worth noting that trophies actually only account for about 2% of our annual sales. However, it's been pointed out here that many people will associate other award-ish items with the "trophies" sign.

It seems to have already been working! We've had a couple of new awards buyers come in since Monday.

I want One...

Dave,

Where did you get your Neon Sign, and what size is it? I'd love to hang one in my window.

Thanks

I had the sign made locally by a gentleman who has been bending glass tubes for neon signs over 50 years. It cost me about $375. When comparing that price to what I have to pay for a simple newspaper ad, it seemed to be a no-brainer.

The dimensions of the sign are 10" x 42".

http://www.expressionsengraved.com

Matching your truetye fonts

Thanks Dave,

Sorry it took so long to respond, I've been out of town since Thursday. I do like your Neon Sign. If I chose to buy one, would the man that did yours be interested in another customer?

Thanks again Dave,

I appreciate your help.

Any time. By the way, Hans is quite the character.

http://www.expressionsengraved.com

"A neon sign is an eye-catcher. It's something that will stick in people's minds; maybe even subliminally, until the time they need engraving services. "

That's not subliminal, its just burned into the retina of their eyes so every time they shut their eyes that is what they see. :O)

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under". ~Ronald Reagan

Yes Dave, Hans is quite a character. He really is a great guy, but what a character. I'm chuckling as I write this and my wife wants to know what's wrong with me. Have you lost your mind?, she asked.

Hans told me he had a wooden crate built for your IS400. I was out of town for a few days last week and haven't seen him. I assume he has already shipped it.

Have a great day,

He is shipping it tomorrow. We got the best shipping rate from Yellow Freight.

http://www.expressionsengraved.com