Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1451379
6 6 G R A P H I C S P R O A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M 6 6 G R A P H I C S P R O A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M S I G N A G E & P R I N T I N G S I G N D E S I G N STEP 1: RELATIONSHIPS Assemble your advisory/fulfillment team — 90 days ago. Contact local sign fabricators and installers and find out who is willing to work with you on future job opportunities. Who is open to helping you secure sign opportunities? What type of control are they willing to hand over to you? Are they willing to work with you? Are they willing to keep you in the loop so you can learn from the opportunity? Assign duties, roles, and responsibilities. ere is more to it than simply finding a shop willing to give you a price, there are details to cover that affect sales, estimating and produc- tion. Decisions must be made on who will handle the sales, permits, design, presentation, and collecting of the deposit, to say the least. Who maintains the communication with the client? Is it a joint call together over Zoom, or in person? Who handles per- mitting, color approvals and alike? Who will take the role as the project manager? Who's on first? Working out the details before you have a project in hand changes the entire way you are viewed by all the outside team players you will be talking with. When you sit down to discuss Planning for router time can make or break a project's budget. Your fabricator will know these details, so you don't have to. BUILDING TRUST To develop a good working relationship with a fabricator, you must earn their trust in the same way you did with your client. Sincerity, honesty, transparency, and a mindset that reflects your willingness to step back, and observe, assist, and learn. And please realize you may not make a dime on the first or second or even third sign job. But in exchange for money, you are securing peace of mind and the ability to sleep at night knowing that someone with a deeper understanding of the job is at the helm making sure it all goes as planned (so you look good in the eyes of your client)!