Better Sign Shop Podcast

Jim Dawson owns Synergy Sign & Graphics in Strasburg, OH. From humble beginnings in his basement 20 years ago, he has built a business that thrives on challenges and innovation. In this podcast, he shares his experiences with creative architectural signage.

##-##
This episode is sponsored by:

GCI Digital Imaging
Your partner for large/grand format trade printing. Known for exceptional customer service, GCI Digital Imaging is the go-to for banners, coroplast signs, vehicle wraps, and other digitally printed graphics.
Discover more in Episode #9 or visit https://gci-digital.com.

Jaco Wholesale Sign Products

Looking to enhance your clients' impact and boost your profits with flat-cut acrylic letters and logos? Jaco Wholesale Sign Products delivers laser-cut acrylic letters and signage with quick turnaround times and excellent communication. They offer a wide range of mounting options, Pantone matching, several acrylic thicknesses, and nationwide shipping.
Visit https://sign.supply/bss/ for a quote and $50 off your first order.

##-##
Links:
Dan Sawatzky Episode: https://youtu.be/QHOBWzf-5QY

Synergy Signs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergy_signs/

##-##
Key Points Discussed:

- Business and Personal life: Jim shares his business and personal life and how he and his wife manage it all together.

- Jim's Journey: Jim shares his journey and how he ended up with signage from an animator and cabinet shop. 

-Architecture Projects: Jim shares with us his amazing architecture Projects and shows us the workflow of working with architecture Projects.

-Client Expectation: We dive deep into this conversation, discussing the importance of knowing and fulfilling clients' expectations and how to let clients know what we expect from them.

- Pricing Methods: Jim discusses his pricing method and how he decides or adjusts his pricing and profit margins.

- Changes in the industry: We discuss the positive and negative aspects of the industry's changes and how they will affect the market and the future of signage.
 
-Jim's Workshop: Jim talks about his workshop, which they conduct a few times per year. Y http://www.synergysign.com/sign-alchemy-workshops/

-Sign Shop School: Jim and Peter discuss their future plan to open a sign shop school and give back to the industry.

##-##
In this episode...

00:00            Intro
00:38            Sponsor
01:27             Catching Up
04:40            Winning a Lottery
09:12             About Jim
10:25             Working with Wife
13:55             From Animator to cabinet shop to signage
19:12              The Progression.
22:12             Storefront walk-in traffic
28:07             Inflection Point 
31:12              Jim’s architecture projects   
33:12              Fulfilling Client Expectations
36:25             90-day Terms
38:18              Equipments
43:20             Fire Prevention
46:02             Workflow with architecture Projects.
52:30             Pricing Method
57:05             Changes in the Industry
01:02:42        Jim’s Workshop
01:12:12          Sign Shop School

##-##
Are you a sign or print shop owner?
Join the Better Sign Shop Community - our exclusive Facebook group for shop owners and managers. Connect and learn from peers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bettersignshopmastermind.

Interested in being a guest on the show or have questions for our team? Reach out to us at hey@bettersignshop.com.

Creators and Guests

Host
Bryant Gillespie
Founder at Better Sign Shop
Host
Michael Riley
The Sign Burrito
Host
Peter Kourounis
The Sign Shop Yoda

What is Better Sign Shop Podcast?

Learn how to build a better sign and print shop from a few crusty sign guys who've made more mistakes than they care to admit. Conversations and advice on sales, marketing, pricing, growth, and more. Co-hosted by Peter Kourounis, Michael Riley, and Bryant Gillespie.