Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 37
local manufacturing plants.
* Research the print machine makers
to ensure they're well-known in the
sign industry. Ensure that they offer
online training, tutorials and postpurchase marketing advice. Avoid
web chat rooms because they're
too often dominated by self-styled
"experts" who offer flawed opinions
and advice. Instead, ask the machine
manufacturers to provide you with
contact information for their buyers,
so you can personally talk to
machine owners.
* Visit tradeshows, manufacturer's
display sites or suppliers to see and
operate applicable print machines
in action. Take your own image files
(in a .pdf format, with photos and
text) on a thumb drive and ask the
print-machine demonstrator to help
you process the file. Insist that they
coach you as you operate the print
machine. Do not just stand and watch.
My final and constant advice is that
you project your shop's cash flow
over the next 12 months, without
including the new machine costs
and that possible income, so you
have a monthly cash flow figure to
measure against your new operating
costs incurred by the new printer.
Compare the costs the new machine
will create - installation, training,
materials, software - and form a
forecast chart that reveals the machine's cash flow integrated with the
present cash flow, especially over the
first few months, the period when
the machine expenses will be higher
than the machine's earned income.
Now, ask yourself if your present
cash flow can handle the additional
expenses until the machine produces
the expected additional income.
Do this by estimating the sales you
expect to gain with the new printer
when it reaches its peak and, typically,
subtract the salary and materials
(media, ink and cleaning materials)
and overhead costs that reduce that
sales figure. Estimate a break-even
point, write it on your whiteboard,
and track and record your machineplan progress weekly. Noted on the
whiteboard, these final steps will
remind you of your successful plans
and reveal any complications within
days of their occurrence.
SIGNSOFTHETIMES.COM
37
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - November 2017
Signs of the Times - November 2017
Contents
From the Editor
St Update
At Large
Tech Review
Leds + Lighting
Vehicles + Vinyl
Shop Ops
Expand Your Shop
A Rising Tide
Strictly Wholesale: When in Rome
New Products
The Cutting Edge
A Known Quantity
Engraving New Products
Advertising Index
Last Look
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Intro
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - BB1
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - BB2
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Signs of the Times - November 2017
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - BD_L
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - BD
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Cover2
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 1
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Contents
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 3
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 4
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 5
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 6
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 7
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - From the Editor
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 9
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - St Update
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 11
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 12
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 13
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 14
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 15
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 16
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 17
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - At Large
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 19
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 20
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 21
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Tech Review
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 23
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Leds + Lighting
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 25
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Vehicles + Vinyl
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 27
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 28
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 29
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Shop Ops
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 31
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 32
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 33
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Expand Your Shop
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 35
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 36
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 37
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 38
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 39
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - A Rising Tide
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 41
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 42
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 43
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Strictly Wholesale: When in Rome
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 45
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 46
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 47
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - New Products
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 49
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 50
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 51
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 52
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 53
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 54
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 55
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 56
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 57
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - The Cutting Edge
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 59
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 60
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 61
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 62
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 63
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 64
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 65
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - A Known Quantity
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 67
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 68
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 69
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Engraving New Products
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 71
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 72
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 73
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 74
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 75
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 76
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 77
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 78
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 79
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 80
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 81
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 82
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 83
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 84
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 85
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 86
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 87
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 88
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 89
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 90
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 91
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 92
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 93
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - 94
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Advertising Index
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Last Look
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Cover3
Signs of the Times - November 2017 - Cover4
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