Awesome Car Decals, Car Stickers, Car Wraps, and Car Tattoos

The shop has been running for 1 1/2 yrs. still showing no profit. When I started I had no sign experience but have learned a lot in a short time. I have learned so much because the boss is never present.
This is a family business, started by a Mom and son. I was under the impression that they would show me the ropes and I was part of their venture. A week after I started the Mom took off on numerous holidays, the son, in the middle of a divorce is constantly running from one crisis to another. The son also has another business, which he can manage from his cell phone ( and does every 15 minutes) meanwhile a 19 yr. old graphic designer and I are running the shop. Here’s the punchline. I looooove the job. I love signs and vinyl and designing and helping people realize their advertising visions. I have finally found my nitch and am willing to learn everything about the business. At this point, I know more about signs, sign making, computer graphics then the boss does. I have spoken all my frustrations to the boss. He assures me, once all the things are straightened out in his life, he wants to be here in this shop. The strange part is, he is never very interested in any of the projects. Starts to help us work out a problem, then he cell phones rings and he’s off to solve another crisis of either his ex wife or his other company. I really think this business could make a go of it., but not without the presence of the boss. tThere are only so much 2 people can do in such a physical type of business. My questions is what do I say to him to get his attention? I have never met this type of personality before. Is it a sucessful personality and I am just to careful? and impatient. another clincher is that he is a horrible sign maker!!lol he is so hyper that when he is working on a project he ussually ends up wrecking something and we have to start over. I just don’t understand why he is in this business. I am working for a low wage just to help get things rolling but that story is getting old too.

2 Responses

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1. 

   just me

   look guy i been in the sign bisness for 20 years and it an up and down thing a lot of stress but it bays of go on your own, i’m in chicago if you like get a hold of me cncsigns96@gmail .com

   October 10, 2010 at 5:58 am
2. 

   Jim L

   I think your choices are: (a) look for a better paying job with another sign shop, since you have skills to offer and can possibly bring some customers with you, or (b) make an offer to buy the assets of the business from your bosses. Staying in your present situation is a waste of time – your bosses will never improve, it sounds like they don’t like the business and don’t want to work to make it profitable.

   Are there other sign places to get a job? If not, you have option B or quit. Be very careful about buying this business – try to REALLY learn how well it is doing financially and be honest with yourself about whether it can be profitable withe better management. An important factor is whether you have the money to buy it – if it truly isn’t making any money, the only thing that has value is the equipment and stuff. Try to get an idea of how much it cost them and offer one-half of that at most.

   It could be that they aren’t making money, but once they know you’re interested in buying, they will act like the business is a pot of gold. So be careful how you approach them – don’t seem too eager. It is also possible that they are making good profits and are “pleading poverty” so they can keep paying you low wages.

   The other option, getting another job, may be your best bet.

   October 10, 2010 at 6:10 am

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