Signs of the Times - February 2014 - (Page 72)

Estimating Software Make your company look professional By Darek Johnson I f, from scratch, I opened a signshop today, I'd first buy a Mr. Coffee with an automatic, two-hour off switch, so I wouldn't have to wash a burned-out pot every morning. Then, I'd buy a new Ford F150 pickup - the lightweight, extended-cab, aluminum-body (new for 2014) model. I wouldn't need such a truck, but hey - have you seen the cool new models? I'd use it to haul in my other new equipment, which would, of course, include a cutting plotter and digital printer. I'd also buy job-estimating software, to help my shop stay on a profit track. ST columnists Chris and Kathi Morrison - a pair of industry heavy thinkers - use such software in their signshop, so I'd emulate them. Kathi, who runs their shop's daily operations, told me she's a long-time user of estimating software. Her shop is a custom-sign house, and her prices vary with each job, so she uses the software for every job estimate, and the billing and collection process. "I don't quote without it," she said, "not even a general number." Kathi demands estimating software that's easy-to-use - one she can handle while a customer is on the phone. She likes to provide an estimate as soon as possible. She said adapting to estimating software might be difficult for new users. At first, the process appears to be time consuming, especially if an estimator is accustomed to pencil and paper. Kathi said a well-designed estimating software makes your company look professional, via the provided templates and the addition of a customized masthead and logo. The better systems allow such additions, plus a few lines of written text - a mission statement or marketing phrase, for example. She said automated estimating software forces you to be honest on such items as overhead expenses. It compels you to price correctly and profitably. Further, she's streamlined their shop's pricing model to reflect actual costs. Her software allows you to customize a model to reflect real costs. She can add specific vendors' prices and align her estimate processes to include the true materials cost. The software also provides a default-cost model, so she can accumulate data and, over time, customize the default to reflect actual materials costs - those gained from the accumulated data. She can quote, email and obtain signed, customer approvals, and then go into production in one streamlined workflow. 72 SIGNS OF THE TIMES February 2014 Kathi's software also works with QuickBooks. She said, "Now, I spend minimal time in the front office and spend more productive time in the shop - or out in the field, selling." She advises shop owners to buy a system that covers estimating, production and billing. Generally, you can use as much or as little of a system as you presently need. Kathi also hopes her estimating-software provider will soon offer a cloud-based system, so she can access the software from various sources. "I have two buildings, so it would be nice to access the software on any workstation, or an iPad or iPhone," she said. And, she'd like to see sign-design software incorporated into estimating-software systems, "to make it easier for the customer to see and approve the design." In addition, she'd like to see the sign design in front of her, in a mobile device. Incorporating design software would also help when you're quoting a future job, she said. The Intl. Sign and Printmakers Guild The "Guild," as Dean Derhak likes to call it, isn't a sign-estimating program, but it could be described as an offspring of such systems, because it can handle - automate - several facets of sales, sign pricing and order processing for member shops. Dean is the product director for SAi Intl. (Salt Lake City), which is the Guild founder and a sponsor. Other sponsors are Signs of the Times and The Big Picture magazines, Roland DGA, Mutoh America, Summa, ImageOne Impact, Aptinet, The Bad Wrap and Signtracker. In brief, membership to the Guild gives you access to its sign-buyers' online order system and such other benefits as group-purchase discounts. Dean says Guild membership is free at www. signprintguild.com. Once registered, click the sign. com tag and sign up for its free services, which include the online store (sign-order) option. You'll soon receive store-generated, sign-job opportunities from signbuyers in your area, via its network. You may choose to accept or reject each order offered. Dean also said SAi intends to spend $3 million over the next three years to promote the store site to the sign-buying public. Read more on the Guild in Chris and Kathi Morrison's product review (see page 38). http://www.signprintguild.com http://www.signprintguild.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - February 2014

Signs of the Times - February 2014
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Welcome to the 21st Century
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Electric
LED Update
Software Update
Technology Review: Cyrious online
Technology Review: Sign and Printmakers Guild
Sign Museum News
New Products
Walls of Fame
A Designer’s View of Health-care Signage
Health-care Signage: Care Required
Health-care Signage Trends
Estimating Software
Dynamic Digital Signage Made Simple, Part 2
Industry News
Advertising index
Editorially speaking

Signs of the Times - February 2014