Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 20

AT LARGE
DAREK

JOHNSON

MARTIN'S WAY

is ST's Editor-at-Large.
Email him at darek.johnson
@stmediagroup.com.

Do you want to buy a sign?

F you are like nearly everyone else in this world, you
have accepted so many
things without question
that you're not thinking at all."
- Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Ph.D.,
business consultant, author,
originator of theory of constraints

"I

On the online Warrior Forum, a guy
named Martin documented that he'd
received a wholesale novelty catalog
that listed 10 x 19-in. LED "Open"
signs for $10.80 each, in a case of 20.
After reading this, he investigated
the retail price of LED "Open" signs
and found them listed for up to $99

20

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

APRIL 2017

each, so, now empowered by an
entrepreneurial idea, he ordered a
case of 20 with the idea of selling
them to local businesses - door to
door - for $40 each.
The Warrior Forum isn't about
warriors, so don't go there for material
on Geronimo. Instead, it's a web
marketing site that hosts mixed
reviews, thus my mention here isn't
an endorsement. However, Martin's
offbeat story - titled "How to make
$584 a week selling LED signs" - can
present a clear message to those who
make and sell signs.
Martin is not a sign professional.
However, five or so years ago and for

a brief period, he transformed into a
sign salesperson. He wrote, "All I did
to sell my LED 'Open' signs was to
walk into a store that I noticed didn't
have an LED 'Open' sign, or might want
another one, and inquired if the owner
or manager was in. I showed them
the LED 'Open' sign and asked if they
would like to buy one for just $40."
Martin said he labored two hours
a day for five days and sold his 20
"Open" signs to corner stores at $40
each. He profited $584 for 10 hours'
effort, he said.
Not bad for a $216 investment.
That wasn't all. Ever-vigilant
Martin soon recognized that many
stores he visited quartered an ATM -
but not a lighted ATM sign, "only
a sticker or paper sign on their door
or in their window," he wrote. Martin
rummaged online for wholesale, LED
ATM signs and found them for $10
each, in a case of 20.
He said they sold like hot cakes.
He quickly hawked his 20 ATM signs
at $40 each, earned $600 and bought
40 more. He unloaded these in seven
days, to clear $2,400 overall.
Great sales story, right? Is it true?
Ummm ...
It's on the Internet, so it could be
untrue. (Our research revealed that
Martin is the subject of a couple of
related accusations that are less than
flattering about his business ethics. ...)
Also, Martin's declared profits don't
reflect costs other than the purchase
price. Nonetheless, you can easily
grasp his winning strategy: Buy low,
sell high, but not as high as the



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - April 2017

Signs of the Times - April 2017
Contents
From the Editor
St Update
At Large
Technology Review
Shop Ops
Vehicles + Vinyl
Nuts + Bolts
Dogs Like It
Simply Capital
Workflow Watchwords
Strictly Electric: A Presidential Address
New Products
Advertising Index
Last Look
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Intro
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - BB1
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - BB2
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Signs of the Times - April 2017
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - BD_L
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - BD
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Cover2
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 1
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Contents
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 3
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 4
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 5
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 6
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 7
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - From the Editor
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 9
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - St Update
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Signs of the Times - April 2017 - At Large
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Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Technology Review
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 25
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Shop Ops
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Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 29
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Vehicles + Vinyl
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Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Nuts + Bolts
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Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Dogs Like It
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Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Simply Capital
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Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 75
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Workflow Watchwords
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Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 78
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - 79
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Strictly Electric: A Presidential Address
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Signs of the Times - April 2017 - New Products
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Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Advertising Index
Signs of the Times - April 2017 - Last Look
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/STMG/sott_202010
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