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OwenTaylor
Silver Member
Joined: 01 Aug 2007
Posts: 174
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 Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Karl Williams wrote: | | OwenTaylor wrote: | Some companies offer a free design service because they can. I work for myself and I need to make every hour count. A larger company may employ an apprentice or junior designer and can afford to have him knocking out designs all day for the minimum wage.
I find it useful to have a portfolio of work with me when meeting a client. This way you can reassure them that you are up to the job and they will get a feel for the quality/style of your work. You need to come across as a complete professional in order to secure a deposit. Have confidence in your design abilities and never say things like 'I'll get some ideas together'. This only devalues your service. Don't underestimate the power of design - if the customer gets 3 similar quotes but you have the best looking portfolio of work then you have more chance of getting the job. |
Totally disagree on that one. I do a lot of artwork daily. No customer has anything done until they've paid a deposit and that includes the regulars. This way I know for sure I don't lose out totally if they take the design elsewhere. As for saying you'll come up with some ideas.....thats what the business is partly about, coming up with ideas to for a companies image. The customer wants you to think about their interests and they want you to come up with good ideas for there business image. |
I agree with you totally. I don't produce any work without obtaining a deposit either. What I meant was try not to pass design off as something that's quick and easy. Many customers don't understand what's involved in the design process and often think it's something you do in front of the tv in the evening.
Ofcourse I'm here to come up with ideas for the customer but even producing a handful of design concepts for a facia or vehicle can consume an hour of time. Make sure the customer knows that you have spent this time. |
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Stuart Green
UKSB Regular
Joined: 29 Sep 2009
Posts: 191
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys, really good answers there. I'm thinking now no deposit no design. No contract no work. No upfront deposit then no far away work.
Problem is how would i get a deposit from a distant Customer?? would i ask for a cheque in the post??
As of now i'm thinking to only do measurements myself with a telescopic ladder (which i need to buy) for the quote but thats it. |
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Phil Craddock
UKSB Regular
Joined: 02 Jun 2006
Posts: 144
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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we use a Paypal account for customer deposits ....simples  |
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Lynn
UKSG Member
Joined: 21 Apr 2005
Posts: 6001
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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we do credit card payments it also works for the ones, who just call in and have no cash  like you would go to sainsburys the bookies or the pub with no cash why do they think we wouldn't want to get paid 
Lynn |
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Phil Craddock
UKSB Regular
Joined: 02 Jun 2006
Posts: 144
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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| agree - we take CC and debit too ;) |
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KevinGaffney
Gold Member
Joined: 19 Mar 2004
Posts: 63
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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| This thing can work two ways though. Met a client yesterday who was looking for a load of dibond signs. Got the order, but during discussions, he revealed he didn't have a proper company logo despite being in business over twenty years. I offered to design him a new logo for free. He was hugely thankful and proceeded to add signwriting of hi eight articulated trucks and set of raised lettering spanning a thirty foot cladded wall. His place is 220 km from my workshop. If I had looked for a deposit, the meeting wouldn't even have taken place, never min securing three weeks work. So, I don't think it's correct to always insist on deposits, every customer has to be handled differently |
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Nigel Hindley
UKSG Member
Joined: 19 Aug 2003
Posts: 1095
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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| KevinGaffney wrote: | | This thing can work two ways though. Met a client yesterday who was looking for a load of dibond signs. Got the order, but during discussions, he revealed he didn't have a proper company logo despite being in business over twenty years. I offered to design him a new logo for free. He was hugely thankful and proceeded to add signwriting of hi eight articulated trucks and set of raised lettering spanning a thirty foot cladded wall. His place is 220 km from my workshop. If I had looked for a deposit, the meeting wouldn't even have taken place, never min securing three weeks work. So, I don't think it's correct to always insist on deposits, every customer has to be handled differently |
Hi Kevin,
Are you saying you are doing all that work for a company 220km away with no deposit? Id agree with you that every client is different but I would always say that asking for deposit can mean that the client would respect you for asking unless of course you knew them well.
Nigel |
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KevinGaffney
Gold Member
Joined: 19 Mar 2004
Posts: 63
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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| That's the point I'm making Nigel. All customers are different and need to be dealt with in different ways. If you're doing work for a semi state body, a local council or health, do you look for a deposit? Answer is you can't in that case. It isn't always feasible to get a deposit and looking for one in some cases can be counter productive. I have also found in the past, that in some cases a customer who offers a deposit can be slowest to pay the balance when job is finished |
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