Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: M.Acorn on November 03, 2009, 05:56:57 pm

Title: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: M.Acorn on November 03, 2009, 05:56:57 pm
Both sides,logos and back done,inc design and fitting £150 all in.
Sounds like a bargain to me,he will put a few designs together,then i chose which one i like.
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: concept on November 03, 2009, 06:09:03 pm
what size van? and how much wording etc?

if its transit size, with a decent bit of info, ie: logo, 2 x numbers, description, web addy, etc, then thats a decent price if they are running a few designs off for you too.
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Mike Halliday on November 03, 2009, 06:19:55 pm
you will only sign write it once so do it right.

 if he will do all that for £150 then what will he do if you put another £100 on top or even double it.

ask him what he could do if you put some extra cash in, with a bit more incentive he might come up with something really special

 unless you are skint and can only afford £150 ;)
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: M.Acorn on November 03, 2009, 06:32:16 pm
This is the van

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/Picture138.jpg)

Good point,it`s for pretty much everything i wanted on there really,contact details ,web addy,my name,e mail addy,what i do,without going into too much detail,logo`s,might get one logo above the screen too
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Carpet Dawg on November 03, 2009, 10:48:30 pm
The conclusion I have come up with when it comes to van signage is that, unless its a really fancy, top notch job i.e. a wrap or expensive looking. Then its not worth getting done. It actually puts potenital customers off!
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Steve Chapman on November 03, 2009, 10:54:53 pm
yeah its much better not to let them know what you do or they could pester you for a quote  ::)
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Carpet Dawg on November 03, 2009, 11:14:00 pm
nah, they just wont call you at all cos of the crap sinage :)

Even worse! you might spark the potential customer to think, "yeah my carpets do need a wash. I'll check the yellowpages when i get back home" and there you have it, just given your competiors another job!  ::)
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Mike Osbourne on November 03, 2009, 11:36:02 pm
When I had the Combo done it was about that I think, but a few years ago now.

Never forget wot he said when he'd done it.

What do you think? I said yeah looks good and he said Oh that's good cos I'm colour blind you know. :o ::)
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: daz1977 on November 04, 2009, 12:46:29 am
i have been quoted 50 for this both sides, nothing on front or back
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: murky on November 04, 2009, 10:31:08 am
Mark,

That cant be your van, its not on axle stands and the bonnet is down.

Murky
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: richy27 on November 04, 2009, 10:46:20 am
at the end of the day you only generally do it the once. sometimes with a smaller van you are obviously limited to the amount of canvass you have to paint on. but it is worth spending a little more to make your vehiclke stand out as most vans you pass on the road have just the basic logo numbers whatever trade your in. simply does not trigger or stick out. worth not rushing into it think about what you want on it.

Some sort of picture which in dicates at a first glance what you do is always good.

eg parked in homebase the other day and from the other side of the car park someone could instantly notice what i do wrote my number down and called me that evening.

All i have is logo across sides and back plus prof carpet upholstery cleaning and a large piece of carpet with the wand drawing through.  simplzz.

on the back same but with services on the back and web address on all panels.

on trafic so little more room to play with.

wouldnt fall into the trap of making it look too busy as this just bores people. too the point instantly noticing what you do.

Rich
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: clinton on November 04, 2009, 04:16:49 pm
Right there richard.

I went the complete opposite this time with my new van and left all the domestic, commercial and all the other bumf out ;D

Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Jim_77 on November 04, 2009, 09:33:37 pm
I think it's best to remain inconspicuous when working ;D ;D
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Fraser Thom on November 04, 2009, 10:01:30 pm
The conclusion I have come up with when it comes to van signage is that, unless its a really fancy, top notch job i.e. a wrap or expensive looking. Then its not worth getting done. It actually puts potenital customers off!

Rubbish - If your van wasn't signed in the first place the customer would never have known about you so how can they be put off?

There's no such thing as bad advertising.
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Matt Lindus on November 04, 2009, 10:18:07 pm
Mark,

Keep the £150, leave it unsigned but keep it nice, clean and tidy, which it is. :)

Matt
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Buster Ingram on November 04, 2009, 11:31:59 pm
Only problem having an unsign writen van is  IT CAN BE STOLEN very easilly. Driven away without a trace. :-[

Unless you have a tracker fitted!

 
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: M.Acorn on November 05, 2009, 07:35:14 am
Quote
Mark,

That cant be your van, its not on axle stands and the bonnet is down.

Quality ! lets hope it stays that way ! My logo is fairly self explanitory !

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/new.gif)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/Newtopfront.jpg)
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus) on November 05, 2009, 07:36:58 am
Jim

That looks the nuts !

What size van have you got, as that T/M looked huge in Alltec's showroom. ?


Steve
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Joe H on November 05, 2009, 07:52:07 am
Jim

You aint gonna get noticed in that  :o

Love it.
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: clinton on November 05, 2009, 07:53:36 am
Mark

You have not got a large area to cover so go for something thats eyecatching :)
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Jim_77 on November 05, 2009, 08:51:28 am
Thanks Steve :)

Yeah it does look big sat on its own but looks more at home once installed.

It's a MWB med roof transit.  snug fit, but still room for additional storage for all my other bits n bobs.
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: richy27 on November 05, 2009, 02:04:03 pm
I think it's best to remain inconspicuous when working ;D ;D


Nice one jim   . 
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Carpet Dawg on November 05, 2009, 06:05:29 pm
Jim

Are you Service Master frachisee?
Good looking truckmount tho! very clean too  :)
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Carpet Dawg on November 05, 2009, 06:17:34 pm
The conclusion I have come up with when it comes to van signage is that, unless its a really fancy, top notch job i.e. a wrap or expensive looking. Then its not worth getting done. It actually puts potenital customers off!

Rubbish - If your van wasn't signed in the first place the customer would never have known about you so how can they be put off?

There's no such thing as bad advertising.

O Reilly!....

And you've been in business how long???

To make it easy for you, I had a van with simple signage i.e. professional carpet cleaner, phone No etc etc black text on white van. NOT one call in 2 years!
Next van (same make and model. Always clean) full wrap, cost £995. 2 - 3 calls a MONTH!

What you gotta say about that??

I even had customers saying "oh thats a much nicer van! last last one made you look like a dodgy cowboy...."
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Gordonnis on November 05, 2009, 07:20:19 pm
Got this done for £100 cash , last year in gateshead , both sides front and back
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Jim_77 on November 06, 2009, 06:14:51 pm
Jim

Are you Service Master frachisee?
Good looking truckmount tho! very clean too  :)
Yes I am. would be a bit silly if I wasn't!!

Should be clean it's brand new ;)
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Dave_Lee on November 06, 2009, 09:33:41 pm
Jim,
You got the full interoir insulation and waterproofing too? Alltec defo do the best install in the UK.
Dave.
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Jim_77 on November 08, 2009, 01:19:26 am
Did it myself.  Van was partly ply lined when I got it (sides, arches and bulkhead) but I completed it to all surfaces and insulated all round.  Got some protectakote off JK for the floor and the rest is still undercoated at the mo, ran out of time to finish it before installation!!

If the quote for speedlining wasn't such a p**s take i'd have had it all done at alltec.  However I really don't think that roughly 1200+vat i was quoted is very good value for money just to paint some waterproof stuff on some wood ???

That said, all the time and aggro I went through myself to get the back of the van prepped for installation.... next time I'm paying someone else to do it!
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on November 08, 2009, 12:55:43 pm
150 it for northing ive just had one back door re done that cost me 280 + vat
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: derek west on November 08, 2009, 06:38:29 pm
The conclusion I have come up with when it comes to van signage is that, unless its a really fancy, top notch job i.e. a wrap or expensive looking. Then its not worth getting done. It actually puts potenital customers off!

Rubbish - If your van wasn't signed in the first place the customer would never have known about you so how can they be put off?

There's no such thing as bad advertising.

O Reilly!....

And you've been in business how long???

To make it easy for you, I had a van with simple signage i.e. professional carpet cleaner, phone No etc etc black text on white van. NOT one call in 2 years!
Next van (same make and model. Always clean) full wrap, cost £995. 2 - 3 calls a MONTH!

What you gotta say about that??

I even had customers saying "oh thats a much nicer van! last last one made you look like a dodgy cowboy...."

you must have some pictures of both vans, lets see em.
derek
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Dave_Lee on November 11, 2009, 05:26:59 pm
Derek, tell me, how do you post pictures on here?
Dave.
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Joe H on November 11, 2009, 05:54:56 pm
Dave
You need to know where the photo is on your computer - pre requisite

Instead of typing in the message box, just look a bit further down to "additional options", click on it

go to "attach" and click on "choose file"  - now you search for your photo on your computer and it should be straight forward fro there, just double click on it once you found it on your comuter.
You can add text in the message box if you want.
Post it as normal
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: M.Acorn on November 14, 2009, 10:26:25 am
This is the design i am going to go for !!!
Think it will look great !

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/Thevansigns.jpg)
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Jim_77 on November 14, 2009, 11:19:35 am
It will certainly look nice and professional if it's done properly.  If that van pulled up on my drive, or I saw it at my neighbours house etc, I'd get the impression it was a pro doing a job.

But there's always a but... :)

Hopefully you can take this for what it is... constructive criticism!

You need to put yourself in the shoes of Joe Public, what do they see and how do they perceive it?

At the size of image you've posted, all I can see is "MGD", which means that at a glance from 20 yards away the same will happen in real life.  "What sort of work is that guy doing parked on that drive of our neighbour?"  The little graphic looks like a guy with a huge wang taking a giant sized pee on the floor :D  Nobody knows at a glance you're a carpet cleaner.

The description of your type of work is the thing that needs to be the most prominent.  Then the phone number.  Your company name/logo has to take a back seat because unless you're a big national company nobody will know you or connect you to the service you provide.  I think Clinton's new van has "CARPET CLEANING" plastered on the side in the biggest letters, great example.

Another thing is your mobile number.  I know opinion is divided on this but a mobile number on a professional vehicle??!  It looks pikey, really pikey, I tend not to do business with any firm who print a mobile in their advertising literature.  It's perceived the most trusted and dependable (in my opinion) to have a local landline number only.  Use call divert to your mobile so you don't miss any calls, it really is worth the few pounds a month it costs you :)

Email address.  I've never rushed to scribble down an email off a passing van.  You've got the web address there already, presumably you have a contact email on the website?  My suggestion would be to keep the web addy but drop the email, they crowd each other out.

Apart from that it's fine ;D  Not trying to knock you down, just sharing ideas mate hope u take it the right way :)
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Mike Osbourne on November 14, 2009, 11:37:53 am
Pretty much echo everything that Jim has said. depends whether you want it to look nice or get business. CARPET CLEANING should be the thing people see, even more prominent than your company name.

I would put one of those card holders on your van as well.

Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Mike Halliday on November 14, 2009, 12:05:31 pm
Mark why are you sign writing your van? sound like a simple question but the answer to this question will dictate what you should do.

if you want people to see it and remember it, so the call you when they need a carpet cleaner, or when they are looking in the yellow pages or see a leaflet they remember your van.

I would say stop playing safe and let your van make a statement or really say what you do.
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: clinton on November 14, 2009, 12:24:58 pm
Mark i would too go for something that says what you do and make it bold.

I did it on my new van and it says carpet cleaning in very large letters next to a cartoon design,it will get you noticed ;D

Maybe in a nice yellow as well to stand out on the navy blue ???..
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Joe H on November 14, 2009, 02:33:34 pm
Good advice already given, Mark.

Nothing to add really.
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: james roffey on November 14, 2009, 04:47:26 pm
you all bang on about marketing and how much it cost which it does it costs a bloody fortune more so when first starting, how can anyone drive around with a BLANK billboard because thats exactly what it is in fact i will go further its a FREE BLANK BILLBOARD if you do not utilise free advertising i think your mad, i had my van done graphics etc something very different my lttle boy on the side to make it stand out cost £700 within one day i had a job by the end of the first week two and now after 4 months its paid for itself 3 times over, just putting j bloggs carpet cleaner will not be any where near as effective as something unique as far as i am concerned its a no brainer.






The conclusion I have come up with when it comes to van signage is that, unless its a really fancy, top notch job i.e. a wrap or expensive looking. Then its not worth getting done. It actually puts potenital customers off!

Rubbish - If your van wasn't signed in the first place the customer would never have known about you so how can they be put off?

There's no such thing as bad advertising.

O Reilly!....

And you've been in business how long???

To make it easy for you, I had a van with simple signage i.e. professional carpet cleaner, phone No etc etc black text on white van. NOT one call in 2 years!
Next van (same make and model. Always clean) full wrap, cost £995. 2 - 3 calls a MONTH!

What you gotta say about that??

I even had customers saying "oh thats a much nicer van! last last one made you look like a dodgy cowboy...."
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: sherco on November 14, 2009, 04:48:56 pm
I saw a white vauxhall vivaro yesterday with silver sign writing, couldn't read what it said as he went passed.....Twat  ;D bet he thinks it looks good.
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on November 15, 2009, 08:53:00 pm
mark i could show you a pick of an old caddy like your in the same coulor a had years go think it was a 53 reg if it helps
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: clinton on November 16, 2009, 03:00:25 pm
Jim

like that mate and me thinks you will get some work from that ;D

Mark

If you want some artwork for your new van  i will send you mine.Your welcome to use it in any way you want.. ;D

Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: richie on November 17, 2009, 05:13:03 pm
Any more of sign writing on your van is better than nothing at all. Even if you had basic writing satating 'CARPET CLEANING'.  A van that is left blank makes your company look CHEAP.  As already stated if you can afford to outlay £600 -£1000 on the van this would be better.  A eye catching company logo, also let peeps know what you do and your contact details.  I saw a van a few months ago, had a large picture on the side showing a half cleaned carpet and the wording CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING.  This was on a medium wheel base Ford Transit.  It looked amazing....very clear.  Was one of the best if not the best vans ive ever seen.

Richie.
PS....it was a truckmount system on the van.  ;D
Title: Re: Just been quoted for van signage !
Post by: Mike Osbourne on November 17, 2009, 05:19:21 pm
Everybody has their own view on signwriting. Some will think you are a gypo if you have a blank van others it never comes into the equation, but they hate your accent or your uniform or lack of.

I say look at your figures and see how much you can directly attribute to it and add 20-30% then decide whether it's worth it to you.