Shop Space.

[MajikwearPrinting]

Hello everyon, I need a little advice. First, some background. I've been running my custom printing business from my livingroom and dinning room since 2018. I started with just a USCutter and heat press from amazon. I then expanded into screen printing, yes the whole shop 6 color/ 4 station Hopkins press, 5ft conveyor dryer, exposure unit, the whole shop all in my front of my house including drying racks, shelving for my inks. Now I've sold the screen printing shop and I now have an Epson S40600, Graphtec FC9000-140, Roland GR2 540, Royal Sovereign 54" Laminator. I just acquiered all of this equipment at the beginning of the year on top of acquiring trainning in vinyl wraps. I like to take the bull by the horns and tackle what comes. I've been doing it for over the last 10 yrs. I guess what I'm asking is what is the best way to go about stepping up my game as far as shop space? I'm really lost at what to look for, I just know I want space so I can wrap vehicles but also a storefront for customers to see our samples and place orders for other product/services. I stay in Florida and even though the market is kind of saturated here, the money is still good. I'm a first timer looking at getting a shop, I've finally grew out of the house plus the wife is ready to have her house back...lol

 

[FireSprint.com]

Congrats on your growth so far. I started in my parents basement when I was 23 with a cheap plotter. This is our shop last year. We're behind on the shop tour as we have more equipment now.

A few bits of advice that we experienced ourselves and also seem to be a common thread.

-Walk in customers are not all that great. The real business will come via email/phone/website in the same way it is coming to you now. Successful business owners don't typically have time to go shoot the wind at their sign guy's shop.
-Avoid these types of customers by avoiding retail space. Get a warehouse back in an industrial park. Focus on usable production space, not retail showroom space. Let Office Depot or FedEx Office deal with the one off prints for a birthday party tomorrow.
-Go visit customers where they are, don't tie yourself down to storefront hours.
-Get more space than you think you'll need, but stay within what you can afford in a bad month. Printers and sign shops are either running out of space, or running out of business. I have found no exception to this rule in our industry.
-Do it.
You might fail. But would you regret failing more than not giving it a shot? We all yearn to prove our value to the world. This could be that moment for you.

Good luck! Let me know if I can help!
-Gene at FireSprint.

 

[White Haus]

Great comments above from Gene, all of which I agree of.

Another thing I'll add it make sure power on site will meet your demands as you grow. We moved into our current shop 10+ years ago with just a Roland printer and a laminator, and now we've added so many other pieces of equipment over the years that we're out of power (and space).

One more thing is to look at shorter term leases to start, so you're not overcommitting to a long term that you'll be stuck with. Bonus points if there is more space/units next door in case/when you need to expand, to avoid having to pack up and move the whole operation. We've been thinking of moving for 5 years but haven't due to the expense/disruption associated with moving a bunch of equipment, and our rent/setup is working pretty dang good right now in it's current state.

Otherwise I wish you the best of luck. Sounds like you've got the drive and your wife sounds like a saint for putting up with your home based operation for this long.

Keep us posted as you progress!

 

[MrDav3C]

Congrats on your growth so far. I started in my parents basement when I was 23 with a cheap plotter. This is our shop last year. We're behind on the shop tour as we have more equipment now.

A few bits of advice that we experienced ourselves and also seem to be a common thread.

-Walk in customers are not all that great. The real business will come via email/phone/website in the same way it is coming to you now. Successful business owners don't typically have time to go shoot the wind at their sign guy's shop.
-Avoid these types of customers by avoiding retail space. Get a warehouse back in an industrial park. Focus on usable production space, not retail showroom space. Let Office Depot or FedEx Office deal with the one off prints for a birthday party tomorrow.
-Go visit customers where they are, don't tie yourself down to storefront hours.
-Get more space than you think you'll need, but stay within what you can afford in a bad month. Printers and sign shops are either running out of space, or running out of business. I have found no exception to this rule in our industry.
-Do it.
You might fail. But would you regret failing more than not giving it a shot? We all yearn to prove our value to the world. This could be that moment for you.

Good luck! Let me know if I can help!
-Gene at FireSprint.

Fantastic response... also makes me feel better about running out of space regardless of how much we have grown!

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

There are complexes that have warehouses with small office spaces. Like one step up from a storage unit. Usually plumbers and small business will occupy them. That would be a great starting point.

 

[Solventinkjet]

There are complexes that have warehouses with small office spaces. Like one step up from a storage unit. Usually plumbers and small business will occupy them. That would be a great starting point.

I've been to a lot of sign shops in commercial complexes that were just a series of small offices with a garage attached.

 

[Stacey K]

Gene's advice is great! Don't do a retail - trust me, I did that and 50-60% of your day is wasted with walk-ins that amount to NOTHING. I sold my retail space and bought a different house that has a finished basement and I operate from this space. When I letter vehicles I either go to the business and do it there, in their shop or I rent a space from my local landscaper friend by the day. If I am able to do it outside I pay him $25 if I use the garage space indoors I pay him $50. Or, do as instructed above and find a warehouse, a commercial space, a space from a plumbing company, etc. Do not get a retail space unless you plan to hire a receptionist to tell people you don't make photo copies.

 

[Goatshaver]

I don't have a retail space but I agree. Especially if it's just you running things....customers coming in and out and chatting will just be a distraction.
I'm kind of in the same kinda deal where I've been in a basement for the last 6yrs and next year hoping to move into a bigger space.