[Drew]

I'm starting a sign creation website (corrugated plastic, printed vinyl, aluminum, etc) with a friend of mine who has extensive experience in the industry. I need some help coming up with a name. We're trying to think of something that won't pidgeon-hole us too much and will allow us to expand to more than signs, so we don't want something like www.austintxsigns.com for example. The great websites have ambiguous names (Amazon, eBay, etc). VistaPrint has a good name. Any ideas? Maybe www.______print.com

[Bored]

magicprints
mojaveprints
simpleprints
discoverprints

[Sport Skeds]

LonestarSignal.com (simple and direct – but may pigeonhole you for the Southwest if you had ambition of being *the* generic sign maker on the web)

ArmaSign.com (hats off to the Dillo (state animal) – and using Latin (“arma” – meaning arms/weapons – implying strength)

VAPorPrint.com (V=Vinyl, A=Aluminum, P=Paper/Plastic … ending in Print)
...variation : VAPerPrint.com

MoreCowBellSigns.com (had to…)

I have to ask - are you guys already in possession of LFI printing equipment (vinyl)? If not - where are you getting your 'product' outputs from?

Asking only because that's what I got into for my 'startup' - initially limiting myself to just paper and ink with the purchase of an HP DJ 500. Works fine - but wondering what you have considered before launching into the 'sign' bidness...

(note: obviously corrugated plastic, and aluminum are unique mediums that require more expensive equipment....)

Either way - Best of Luck!

[nado]

Originally Posted by Sport Skeds

ArmaSign.com (hats off to the Dillo (state animal) – and using Latin (“arma” – meaning arms/weapons – implying strength)

I'd go that one... sounds awesome!

[Drew]

We're looking into a Roland SC-545EXV or Mimaki JV3-130SP. Both run around $27k for the printer plus you have to buy the ink and all the attachments. Total investment is about $35k. They use solvent inks that bind to virtually any material. The Mimaki is better in that regard, because the Roland uses a more eco-friendly ink that doesn't bind quite as well. Total product cost is about $0.65/sf, and the sales price is about $3/sf. After advertising and other costs, we're looking at about a 50% profit margin.

Originally Posted by Sport Skeds

I have to ask - are you guys already in possession of LFI printing equipment (vinyl)? If not - where are you getting your 'product' outputs from?

Asking only because that's what I got into for my 'startup' - initially limiting myself to just paper and ink with the purchase of an HP DJ 500. Works fine - but wondering what you have considered before launching into the 'sign' bidness...

(note: obviously corrugated plastic, and aluminum are unique mediums that require more expensive equipment....)

Either way - Best of Luck!

[Sport Skeds]

Originally Posted by Drew

Total product cost is about $0.65/sf, and the sales price is about $3/sf. After advertising and other costs, we're looking at about a 50% profit margin.

...yeah - you've defintiely done yer homework...

fyi - I priced out simple "paper & ink" LFI contracts (before buying equipment) and they all came in higher than $3/sf - so don't sell yerself short. For your kind of product there's quite a few mainstream competitors (ie: Kinkos) charging more (for Vinyl - at least)... plus - it'll help yer margin call! Unless yer wanting to make big bucks on the design and edit fees you'll offer.

I had nowhere near the capacity to garner that much VC to start with - so kudos to you - and again, good luck!

[thenewwallstreet]

I like both ArmaSign.com and LoneStartSignal.com, armasign may get the nod though as it is shorter and easier to remember.