Customers looking for a "ONE STOP SHOP",should I invest?
I've been happy to say I've had a few customers very happy with their final products. Word of mouth is positive and business is starting to roll. I received an e-mail asking if I can provide a full advertising campaign including flyer's, business cards, fold out business plans and shirts. Is this a wise business venture or Am I better off farming it out to some pro's that have done this before? I'd like to pursue this but don't know if it would be over my head at this point. Any thoughts on this?
Looking forward to ANY and ALL advice.. my mind is swimming in good and bad thoughts.
Re: Customers looking for a "ONE STOP SHOP",should I invest?
That's what I do. I do screenprinting, embroidery and design in-house (literally!) I send out all my printing, and there is a pretty good markup in it.
My dad owns a sign shop and that's where a lot of my customers come from. Even though we are technically 2 separate business, our customers like the convenience of a one stop shop.
I'm learning more and more to not say no, you can outsource just about anything and make money.
Re: Customers looking for a "ONE STOP SHOP",should I invest?
I totally understand the temptation to be all things to all customers, but you need to be really sure that you know what you're doing before you take this on. You might be better off finding some experts who can do the stuff that really isn't in your wheelhouse. If you work it right, you can create a network of people who refer work to each other, that way everyone does what they do best and everyone benefits.
The thing is, there's a lot more to creating a Marketing campaign than simply whipping up a few flyers or business cards (and I'm not saying that just because I'm in Marketing). Clients also expect results from advertising campaigns. If you take on the whole thing and it doesn't go well, then all the blame could be placed on you. Given that, you need to be reasonably confident going in that you know what you're doing or that you're working with people who do.
Re: Customers looking for a "ONE STOP SHOP",should I invest?
If your getting flooded with tons of requests for a service you don't do in house it would definately be worth considering bringing that service in house. If it is only a few people asking, it is not time to invest in that particular service, unless, you have identified a market, have a plan to go after it, and are confident you can build a customer base and have that service become a profit making service.
Re: Customers looking for a "ONE STOP SHOP",should I invest?
We only advertise screenprinting, embroidery, dye sub., and signs & banners but we were originally in offset printing. We take what we can handle with the connections we have and sub out work we can't do. We work with small business and try to handle their printing needs. With resturants with have printed menus ( nice digital prints), take out menus ( copies), banners, shirts, hats, large format digital banners for their walls, and anything else we can do for them. I think it's how far you want to take it, if you are a screen printer I would not stray far from that but you can take care of your loyal customers by managing their projects and subbing out some of the work and spread the wealth with other small local shops around. Good luck and happy printing!
Re: Customers looking for a "ONE STOP SHOP",should I invest?
Thank-you all for your advice, I've sat down with the Mrs. and we've discussed you opinions. I hope everyone responding to these forums realize you do make a differrence to our feild with your contributions. Every reply has helped me make an educated decision. I'm going to opt not to venture down the road of "Full advertising business" at this time. I want to focus on screenprinting and Embroidery and get good at it. Again. Thank-you.
Re: Customers looking for a "ONE STOP SHOP",should I invest?
Quote:
Originally Posted by RNJ Creations
Thank-you all for your advice, I've sat down with the Mrs. and we've discussed you opinions. I hope everyone responding to these forums realize you do make a differrence to our feild with your contributions. Every reply has helped me make an educated decision. I'm going to opt not to venture down the road of "Full advertising business" at this time. I want to focus on screenprinting and Embroidery and get good at it. Again. Thank-you.
I think that is a very smart move. Get good at each, and move into new things as business progresses.
Customers looking for a "ONE STOP SHOP",should I invest? 
