27 Issue 255 - October / November 2024 email: news@signlink.co.uk you time and money. When evaluating potential wholesalers, ask for product samples to ensure quality—since your name will be on those signs. Also, ask for references and follow up with them. It’s important to know how well the wholesaler communicates, what support they offer, and what warranty they provide. ADA projects often have longer timelines, but deadlines can sneak up quickly. Make sure you understand how long the wholesaler needs to deliver the signage. Interview several ADA wholesalers and start with a smaller project. The right partner can help you evaluate project plans, provide installation guidelines, create sign samples for your customers, and advise on the best materials to keep the project within budget. Once you find a reliable partner, you'll feel more confident offering ADA signage to your customers. Brian Grass with Caribee Sign Company (caribee-sign.com) and Identity Group (identitygroup.com) are great resources for ADA projects. Reach out to them for more information. UNDERSTAND YOUR CLIENT’S NEEDS: Schedule an initial discovery call with your client to begin to understand their specific goals and requirements for the project. What problems are they trying to solve? Is there a budget? (Don’t shy away from asking this question – budgeting and cost transparency is critical for both you and your client). What are the timelines, and can you realistically deliver on their desired dates? Who is their target audience? Are there any unique challenges or constraints to consider? A clear understanding of the client's needs will guide the entire project. It also communicates that your sign company really cares about its success, and that always starts with listening. The better you get at this discovery process, and the better your questions, the more trust you will build with your client. CONDUCT COMPREHENSIVE SITE SURVEYS: Conduct a detailed site survey to gather crucial information about the physical environment. This includes assessing the property layout, traffic patterns, potential obstacles, and existing signage. A thorough survey helps in determining optimal sign placement and ensuring that the ADA / Wayfinding system seamlessly integrates with the environment. While on-site, determine the type of equipment needed to complete the job such as cranes, augers, lifts, and accessibility to the site that your staff requires to accomplish the work. For existing projects, it's a bit easier to do site surveys when you're replacing old signs. But if it's a new construction project, you'll have to rely on site plans, floor plan layouts, and building elevation drawings. COMMUNICATE FREQUENTLY: It is always important to keep your client in the loop as the project progresses. For new construction projects, it is also important to have regular meetings with the general contractor to make sure nothing changes along the way. Plans can sometimes shift during construction, so stay in the loop by attending on-site construction meetings. Many sign shops skip these meetings, but they're really helpful to avoid mistakes during installation. The more you talk to the general contractor, the fewer change orders will occur – that will keep your clients happy too. Also, when you're on-site installing ADA signs, always follow OSHA safety rules [HSE in the UK] like wearing vests, hardhats, safety glasses, and the right shoes. Safety first! It is important to think beyond just basic sign design. I know this sounds like a huge learning curve, and it might seem like a big step for your sign shop, but the pay off is worth it! It's a great way to expand your business in a direction you won't regret. Now, go make great signs!
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