As business owners, we’re always worried about the competition. So the idea of outsourcing or partnering with another similar business can feel uncomfortable. But there are times when outsourcing makes excellent sense, financially and strategically. For sign companies, a good example is business awnings.
How are things going with your sign company? Think about that as you review these five signs you should outsource business awnings:
1. Your customers need business awnings, but you don’t make them.
You could recommend that customers who need both signs and awnings look for a company that manufactures both products, but then you’d lose their signage business. That’s no good. You need to retain the customers you have, and become a more valuable resource for them.
Linking up with a full-service awning manufacturer enables you to offer all types of awnings and related products to your sign customers. Since you can buy within the trade at a discount, you can offer your customers a competitive retail price and still make a profit for yourself.
2. You can make awnings, but you’re a small operation.
Since your customers know you make some types of awnings, they’re probably asking for help with projects that are beyond your capabilities, too. Again, you don’t want to send them somewhere else, risking the chance of losing their loyalty. But you don’t have the training or equipment to fabricate a full line of business awnings, and that kind of investment isn’t in your near-term plans.
3. You’re overworked.
The economy is picking up, and now you have all the work you can handle. Or you just scored a much larger job than you normally take on, and the clock is ticking on getting the work done. A full-service outsourcing partner can help by producing your overflow business awnings, and many have the capability to help with your sign manufacturing work, too.
Because they have much larger facilities and more staff, they can take up the slack whenever you need help, to keep you on schedule and keep your customers happy. Outsourcing can help alleviate overtime fatigue and potential delays when you’re seasonally swamped, too.
4. You’re located somewhere else.
Your customer is in New York City or somewhere within the tri-county area, but your own offices and manufacturing plant are in another part of the country. You need a reliable partner on the ground – one that knows the ins and outs of NYC-specific regulations, weather conditions, etc. that can affect design and fabrication of business awnings.
An outsourcing partner can provide everything you need, from permitting assistance to design work, fabrication to installation. You can be sure they’re using OSHA-certified installation crews and the top-grade materials your national customers demand.
Is your client part of a franchise corporation? Choosing a local partner who’s used to working with chains and franchises – both corporate headquarters staff and individual store owners – means you won’t have to explain the special challenges that can surround multi-layer decision making. Your client’s business awnings can proceed in an orderly fashion, as expected.
On the other hand, if there are local considerations that require modification of your client’s specs, your local partner can work with everyone involved to ensure the resulting business awnings are worthy of your client’s brand.
5. You want to attract new sign business.
Your business awnings partner can direct new customers your way, too. Even if they also manufacture some kinds of signs, the key reasons you might want to outsource can apply to them as well. You help them, they help you, you both grow.
It’s all about collaboration. Developing a solid working relationship can expand your customer base and your sign company’s reputation. You’ll get peace of mind your clients are getting exactly the business awnings they want, at the highest quality. All that reflects well on you, and that’s the best sign of all.
