Very interesting, Leo. Maybe I have just found a way to pay for the house. I get to build a bigger one that makes more fiscal sense, but of course, costs more. Where should I start reading and doing research to find and serve a market for these plaques and signs?
This is a question I have myself. I spend a lot of time on the internet searching for sign related topics. One thing about signs is that a sign is an advertisement - so start advertising.
I have attended sign workshop in Indiana and got to meet several people. Some are doing the same as me - just trying to make a couple of bucks on the side and some are full time sign businesses. Dan Sawatsky is a world renown global award winner. His work is unbelievable. Sandy Baird, Melissa Jones, Roger Mann - just to mention a few are wonderful people to know.
HOW - to break in? Great question.
Dan says - make your house and shop look like it means business. If zoning laws restrict you ability to advertise - then decorate.
Tell everyone you know - show people your stuff.
Make small things and give it away - do craft fairs.
Most of my sales have been to people that know me. Word does get around.
I have not promoted my work here because it violates the CoC. Otherwise I would do a little discrete promoting from time to time.
Diane and I were walking around Wickford Rhode Island. That is a small waterfront community with a bunch of tourist attracting small shops and store fronts. It's a colorful little community. The houses there date back into the 1600's and 1700's It is a pricy area to live and a GREAT place to visit in the summer. It's a relatively young tourist trap community, and in a growth period. The store fronts don't yet have a lot of nice dimensional signs - YET. Dimensional signs sell between $125 to $250 per sq-ft. You do the math. I told Diane - we should take a picture of every store front and go back home and spend the remainder of the year designing signs. Corel, Adobe, Aspire - and so on. Next year - go back to the store with a design portfolio and ask for the store owner. Show the design and talk about how a decent sign can improve business.
I don't really have any book recommendations - but I meet people, and join forums. I try as much as possible to surround myself with creativity. Take a look at what Dan's house and shop looks like.
http://www.imaginationcorporation.com/
Look at his Journal - and look at his House Project - I have all the confidence to say you have never seen a house like that.
Dan uses Enroute software and he has a Enroute blog
http://www.enrouteadventures.blogspot.com/
Dan is kind enough to detail everything he does - GREAT place to learn.
I have setup an account with a sign supply warehouse and I buy stuff and try it.
I participate a LOT on Vectric user forum - 3D sign forum - and every place I can find.
I have met Jamie and Jody Oxenham - they are movie set designers for the hollywood sort of movie sets.
I get inspiration from them and I try stuff.
Since I have been active here I have not been so active on the CNC or shop area, because I am still remodeling.
Trust me - I have been 7 - 8 years trying to understand this stuff and I DIG DEEP.
It does NOT come natural.
One sign person told be after I asked where they get their ideas from - they said - take pictures of every sign you see and save them - and look at them from time to time.
Also - keep a journal of your ideas. Draw a picture - save it in a folder - you never know when you will want it.
I have a LIFETIME of pictures, drawings, ideas all tucked away - NOT - just in my mind - cause I will forget when I want to recall it. It is all in a IDEAS folder - on computer - and in a 3 ring binder.
I used to - but have gotten away from FREE FONTS. I have paid as much as $100 for fonts - professional sign fonts. I also modify fonts to make then unique. V-Carve has that ability.
One Sign Maker in New Hampshire that I know says he is in about $150,000 income bracket. Dan Sawatsky is at least $350,000. NOW - those guys are well established and genuine sign artists.
So - I am saying a hobby level business at $5,000 a year is NOT a far stretch.
There is a TON to learn - CNC is a small part, but an important part, and not necessarily a mandatory part. You do NOT need CNC to do this.
Oh I could go on and on and on - but most people do not read that much.