In short the answer is yes, but depends on your method.
Most sign companies already have an online presence, be it their own webpage, or a social media lander. But it usually ends there because converting your website into an e-commerce store isn’t easy, and even if you did pay to have this done you would need to market it.
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of opening an online store and starting to sell signs online.
Advantages of selling signs online
1. Greater exposure of your business
Most sign shops only cater to their local towns or cities, due to the fact of other sign shops down the road. So the biggest advantage is of course broadening your audience from your local town or city to the entire country.
2. Reducing those down times
Not having new projects coming in through the door can cause down times in your shop, causing employees to have to take the day off at times. So finding more projects to keep that printer running is very valuable.
3. Diversifying your portfolio
Every sign shop has it’s own niche market they can cater to, or only builds the types of signs needed in your area. So finding outside work can create new avenues for different types of projects coming through the door and can help keep things more interesting.
4. Making more money
Should this have been number one? Undoubtably, but it being the obvious option it’s fine saving it for last. Selling more signs online and locally will bring in more bucks for you and your company.
Disadvantages of selling signs online
1. Something else to maintain
As if you’re not already busy enough sending projects to the plotter, or cleaning saw dust off the floor you would now also need to make sure your site is running properly, keeping content updated, monitoring any questions, and tracking any projects being sold.
2. Hosting costs
In order to have an online store you will need to pay an e-commerce platform company to host it, costing anywhere from $30-$300 a month. And if you don’t sell anything then this can begin to add up.
3. Marketing your store
Just opening an online shop doesn’t mean anyone will ever visit it or find it for that matter. You would then need the time to spend paying Google, Facebook, Bing, etc. Marketing can run you into the thousands of dollars, and even more if you’re paying a marketing team.
4. Shipping and accountability
Sending anything through the mail is always a risk, including lost in transit, damage, or receiver dishonesty. This isn’t overly common but can and does happen.
Our solution for selling signs online
The Signtag has created an online marketplace for sign companies like you to setup an online shop and start selling online with no subscription costs. Buyers can browse your signs and services, and contact you for quotes.
As a seller you also have the opportunity to see project requests, and submit proposals directly to the buyers. The buyer can then review your offer and accept or decline it.
The best part is it’s absolutely free to signup and open shop, you only pay a fee when you make a sale. The Signtag takes care of the hosting, marketing costs, and bringing buyers to you.
