-Wayne Dyer“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.”
Are you experiencing supply chain issues with your business? Us too. Due to supply chain issues around the globe, the realization of how connected our world is has never been more evident.
In the wholesale signage world at ImageFirst™, fortunately, demand has remained very strong this year. Ironically, however, the demand will outweigh output by the end of this year. We were on pace to exceed 2020 results through Q3 but the constraints in material procurement in Q4 will yield a result similar to last year.
Question: Has anyone found innovative ways to get paint and primer? We’re all ears, email us!
In the meantime, in an effort to share what we’re doing, and help ease pain points for our partners here are:
Material pricing has been so volatile in the past 14 months with distributors only guaranteeing for about 48 hours. Be open and honest with your messaging. Ensure your client understands this constraint and that you’re helping them get the best value for their money. Help your client see the value in a timely approval when it comes to their sign order.
We order and use extrusions routinely and have seen some difficulty in availability. But, when needed, we also fabricate our own extrusions (“stick build”) with angle, tube, and sheet goods in our manufacturing plant. Honestly, it may take a little longer labor-wise, but we have more control over the timeline, and your client will have a quality product when they need it.
Constraints in color and availability of vinyl substrates in the market have been an issue. For this, we’ve leaned on our in-house digital printing team. We’re able to custom print colors on white or clear vinyl to match colors/textures needed for signage so we can still meet our deadlines. Creative workarounds for the win!
Pricing of LTL and general freight over 8 feet has tripled in the past 60 days. While driver (labor) shortage is at an all-time high, the primary cause is an optimization of trailer space and channel/routes. We’ll get as creative as possible to get your signs to you, but keep in mind the costs continue to increase. Some clients have chosen to send a dedicated truck and trailer to avoid unnecessary fees or delays. Luckily, Grinnell, Iowa is smack dab (the Heartland) in the middle of the United States, so it MAY make this option a little easier.
On a positive note side, steel, plastics, and wood products have loosened up a bit and pricing isn’t through the roof like it was earlier this summer. We have felt this and are happy to see the change. Here’s an article from SignBuilder about the supply chain from this summer you may appreciate.
Our philosophy has always been, “if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.” A constraint can equal innovation.
If you’re not sure how to get a sign done based on constraints in the world right now let’s chat, we may have a workaround for that.
Designers and fabricators aren’t always on the same page especially if they’re not under the same roof. The worst feeling is thinking your sign is being installed in 3 weeks only to find out there’s an issue with the design once it goes to production.
Four Sweet Signs and a Donor Wall = Our Favorite Signs, 2018 edition