An end of the year soliloquy

It is time for the great build up to the end of the year, deadlines all around—not just at work but socially as well. Where has twelve months gone? Did Einstein ever work out how time speeds up once you cruise past 30 years old? It certainly flies by for me.

And what have we all achieved in that time? Most of us got through the business of making signs unscathed and sadly, some of us did not. For those who did not, I can only encourage you to believe that things seem to happen for a reason and when you look back, it was a temporary blip in the steady stream of day to day routine and may have been that catalyst to help you on to better things—let us hope so. If you can survive disappointment, nothing can defeat you.


There are, however, exceptions to the rule. Once again, I have come across recent examples of customers wanting something for nothing and sign companies trying to do nothing for something.

To put some context here of my mindset, these two incidences happened to me within days of each other. We had a delivery to our house of some bathroom fittings. I had not ordered them, neither had my wife, so we opened the parcel to find some paperwork on which we discovered a mobile telephone number of the true recipient. We called him to tell him he can come and collect as we were in all day, to which he was grateful. He turned up and collected the box and its contents. As he was leaving he thanked me and my wife (you would expect that at least) and asked why did we bother letting him know? He was not being funny, he was merely asking why we went to all that trouble in contacting him. Simple really, it is what I would have liked to happen to me if the tables were turned.

The second example is that a few days later, the postie delivered an envelope to our house. There was no addressee on the envelope, but apart from the last digit of the postcode, it was our address. Bemused, we opened the letter to find a cheque for £1,000 from a window company to a Samantha Gobbledegook (could not make head nor tail of her last name because of the poor handwriting). Nothing else, no compliment slip, no reference, zilch, nada. As much as we like getting cheques for a grand, to us it seemed obvious that a mistake had been made and it needed putting right. I did look up the name of the account holder on the cheque but to be sure, I decided to take the cheque and envelope back to the local branch of the Natwest and explain what had happened. Again, plenty of thank you’s and again, the question why. This time I replied ‘Why not?’.

You get what you pay for

Meanwhile over in reality corner, a customer complained to the BSGA last month that the vinyl they had applied to their car 18 months ago at a cost of £35 has lost its colour, was shrinking around the edges, and is taking the paint off the vehicle when they pick at the vinyl. They expected, nay demanded, compensation for ‘poor quality material and shoddy workmanship’ from the BSGA, because the sign company who supplied the vinyl has gone out of business. If we do not accede to their demands they will involve Trading Standards, the press, and so on because it is their right. We all know how that one is going to end.

Then to top the week off, I get a call from a different customer asking if I can help get a sign company to make the signs that were ordered and paid for in advance, as they are now two weeks late and they will not return any calls. Good grief. Where do I start with this one? Have I slipped into a parallel world where no one gives a toss and could not care less?

Fortunately for me, both sign companies were not, nor ever have been members of the Association—but from a professional point of view, I simply despair. I tried to help both callers as much as I could and hopefully got the first customer to understand that ‘you-pays-your-money’. Whilst for the second, it was a simple case of theft and deception, do not waste time, go for the jugular and involve the authorities—unless of course there was some serious life threatening illness or injury involved which should be the only reason why your calls have not been returned.



Look, I know times can be tough and require tough actions to protect yourself, your family, and business. But, from these two examples within a week of each other, I must ask why do people seem to stoop so low? All this stuff about ‘community’ and ‘kindred spirit’ seems to me to be pushed aside by tribalism, as long as ‘I, we, my tribe’ benefit from your gullibility, tough.


The caveat is of course that this applies to a minority, but for all of you, just remember things happen for a reason and what goes around will come around. As the great comedian Dave Allen always signed off with ‘May your God go with you’, I wish to add season’s greetings and a prosperous, happy, peaceful, and successful New Year.


Public Notice:

• Problems can be a catalyst to help you on to better things
• In cases of theft and deception, involve the authorities
• ‘Community’ seems to me to be pushed aside by tribalism
• What goes around comes around

The British Sign and Graphics Association (BSGA) history dates back more than 70 years when a group of leading sign-makers formed the Master Sign Makers Association (MSMA) with the aim of promoting the sign industry and defending its interests.

For more information on the issues discussed in this article visit www.bsga.co.uk or tel: 0845 338 3016

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