Need advice from women stripers

My father started striping in 1959, instead of working fast food or retail in high school, my sister and I striped parking lots. We have recently taken over the family business when my father retired. I don't know if any of you are facing the same problems, but we are having problems being taken seriously due to the fact we are women. We do quality work, better than most stipers here, but when dealing with men, we kinda get the attitude that this is suppose to be a mans job. Are any of you having the same problem and how do you deal with this? I would appreciate any information anyone can give.

If your company is now 100% woman owned - Get Your WBE Certification. Check with your county & state for requirements, follow thru on the paper work (be careful not to drown!). Then approach your cities & municipalities with wording such as "WBE status pending", but looking to bid on contracts. Also contact major asphalt contractors who would like to add WBE sub to their bids for government work. In So Florida, a few (about 5 or so) women stripers can pretty much write their own paychecks...These ladies have a rep for leaving a job cleaner than they arrived, virtually no call backs, tend to keep their equipment cleaner than when their boss gave it to them. They also take no crap, but don't give any either! The contractors here are always looking to steal them from each other. It use to be about the $, now it's about the $, benefits, & respect! Wishing you all the best!

I just want to say that you only need to be 51% woman owned to be certified as a woman owned business and usually can also be certified as a DBE also. We are WBE and DBE certified and believe it or not we don't flaunt it because it is still a good old boy's world we are working in. I suggest that do the best work possible and don't expect any one to hold your hand. It will come only after you prove yourself as competent and reliable. Been working in the field since 1972 and started on my own in 1985 and still have some that don't take me serious. Just take it in stride and grin a little more because there is and old saying it's not what you know it's who you know. I say work hard and it will come.

I have to agree with Teddy in terms of the WBE situation. I have been certified as a WBE for about 10 years, but don't advertise it much. Maybe I should more often, but I actually prefer NOT to work on the government jobs. Cruella may be right that you can generally put a higher price tag on the gov't jobs, but sometimes it is not worth it to me. Lots of BS to get through along the way. Passes, security, safety, inspections, blah, blah, blah!! Anyway, GLCOKC, I have had the opposite experience that you have in terms of respect. I think I get more work because I am a woman. I have been in the biz for 14 years and have worked very hard to get and keep a reputation for doing a good, clean job WHEN the contractor needs me, and getting it done quickly and efficiently. It may have been a slow start for the first year or two, but now people know who I am and think it's really neat that a woman can do what I am doing. I agree with Cruella that sometimes women are neater and maybe a little bit more meticulous (no offense guys) and the customer appreciates that. I have found that new customers are willing to give me a chance because I am a woman, not avoid me because I am. And when I do a good job, fast, they love it and feel confident that I will deliver the same in the future. Just go out there and do your best. Work hard, show up when you say you will, complete the job in the promised period of time, clean up after you are finished, etc... I think it will come. It may take a little while for the men in your area to get used to seeing you and your sister on the job site, but if you do nice work, they will soon love seeing you on the job sites and your phone will be ringing off the hook. Good luck!!

We bought a striping business from a gal 7 years ago.What are the advantages of a wbe,dbe? my wife is 60% owner,but since we took a small loan from her father for equipment at that time they turned her down.I never really pressed it. We are now starting to do more county work,and a paver is telling us we should try again since we do some smaller hwy and temp.striping for him.As for respect,as long as you have been in business,the proof should be in your work and reliablility.

Great advice Sundog, Teddy and Cruella, Sundog, I totally agree with you in terms of every thing you have said. I am wondering how confident GLCOKC is coming across to her customers? as she has just taken over the company from her Dad and is now dealing with issues ( i.e. estimates)that usually Dad would deal with? GLCOKC if it's any constellation, remember that YOU know a (expletive) of a lot more than your customers do wether male or female about striping. I employ sales reps and believe me I have stood in the back ground and the customers ask males the exact same questions as they do females! Go for it and welcome to PLP! Like Gruella said the "The contractors here are always looking to steal them from each other" !! Teddy, Sundog, Cruella and I would not be in business for so long !!! and I'm sure if you asked half the lads on here who the brains are behind the business it would be there wives... start with Ken, Rob etc Anyway welcome and we are all here male or female any time for you! Well done

Thank you guys for the input, it was greatly appreciated. I have to say, tonight we were on a job and a man pulled up and began visiting with us..asking lots of questions and giving us great compliments on our job. He then told us that he was the President of a very large condominium association that was right down the street and low and behold it needed to be striped. He said he was very impressed to see two women doing this job and our lot looked better than most he had seen and a lot better than his last striper. So I have a meeting with him on Wednesday to bid the job. Yeah for our team. Kinda the boost I needed after dealing with some of the people I have in the past week. We were feeling pretty good at that point, then finished the job and began clean up and our gun caught fire. Litterally...I tell you, sometimes if it wasn't for bad luck, we wouldn't have any. This man stopped and had a fire extinguisher and put it out. In all the years my dad painted, then my uncle also painted...never did this happen. Has it happened to any of you??? We had a strong wind tonight and evidentally the fumes from the mineral spirits got a little too close to the muffler and ignited. If we would've had a video camera, you would've seen us on America's Funniest Home videos, because we both freaked out. But we survived with some melted hoses and a big hole burnt in our tarp. Another crazy striping adventure...so if any of you newbies out there...this does happen so be careful. Well thanks again for the input, it was greatly appreciated!

Thank you guys for the input, it was greatly appreciated. I have to say, tonight we were on a job and a man pulled up and began visiting with us..asking lots of questions and giving us great compliments on our job. He then told us that he was the President of a very large condominium association that was right down the street and low and behold it needed to be striped. He said he was very impressed to see two women doing this job and our lot looked better than most he had seen and a lot better than his last striper. So I have a meeting with him on Wednesday to bid the job. Yeah for our team. Kinda the boost I needed after dealing with some of the people I have in the past week. We were feeling pretty good at that point, then finished the job and began clean up and our gun caught fire. Litterally...I tell you, sometimes if it wasn't for bad luck, we wouldn't have any. This man stopped and had a fire extinguisher and put it out. In all the years my dad painted, then my uncle also painted...never did this happen. Has it happened to any of you??? We had a strong wind tonight and evidentally the fumes from the mineral spirits got a little too close to the muffler and ignited. If we would've had a video camera, you would've seen us on America's Funniest Home videos, because we both freaked out. But we survived with some melted hoses and a big hole burnt in our tarp. Another crazy striping adventure...so if any of you newbies out there...this does happen so be careful. Well thanks again for the input, it was greatly appreciated!

The fire was more likely started from a static spark when the gun touched a "ground". Ask RandyV.... he know first hand (or should I say, first face). (That's the reason for the chain hanging down under an airless striper....to ground static charges generated by paint flowing through the lines.)

The fire was more likely started from a static spark when the gun touched a "ground". Ask RandyV.... he know first hand (or should I say, first face). (That's the reason for the chain hanging down under an airless striper....to ground static charges generated by paint flowing through the lines.)

I just want to say that you only need to be 51% woman owned to be certified as a woman owned business and usually can also be certified as a DBE also. We are WBE and DBE certified and believe it or not we don't flaunt it because it is still a good old boy's world we are working in. I suggest that do the best work possible and don't expect any one to hold your hand. It will come only after you prove yourself as competent and reliable. Been working in the field since 1972 and started on my own in 1985 and still have some that don't take me serious. Just take it in stride and grin a little more because there is and old saying it's not what you know it's who you know. I say work hard and it will come.

Hi Can anyone tell me where I could buy 4 inch number stencils 0-9 and 11-99. I have a large job to do requiring many numbers and need the 11-99 numbers instead of using my 0-9 to make the digits. Thanks in Advance.......Ottawa, Canada

Robert right here on PLP has good prices. http://parkinglotplanet.com/Stencils.htm

I have to agree with Teddy in terms of the WBE situation. I have been certified as a WBE for about 10 years, but don't advertise it much. Maybe I should more often, but I actually prefer NOT to work on the government jobs. Cruella may be right that you can generally put a higher price tag on the gov't jobs, but sometimes it is not worth it to me. Lots of BS to get through along the way. Passes, security, safety, inspections, blah, blah, blah!! Anyway, GLCOKC, I have had the opposite experience that you have in terms of respect. I think I get more work because I am a woman. I have been in the biz for 14 years and have worked very hard to get and keep a reputation for doing a good, clean job WHEN the contractor needs me, and getting it done quickly and efficiently. It may have been a slow start for the first year or two, but now people know who I am and think it's really neat that a woman can do what I am doing. I agree with Cruella that sometimes women are neater and maybe a little bit more meticulous (no offense guys) and the customer appreciates that. I have found that new customers are willing to give me a chance because I am a woman, not avoid me because I am. And when I do a good job, fast, they love it and feel confident that I will deliver the same in the future. Just go out there and do your best. Work hard, show up when you say you will, complete the job in the promised period of time, clean up after you are finished, etc... I think it will come. It may take a little while for the men in your area to get used to seeing you and your sister on the job site, but if you do nice work, they will soon love seeing you on the job sites and your phone will be ringing off the hook. Good luck!!

We bought a striping business from a gal 7 years ago.What are the advantages of a wbe,dbe? my wife is 60% owner,but since we took a small loan from her father for equipment at that time they turned her down.I never really pressed it. We are now starting to do more county work,and a paver is telling us we should try again since we do some smaller hwy and temp.striping for him.As for respect,as long as you have been in business,the proof should be in your work and reliablility.

as well as quick, dependable service

Great advice Sundog, Teddy and Cruella, Sundog, I totally agree with you in terms of every thing you have said. I am wondering how confident GLCOKC is coming across to her customers? as she has just taken over the company from her Dad and is now dealing with issues ( i.e. estimates)that usually Dad would deal with? GLCOKC if it's any constellation, remember that YOU know a (expletive) of a lot more than your customers do wether male or female about striping. I employ sales reps and believe me I have stood in the back ground and the customers ask males the exact same questions as they do females! Go for it and welcome to PLP! Like Gruella said the "The contractors here are always looking to steal them from each other" !! Teddy, Sundog, Cruella and I would not be in business for so long !!! and I'm sure if you asked half the lads on here who the brains are behind the business it would be there wives... start with Ken, Rob etc Anyway welcome and we are all here male or female any time for you! Well done

forget the 0-9 and use the 1/2 of the 10-99. the #'s are already there. Stripps is right and Robert is fast.

You are using an explosive mixture when striping with oil base paint. Always Always carry a fire extinguisher with you on the job. A fire blanket shoud also be handy. Good luck girls hope the best for you.

You are using an explosive mixture when striping with oil base paint. Always Always carry a fire extinguisher with you on the job. A fire blanket shoud also be handy. Good luck girls hope the best for you.