Started new business but attracted no customers

[Stevev]

Hi Chaps, I started up my tiling business in March but even though I advertised as much as poss and fit on Yell dot com.. I've only had 3 people interested, so I've taken a job at the train station and ditched the tiling. Is it really quiet in Dorset and Wiltshire or is there something better I could do if I decided to try again Many thanks

 

[Andy Allen]

How long have you been tiling and how much experience do you have...?

 

[Stevev]

Not long and very little

 

[Time's Ran Out]

This is the best job in the world but I wouldn’t want to be starting off now!
There are so many ‘tilers’ out there, so many cheap nasty tiles and so many regulations, that the culture for anyone can do that becomes the norm - until they do it!
Just glad I don’t have a mortgage , can get regular work, and know my pension is safe.
Steve - enjoy whatever you do.

 

[Ajax123]

Go out and knock on doors, visit building sites, call housebuilders, leave your cards in chip shops post officers and tile shops, speak to conservatory suppliers and kitchen fitters and bathroom outlets. Knock up some leaflets abd drop them through letterboxes. There are so many things to do to get a new business going. Just advertising and yell.com won't get You going

 

[Qwerty]

@Stevev It comes with time. Myself and most other tilers in East & North Dorset are fully stacked up with work. PM me a link to any portfolio or photos of your work and I may be able to help you out

 

[AlexJones]

If your based near Bristol I have a job which is adding brick slips to a house - for some reason struggling to find tilers who will do brick slips in the Bristol area

 

[CJ]

Get a part time job, and then try the tiling part time.

 

[Spare Tool]

Get in with a local independent tile shop, not the big sheds, if you're loyal to them you'll find they'll look after you too.
It'll take at least three years to build a well established business...
Good offer off Geoff

 

[Flintstone]

Good advice from the chaps above, my advice is know your limits, don’t take on anything your not capable of yet. Make a good job of every job as reputation is what will carry you through.
Tell us your experience level ?

 

[hmtiling]

I moved 300 miles away from all my contacts 12 years ago. I went through the yellow pages at the time and wrote a letter to every builder in the area. I put business cards everywhere and advertised in the local rag. I had to take a job as a window fitters mate for a year whilst doing small jobs on evenings and weekends. If you leave a good job every time your reputation will precede you. I haven't advertised in 10 years now.
If you've little experience then getting in with another tiler may serve you well. Just be honest about your intentions and good luck

 

[Cranbrook]

Offer to tile friends and family bathrooms or kitchens for free (they buy the materials of course), this will help you improve, and will give you photograph opportunities to promote yourself, and if you do a good job, word of mouth will do the rest

 

[Dumbo]

This is the best job in the world but I wouldn’t want to be starting off now!
There are so many ‘tilers’ out there, so many cheap nasty tiles and so many regulations, that the culture for anyone can do that becomes the norm - until they do it!
Just glad I don’t have a mortgage , can get regular work, and know my pension is safe.
Steve - enjoy whatever you do.

Pension!

 

[CJ]

Like I said above.........start part time.

I worked as a part time postman, and took on Tiling jobs as and when they came in. When on the post, I printed off 600 flyers, and delivered them to everyone on my round..........1 Guy, a builder, contacted me, as his tiler had just lost his license. ()

I worked both jobs for.............5 years, but only because I didn’t have he balls to go all out Tiling. At that time anyway.

 

[Old Mod]

but only because I didn’t have he balls to go all out Tiling.

Good to see you about a bit more Colin.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Pension!

1) Bricks and mortar!
2) Building plot!
3) Small annuity!
4) 45 years training to keep my hand in.

 

[CJ]

Good to see you about a bit more Colin.

Bigger Balls now

 

[Old Mod]

Bigger Balls now

 

[Tilergal]

Social media is a great way of showcasing your work: get yourself a Facebook page, take tons of pics and post like crazy. Get family, friends, anyone to like your page and ask customers to do the same, it's amazing how word gets round if you're any good and you can prove it with photos. Good luck.

 

[Steve Griffiths]

Like I said above.........start part time.

I worked as a part time postman, and took on Tiling jobs as and when they came in. When on the post, I printed off 600 flyers, and delivered them to everyone on my round..........1 Guy, a builder, contacted me, as his tiler had just lost his license. ()

I worked both jobs for.............5 years, but only because I didn’t have he balls to go all out Tiling. At that time anyway.

Tiling for a living is better than walking the streets, that's for sure

 

[CJ]

Tiling for a living is better than walking the streets, that's for sure