General advice to new tilers

[charlie1]

Hi all newbies.

Just thought i would post some helpfull advice for all the new guy's and gals wanting to break in to the tiling world.

There are 3 main things you will have to get in place if your business is to become a success..

1. Quality tiling .First and foremost ,you will have to do a good job and at a good speed to make money at tiling. This will only be achievabile to the majority through time. DO NOT SACRIFICE QUALITY FOR SPEED YOUR BUSSINESS WILL FAIL!! . Never ever leave the customer anything to do. When you have finished leave the job in showroom condition. Work clean and methodical. Never ever say ahh that will doo, every tile you fix you should have a smile on your face.

2. Sales. Most of you will not know how to deal with the public. Get yourself out there and get used to talking to different people, try and be more interactive with people. Get some sales books and try and develope your sales skills. THIS IS A MUST!!

3. Marketing This is a strange one because no doubt , all the tiling schools will tell you that you have to go full steam ahead with this however i would not advise this in the first year for the simple fact you could easily fall at the first hurdle. You need to let people know who you are however this has to be delicately tweeked. DONT go out to the world after you have done your short course and shout to the world how great a tiler you are because someone might just throw a job at you that you cant handle. **Get phase 1 in place** then crank up the marketting.

I could go in to more detail on all three points but I would be here all night. However this is a general guidline on how you should go about your business in the first year.

Good luck to all.

[graham31]

sound advice.I'm sure other experience tilers wil come along and add to this.

[whitebeam]

Short and sweet and to the point, Don't let customers dictate to you what you have to do so easily done when your new to tiling.

[Derry]

top post charlie

[gonzo]

3. Marketing This is a strange one because no doubt , all the tiling schools will tell you that you have to go full steam ahead with this however i would not advise this in the first year for the simple fact you could easily fall at the first hurdle. You need to let people know who you are however this has to be delicately tweeked. DONT go out to the world after you have done your short course and shout to the world how great a tiler you are because someone might just throw a job at you that you cant handle. **Get phase 1 in place** then crank up the marketting.

i agree mate.Although you dont want to turn work away you also dont want to take on more than you are ready to handle.I am new to tiling myself but i would rather get a reputation for good quality work than taking on any/every job and doing it badly.

i am making contacts in the trade and also finding work through word of mouth.

Thanks for a great post charlie

[MICK the Tiler]

more advice..........................Read, Read and Read some more. Practice Practice Till your hands are sore then Practice, Practice, Practice some more.

[brian c]

another important fact that some new tilers fail because they SIT BACK AND WAIT FOR THE PHONE TO RING,dont let this be you.



Good post Mark