Is there any work out there ??

[simonb43]

Hi All, I have no work planned in and the situation seems to be a bit desperate. The phone is hardly ringing and adverts are creating no work either. Is it the same for everyone ??

[LM Ceramics]

yep same here aswell ive really slowed down in this last month i had a decent feb/march but as yet nothing definete at the moment. Ive had to pull my advert out of my local handbook as its not generating a single call

[CJ CERAMICS]

same here for me..if it carries on im going to have to think about packing in and finding alternative work.

[Dan]

Times certainly sound tough for many tilers, new and old. Though customers are still buying tiles. Topps Tiles reported less profit than usual, as a result they're opening less stores, though Tile Giant is still expanding which suggests their customers are still spending.

I think if you spend the free time you have on posting leaflets, and contacting more stores local to you, you may find some results.

Waiting by the phone wont get you more business coming in though, so I'd not do that if I was a tiler. Certainly cut your losses advert-wise. If it's not making enquiries, drop it and let some other firm take the position. And obviously anything that seems to be working, do more of - though I'm sure that's obvious.

[brian c]

yes its slow and all these people under cutting your price doesnt help either.It happenned to me twice in the last week but you struggle and hope for the best.

Fortunately i have picked up and have work for the next couple of weeks.I also find that people want things done the day after you quote and are not prepared to wait...well thats what i am finding anyway.

[enduro]

I'm based in the south of England, and im as busy as ever, all the builders i work for are really busy, so i do think it varies from area to area. The trouble is if you don't advertise people don't know you tile...Bit of a vicious circle really.

[garythetiler]

All depends where you live , who you know ,how long you have been trading and if you have earned yourself a good reputation ,this with good marketing and advertising will bring you work in ,which end of the market are you targeting ? if you are going after the domestic ceramic market you will have your prices cut to the bone as all the site tilers are going after that at the moment as the sites are still quiet , if you are going after commercial work you have to have a team of good fixers who can finish work to a good standard for lowish prices ,if you go after the high end stuff you will need to be first class at natural and large format polished and glass mosaic this will involve expensive machinery such as large size wet cutters and polishers so my answer is decide which area you feel you excel at and go down that route, there are still companies looking for tilers doing the decent homes program it is rubbish work for low prices in poor conditions but if you are desperate phone your local council and find out which companies are doing this in your area then ring them to find out if they are looking for tilers
good luck to all those seeking work
if its any consolation inquiries are starting to pick up and i have looked at several new jobs this week and some of my mates who own shops have said that they are picking up again

[kickkick]

It is all down to how you market yourself and what you do to make yourself win the jobs.
If you just going round peoples houses and giving a quote and just ask a few ramdom questions and be it. Then joe blogs comes along with a nice portfolio, takes an interest in what the customer has to say, then he is more likely to win the job over some ramdom tiler whos says he do it for x amount.

Remember the the customer has also gotta like you as a person if you will be working in there house so first inpressions count when quoteing.

I'm still really busy being in the South of England and I have taken to trying lots of free advertising on the net to take advantage of which has worked and landed me jobs.

I know a plasterer who's not left the house for 6 weeks for a days work. I asked him how is he selling himself and hes just relying on word of mouth of contacts but it's not occurred to him word of mouth will only get you so far and you also gotta look at other ways to get work along side word of mouth.

[kngjason]

FreeIndex.co.uk - Free Business Advertising could try free listings like this one

[LM Ceramics]

It is all down to how you market yourself and what you do to make yourself win the jobs.
If you just going round peoples houses and giving a quote and just ask a few ramdom questions and be it. Then joe blogs comes along with a nice portfolio, takes an interest in what the customer has to say, then he is more likely to win the job over some ramdom tiler whos says he do it for x amount.

Remember the the customer has also gotta like you as a person if you will be working in there house so first inpressions count when quoteing.

I'm still really busy being in the South of England and I have taken to trying lots of free advertising on the net to take advantage of which has worked and landed me jobs.

I know a plasterer who's not left the house for 6 weeks for a days work. I asked him how is he selling himself and hes just relying on word of mouth of contacts but it's not occurred to him word of mouth will only get you so far and you also gotta look at other ways to get work along side word of mouth.

i agree work wont cum to you the person must find the work instead of relying on word of mouth. As for winning quotes yes a customer is more likely to choose somone they feel comfortable with but depending where you are most are just after the cheapest price. Myself i have been hit and miss this year busy last year through out dried up with work now for the last 3 weeks and still nothing i have rung various builders plumber kitchen company leaflets etc hoping some might pay off you can only do what you can do some have luck on their side and some arent at the moment

[andy-p]

garythetiler summed it up pretty much spot on , i have had a busy year and its not letting up , i work mostly in the mid to high end of the market , these people have plenty money and the crunch has had no effect on them hence im busy, the lower end of the market is not the place to be im afraid , its dog eat dog there. you have to fish in the right pond as a wise tiler once told me..

[kickkick]

i agree work wont cum to you the person must find the work instead of relying on word of mouth. As for winning quotes yes a customer is more likely to choose somone they feel comfortable with but depending where you are most are just after the cheapest price. Myself i have been hit and miss this year busy last year through out dried up with work now for the last 3 weeks and still nothing i have rung various builders plumber kitchen company leaflets etc hoping some might pay off you can only do what you can do some have luck on their side and some arent at the moment

In that case. and if possible then you have to set yourself a good but basic wages that your willing to drop too just to keep work ticking over.
Of course work out how much the customer can afford and if your getting the feeling there are after the most cheapest then sometimes its best just to walk away but if you can still show your really reasonable then most people will with that. Theres nothing worse then doing a cheap work as the only person enjoying the job is the customer as he's had it for done for bugga all and your the mug who has just sold your soul for penuts.

[rob]

I also have been finding it very slow in the first part of this year. However in the last 2-4 weeks it has started to pick up conciderably. All small jobs however seems to be plenty of them right now. Many are just a pain to do, however at the end of the day it is keeping me in work.

I have also been out on days when I have no work on and putting flyers in mail boxs - have had a couple of calls so far from them.

[turnip]

cheer up lads, personally it's always been quiet-ish around end of financial year, add on a long cold winter means a later "start" to the year, also being undercut by ridiculous prices, can't blame the house builders their profits arent so big last year! always feast and famine, 7-day working weeks for years up until a year or so back, so make the most of the summer (drink more coffee).

[Ajax123]

Hi All, I have no work planned in and the situation seems to be a bit desperate. The phone is hardly ringing and adverts are creating no work either. Is it the same for everyone ??

Don't if it's any help but have you thought about partnering local screeders. I work in the anhydrite business (yes...alright....I hear the sharp intake of breath). Anyway I see a lot of success for the people who can offer package deals to builders and self builders alike e.g. Screed and underfloor heating as a package. Some of my customers who are also finding things quiet are now offering floor coverings as well. It means they can offer main contractors the benefits of anhydrite without the risks of split package. I can see this working particularly in the self build market which is still reasonably bouyant cos most self builders have underfloor heating screed and often tiles.

Best of luck
Alan