Help with advertising

[rnb]

Hi

My boyfriend has just finishing off his NVQ and is setting up on his own , I am responsible for his advertising (great !)

Have got his cards done and entered our details on all the free directories am just wondering other than word of mouth how you guys get yourselves seen?

We dont have a great ammount to spend and what i do have i want to spend wisely ....any ideas?

Thanks in advance

[david campbell]

to the forum-
try leaving business cards in local shops,diy stores,builders merchants,phoning around local joinery firms and plumbers to see if they have any tiling work,put an ad in a local or free newspaper,start doing jobs for friends and family so word of mouth passes a lot quicker

[rnb]

Thank you for such a quick reponse, I was thinking of doing that regarding calling plumbers etc but was worried it would lok a bit...well desperate !! You think its ok to doso?

[david campbell]

you don't need to sound desperate,just ask if they would consider using you or mentioning your name to customers.they might want to see your work first so they can guarantee it will be up to scratch,if you have any mates or family in the building trade i.e plumbers and joiners,see if they can get you a few smaller jobs to start with

[enduro]

I agree with Dave, take business cards around to Kitchen shops, bathroom shops, conservatory company's, but be prepared to have your cards put with about twenty other tilers looking for work....See if your local paper would do an article about your new business starting in your area! Don't bother with fliers as they are a total waste of time in my opinion. A guy once said to me ''Advertising is a bit like winking at a pretty girl in the dark, if she cant see what you are doing nobody else can'' so stick with it but don't expect phone calls straight away, you have to keep advertising.
Your local parish mag could also be a good one to try. Good luck
You could also try www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk loads of advice about starting a business up on here.

[rnb]

thank you for the help I was thinking about googling local plumbers and sending them a brief lettr with a card?

The problem we have is we have moved to an area where we know no one so getting to know plumbers e is bit tricky . Enduro your quite near us actually

[enduro]

thank you for the help I was thinking about googling local plumbers and sending them a brief lettr with a card?

The problem we have is we have moved to an area where we know no one so getting to know plumbers e is bit tricky . Enduro your quite near us actually

Let me Know where you are from, and if i get jobs i cant do i could possibly send them your way.

[rnb]

Brilliant and ditto We are in Ticehurst , have pmd you our address sent us a business card and we can send you some back

[Dave]

Moved to tiling forum.

[neil74]

do what i used to do at start of my business have t shirts printed call into tile shops make good friends with them so they will normally give ur card out 1st lol and have coffee it helps to make sure any customers that come in see ur a tilers an 9/10 times u get another job it worked for me

[mike s]

is there any university or collages near, go to the local student letting agent office's and leave your cards with them ,most student houses get a total make over every year .

[rnb]

Thanks for allthe advice, well so far we are booked up for the next 5 weeks bar one week for a much needed holiday !! Couldnt of gone better and I really appreciate all your advice guys Keep n touch