what do you do?

[lcjohno]

Hi all, just want to know what you guys do in these situations- i've been on my own for nearly a year now and had a pretty steady flow of work for a newbie. Just recently i've found its slowing down though, even though this recession is supposed to be getting better. Anyway, because of this i've been re doing the rounds to kitchen and bathroom companies to drum up work. A couple of kitchen places i've been to have mentioned what they would get in return if they threw work my way, i just said i would make sure they new how greatfull i was if they did give me work. The last guy i spoke to said he had given one tiler 10 jobs this year without so much as a thankyou! What i want to know is what sort of things you guys do to thank the people who get you work at kitchen and bathroom companies. I was thinking things like hampers and wine or beer? is this the right kind of things? or is cash what people want? Just interested to know what you do, if anything, cheers!

[wacker]

Hi Icjohno, thinks are slow at the mo, but its this the time of year. Most people have just come back of holiday, kids gone back to school etc. Things will pick up for the Xmas rush. As for the kitchen companies, I send them all a large stack of beer at the end of the year to say thanks for all the work they have put my way. I have never given money out as a thankyou, and I think this would go downhill quite fast. I get work from all sorts of different companies. Just stick at what you are doing, hit all the tile shops, bathrooms and kitchens. The main tile shop here has a small photo album of all my work this gets quite a lot of leads. I sure things will pick up, all the best.

[heavytrevy]

Ur doing the right thing, Networking urself with various kitchen / bathroom/ tiling companies is a good thing.
I have developed many good relationships with ppl within these types of companies and I will always send potentinal customers there way and they do the same for me,
Leave them with a portfolio showcasing ur workmanship and grab some plastic card holders so u can diplay ur business cards on there counter.

I get plenty of work doing it this way, sure saves on advertising costs as well, not to mention u make some great friends along the way.

Have you tried getting in with a few builders?
Do you have the appropriate training/ certifications?

trev

[lcjohno]

i have done a couple of jobs for a local builder i know but he's been pretty quiet himself. I've not got nvq in tiling, went the intensive course route. The chats i've had with the kitchen and bathroom companys have been encouraging so hopfully i'll start getting busy again soon, i've just found out that the manager of a letting company lives at the end of my road so i'll be popping round later with the portfolio . The main reason for the post was to see how you guys thank the people who get you the work at these companys.

[grumpygrouter]

If you can put work their way too it is always apprecaited. If you send someone through to them, make sure they mention your name so the firm knows it is you reciprocating!

[david campbell]

pretty much same as the above post,try and send a customer there way,and a bottle of really good whisky at xmas

[beanz]

If they're asking what they'll get out of it, they want "A Drink" IMO. As it's a recommend you could probably just slap the cost of the drink onto the job.

[brian c]

you should have asked what they meant!

just send your customers to them when you get them.

[Dave]

i have done a couple of jobs for a local builder i know but he's been pretty quiet himself. I've not got nvq in tiling, went the intensive course route. The chats i've had with the kitchen and bathroom companys have been encouraging so hopfully i'll start getting busy again soon, i've just found out that the manager of a letting company lives at the end of my road so i'll be popping round later with the portfolio . The main reason for the post was to see how you guys thank the people who get you the work at these companys.

Tell them you will do the odd shop display for FREE when they need doing, that goes along way to catching work..

[doug boardley]

I get my addy and grout from the tile shop that referred me, they also get referrals from their customers to their friends, ie "Joe Bloggs tile shop was wonderful service and what a really good tiler, Doug Boardley, they sent to do the job"
And I'll drop a crate of beer off at Xmas for the staff