It all starts here!!!

[Graham Bright]

Hi guys,

I have recently put a review of Diamond Training in the training feedback forum. Its worth a read.

I actually wanted to add to that in the general forum, please be aware tat this is purely my opinon and I apologise in advance if I open up a can of worms.

As I have already written, I was sceptical that you can learn tiling as a trade in around 6 weeks. I am telling you from my experience that it is completely possible if you have the right desire and training behind you. If you do a college course I calculated with the college that you will do roughly 20 days at college throughout a year, some of those are theory days and once you take out the school holidays etc its actually not a lot. In my opinion you are far better off going to somewhere like Diamond where you are going to do 30 working days on the tools all day every day.

OK, being realistic I am not going to be able to just go out now and take on the most difficult of work but I am confident that I can tackle 90% of it.

There has also been posts recently about people earning just 3K in their first year as a tiler and lots of people suggesting that this is a realistic situation. I totally disagree. I have 3K lined up already and in my opion these people either have not done the right things to get a business off the ground or have been lazy. There are literally hundreds of advertising methods, people you can speak to and things you can do to get work coming in. I would have never taken the plunge if I had thought I was going to earn 3K. I have kids and a house like the majority of us and if I need to work 7 days a week to start and drive round every bathroom, kitchen and tiler in the land to start with I will. If I have to take site work over domestic to start I will. If I have to spend hours a night emailing the world and their brother I will.

For those wishing to be a tiler for a living I suggest you prepare yourself for a lot of hard work, a tough start and a lot of messing about, get your head down and get stuck it. Its completely possible and feasable.

Dont listen to those who think you cant get going after 6 weeks and certainly dont expect to earn 3K. Set realistic goals, get ready to work hard and get out there and do everything you can. You can do it and you will be succesful.

Cheers

[brian c]

glad you found the course as good as you did .You make some valid points but i would be cautious of anyone trying to start a tiling business in the current climate as the house builders are limiting the builds which means the domestic market is now saturated with tilers and most plumbers and builders seem to be trying their hand at tiling also...just my opinion.

[mistral]

most plumbers and builders seem to be trying their hand at tiling also...just my opinion.

Spot on....... a builder who normally gets me to do all of his tiling (because he doesn't like doing it) is now doing his own as he needs the work.

[Graham Bright]

Cheers Brian,

I think Cautious is definately the right word and I completely agree with that. What I dont agree with is a lot of the negativity where people claim it is clearly not possible or they set unrealistic expectations.

I have worked in saturated industries for a long long time and have been through more than one down turn and during that time I have seen those who put in the effort and think the right way suceed and I have seen those who have not done so well, change trade etc because of that.

How come I can speak to one tiler and he will tell me that the recession has not really affected him and he has plenty of work on, yet another will tell me I am making a massive mistake and he cant find work for love nor money. Yet these guys operate in the same market with in 20 miles of each other. Both one man bands and both only doing domestic work.

I maintain that even in the current climate when people are doing more stuff for themselves etc you can still earn a living as a tiler with the right input. I would have never made the decision to start a business now if I didnt think it was possible.

I suppose only time will tell and we will see next December if I have spoken some sense or whether I will then have egg on my face.

Fingers crossed eh

[brian c]

Firstly m8(dont know your name)you definetely have the correct attitude to make a go of it and for this reason alone i wish you all the best.Idid the same myself 3 years ago and i havent looked back but we are in a recession and things are tight and as i have said before with builders etc doing tiling and the trade being over run with tilers competing for work it has become a little difficult from 3 years ago finding work.As you say if you do all the correct advertising then leave a good job then you will get more work.
The tilers you speak about,do both of them do bathroom fitting aswell or does the one who is busy do it,as this will make a difference to how busy you are,the more strings to your bow etc.

Good luck to you anyway..i really mean that.

[Superally]

Starting a business will not happen overnight. Whats the saying....its not what you know but who you know. Of course you have to know how to tile (to a high standard) but the more and more satisfied customers you have the more referals you will get so the less advertising you will have to do. Turn up, dressed smartly, speak politely, keep the place clean, minimise disruption, do a good job.......wait and see what happens.

I started doing complete bathrooms as I can do many trades which minimises on tradesmen and this has been my best year so far!! Now have work coming out my ears......people who want a good job done will happily wait 2-3 months for the right person.

Best of luck anyway any you will go through some nightmare jobs. 99% of customers are ok.....the 1%........nobody can please.

[united]

Hi guys,

I have recently put a review of Diamond Training in the training feedback forum. Its worth a read.

I actually wanted to add to that in the general forum, please be aware tat this is purely my opinon and I apologise in advance if I open up a can of worms.

As I have already written, I was sceptical that you can learn tiling as a trade in around 6 weeks. I am telling you from my experience that it is completely possible if you have the right desire and training behind you. If you do a college course I calculated with the college that you will do roughly 20 days at college throughout a year, some of those are theory days and once you take out the school holidays etc its actually not a lot. In my opinion you are far better off going to somewhere like Diamond where you are going to do 30 working days on the tools all day every day.

OK, being realistic I am not going to be able to just go out now and take on the most difficult of work but I am confident that I can tackle 90% of it.

There has also been posts recently about people earning just 3K in their first year as a tiler and lots of people suggesting that this is a realistic situation. I totally disagree. I have 3K lined up already and in my opion these people either have not done the right things to get a business off the ground or have been lazy. There are literally hundreds of advertising methods, people you can speak to and things you can do to get work coming in. I would have never taken the plunge if I had thought I was going to earn 3K. I have kids and a house like the majority of us and if I need to work 7 days a week to start and drive round every bathroom, kitchen and tiler in the land to start with I will. If I have to take site work over domestic to start I will. If I have to spend hours a night emailing the world and their brother I will.

For those wishing to be a tiler for a living I suggest you prepare yourself for a lot of hard work, a tough start and a lot of messing about, get your head down and get stuck it. Its completely possible and feasable.

Dont listen to those who think you cant get going after 6 weeks and certainly dont expect to earn 3K. Set realistic goals, get ready to work hard and get out there and do everything you can. You can do it and you will be succesful.

Cheers

nice post good advice

Good luck to you for the future