Struggling for leads - Am I doing something wrong?

[SOTON STEVE]

Hi All

I've been tiling on my own for just under 1 year now, jobs have been (to be honest) up and lots of down. Now that my partner is expecting our 3rd (and last) little monkey in June, I'm starting to think that I simply cant afford to carry on with tiling which I really love doing.
I have tried all sorts of avenues to get work. From sites like Rated People and such like. I've contacted loads of plumbers, kitchen fitters, builders etc..Created a website. Created listings on all the sites like yell.com. Business cards in all local tile/bathroom/kitchen shops.

To tell the truth, I just dont know what else to do to get work. Christmas was good for me. If only every month was like that.
The annoying thing is that I know my work is of a really high standard. I simply need more leads. I know alot of people are in the same boat, but I'm starting to get worried about providing for my family when my missus starts her maternity leave.

Am I missing something? Am I doing something wrong?

Where does everyone else get leads from?

Thanks in advance for any ideas any responses give me.

Steve

[david campbell]

have you tried contacting local joiners or plumbers with you portfolio,also kitchen and bathroom fitting companies,putting ads in your local paper,estate agents and letting companies can produce some work with a letter and your portfolio,leaflet drops(works for some and not for others)putting business cards through doors were for sal or sold signs are up,create a wbsite!

i hope it picks up for you but jan/feb are usually slow months in the building game,especially the private sector as people are still paying the bills for xmas,i usually get a boom in nov/dec and try and talk a few people into leaving work until the new year so at least there is a steady income in the months after xmas

[timeless john]

Most likely!
If you've been doing okay for 12months you should have built up some contacts and have some 'regular' income.
In your favour I would say that some have found these past 15 months difficult and you can either believe in yourself and continue or take stock of your life and make a tough decision.
There is no magic wand to get work - if you feel you've exhausted all the avenues open then enjoying what you do is not the answer to your families future.
What I have found and what you are now doing is sharing your experiences with other like minded people and gaining extra knowledge and contacts which just could make the difference.
On a forum like this it is what you put in - is what you get out - whether its an extra Tilers Arms discount, being informed of better value products, using the services of one of the Sponsors - or just letting your own customers/contacts be aware that you are a regular contributor to the largest Tilers Forum in the UK.
IMHO if you are passionate about tiling, that comes accross to your enquiries and if they can afford the work they will have you to do it!
Hear endith today's surmon!
Good Luck and best regards - Hope June goes well.

[faithhealer]

I hope it works out Steve, nothing better than being self employed when you have to run about after your kids. Do you give everyone you meet a card, people need a reminder all the time of who you are and what you do. Notice how asda and tesco advertise all the time so you don't forget them! Get round your old customers, say it's a courtesy call and if they are satisfied, can you have a reference. and it's surprising sometimes how one of them thinks of someone or something you can do. best of luck to you and your girl

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

well soton reading your post you sound like you have coverd most bases , the only thing i think you are missing is years under your belt, and if i could give you some of mine i gladly would mate, the only pathetic thing i can say to you is hange in there in the hope that it will pick up for you, or take some part-time work or a full -time job and tile part-time what ever your decision mate!! they cant keep a good man down, im sure you will make it!! good luck

[enduro]

I always find this time of year a bit quite, its a mad rush up to Christmas...Then builders take three weeks off over Christmas, then it takes a few weeks to get the new jobs ready for tiling. Be patient it will come, we have all been in the same boat.

[peckers]

If you haven't done this already then you could keep some cards in your car/van and when ever you are passing a house that looks like it is having some work done to it then pop in, introduce yourself and give them a card. even if they dont need your services at that perticular time they may keep you in mind for next time.
If the builder is there building a garage for example, he wont need a tiler for this but he may have something coming up soon or even in 6 months,
see a builders van parked up some where slip a card under his wiper! Anything is worthy a try!
Last year when things was quiet for me i did a leaflet drop on the cars in morrisons carpark, but get permission first as i diddnt but i did get a job from it!
Best of luck and i hope work comes in I have been doing this for 20 yrs and i am too quiet just ticking over, hopefully there will be a change in 2010

[whitebeam]

I think nearly all bases are covered here, Sometimes it's being in the right place at the right time.

Good luck

[Dan]

Hi All

I've been tiling on my own for just under 1 year now, jobs have been (to be honest) up and lots of down. Now that my partner is expecting our 3rd (and last) little monkey in June, I'm starting to think that I simply cant afford to carry on with tiling which I really love doing.
I have tried all sorts of avenues to get work. From sites like Rated People and such like. I've contacted loads of plumbers, kitchen fitters, builders etc..Created a website. Created listings on all the sites like yell.com. Business cards in all local tile/bathroom/kitchen shops.

To tell the truth, I just dont know what else to do to get work. Christmas was good for me. If only every month was like that.
The annoying thing is that I know my work is of a really high standard. I simply need more leads. I know alot of people are in the same boat, but I'm starting to get worried about providing for my family when my missus starts her maternity leave.

Am I missing something? Am I doing something wrong?

Where does everyone else get leads from?

Thanks in advance for any ideas any responses give me.

Steve

Steve,

Try to gain access to the TilersForums Arms, there are quite a few threads in there related to business-gaining.

Thanks.

[Ajax123]

One thing which might be useful is to target potential clients through the local planning applications. These are free and man y are now online and give lots of usefull info about jobs which are happening in terms of the contact names etc. I used to use these all the time when I first started selling readymixed concrete. I still dip into them every now and then and will fire off the occasional letter or make a call or occasionally even cold call the property.

Not sure what area you are in but here is the link to my own local planning office to give you an idea how usefull they might be to you

Planning weekly lists

some online portals are better than others of course but all of the information is in the public domain so if it is not online you can go to the planning office and look through the planning ledgers. I have done it both ways in different areas. If you go to the offices and look through the ledgers be sure to take a pen and paper so you can write down the details you need.

[whitebeam]

Don't just stick to the obvious outlets, leaflets or business cards, try hire centres, tyre centres and other places where the public visit.

Maybe worth a try

[Opus Ceramic]

hi steve. happy for ur 3th 1 mate. if u realy worried, just wrk part time somewhere. but no matter what give up what u like. surely a year happy customer will bring u some more bussines. start charge less. especialy for local contractors. try not to tell anyone that you have 1 year experience. it could put ppl off. i have gone tru sum hard time steve. gud luck mate. isa

[brendanbreeze]

Hello Steve,

If You've got a sign written van park it outside B & Q on a saturday, or your local topps tiles. And park it somewhere prominent during the week, like near a busy set of traffic lights, so people have time to write your number down. If you're working out of your car get some magnetic signs made up. You can buy and design your own online and get them delivered all for under £20...Very cheap advertising.

I've only been tiling since last July and am getting a bit of business this way.

All the best mate and good luck with your hat trick - Brendan.

[Richardk]

Once, when I first started, I wandered around B & Q tile area one Sunday looking for likely customers. I saw a couple looking at tiles, introduced myself with "are you looking for a tiler" and gave them my business card. 3 hours later I had done the survey and won the job. Worth a try

[SOTON STEVE]

"Not sure what area you are in but here is the link to my own local planning office to give you an idea how usefull they might be to you

Planning weekly lists

some online portals are better than others of course but all of the information is in the public domain so if it is not online you can go to the planning office and look through the planning ledgers. I have done it both ways in different areas. If you go to the offices and look through the ledgers be sure to take a pen and paper so you can write down the details you need."


I've been through the local authority sites as suggested. I made a list of 100 possible clients!! Send 20 letters out end of last week. already had 2 calls to quote for. Thanks for the tip!!! Its early days but this could be a potential goldmine!! Woohoo!!!

[diamondtiling]

Perseverance pays in the end Steve, well done mate.

[tile55]

Am I missing something? Am I doing something wrong?

Where does everyone else get leads from?


Steve[/QUOTE]

Hi Steve welcome to the forum, been away from it myself for quite a while. Basically I am in pretty much the same position, maybe even worse, lots of debt, no work, 3 children, 1 wife (at the mo). Been self employed for much much longer than you though. Yes, Jan and Feb are the worst months being SE and things can seem like they are never going to get better. The only positive peice of advice that I can give you is to try and stay positive, when you do start getting leads in. When you are feeling down and talking to prospective clients, it will showto them that something is wrong.
As for myself, I am now looking for a full time job, and still do the tiling on a part time basis - the bills still need to be paid.
Anyway thats my thoughts - keep strong

Mark

[mikethetile]

how are things for you know steve

mike

[albyshellshear]

Any business his hard to begin with, like raising children your young business needs to crawl before it can walk, it takes a lot of input for small rewards, eventualy if you do the input it will be up and running, its hard but the end result will be worth the struggle, in the long run the business will then be suporting you. Always put in 100% anything less is not going to pay back, i know its a bit late now steve but for anyone else considering self employment, you should work this into your business plan. Good luck steve with the tiling and the family its hard but i'm sure it will work out for you, stay positive,..........................Alby

[Phil Hobson]

Any business his hard to begin with, like raising children your young business needs to crawl before it can walk, it takes a lot of input for small rewards, eventualy if you do the input it will be up and running, its hard but the end result will be worth the struggle, in the long run the business will then be suporting you. Always put in 100% anything less is not going to pay back, i know its a bit late now steve but for anyone else considering self employment, you should work this into your business plan. Good luck steve with the tiling and the family its hard but i'm sure it will work out for you, stay positive,..........................Alby

I agree with Alby. Things are not good for a lot of people just now. But hopefully things will pick up soon. Good luck mate

[Fred]

Go past a building site, whether a sole builder on an extension etc, pop in your card. Look at your councils web page, see what planning permission is going on, they show the address and name of applicant, send a card! Works for me.

[SOTON STEVE]

Update on how things are at the mo...

Jan - absolutley dire. 1 job - 14m2 bathroom walls. really struggled for cash

Feb - absolutley brilliant (for me) 7 jobs, all good size bathrooms and kitchens. 5 of these jobs was from checkatrade. 3 have led on to work for the spring. was even able to buy myself a new rubi tx-700 investment.

Hopefully, things are on the up !!

thanks for all your kind words and advice.

I'll post evey month how things are going.

Steve

[stevee]

fair play bud