tough decision - Page 2 - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

simonb43 · 13-02-2008

Sorry to hear that you're packing it in full time, but if fully understand your reasons. There are simply too many tilers now, and everyone has different requirements with regards to earnings. Good luck for the future.

13-02-2008

hi dick turpin

your marketing is not working mate , thats all....aim at the people with money!!

i disagree with getting in with plasterers and plumbers, they usually want to make money on you! thats wholesale, you need to get into the high end of the market, the porcelinosa's etc etc ...people with money want, quality, trust. dont try and catch every fish in the sea mate, it wont work.

get a job for now, get some regular dependable money coming in, then look at how you advertise, where you advertise. visit the high end bathroom and tile shops. put professional window displays in the best areas. look at how audi, jon lewis, etc advertise and word. less is more...then, after a few months when the scare of the credit crunch has settled down and summer is here, you'll pick up and take off from there!!

business is actually quite simple, we all just forget the basic principles some times. if your heart isnt in it, then i would get out for the sake of your health , sanity and family but if you get a buzz out of hard work, calculated risks and a bit of that fighting spirit then carry on but be intelligent. it wont happen over night but it will happen if you follow the laws of marketing and business..

know you product
know your customer
know you territory

so, get a job, go part time for now and take your time and find out where the money is!!

best of luck mate and whatever you decide, it will be the right decision, no lloking back ;0)

ed

**devonmark** · 13-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiler burden

hi dick turpin

your marketing is not working mate , thats all....aim at the people with money!!

i disagree with getting in with plasterers and plumbers, they usually want to make money on you! thats wholesale, you need to get into the high end of the market, the porcelinosa's etc etc ...people with money want, quality, trust. dont try and catch every fish in the sea mate, it wont work.

get a job for now, get some regular dependable money coming in, then look at how you advertise, where you advertise. visit the high end bathroom and tile shops. put professional window displays in the best areas. look at how audi, jon lewis, etc advertise and word. less is more...then, after a few months when the scare of the credit crunch has settled down and summer is here, you'll pick up and take off from there!!

business is actually quite simple, we all just forget the basic principles some times. if your heart isnt in it, then i would get out for the sake of your health , sanity and family but if you get a buzz out of hard work, calculated risks and a bit of that fighting spirit then carry on but be intelligent. it wont happen over night but it will happen if you follow the laws of marketing and business..

know you product
know your customer
know you territory

so, get a job, go part time for now and take your time and find out where the money is!!

best of luck mate and whatever you decide, it will be the right decision, no lloking back ;0)

ed

Wise words Ed mate..Mark

dick turpin · 13-02-2008

wise words indeed ed,
I have been working in some very large and loaded houses, end of last year i finished a job large travetine, bull nose boarder dimond set 10*10 1 meter high all round the room then large format to the ceiling(8 ft high) i was called back there in jan to quote for large 900*600 35 m2 and fan shape mosaics on the floor 9 m2, the whole room needed to be plastered, gave the guy a number of a realy good plasterer i know, he used someone else whos mate was a tiler did the job for 700???????? how do you compete with that

thanks for all your words guys..........not selling my tools....no vultures pls lol

to answer your question tiler tom, i was a laboratory technicin doing chemical analysis.........7 yr.......not a geeeek though i have

cement chemistry

**IvegotsTILE** · 14-02-2008

Seems to be someone throwing in the towel every week on here at the moment

,I can totally understand though.I've only been going just under a year but I've had the odd crap month and I've got alot of outgoings each month.
Like Grumps said keep it up part time and it might work out in the long run

When you have as many tiling schools(I went to one before you say)with at least 10 new tilers coming out every week and many foreigners too the market soon becomes flooded,you've just got to make sure your better than the rest

Alison · 15-02-2008

Hi Dick,

Join the club, I also started in August last year but the work has been on and off, mostly off. So I have also been looking for full time work and have had a couple of interviews, as the bills are getting to high. So your not the only one, but after all the hard work it is a shame that it does not work out. Good luck on your job hunting. Alison

**Dave** · 15-02-2008

sorry to hear this alison...things will pick i,m sure......good luck all the same....

GazTech · 15-02-2008

[quote=Alison;55636]Hi Dick,

Join the club, I also started in August last year but the work has been on and off, mostly off. So I have also been looking for full time work and have had a couple of interviews, as the bills are getting to high. So your not the only one, but after all the hard work it is a shame that it does not work out. Good luck on your job hunting. Alison[/quote]Best of luck to you Alison as well ....Gaz

m.w.tiling · 15-02-2008

I'm very quiet at the mo, wrst its been since i started 3 yrs ago. Just remember things can turn around very quickly, in the space of a few calls you could be sorted. Have you tried going round all the local bathroom and kitchen companies? I live in sth manchester , most firms have their own tilers but often still sub out work. One good job for them could lead to more regular stuff. Good luck mate, sure things will turn round.

dick turpin · 15-02-2008

Hi Alison, sorry to hear you to are in the same predicament, good luck in your job hunting......hang on to your tools though.

**rob hutchinson** · 15-02-2008

My advise is not to quit tiling in all together but maybe take some other sort of regular paid work to keep the wolves from the door and tile as & when the work comes in. Believe me when I say things will get better but it doesnt happen over night. I've been doing it for many years & like any trade there are good & bad times. Chin up mate!

**CLAYS TILES** · 15-02-2008

GOOD LUCK 4 THE FUTURE M8!

i'm still a newby myself, i do it along side another job!
bit slow at the moment but just done a quote & b4 i gave her the price i had the job & she wants me to do more later on !
my fingers are crossed twice over! beautiful house, 200 years old with new build on side of it!!