Advertising and still no work

[tysfoot]

Cant believe it. im in yell.com the and the book. in local rag and all these advertise my website. also posted 500 business cards. im fully set up, complete tool kit, escort van and still no work

Im losing hundreds of pounds a week and its doing my head in.

If it carries on like this im gonna have to get a full time job cos im not bringing any money home.

are there people in the same boat as me.

I know it takes time to set up but i was hoping to be earning easily 350 a week after tax by now.
Is this job possible to earn 25grand a year after tax or is that just a silly figure


At the moment is more stress than whats its worth :mad2:

 

[mna78]

Similar situation here, lots of advertising done but only been going 3 weeks.

- Local paper (3 weeks) = No calls
- Yell, Thompson local, Google local (2 weeks) = No calls
- Local trade mags/website (3 weeks) = No calls
- Business cards to all local Estate Agents = No calls
- Leaflets (only 150 dropped) = 1 call and 1 job
- Gumtree (put up 4 adds) = 1 call and waiting on quote
- Ratedpeople (approx 8 quotes) = 2 confirmed jobs lined up n the next couple of months

I keep telling myself it takes time to build up, but registered with a job agency today for short term temp work back in my original career (Finance) to bring in some $$$

Keep looking on Jobcentreplus site also for work as it does come up occassionally but you normally need a CSCS card, which I passed last week to give myself more options.

Just printed off a load more leaflets and am charging my ipod up ready to pound the streets and I had 1 job off of that and its better than watching daytime TV or stressing!

 

[Raja]

Cant believe it. im in yell.com the and the book. in local rag and all these advertise my website. also posted 500 business cards. im fully set up, complete tool kit, escort van and still no work

Im losing hundreds of pounds a week and its doing my head in.

If it carries on like this im gonna have to get a full time job cos im not bringing any money home.

are there people in the same boat as me.

I know it takes time to set up but i was hoping to be earning easily 350 a week after tax by now.
Is this job possible to earn 25grand a year after tax or is that just a silly figure


At the moment is more stress than whats its worth :mad2:

I More than most will now how u feel as i was in the same boat

I cut my losses and unbelievable losses they were and called it a day
But do not for 1 second follow my routeas we are both very different with different responsibilites.

Look back at my threads and look where i have gone wrong and do NOT follow.

Stick with it. I know that is rich comin from a man who threw the trowel in but i was at the game 6 years.

As like you have spent thousands on advertising aswell it is heart breaking. Yell.com Yellow pages etc. etc.

Really do feel for u really do.

I am sure u have many commitments and responsibilites to adhere to try and get ur self a full time job and do it part time on weekends until things pick up maybe.

Hope things get better for u mate.

All the best Raja

 

[Dave Carr]

This time of year is notoriously bad, just hold on a little longer and from april it'll be mad. If you've got spare time get yourself a website built with some of the free software out there and make sure you write blog post or articles on their about your work and upload some photos. Then any cards or flyers have the web address on them and especially the van.

I find people are always on my site, especially any tile showrooms after I've dropped in with some cards.

If you've still got time get some seconds from the local tile show and practice some techniques, shapes, curves etc and make some patterns, cheaply fix them to some plasterboard and grout them. Photo and upload. Then chuck away, practice makes perfect.

Good luck!

 

[tysfoot]

cheers mate, just completed my website its www.newlooktiling.co.uk whats your website.

i know it will pick up, it has to, its just a question of when and how much ore can i go without a call or a job with the amount of advertising im doing.

it is heartbreaking when things dont go your way but iam positive when i get my first job of the year im not gonna be able to finish it from keep on getting calls for quoteing.

You wait ages for one bus then two come at once

 

[DEN]

Thats the spirit tysfoot oh and by the way nice website!!

 

[wetdec]

Ye nice site


The only thing I can say to you is dig out every tile supplier in your area and call to see them. When you have introduced yourself and had a chat have a look around, no showroom is perfect there are always things to be done. You wont get paid but volunteer to help out, there may not be much to do but you will have an opportunity to mix with and chat with the staff and customers if they are about.

At the time I was flat out tiling I was taking work from 4 tru stores I had tiled every display in each of them the last store I did was 150m2 (not paid) but I could pick and choose jobs.

Its all about getting your face out there m8 it will come

 

[geordieboy]

Hi i am in the same boat. Advertising but nothing coming in only getting tiling work of a mate who is just starting out him self so its just the odd job . got made redundent from my full time job at the end of jan and money becoming a bit tight i have signed on with a few agencys just to try and get a bit money coming back in but am gonna sick at it and hopefully in will work out .

 

[LM Ceramics]

believe me tysfoot alot of the tilers new to self employed are in the same boat im startin to get a bit frustrated ive handin out loads of cards to tile shops kitchen, bathroom conservatory companies rung loads of builders and so far nothin from any of them the only work im gettin now is off rated people where you have to pay for quotes and usually ur competing with 2 other quotes im hopin it will pick up soon for all of us

keep at it m8 grit ur teeth work will come eventually

 

[NW tiler]

I started out at the end of January. To date I've had work form;

Local paper - 1 job from about 10 quotes!
Business card drops - 2 jobs and one referral
Friends and family - 5 jobs

I've registered with rated people but I'm a little wary of their fees, not accepted a quote from them yet, still waiting for a job closer to home.

With regrads to the calls from the local paper, about 2 a week, I don't know where I'm going wrong. I'm confident enough to talk about the tiling, giving advice etc, my prices are competative, maybe I'm too honest when I tell them how long I will take!

Still pounding the streets posting my business cards as this appears to be the best worker ( and cheapest) for me.

I've got work over the next three weeks but nothing after that, my a*se is starting to twitch as my redunadancy money has run out!

 

[K.M.D dan]

Stick at it mate, I hardley had any calls from my ad in the local rag for the first couple of months then after tbhat it picked up get on average 5 calls a week now. Think people ring the ads that they have seen regular over a period of time,

 

[sean384]

Tysfoot,
have you tried writing letters to builders, plumbers and property developers etc etc, reason I ask... I did wrote about 25 ish in all gave it a week then follwed them all by phone and got in with 2 local builders who are putting plenty my way. Just a thought if you havent given it a try. But hang on in there it will come!!

 

[Daz]

Hang in there fella!

I started my business at the beginning of this year. I have been fortunate to find plenty of work, although, some of it is not well paid!

I have had many twitchy moments but have been fortunate to receive calls from tile shop recommendations where their customers have been let down by other tilers and the job needed doing quickly (maybe I was a last resort??). Regardless of how desperate I am for a job I tend to advise the customer that "....it must be your lucky day! I am supposed to be starting a job next (insert your choice of day) but the builder did not lay the screed in time so it is not dry enough for me to tile onto, so I have a window ......". Fix the price and away you go.

Sometimes it is better to go low and guarantee some money rather than hold out and have no money.

Two "urgent" jobs that I have received recently have both led to further work, sometimes you just have to get your foot in the door.

I have, also, thrown work over the fence to local builders, plumbers, chippy's, sparky's and plasterers, even though I could have sorted it myself as a means of networking and that has resulted in further work coming my way as a means of payback. Do a good job and the other trades will always use you again - it all helps.

There's a saying that you create your own luck, keep believing in yourself and tell everyone that you meet that you are a top notch tiler and you will get where you want to be sooner than you realise.

Good luck!

 

[Woody123]

Tysfoot

Im in the same boat too. However i am only doing it on a weekend to start with which is a safer bet but dont know if im resticting myself. I have dropped loads of business cards into all the local tile shops and kitchen, conservatory shops but no calls yet. Also some shops i go in seem to be very sarcastic and i have been a bit put off by this. especially CTD who didn't really seem that intreseted in me opening a trade account and said as soon as ive bough a million pounds worth of supply's in a year then they will start handing my cards out!! Im probably taking it abit seriously like and maybe's it was just me and didn't sell myself too well to them. Hopefully calls will start coming through shortly. I think im gonna do what one guy said in another post (sorry can't remember your name now that im writing this!) and practice some tecniques on some plasterboard or ply and take photo's. thought that was a good idea.

When you drop cards off in shops do you people tend to have portfolio's with you of work you have done in the past? Its just i have only done 1 so far so its a bit of a catch 22!

 

[IvegotsTILE]

Wow theres becoming more and more posts like this on the forum,it just proves that the market is becoming saturated I suppose.

I've been going nearly a year now and there have been a few tough times where I've just managed to pay the bills but I'm starting to do quite well now I've been about a bit.

The only way you'll get jobs from tile shops like Topps and other tile shops is:

1. Get on really well with the staff,I mean in the respect that they like you,you have the same humour as them,support the same football team,bring them bacon butties when you go in in the morning.
2.You buy alot of materials from them,go in there every other day.
3.They hear off their customers that your work is very good.
4.You bribe them,thats right you get a job that earns you £400 from one of the salesmen,you bung him £20 the next time your in.Cheaqper than advertising.

There's about 15 cards on the counter,but they only give out the same 3 when people ask for a good tiler(including mine).They only invited 3 of us out on the Christmas doo,The other tilers might be very good but I guess the staff get on better with us.Most likely for the reasons above.

Find 2 plumbers,2 plasterers and 2 builders then when customers ask if you know anyone that can do more work for them pass on there details and tell them to mention your name.Even if they just get someone phoning for a quote they'll appreciate it and send work your way.

As long as you can pay the bills hang in there,if your not earning enough to pay the bills then maybe you should start looking for another source of income to tide you bye.

Don't go down the route of borrowing money to get bye hoping things will get better because you'll end up in alot of debt.

Keep smiling

 

[Raja]

Wow theres becoming more and more posts like this on the forum,it just proves that the market is becoming saturated I suppose.

I've been going nearly a year now and there have been a few tough times where I've just managed to pay the bills but I'm starting to do quite well now I've been about a bit.

The only way you'll get jobs from tile shops like Topps and other tile shops is:

1. Get on really well with the staff,I mean in the respect that they like you,you have the same humour as them,support the same football team,bring them bacon butties when you go in in the morning.
2.You buy alot of materials from them,go in there every other day.
3.They hear off their customers that your work is very good.
4.You bribe them,thats right you get a job that earns you £400 from one of the salesmen,you bung him £20 the next time your in.Cheaqper than advertising.

There's about 15 cards on the counter,but they only give out the same 3 when people ask for a good tiler(including mine).They only invited 3 of us out on the Christmas doo,The other tilers might be very good but I guess the staff get on better with us.Most likely for the reasons above.

Find 2 plumbers,2 plasterers and 2 builders then when customers ask if you know anyone that can do more work for them pass on there details and tell them to mention your name.Even if they just get someone phoning for a quote they'll appreciate it and send work your way.

As long as you can pay the bills hang in there,if your not earning enough to pay the bills then maybe you should start looking for another source of income to tide you bye.

Don't go down the route of borrowing money to get bye hoping things will get better because you'll end up in alot of debt.

Keep smiling

VERY GOOD POST SIMON

 

[chris.tiling]

Make yourself know at all the local tile suppliers, sell yourself to them, give them business cards and they will help. Also speak to local builders and plumbers. Put cards up in supermarkets etc. I have also picked up 2 jobs in last month from a flier in my dentist's waiting room. Good luck and stick with it. dont sit at home worrying about it ...get out and do the leg work now and it will pay off in the end

 

[garhum]

Most of the tiling training centres quote you silly yearly earnings but with ppl working on the dole and even eastern european workers doing the same job its very difficult, try going to kitchen/ bathroom showrooms and putting your cards there even tiling centres, if still no joy go to builders in your area offering your services even kitchen fitters it might cos you a few beers hope it goes well for u

 

[busyalready]

Hi

Don't give up yet, although I am aware that finances often force the issue. It's hard to start up a new business and there is always a period of waiting and worrying and hoping things will pick up. I did the Course at North East Tiling in January 2007 although I had done a bit of tiling over the previous 10 years, even some paid work for family and friends. When I started up my business, I posted leaflets and got business cards printed and also went in the thomson local directory. I got very little work through this and have found that I now get all my work through recommendation. I live in a town with a population of around 65000 and it has taken about 9 months for me to get what I would call regular work and I have done some pretty crappy little jobs as well but it's all part of a steep learning curve. I am now booked up till the end of April and frequently have to turn jobs down. The problem is people are frightened to take a risk and that is the problem when you are starting out but for every good job you do you will get work off of the back of it and eventually word gets around that you are professional, do a good job and that's what people want. Incidentally, I am a female tiler and I think, the only one in my area.

 

[airbornewildy]

Im from oldham same as you mate did run pegasus home improvements was busy most of the summer then hit a wall around september did all sorts including tiling which was the dominant work .... i threw the towel in after bout 7 months as i have a mortgage to pay etc etc and i now drive hgvs... its hard mate if you are finacially stable ten stick at it !!

i was thinkin of starting again just doining tiling instead of anything and everything. !! think round our area there aint alot of money anyway ! try drops further a field .. i found all work came from the roch observer ! oldham chron is a waste of space if you look closely at the ads of someof the tradies on there thier mobile no. changes every few months !! to me theyre cowboys or always loosing phones :mad2: mmmmmmmmmmm !! anyway good look mukka !

 

[tysfoot]

cheers guys, i will stick with it and i know its just that slow period for me, im sure it will pick up very quickly.

Thanks fo the support

 

[penno]

Really is worth sticking with mate, early January was a nightmare for me, didn't even have the cash to pay the mortgage. Was fully booked on four nice jobs but 3 cancelled. I stepped back into the Army careers office to sign back up as i was desperate for cash, told me i was looking at between 2-6 months to get my paperwork processed, was no good needed cash fast.
Another sleepless night, where was i going to get money from?, next day had 3 calls, got all 3 jobs. Feb wasn't too bad, not the best but ok. This month has been fantastic so far and have enough work to see me way through April. Alot of my work is now coming through reccomends.

Friday night my phone rang at almost midnight:
"hi Mat the bathrooms are finally ready"
"what?"
"its Steve, you priced me on 3 en suites before Xmas, rooms are now sorted and ready to tile"
Priced him well before xmas, was having a large house built. He phoned me the minute the last room was good to go, midnight friday 🙂

Stick with it for now mate, obviously no one can promise you will be a success but keep your chin up mate.
May well be rushed off your feet this time next week.
Also mate if you are advertising in your local rag but getting no joy why not advertise in another paper that may be a little further out from you. Worth travelling those extra few miles if it brings in work.

Best of luck mate, Mat

 

[tysfoot]

cheers mate. got a freinds bathroom to do next week and another job week after from a reccomend. so i have some work coming in. am sure the calls will come, infact i know they will come. Starting a plastering course on monday so am gonna be busy. something that ive not since xmas

 

[Dave Carr]

Plastering is a great skill to have and it's also profitable too. When you finish your plastering course make sure to mention this on your website, create an additional page just for your plastering services.

 

[tysfoot]

yeah am gonna advertise it in a way that a not gonna be a plasterer and a tiler but if plastering is avliable prior to tiling. if you know what i mean. I dont fancy (just yet) to do just plastering work as i enjoy tiling more. Well i think i will

 

[garhum]

Yell.com is just a waste of money just use the free directory as Ive only had one lead from Yell.com in 11 months not impressed with them

 

[garretridge]

i started in july had same problem 3 jobs in 6 weeks now im booked up to christmas stick with it it will come. if you lived in northern ireland i would give you work! keep your head up good luck :yes:

 

[Grace'sDad]

This thread is 6 months old and I think Tysfoot packed the game in!
(Yell.com works for me!)

 

[Tilestiles]

Get friendly with a plumber. Thats what I have just done and now there is not enough days in the week to fit all the work in!! Do a good job and you will be amazed how much work will come your way.