Educating your customers

[suave]

well done

 

[mikethetile]

I have found a similar approach with potential customers has paid dividends

I dont have a website but can see its use as a valuable marketing tool rather than something sat on the internet waiting for people to stumble across it

I have been pricing higher to try and regulate my work. I was winning too many and couldnt fit them in which was damaging my reputation, I epected work to fall off with the increases it didnt. my enquiries went up and the jobs were still won , I raised my rates again and again and again now the jobs won has reduced to a couple of jobs a month

so ive had a great summer having more time off than working and still having enough to live on

im going to reduce my rates a tad to gain more work so im not idle and have some money to replace my van, produce a website etc

but ive learnt a valuable lesson on pricing, the more you charge the more likely you are to win the job, and you can spend more time on it fussing about the details which makes the client feel it was money well spent

its a win win situation

 

[jay]

very professional colour

 

[Colour Republic]

but ive learnt a valuable lesson on pricing, the more you charge the more likely you are to win the job, and you can spend more time on it fussing about the details which makes the client feel it was money well spent

its a win win situation

very true Mike

I think I've mentioned this before on here, A mate who is a very good builder has fallen out of love with the trade a number of times all because of how customers treat him, his crime... being too cheap! The less you charge the more people will take the mick and expect a lot more for the peanuts they are paying. the more you charge the longer you can spend with the client and build up respect for each other.

 

[Dan]

It is hard to get those customers, but when you do, they're the ones that become your salespeople, and you end up with many more in the future.

I've always said that's where I'd aim. Aim for the higher end of the market and be the guy with the higher price (not overly priced for nothing -but give better value for their better money) and enjoy your job a lot more.

It's tricky starting out, but if you only ever did high end work, you'll always get high end work. If you're always priced out of a job, you'll be priced out until you clock that you need to explain a lot lot more to customers about the differences in pricing.

 

[Colour Republic]

So full of a cold and barely able to think straight I spent the weekend (and today 😳) , preping, lining and papering this job amongst other little bits.

So thought I'd share the pics which I have to say don't do the paper justice because it doesn't pick up the way the wall sparkles, also the room was still in a bit of disaray when i took the photos, so will update when it's dressed again.

Thinking about maybe a vodeo would be better to pick up the shimmer


anyway...


Before shots




Walls primed with Zinsser Gardz, then lined with Mav 1000 grade lining paper, Solvite ready mixed super high performance paste.



This is the paper Jannelli and Volpi 901VIP - 1m wide on a 30m roll


Close up of the paper (can ss a bit of detail in this shot)


Job done




Picture taken with flash on so you can see how it reacts with light

 

[mikethetile]

superb job Rob

stunning paper

 

[Colour Republic]

oh forgot to say, the paper is made from thousands of tiny glass beads, new blade needed for every drop!

 

[Colour Republic]

superb job Rob

stunning paper

Should be for the price, £40sqm, so that is £1200 of wallpaper on that one wall.

trimming round the fireplace was a bit tricky as trying to cut through the glass was a bit tough.

Mike, sounds silly but do you hang lining paper the same way? i.e over hang the external corners by an inch, let it dry a little then dand off to give a perfect corner?

 

[White Room]

Thats classy work Rob:cool3:

I was taught to cross line so the chance no joints matched when sticking.

I trained as a decorator in my young years