(Not including referrals) How does a tiler find work?

[Dan]

Hello All,

Firstly - I am so impressed at how active this forum is and all the replies - wow!

* I am in the TW postcode area S/W London.
* I am 25
* I am doing a fairly basic 4 week tiling course (About 1k in total)

I am looking go self-emp straightaway. I have already contacted local tilers and plan to work for free or a low wage for as long as it takes to gain some confidence. I am a graphic designer and work from home so I can support myself for as long as it takes.

I plan to, in theory, gain experience domestically but plan long term to bid on commercial projects, I.E gyms, hotels etc (Form a Ltd and have tilers working for me, more of a 3-5yr plan).

I went into my local tile showroom/trade counter and they said that their busy tilers are charging approx £** PM2.

So with that said, I am trying to gain domestic clients for bathrooms and kitchens.

Does the yellow pages hold any weight these days?

I WAS WONDERING..............

If,I, marketed myself with a website as a business rather than an individual then if I did get any work over the next 6 months while I am with my ''mentor'' tiler they could take the business and I would get a cut PLUS the experience?

Could that work?

Yellow Pages: No. Not the paid bit anyway. Just take the free listings for the few people that do still use it.

Website: Sure, that's an awesome plan. Get the business in! - Sort out the jobs once the business is coming in. If you can pass work onto a tiler in return for a share of the profit and some experience I think you have an awesome business plan there.

 

[Mr Tiler]

Yellow Pages: No. Not the paid bit anyway. Just take the free listings for the few people that do still use it.

Website: Sure, that's an awesome plan. Get the business in! - Sort out the jobs once the business is coming in. If you can pass work onto a tiler in return for a share of the profit and some experience I think you have an awesome business plan there.

no dan... it doesn't work lol. I made a silly little ad up when I started out on yell free listings had 3 phone calls in one week for quotes and the guy I was doing the free work from didn't even want to know when I passed the work his way... I didn't want any money I just thought it would be a good thing from me to him and tbh I think he took it a little funny... he certainly did when he tried to cut a shower door down with a grinder! and then when he messed up the door instead of him leaving it for the scrap man I asked if I could have it.... never heard off him again haha!

 

[Dan]

I think it's the way you go about it and who you're passing the work onto.

I could imagine good tilers on here being willing to take on jobs for the sake of letting somebody shadow them for a few days. But perhaps only if they don't have enough work on themsleves already.

 

[jonnyc]

Well you look like you have a plan and have thought this through which is great.
i do however think that a 3-5 year plan after which employing others to work for you is wildly optimistic.
you are based very close to me and i am actually looking for a school leaver and someone of your age but I don't think you fit the criteria that I am after.
i have no doubt however that with the enthusiasm you have and the fact that you have come on this forum which is really an obvious move but still you did it and many others do not, marks you out as a man who is serious about getting on and will succeed.
Best of luck.

 

[The D]

You say when you are qualified. Can I ask what your plan isto get quailed??

 

[jonnyc]

Just gone back to the last part of your main post and it seems that you think you could bring in work by creating a web site and then giving your employer work and asking for a cut !!!
Confidence with youth backed up by a viable business plan is a fine attribute .
Just be sure that this is appreciated by the man that pays your wages before you leave to make your fortune.

 

[tobins tiling]

scott ;
where are you based in london.
how old are you
what college are you doing your course at.
what course are you doing.
have you tried anything else before this course.

are you looking to :
1. go out on your own straight away.
2. get experience working as employee for a tiling company with view to going self employed when you feel you are experienced enough.
3. looking to get a permanent job with a tiling company.

I am interested in what you are doing and what your hopes are

Sound like you've missed a chance right there to learn off a master of the trade it's chances like these that you've got to grab

 

[Martyn Leeds]

1) The 4 week course will just about teach you the basics to do your own bathroom. No way at all will it give you the skills to go out straight away and charge full whack for someone's dream bathroom

2) Whatever it is that the other blokes in the tile shop charge, I wouldn't take any notice. They've maybe been doing it 20 yrs, so I'd forget the big bucks. It might take you a week to do a 2 day job.

3) In 3-5yrs you will possibly be a decent tiler plodding through basic work - I very much doubt that you'll be winning the big contracts and employing a team of tilers.

4) Do the course, keep learning, learn more, do DIY jobs and family stuff... then in 6 months if you've still got big dreams, then come back on and ask for advice re business plans, marketing, etc


I might be wrong.
Glass half full and all that!

 

[Mr Tiler]

Sound like you've missed a chance right there to learn off a master of the trade it's chances like these that you've got to grab

hes a madman to have such an offer and not full out that questionair correctly! look through his website I am pretty sure you will learn more from him than a 4 week course matey.

 

[learningtotile]

I am doing a 4 week course. This is more out of a desire to learn rather than get qualified, I intend on getting ''qualified'' with experience...however long it takes.