Setting up shop

[Concrete guy]

A few pointers

1. Don't borrow money, this must be self funding. The margins won't be big enough to service debt.

2. Import as much as you can yourself.

3. Negotiate a rent free period on the lease and do not sign anything beyond 3 years (assuming you're leasing and not buying a shop).

4 Make sure people can park at your shop.

5. Try and run the retail/trade side in conjunction with installations, don't just stop fitting and start selling, there's a dead period in between ending one and starting the other that could cripple the new venture.

6. Try and find something to sell/offer that other people don't.

7. When setting out your range of product, you need an inexpensive product line that sells in volume, a medium cost product line the sells occasionally and an expensive range that has a nice margin on it that's the cream. You'll need variety to survive, the inexpensive product line should run the business, the profit will come from medium and expensive.

8. Overheads kill business, people, vehicles, premises, insurances etc etc - keep a tight rein on these - they eat profits and an alarming rate.
Good luck.

 

[C&S]

Good luck with the new venture. I have friends who started about 4 months ago, their theory is, if they can break even in these tough times, they will make money when things pick up. It is fair to assume that you may even loose money in your first year, most people do. Break even in your 2nd and hopefully in 3 years time, things will be a lot different in our industry, you should see a turn to profit.

 

[n8rbos]

Get out there and do your market research, find a niche/something others don't do/offer.do a massive flyer drop, advertise on your van,cars etc, give stickers to customers and hopefully they will puton their windscreens. If you get the chance do something to get you and your business in the local papers. If you don,t hold the tiles in stock ensure you can get them when you say,even if it means over stating the date. Get a coffee machine in even if it costs 10/20p for a drink . God luck.

 

[Peter]

If you give tilers good rates on materials then it's amazing how many will recommend you to customers. Especially if you do discount kickbacks too. All the best with it.

 

[Aston]

best of luck mate, hope it all goes well for you..
1. do you research
2. pay that bit extra to be on the busiest streets.... location location etc
3. and do everything that bit better than the rest and i'm sure you'll do well

the only one thing i can think of that might stand you out or give you a different proposition is...have a service that shows the customer how to do the job. ie for £90 you set out the job, hire out a tile cutter/tools and give them some tips regarding cuts/grouting etc

now before any of you think i am mad, hear me out. if the customer is going to do the job and not use the tile shop, then you might as well make an extra £90 out of them and a few extra brownie points rather than them buy all the gear off you and pick up the local rag/ipad/phone etc

its also a great way of connecting with them and helping them and a great way of putting the fear of god into them too!! chance are they'll come back the next day and say we are a bit nervous of ruining these tiles so we've decided to let you do it because you've been so helpful...

thats the only angle that i can think of and its one in the eye to the tile training centers too!! ;0) bonus
best of luck

 

[DTile]

...have a service that shows the customer how to do the job. ie for £90 you set out the job, hire out a tile cutter/tools and give them some tips regarding cuts/grouting etc

its also a great way of connecting with them and helping them and a great way of putting the fear of god into them too!! chance are they'll come back the next day and say we are a bit nervous of ruining these tiles so we've decided to let you do it because you've been so helpful...

:lol: what a devious devil you are!