I do agree with Spanish that private domestic tiling requires you to spend a lot of time in evenings (and/or weekends) on site visits, pricing, quoting and invoicing. You still have to invoice on commercial work, but otherwise, it is head down to work hard and fast to make a living - nothing easy about it, but I believe it is a very different market. Overall, I believe that domestic work requires more time and commitment than commercial, but commercial is harder work.
Yet again we are flooding ourselves in remorse because the tiling market is highly competitive at the moment.
I am sorry to those who feel threatened by newly trained tilers, plumbers or plasterers moonlighting, travelling tradesfolk etc. The reality is that this country is in an economic depression. Costs of key living/working needs (fuel, energy, food) keep rising whilst incomes are falling - this affects our customers and other workers as well as affecting tilers. Many people with assorted trade skills are prepared to cross to another trade to make a living - tiling is an easy target if you have some experience in building work. As a full time professional tiler in the face of this competition and who wants to survive in this market you need to find something that gets you noticed and/or offers something unique. Your reputation is critical, and realistic pricing becomes harder when customers feeling the economic pinch want a cheaper service.
To those who worry I say: take another look at JOTY 2011 on this Forum. That quality of tiling is not offered by newbies and moonlighters. You do not have to compromise your integrity, but you may need to compromise your profit to survive. You do have to carefully consider your marketing and and try to target your services at the most suitable customers.
Dan is right - Rich is showing us a way to make a living in a recession.
There is a lot on this forum that should make you realise what is achieveable if you take the time and put your mind to it - we are all having to work harder and smarter for less reward. For the financially better times - you're gonna have to wait.
Yet again we are flooding ourselves in remorse because the tiling market is highly competitive at the moment.
I am sorry to those who feel threatened by newly trained tilers, plumbers or plasterers moonlighting, travelling tradesfolk etc. The reality is that this country is in an economic depression. Costs of key living/working needs (fuel, energy, food) keep rising whilst incomes are falling - this affects our customers and other workers as well as affecting tilers. Many people with assorted trade skills are prepared to cross to another trade to make a living - tiling is an easy target if you have some experience in building work. As a full time professional tiler in the face of this competition and who wants to survive in this market you need to find something that gets you noticed and/or offers something unique. Your reputation is critical, and realistic pricing becomes harder when customers feeling the economic pinch want a cheaper service.
To those who worry I say: take another look at JOTY 2011 on this Forum. That quality of tiling is not offered by newbies and moonlighters. You do not have to compromise your integrity, but you may need to compromise your profit to survive. You do have to carefully consider your marketing and and try to target your services at the most suitable customers.
Dan is right - Rich is showing us a way to make a living in a recession.
There is a lot on this forum that should make you realise what is achieveable if you take the time and put your mind to it - we are all having to work harder and smarter for less reward. For the financially better times - you're gonna have to wait.
