tom's dad..new comer....

[Tom's dad]

Re: New To This Guys

I've just joined the forum and am thinking seriously of becoming self-employed and becoming a tiler.

I'll be honest and admit it's a bit daunting. I'm in a well paid but dead end job, am 42, and want to do something for myself.

I've always enjoyed working with my hands and have tiled bathroom walls, kitchens and floors before without any prior knowledge, so maybe that will be useful.

I'm checking out courses at the moment in my area and will probably opt for a 4 week course, but whilst still working full time it's going to be hard to fit it in.

One major worry I've got is, is there enough money in tiling and how do you get your first jobs?

Captain Slow, as you're reasonably new, how did you become full time so quickly and do you have any advice for a real newbie?

Ta

 

[DHTiling]

Re: New To This Guys

hello and welcome to the forums.........

 

[Raja]

hello there

 

[Fekin]

Hi there

 

[Tom's dad]

Re: New To This Guys

Hi to everybody - anyone got any advice relating to my original thread please? Anything to help would be much appreciated

Cheers

 

[enduro]

Welcome to the forum mate Well this question has been asked a thousand times, first do your training, I'm not sure where your from but check out the post in the training school forum. Then start by tiling for friends etc, you might need to do something else part time unless you are very lucky to get lots of work straight away. Check out tiling prices in your area, get leaflets and buisness cards printed, ring up plumbers and builders etc. Its not easy but if your good you will get work. Good luck

 

[Daz]

Hi Tom's Dad and welcome to the forum.

Wow! where do I start?

I'm 41 and used to sell mobile computer software solutions, so have no problem in self promotion and selling myself - sales and marketing comes easy to me, I suppose.

Having done a course I left feeling knowledged in tiling, confident and ready for the challenge ahead. I have plenty of motivation but knew that the only way I would really make a go of this was if I had to, i.e. I got a van sign-written, got business cards printed, spent loads of money on tools and placed an ad in the local paper - now I had to earn so that I could start repaying the investment.

I networked with tile shops, exagerated my abilities and the time I have been tiling to local tradesmen and started to pick up the odd job (well I say the odd job, but I have been fortunate to have only had 3 working days this year without any work). I convince my prospective customers that I know what I am doing and that I will do a better job than the other tilers that I may be competing against.

Whenever I do a job, I make sure that the customer tells their tile supplier what a great job I did and that the tile shop should be recommending me, this helps get further recommendations, too. All of my customers now refer to me as "their tiler" and have, often, asked me back to do other jobs for them.

Be under no illusion that starting out and getting up and running quick is just a walk in the park, I am working very long hours and often estimating jobs on a Saturday or late evening - I'm absolutely knackered!

It's very hard work but I find it extremely satisfying and the rewards are starting to come (not least of which, I no longer need to go to the gym as I'm now well toned and fit!).

I hope this doesn't put you off and good luck with your future tiling career.

 

[grumpygrouter]

Re: New To This Guys

Hi Toms Dad, welcome to the forums.

Grumpy

 

[Kobbie]

Hello and welcome

 

[faithhealer]

Welcome to the forum. I started at the grand age of 48! Love it but bloody hard work. never been able to afford a sign written van yet though, family eat their way through my earnings!(and a useless endowment morgage) Don't get too many jobs through tile shops these days, (absolutey too many tilers to chose from these days) But if you do good work and are friendly with your customers work will follow.

 

[White Room]

That would scare the pant's of me to change of career at 48 even though I'm 51 I've been around since 1971 and find I can't leave , love the freedom of being self employed

 

[MICK the Tiler]

Welcome to the forum Tom's Dad

I really have to take my hat of to Captain Slow for the great insight into getting started in the tiling game. All that is said by him and others is a realality and selling yourself and your sklls is the first big step in becoming a full time tiler. This is not easy for alot of people but as you can see the skills learnt in other areas of Captain Slows life have been put to very good use promoting himself in his new work role and he is enjoying the challenges it brings.

The best of luck Tom's Dad be confident sell yourself and always remember a bit of BULL**** goes a long way.

 

[GazTech]

Welcome to the forums,.......Gaz

 

[Tom's dad]

I'd like to thank all of you who have responded to this post - it's so useful to hear other people's tales, and to hear it how it really is from people who know.

I'm still confident I have what it takes, but it does still fill me with fear!! Leaving that cosy if boring 9-5 will be quite a wrench after 20 years, but I think it's now or never.

Thanks again guys

 

[chris.tiling]

Welcome Toms Dad. What is it with the 40 year olds??? I too recently turned 40 and chucked in my 20 odd years office job to become a tiler. Captsin Slow summed it up well. Be careful of expensive advertising...the best is networking the tiling shops. Read some of the getting started type threads on here and do as much work for friends and family as you can to start spreading the word