What do you do during a quiet period?

[Spud]

Many tilers are going through a quiet period at this time of year and with the media talking down the economy its is easy to start thinking negatively about the business outlook
I have making the most of my quiet period by catching up on all my snagging and return visits to jobs to take pictures of my work for future marketing,by doing this its making contact with all my previous customers which releases some retention money and gives me an opportunity to ask them what is in the pipeline work wise,Its also given me the chance to think about future marketing plans and to rethink my web presence, at the moment I am chasing every lead, visiting showrooms that supplied materials to jobs that I have worked on to show them the finished results which again gives an opportunity to ask them to push my cards out, work is trickling in but remember if you are quiet it will pick up and to try to remain positive

 

[kilty55]

at present quoting on some big jobs we have coming up so just really organising them and all the materials etc,sorted out a new van,looking into new signwiritng and workwear etc and cheap avenues to push the business that doesnt cost too mucg at present

 

[hillhead]

I do the same Gary, visit shops that i use and make sure to push my website etc.
Always good to bump into former customers and keep in contact with upcoming jobs.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Having unfortunately been down the route of employing in the early 90's (apparently there was a reccession then as well) I can now sit back and enjoy the seeds of the past 38 years as a one man and his son band.
The next 2 jobs are fairly large stone floors and a trip to London in mid March is a 4 week contract for 3 bathrooms and 60sq mts of stone floors. Both these are for previous customers going back 8-10 years and the London job has been on schedule for 12months.
Making that decision to concerntrate on specialist type commisssions and private domestic contracts has continued a steady flow of work unaffected by the lack of new building.
However I do agree with all your avenues for promoting a business and we are certainly going to add/update our web site.

 

[cornish_crofter]

I will be concentrating on our house.

We have made a material start on our planning application to convert our house, disused shop and garage into 2 3 bed dwellings. If the market is as it is now we will carry on living in one house whilst we let the other one out. That will bring in about £600 pcm whatever work I've got coming in.

 

[White Room]

People are renting now Hugo, morgages are hard to get

 

[mikethetile]

how far are you from bristol Hugo and whats the estimated completion date

 

[kilty55]

i agree with beams,rental market is doing well not many can get mortgages now and i dont see that changing in the near future

rentals are commanding much higer prices now here also

 

[Dan]

I wish I had a quiet period to worry about. My to do list has things on it from 2008!!!! Still not done! Though some things added in Jan got done last month to be fair.

Though if I was quiet I'd be on the phone getting business coming in, and knowing me I'd be buying domain names and setting up websites hoping one took off. Luckily, a few websites did, so I'm okay for now.

 

[DHTiling]

What do you do during a quiet period

Isn't this chance for a few beers then..

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

i come on here a lot more , i try to promote us a lot more , send out mail shots,spend me money on tools that i think i need :yikes: get under me wife's feet :yikes:and generally do everyone's head-in :lol:

 

[mikethetile]

fair play to you gooner LOL

 

[redlee]

Finally get a couple of portfolios sorted that i've promised to do for at least the last 5 years or so and try my best to not panic it has to pick up??