I live in the chicagoland area and have a company which installs frameless shower enclosures. I’ve placed ads in the yellow pages all around the city and have gotten only fair results. Most of my jobs are word of mouth. I’m a full time fireman, so I’m just doing this part time.
My question is, does anyone have any suggestions on how I can hook up with builders or remolders? I am a member of the glass handlers union because I also work part time at a glass shop where I’ve been since 1989. I an not sure if shower enclosure installation would fall under the glazers union.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have.
Replies
"How do I hook up with builders?"
My first thought is to hang out at the singles bars where builders go, LOL
OK stop laughing now for some serious advice.
It isn't builders you are looking for. They buy based primarily on price and dependability and schedule.
You would have a hard time satisfying that as a part timer.
It might not be remodelors you want. They buy based on schedule, dependability and price. You might be fighting a fire when they need the unit installed but you might be able to command a higher price than with builders if you can provide a service, selling the options to the customer, being clean and neat, and doing it right the first time. Scheduling is important to remodelors because when somoines house is disrupted while they are living there, a delay adds to aggravation and aggravated customers start looking for ways to withhold payments or looking for other things to complain about.
What you want is customers. Examine the potential market. Now who needs your product? Someone who is installing a new tub/shower, right? Who installs them?
You need to be making nice with plumbers and tile setters, it seems to me. That's where you'll find your leads.
Excellence is its own reward!
Jim: I would just go to the main offices of the contractors you would like to connect up with. Just tell them who you are...what you offer...and ask if there are any projects that they heve going that need your services...
Contractors, builders, etc, may need what you have, but it will be an easier sale to work on the people that you can make want what you sell....Homeowners. Then they go to their builder or remodeler, say "I saw this and I want it." Then they are pretty much committed to working with whoever sells it. Consider a booth in local home shows, etc, to contact directly the homeowners who are thinking of building or remodeling.
Approach the situation as if you were a sub-contractor trying to get your foot in the door of a builder. First go into the main office and tell the receptionist who you are and what your doing. Nine times out of ten they will refer you to a production manager or whoever is in charge of hiring subs. Usually they will take your information and tell you they will keep you in their files. Don't listen to them, be persistant, call the builder or remodeler every month to check in and see if they are interested or have reviewed your services. It may take some time but don't give up. You never know when that one sub might drop the ball and give you an opportunity to take his spot. However, if you do get an account(s) with major builders or remodelers quit all part time jobs and focus on this endeavor only. They will drop you in a heart beat if you can't meet there demand and production schedules. Also try talking to the purchasing dept if they have one. The purchasing manager always has his eyes open for new products. Trust me, I've been down this road before and persistance and patients are key. Good Luck.
Jim; try contacting kitchen and bath specialty stores. They often work with some pretty high end customers and they can be a repeat source of business for you. They usually have designers on their staffs. Builders are a poor bet. The people that you need to sell to are those who have a hand in the design process. That means architects, interior designers, design builders, and specalty suppliers (ie the kitchen and bath stores I first mentioned).