What has been your new callinquiry rate lately?
Mine is about one call every two weeks…VERY slow. Anyone seeing any improvements?
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No, but going into winter is never a time when things pick up here. January thru March is the critical time.
It is a quiet time of year. Likely a few calls here to head office a day. Our lines go direct to builders though--so we only get the calls that they don't have time to answer, so this time of year most of the builders can answer their own calls.
Most of our builders are booked into January when the phones start ringing more steadily.
With this Ontario tax grab about to happen we should all be booked into January 2010 by June 30.
Come spring... when all the builders are busy we get blasted with hundreds of phone calls a day.
LW
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
January 2010 by June 30>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Do you mean 2011??
Yeah... too earlyGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
Why is your gov raising the taxs so much??
We have a pretty heavy socialist at the helm in Ontario. Thinks it is a good idea to increase sales tax 8% this coming july making it part of a harmonized tax and putting it on all services as well. So, everyone from architects to carpenters and painters... even some new homes as I understand it will be subject to 8% inflation.I will be pushing pricing 10% july 1 and then evaluating again in august.Sick stupid joke--but that is just MHO. I could be totally wrong.LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
Wow Lawrence thats a big increase! But I guess is EVERYONE pays it than its fair across the board.
No... stability is key. Any big change will cause a shock. After July you better own the market, because if you don't you won't be able to buy a lead for decks and fences. My market is global, so it just makes it more difficult to compete.LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
I have seen posts about the increases, and thought it might be the wrong time, what with the US and the rest of the world struggeling to come out of a terrible recession. It looks like, as an outsider, that Ontario is pushing to keep or deepen your turndown.
I know it hasn't effected your country that much, and I hope it never will!!
It has affected our economy... landscape trades gross sales are down 20 points and I have never seen so many resumes on my desk. Many competitors folded and the federal govt is spouting dilusional stories of prosperity... The only ones doing well are the investment bankers that were in cash 3 months before the crash and jumped back in before the pop.The gun is getting reloaded... things will get better and eventually, I won't have to hold my nose when I speak of economic prospects.
LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it! Decks Blog
That's an interesting take on the HST.It's being pushed by a Conservative federal government who are bribing provincial governments facing substantial deficits with, in your case, 4.3 billion dollars. In my case, with a conservative provincial government, the bribe is about 2 billion dollars.Net effect on business is a decrease in taxes; to consumers it represents an increase in tax since a variety of goods and services that weren't taxable previously now become taxable and to provincial government it means a net decrease in tax revenue.The point of the exercise is to make the investment climate more business-friendly but there are a lot of businesses that will suffer since their products are discretionary purchases that have now fallen under the new tax umbrella causing an increase in cost to the consumer for the same product. The conservative federal government are who have laid out the parameters for the reach of the tax, not your "pretty heavy socialist".Edit: Here's a link to an article that describes in a bit of detail the nature of the HST. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Harmonized+tune+with+times/2290792/story.htmlHardly a socialist's wet dream.
Edited 12/2/2009 2:59 pm by observer
I was #### bullets about 6 weeks ago...the phone stopped ringing for the first time in years...
I actually got some work done on our house for the first time in 10 years...
also put a new plan in effect...among other things, hand out business cards everyday...
my mojo has kicked in...I'm getting a call every 2 days...I have so much work lined up for the first of the year, it's going to be hard
keeping up...
talked to a customer yesterday who wants to book a good sized project management/reno for spring
a positive attitude helps...when I'm busy, it seems everyone wants to jump on the train...go figure
silver
Silver,
What is your specialty? I am curious as I want what you have!
I am handing out cards every day and advertising and such but the phone just isn't ringing and here its year round work as winter doesn't really affect us.
Mike side 1Renovations By Design
Custom cabinets
fine finish carpentry
handrails and stairs
hardwood floorsback side
our specialties include
unique bathrooms and kitchens
mantles
older home specialist
entertainment centres and bookcases
framing, additions and campssilver-anything for a buckI'll throw some ideas at you later-got a backlog of office work right now
Silver,
Cool! Sounds interesting.....trying to do those same things myself...
...especially the "anything for a buck" part!
Mike
Mike-I'm tired and rambling but I hope you get my drift...I still remember the help you gave me on a power point I was working on for a shot at a fulltime teaching job a few years back...I taught woodworking and carpentry for 16 years at night after work 2 or 3 nights a week...I started because I read that it was a good way to meet folks and get work...funny thing-I never really got many jobs...quit a few years ago to focus on my contracting business...during the slump I mentioned, a former student called me for a 9 window thermopane replacement in an older home with character trim...10,000 boom...and he had more work he wanted done...boombut he was also referred to me by another raving customer- I had solved a major handrail problem for her...Another thing that got my mojo working was when I received a request from a local daycare I had done tons of work for, asking for a gift for an auction.offered up myself "carpenter for a day" and the folks that bought me
know me but didn't know I did what was on that write-up...picking up speedanother thing I did -with quite a bit of skepticism from BTers... was to set my company up as a subcontract cabinet installer for Home Depot...Blue flat out said-I don't envy you...made me think twice before I signed on.4 kitchens a month is what they figure...and so far-the folks at HD are a great bunch to work with and it's going way better than expected...I just figured in today's economy it's a good plan b to have someone else out there selling jobs and I show up and do the installs... a small cabinet install will net me 1400 for 2 days work...chump change sure-but I've already been asked to quote on custom vanities, painting, tile work...the first job from HD was a straight subcontract for a countertop for Jim's girlfriend's mom...coincidence-Jim's an old buddy of mine from the college...a few days later, I ran into Jim when I'm out for breakfast and he wants a card for his sister-she wants a complete kitchen reno-this one not through HD...I needed to get fired up about what I do...really believe in myself, my company and waht we do...I solve people's problems in unique ways because I am unique...Lin called me a few days ago-got my name from Wilma who is an old friend of mine and a former student...she has major problems with her house and with her husband...I'm supposed to be on my carpenter for a day gig but I take some time to talk to her, walk through her house, and we start-figuring out how to make this work for her and her husband...A very good sized reno...and part of my sales/relationship building was...I really think homeowners have been given bad advice to get 3 bids.My advice is find someone you want to work with and then set a budget and work within that budget together...anyway short answer is we agreed we were a good fit for each other and she's anxious to see my proposal...no bidding war here-treat these folks right and I'll have raving customers on the other side of their huge house problems...my suggestions:
listen to Zig Ziglar-if your thinking is stinking your business is tanking...sure to get a rise out of youread Nappy Hill's-Think and grow rich...every morning with my first cup of coffee I use an affirmation out of his book to stimulate my abundance...it has to exist mentally first...you have to change your mindyou know-to keep doing what you've always done and expect different results is ...insanityaim small-miss smallyou get what you concentrate on...any marketing is good...just do it...now... is what I learned recently as well...That same day, I run into a Timmy Ho's to grab a coffee...wave at a former student...now I'm in the middle of a tearout but I figure...go work it...So I chat Andy and his buddy Tom up and hand out cards...yep busy...hard part's keeping up...hey give these to a friend...then it's Andy's turn...you should have a websiteyou're right..I should and I'm working on ityou should have your website on your card with links to your photo galleryrightonand you should have your website on the side of your van...righton-good ideaand you should have a new "project of the month" posted on your website every month...good advice right there Andy-whoa I gotta get back to workthankscheerssilver
silver,
Hey good memory on the Power Point help. I had completely forgotten about that!
Thanks for the input....it helps.
I think my situation is just that...I need more local exposure. I have ads out and such and hand out cards like there is no tomorrow but need more direct face to face exposure with folks like you talked about. Reason being is I get almost EVERY job that someone who already knows me asks about yet if I am just one of the three bids to an unknown person, I don't!
I need to do more of the knocking on doors and greeting people like Blue and Hazlett have mentioned. I don't see myself as a good salesman and always thought that methos was too intrusive but maybe thats the niche I should be shooting for?
Thanks silver!
Mike
Hey Mike,I don't usually have much to say <grin>It's comfort level...I'm way more aggressive than I used to be...selling my company means keeping me in business and I believe in me...work what you have...I think you have some hidden talents you're not using to their full potential...I'm personable and people find it easy to talk to me...I look folks in the eye and I tell them...you can count on me to never #### youI mean it and they know I mean it...trust...it's easy to sell to folks who trust you...I don't look at sales as sales-I need work; my customers need someone to solve their problems. My job is to convince them that I can be trusted...the rest falls into place...Get out more...have fun...connect with your happy place...see yourself as a magnet attracting the jobs you want to do-the folks you want to work for-see your self beaming at the completion of that job-the big fat paycheck and ....imaginemy 2 cents Canadian tonight...a few years ago, I was picking up some glass from my local glass shop...I says to Jack-I think I've finally found my niche.Jack says to me-I think it's found you!BTW, partnering is any other good way to get the phone to ring...I started doing handrails installs early in my career...I did it long enough to become a respected handrail specialist.There is a retail store that specializes in rails and floors...I have bought rail material there for years and recently solved a major
screw up for them that was done by one of their other recommended installers.When a customer leaves their store now, one of my cards is stapled to their rail brochure...they phone me up and say-
I got your name from ... I know the guys have already helped to sell
me-
Phil's not your average Joe; his price may be high but he's good and fast and he really knows what he's doing...
It's easy to sell these jobs too...any partnering opportunities in your neck of the woods?The other thing that I've picked up by reading on BT is that the best way for a contractor to get ahead is to read...I read real estate books, I read Michael Stone's blogs,my personal MBA blog,etc....all of which has helped set my imagination on fire...cheers,
silver
Lol. Please tell us how a positive attitude makes your phone ring. I see an infomercial here.
Maybe that or less. Just picked up a small job this evening but other than that, zip, zero, nada. I don't expect much from December, it's always a slow month here but this is unreal.
I am fortunate. Just had a guy stop by the job I am on . I had done a fair bit of work for him last winter. He was going to do do the rest himself. A major addition/renovation. One of those jobs where he could have built a new house cheaper. He has not done much at all and now wants me to come and do all the interior work. Probably a good 2-4 months. Have not talked specifics yet so I'll see exactly how much when we do.
Good for you! I need a job like that but sure don't see one on the horizon. I've been bidding on Neighborhood Stabilization Program houses for the county but apparently I'm not desperate enough yet.
I am fortunate all of my work comes from word of mouth and referrals. I did a complete basement renovation for a couple, then a small renovation for the brother and his wife, then a attached garage conversion and sided the house for the son & Daughter-in-law. about 5 months work from one family. LolI actually have been blessed. Turn down about as much work as I do. I looked at partnering up with another carpenter my Father-in-law, but we are to different. So we do help each other out when one of us needs a hand.