Clients calling 7 days a week

[Justloadit]

Question,

How often do you go out looking for new customers?

[pmbguy]

About twice or 3 times a year I seek out new business through marketing drives, posters, adverts, girls handing out fliers And of course me going to see potential new clients at their businesses one street at a time. During these times I service and repair till late at night. I will also market opportunistically anytime, driving past a new business or shopping in town. I market much less than I want to because I don’t have a permanent qualified technician. I can easily afford an apprentice, but he can’t run things when I am gone looking for business, so that won’t help much in this regard.

Ideally I want to be marketing 5 hours every day whilst a qualified technician does the work. Should be there in the next year or two.

I build my business from absolutely nothing. I have grown year after year since, without making any big mistakes. I once almost opened a shop in town, partnering with somebody else, I am very very glad I did not do that! or today I would have been history. I also almost convince myself sometimes that I can just slap on the over head, tighten all belts, and push through – can be dangerous.

I know I can still grow more before I have reached my personal “production limit” – when I am close to that limit I will employ fulltime. Camping braaing etc

[Justloadit]

Well pmbguy, you have answered your own question.

The decision is when to employ the full time technician. I suggest that you must first build up a cash reservoir in which you can pay the expenses and the technician for at least 3 months with out income. Once you can do this you are ready to hit the road. This will give you breathing space knowing that you are financially covered for a while at least.

You will be amazed at the amount of work you will bring in. Pretty soon your single technician will not be able to keep up.

[pmbguy]

Well pmbguy, you have answered your own question.

Thanks pmbguy

The decision is when to employ the full time technician. I suggest that you must first build up a cash reservoir in which you can pay the expenses and the technician for at least 3 months with out income. Once you can do this you are ready to hit the road. This will give you breathing space knowing that you are financially covered for a while at least.

You will be amazed at the amount of work you will bring in. Pretty soon your single technician will not be able to keep up.

You right I have to save up for it

I am still young compared to you guys and I still have a lot to do. I plan to eventually run a relatively large business, but nothing is a sure thing, in fact the odds are against me. I might end up a technician in 5 years or I could have 5 technicians in 5 years. What I do and how I do it will determine the outcome - no excuses.

[wynn]

When you have 3 techies working full time it may be time to open a branch in Durbs?

[wynn]

Customer: "I've been ringing 0700 2300 for two days and can't get through to enquiries, can you help?".
pmbguy: "Where did you get that number from, sir?".
Customer: "It was on the door to the repair shop".
pmbguy: "Sir, they are our opening hours".

[pmbguy]

You know Wynn I left my job and moved to pmb to start my business, wife to be stayed behind (At first). I chose pmb because I could market and service the entire city effectively. I also considered Durb’s and CT (For a while CT was the best city and I almost went), even Joburg, but PMB seemed the obvious choice for where I should start. You right Durban is definitely the second workshop. The N3 is a good road to be on.

I was born in PMB, but did not grow up here, this and because I now stay in PMB is why my name is pmbguy, but I could easily be durbanguy, ctguy. Even Springbok guy if it was called for. Hopefully never londonguy.

[pmbguy]

I have an update

Just concluded a second interview with a black gentleman,15 years technician experience in the industry. He has transport. I liked what he said during our conversation about machines, service and the industry as a whole. He is intelligent and friendly, which is great because he will interact with clients allot.

He is currently unemployed, his only work is from work he picks up himself, including a few machines from an old employer.

I will not employ him full time yet, he is contracted. What’s going to happen is that I will market Full time. When I receive a call I will call him to go out to the client or receive the client at my office/workshop and do the work. I can be free to market all day long without being slowed down by work coming in. I have always been able to market, but I could not keep it up for more than a month or so at a time because I get stuck doing the work that gets generated. After marketing full time for a while I plan to employ him fulltime whilst I continue to market. Frankly I’m getting Goosebumps.

I will also have him on call out over a weekend that I want to get away and go camping.

Our arrangement is already in effect, once I have all my marketing stuff ready I am hitting the road.

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread, it definitely put a fire under my ass!

[HR Solutions]

Good for you pmb Just a thought - some jobs require itc or crim checks. It does not sound like an itc check is relevant in this case, but a crim check might not go to waste.... Just a thought. If you need it done give me a shout.

[pmbguy]

Thanks HR, I will take you up on your generous offer.

[pmbguy]

My new technician is working out great. He came in Tuesday Wednesday and today (coming in tomorrow). I inspected his work and it’s good, he is meticulous and pedantic. He did have some issues here and there, but still solved the problem. On the whole I am pleased.

My last marketing stuff is ready on Monday, on Tuesday I hit the road knowing I have somebody doing the work. I want to be seeing potential clients 4hours a day (mainly 8am-12pm), a realistic target I can stick to and maintain almost indefinitely. This also gives me time to inspect his work, finicky repairs, admin etc – maintain service standards.

I should have done this a year ago

[Justloadit]

I should have done this a year ago

All good moves carry this sentiment, the problem is that we never know till we try.

[Alice Rain]

You charge triple on weekends! Or just say you'd really love to help but you're thousands of miles away from home, taking time out!

[KimH]

My new technician is working out great. He came in Tuesday Wednesday and today (coming in tomorrow). I inspected his work and it’s good, he is meticulous and pedantic. He did have some issues here and there, but still solved the problem. On the whole I am pleased.

My last marketing stuff is ready on Monday, on Tuesday I hit the road knowing I have somebody doing the work. I want to be seeing potential clients 4hours a day (mainly 8am-12pm), a realistic target I can stick to and maintain almost indefinitely. This also gives me time to inspect his work, finicky repairs, admin etc – maintain service standards.

I should have done this a year ago

Absolutely brilliant news, -

[pmbguy]

Thanks Kim

Since I only start marketing next week I had nothing of real importance to do other than check his work now and then. I would sometimes spend too much time in the workshop backseat repairing, I am not used to somebody else doing all the work. I had enough time to train circus monkeys if I was so inclined. I Like it!

As for weekends, he will come in Saturday mornings when needed, this will free me up a bit. He will also get a key for the office to run things when I want to get away a bit. So clients calling 7days a week has become less of a weekend enjoyment obstacle.