How busy are you?

[maxine]

Just thought I would post this as havent had a recent thread like this for a little while.

Hope you are all keeping busy.

For us we are just ticking along, doing minimal work but constant and could be better. Not as bad as it has been though.

 

[*Lexxy*]

good idea Max, thanks

we're Contract Joinery & after a very slow 18 months with only the odd small rush, we're now up to our ears with more work than we know what to do with! phew.

recent jobs have been: decent sized pub re-fits, hospital work (reception desks, display cabinets), windows galore, stairs for a small new development.

very surprised about the amount of pub work coming in, seems like the credit stranglehold has been released 'somewhere'.

hope others are fairing ok, i still think it's still tough out there for us Trades...

p.s. just an idea, would it be worth editing the main title to say 'Trades' so 'we' don't get everyone leaping in & voting, before they see/realise it's in the Tradespeople forum?

 

[SFD]

My Dad is a painter & decorator.

He's been fully booked up for 4 weeks in advance since June. He's also been working evenings and weekends so he doesn't have to turn any work away.

He said it's getting a bit quieter now as he isn't getting as many enquiries for quotes but also getting more enquiries for jobs/work available. This could be more down to people preparing for Christmas rather than any economic downturn though.

 

[The Panda]

Busy, busy, busy. Since I left HarryHills Blinds and set up on my own not had any spare time.
Customers want local people to do local work and are turning their backs on national companies in general.

 

[CKG]

I'm toppers at the minute.

Starting a Local Authority gas testing and inspection contract this week that will keep me busy for the next 5 years if need be.

Happy days indeed. And I know I'll get paid on time too, which is a massive prof to the old cash flow which is taking a big hit because of bad payers in the private sector.

 

[chuk]

Not a susage!!! Havent had anything on for 3 weeks this is the 4, absoutley nothing in the pipe line whatsoever. We sailed through the last year without a hicup but this recession has co insided with several bread and butter contacts / companys retiring or being bought out.

"it's not what you know it's who you know!" even more so in the building game.

argh!!

 

[Heart Communications]

We are very busy... We have seen a record number of businesses wanting to use our services (telephone answering) over the past few months as it is more cost effective to use a company like us rather than employing staff.

Also our existing clients (particularly the mail order ones) are getting busier in the run up to Christmas.

 

[G. Lasagne]

I seem to be getting lots of installation work, which is great as 1 installation job ties up 2 guys for at least a day, so instead of having to find 5-10 jobs a day i only need 1 install.
we are doing 2-3 a week which is a nice amount for us, plus a lot of smaller jobs, what i am finding is that everyone is quizzing me on price, whereas 6-9 months ago people were more interested in when you could come.

Going after bigger profit jobs is the way ahead, you need less of them.

 

[G. Lasagne]

Not a susage!!! Havent had anything on for 3 weeks this is the 4, absoutley nothing in the pipe line whatsoever. We sailed through the last year without a hicup but this recession has co insided with several bread and butter contacts / companys retiring or being bought out.

"it's not what you know it's who you know!" even more so in the building game.

argh!!

Have you tried ppc, i know kieth(estwig) has had some success with it and hes in the same game as you?

You have a great site so should work well for you.

 

[chuk]

Have you tried ppc, i know kieth(estwig) has had some success with it and hes in the same game as you?

You have a great site so should work well for you.

Thanks, im actually optimzing writing contect for the site atm. We do use google PPC but also found those leads slow right down, 6months ago it would be cosinting anywhere between £60-£100 per month now £6-£10.

Like i said in my previous post we've been alittle unlucky with loosing pretty much all of our contacts at the same time as this bloodly recession and are now rely soley on domestic work which we always kept at arms length.

i'm trying to look where we can apply our knowlege and skills in the "green" side of the market, rainwater harvesting system instlations etc i know all these new businesses need experienced reliable companys behind them but it's not easy! and why should it be.

Any green guru's in need of quality building & groundwork contractor out there u know where to find me.

terryj

 

[G. Lasagne]

Thanks, im actually optimzing writing contect for the site atm. We do use google PPC but also found those leads slow right down, 6months ago it would be cosinting anywhere between £60-£100 per month now £6-£10.

Like i said in my previous post we've been alittle unlucky with loosing pretty much all of our contacts at the same time as this bloodly recession and are now rely soley on domestic work which we always kept at arms length.

i'm trying to look where we can apply our knowlege and skills in the "green" side of the market, rainwater harvesting system instlations etc i know all these new businesses need experienced reliable companys behind them but it's not easy! and why should it be.

Any green guru's in need of quality building & groundwork contractor out there u know where to find me.

terryj

I spent over £200 last month, after i had mine optimised by a pro (steve gibson), i am not sure how many of the clicks converted as ive not spoke with him yet and i havent checked the analytics, however it was only optimised a couple of weeks ago, so its still early testing stages, all i know is that my internet enquiries has definately risen, so im assuming its from the ppc.
Maybe worth giving him a shout, no doubt you will get lots of reccomendations for steve on here, not least from your fellow bob the builder chum kieth.

 

[Pilfo]

Absolutely mad busy....dont know which way to turn!!

When I have my Gas Safe registration come December, I'll need three of me at least!

Pilfo

 

[G. Lasagne]

Absolutely mad busy....dont know which way to turn!!

When I have my Gas Safe registration come December, I'll need three of me at least!

Pilfo

Nice one pilfo, share the secrets

 

[Pilfo]

Nice one pilfo, share the secrets

Customer care!!

Pilfo

 

[G. Lasagne]

Customer care!!

Pilfo

Oh, not quite the innovative tip i was expecting, but thanks

 

[Matt1959]

well I'm rushed off my feet at the moment but its not typical of my trade where lots of us lot are sitting waiting for the phone to ring!! So, whether its a blip or a continious thing I'm unsure but I have been very busy for the last few months..

 

[MARLEY2]

Very bussy now its coming up to christmas , Good to see so many people doing good

 

[estwig]

"it's not what you know it's who you know!" even more so in the building game.

argh!!

Sorry mate, absolute b*ll*cks, I don't know no one and don't want to, no repeat work at all.

Our turnover touched £500k last year, doing domestic work.

PPC is the way to go, get yourself listed top on Google, within your local area, very quickly. Absolutely amazing, give us a shout if you are interested, you got a good website there. You should be flying!

 

Sorry mate, absolute b*ll*cks, I don't know no one and don't want to, no repeat work at all.

Our turnover touched £500k last year, doing domestic work.

Afraid its not bull Keith the major players are all in the club .

He May have been refering to the commercial world,where its certainly true and 500k is a weeks work.

Earl

 

[estwig]

Afraid its not bull Keith the major players are all in the club .

I know your right, I've played them games, they can put their club where the sun don't shine!!

 

[Sandysounds]

It obviously changes from industry to industry.
For me, doing top end weddings, I've had the best summer ever. This year there has been a marked increase in mid week weddings when the venues offer discount (not me by the way....as I see it, I put the same amount of work in whether its a Monday or Saturday!)
What I have noticed, as have many of my colleagues around the country, is a massive drop in Christmas functions which has hit us all hard. Next years Wedding season looks as good as this year (most weddings are booked anything from 6 months to 2 years in advance)

So...people are still getting married.....but are compensating by cancelling Christmas!

 

[chuk]

PPC is the way to go, get yourself listed top on Google, within your local area, very quickly. Absolutely amazing, give us a shout if you are interested, you got a good website there. You should be flying!

Consider this you shout estwig, i dont think ive earned the privillage to PM members yet however i love to hear about your marketing stratgey, how your turning enquires, clicks, whatever, into work.

I would like to get your opinions on trade asosations how usefully you find them, recomendations etc etc.

Check me out i thing i may have actually "networked" for the first time ever on the tinterweb.

In all seriousness any advice or right directions you could point me in it would be much appeciated. IMHO I think we've spent too much time working and not playing the "game".

Thanks
TerryJ

 

[edmondscommerce]

totally stacked out...

working overtime++ at the moment just to keep up

 

[G. Lasagne]

Afraid its not bull Keith the major players are all in the club .

He May have been refering to the commercial world,where its certainly true and 500k is a weeks work.

Earl

Which sites have you worked on that make you 500k a week,.
I bet its nearer £50 a week

 

[G. Lasagne]

Consider this you shout estwig, i dont think ive earned the privillage to PM members yet however i love to hear about your marketing stratgey, how your turning enquires, clicks, whatever, into work.

I would like to get your opinions on trade asosations how usefully you find them, recomendations etc etc.

Check me out i thing i may have actually "networked" for the first time ever on the tinterweb.

In all seriousness any advice or right directions you could point me in it would be much appeciated. IMHO I think we've spent too much time working and not playing the "game".

Thanks
TerryJ

Just by having a good website, and thinking of new ways to advertise, sets you apart from 90% of tradesman, so get involved in teh discussions and even start some yourself, its helped my business no end , im not quite on 500k a week like earl but you have to start somewhere.

 

Which sites have you worked on that make you 500k a week,.
I bet its nearer £50 a week

500k turnover .

British gas headquarters vauxhall.

Canary wharf.

Various hospitals.

Next question.

When you have 200 guys on site the wage bill is bit of a shock.

Earl