Locksmith Business

[AnnetteT]

Hi There,

Just wanted to introduce. My partner and I have just set up a Locksmith business in Hertfordshire. He has completed his training although it will be a continual thing building on his skills. I am concentrating on sales & Marketing. We are very new so would appreciate any advice any of you may have in regards to building the business and gaining work. We are speaking to estate/letting agents., have signed up to become a contractor on the police response service and are putting our contact details on all free listing sites. We've done some leaflet drops, have been handing out business cards and the website is launching within next week. We've got an advert going out in the local paper next week an are also advertising in local parish mag.

Any advice any of you may have would be greatly appreciated!

Oh and opinions on the likes of Yellow Pages, Thompson etc would be good!

 

[buyfromtheuk]

Here's a free £10 flash advert for you http://www.buyfromtheuk.co.uk/Add_yo.../FreeFlash.htm to add your business to www.buyfromtheuk.co.uk a free UK business directory.

Yellow pages will add a business advert for free but they will craze you on the phone for you to pay for an upgrade.

 

[estwig]

There's a fella gets on here, Lockie he is a erm, locksmith, hopefully you'll get some first class advice from him.

In the meantime, don't rush into anything with yell and thompson, tread carefully with them.

Good luck.

 

[AnnetteT]

Thank you, yes we are being cautious, tried pushing us to buy by close of play Friday, said it was their year end etc but we're holding off for now!

Thats good, I'll wait to see if we get a response from him, would be really useful to pick his brains!!

There's a fella gets on here, Lockie he is a erm, locksmith, hopefully you'll get some first class advice from him.

In the meantime, don't rush into anything with yell and thompson, tread carefully with them.

Good luck.

 

[happyoutdoors]

You could try contacting the local council, housing associations and bailiffs.

Anyone who changes locks frequently and needs extra keys.

I used to work for a place that sold padlocks & cut keys. Sometimes as many as 150 keys for one entrance lock.

The utility companies, eg water companies, always replacing locks on pumping stations.

Try contacting people who fit garage doors, people always want extra keys for their garages.

Hope this helps

 

[skyhi2]

You should also keep in mind the Landlords/letting agents in your area.

They always need good locksmiths.

A lot of them use master suites too ( that`s very good business ).

Maybe a targeted campaign at them would be fairly cheap to do.

Just my 2 cents.

Skyhi2

 

[B.P.ALLSOP]

hello

when i first started out on myself as an electrician/plumber it was a minefield of advertising and most failed especially all internet based ads.

The best things are contacts with lanlords/letting agencys,housing associations things of that nature.

i started off with family and freinds then there freinds and that grew from there.

as for yellow pages etc they just about pay for theirselfs,if you are a member of a registered recognised body for your profession i think its the locksmiths guild youll get a better class of customer and trust,i found that i would get about 20 jobs a year out of them
for about £1000 costs but some of that 20 pass info on to there freinds and slowly over the years you build up customers untill hopefully you dont have to advertise any more .

basically its a slow process but if your fair priced and reliable it should build up.

 

[AnnetteT]

Thanks for this, we are targetting letting agents and planning on targetting landlords this week, just need to figure out best way of reaching them - any tips appreciated! I have some lists from student websites but called a a couple and no interest, think I need to look at some bigger ones.

We are looking into master suites at the moment, they were promoted alot at the MLA expo this weekend and its something we will definitely be getting into!

Thanks again for your advice, much appreciated!

You should also keep in mind the Landlords/letting agents in your area.

They always need good locksmiths.

A lot of them use master suites too ( that`s very good business ).

Maybe a targeted campaign at them would be fairly cheap to do.

Just my 2 cents.

Skyhi2

 

[B.P.ALLSOP]

another place i got a few jobs a year from was on the age concern register.

 

[AnnetteT]

thanks BP, thats a good idea, will look into it.

 

[bear]

I use locksmiths for property repossessions. I deal with both commercial and residential. You ideally need to offer a boarding up service as well if you are looking at this type of business. We are expecting repossessions to increase dramatically next year what with the lenders all holding off this year. You need to get in with the companies that supervise the property repossessions. Do searches on things like mortgage arrears counselling and pre eviction visits and you will probably find many of the companies. Also try shoosmiths and eversheds solicitors as they are pretty big in repossessions. I got the guys I use in Berkshire and Surrey off Yell.com

I dont like the yellow pages, think it is a waste of time and money but yell.com I think is worth it.

Hope that helps.

 

[streetslocal]

Welcome to the forums.

 

[AnnetteT]

Thanks Bear. Have been contacting bAiliffs and leaving our contacts etc but will try the searches you suggest sounds like a good idea! I think the boarding up is something we could incorporate into our services. Do you know of any companies worth contacting in the herts, beds, bucks areas?

Thanks for the advice, will start looking into asap.

I use locksmiths for property repossessions. I deal with both commercial and residential. You ideally need to offer a boarding up service as well if you are looking at this type of business. We are expecting repossessions to increase dramatically next year what with the lenders all holding off this year. You need to get in with the companies that supervise the property repossessions. Do searches on things like mortgage arrears counselling and pre eviction visits and you will probably find many of the companies. Also try shoosmiths and eversheds solicitors as they are pretty big in repossessions. I got the guys I use in Berkshire and Surrey off Yell.com

I dont like the yellow pages, think it is a waste of time and money but yell.com I think is worth it.

Hope that helps.

 

[bear]

most people that would need to use your services are registered in a directory called Varsity. They have an online web guide as well as the book so would suggest you contact some of them. Even the people that just say they do process serving also deal with locksmiths so thats your best bet. You will find loads including my head office in there (milton keynes) I dont want to mention names just incase I ever post something I shouldn't on here :redface:

 

[AnnetteT]

Thanks Bear thats great, has come up with quite a few more for me to contact today, will start making some more calls this morning!

most people that would need to use your services are registered in a directory called Varsity. They have an online web guide as well as the book so would suggest you contact some of them. Even the people that just say they do process serving also deal with locksmiths so thats your best bet. You will find loads including my head office in there (milton keynes) I dont want to mention names just incase I ever post something I shouldn't on here :redface:

 

[bobsmithpremierlocksmiths]

Hey, you could advertise in the local papers, and as for your website, post it in different directorys so it gets lots of links back to your site. good luck

 

[bluesnow]

congs on the locksm. biz start-up. i alwys have some friendly feeling toward this profssn as my dad is doin' this for over 20 yrs. abt market', abv posts mention alot n they r right as my dad's dn most of them. i'm not gona repeat them, here i just wanna share some thinkings w/ u.
1. good work and skills are the best ads.(mouth to mth market' does work n work well if not best)
2. honesty & reliabty is key to ongoin' biz(build trust w/ clients & be cautious that dn't be used by peple w/ bad intentions.

best rgds and good luck to u & ur partner.

 

[saxondale]

congs on the locksm. biz start-up. i alwys have some friendly feeling toward this profssn as my dad is doin' this for over 20 yrs. abt market', abv posts mention alot n they r right as my dad's dn most of them. i'm not gona repeat them, here i just wanna share some thinkings w/ u.
1. good work and skills are the best ads.(mouth to mth market' does work n work well if not best)
2. honesty & reliabty is key to ongoin' biz(build trust w/ clients & be cautious that dn't be used by peple w/ bad intentions.

best rgds and good luck to u & ur partner.

mouth to month, maybe?


if your going to do something - do it right.

 

[bluesnow]

hehe........srry for such a silly mistake & thx for pointin' it out. it's typical chinglish & should be 'word of mouth'. still get used to writing in english but thinking in chinese.i 'll improve anyway.thx for ur help.