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D&S Kitchens
- Original Poster
- #86
That all anyone does on here is criticise everything and everyone? Bit **** if thats so and i didnt say 7m turnover wise ass 
Also if you have visited the website it says new website LAUNCHING SOON it a crime to get updates now and then is it? I think what you see is a holding page.
Also if you have visited the website it says new website LAUNCHING SOON it a crime to get updates now and then is it? I think what you see is a holding page.
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D
D&S Kitchens
- Original Poster
- #88
Who has a porche? I dont go round thinking i know it all mate i thrive on what i do if im going to be successful then so be it if it fails then im to blame nobody else all i came on here for was to see how everyone else was doing and i didnt expect to be dished out a load of bull****
My apologies to the op for the goings on in this thread!
Last edited by a moderator:
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B
bloorino
- Original Poster
- #91
At the end of the day everybody is entitled to give their thoughts on how they think you should run a business. whether everyone agrees or not is by the by, when i started this thread i wasnt sure id get any decent advise but it has been good to get different ideas.
I have had another job come in today which makes 6 kitchens and 2 bathrooms. So it has come to the crunch! i will leave my job at the end of the month and go for it, i don't think there is ever a right time.
I think i would like to have a showroom one day but probably when i decide to come off the tools.
I have had another job come in today which makes 6 kitchens and 2 bathrooms. So it has come to the crunch! i will leave my job at the end of the month and go for it, i don't think there is ever a right time.
I think i would like to have a showroom one day but probably when i decide to come off the tools.
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Good for you mate, grab the bull by the horns and step boldly!!!
and don't take any prisoners!!
Good luck
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Is this the same D&S Kitchens that did my mates kitchen in Newcastle a few months ago? Where bout are your other showrooms in Benton & Washington, can you post the addresses? Me and my missus we're guna get in touch with the guy who owns the company, (Steve isnt it?) see what he could do for us.
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B
bloorino
- Original Poster
- #101
Hi Nick,
Sorry i haven't been on here for a while (too busy). Well yes i quit my job and started my kitchen/bathroom/bedroom design and installation business.
Next April will be the end of my 3rd year, and on the whole i have enjoyed every minute although it can get very stressful at times.
I could waffle on all day about all the ups and downs but i dont want to bore you.
My main advice would be keep on top of your cash flow, i really struggled in the beginning as i was getting kitchen jobs £15k to £20k and was barely able to pay for all the materials. The last job paid for the next job, luckily now i have a £9500 over draft which is a great help.
You've got to look at it long term and although i've been busy the whole time still have a good chunk of debt i acquired when starting up.
Hopefully opening my first showroom in March/April.
Good luck Nick
Sorry i haven't been on here for a while (too busy). Well yes i quit my job and started my kitchen/bathroom/bedroom design and installation business.
Next April will be the end of my 3rd year, and on the whole i have enjoyed every minute although it can get very stressful at times.
I could waffle on all day about all the ups and downs but i dont want to bore you.
My main advice would be keep on top of your cash flow, i really struggled in the beginning as i was getting kitchen jobs £15k to £20k and was barely able to pay for all the materials. The last job paid for the next job, luckily now i have a £9500 over draft which is a great help.
You've got to look at it long term and although i've been busy the whole time still have a good chunk of debt i acquired when starting up.
Hopefully opening my first showroom in March/April.
Good luck Nick
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Its not easy
If i was you, i would get a website(with pictures of your work), go around the local sheds (howdens, magnet, avanti ) advertise a fitting service if possible, get known for what you do best ,as people do talk ,if your good , at what you do. join tradesman sites, build a good profile . Nice clean van with images of work.
I think with kitchens and bathrooms , there is a decent market, with people willing to pay a few grand for a kitchen. The people paying 7.5k upwards wont be looking on the net , (but they will look at your website)they prefer to walk in to a quaint showroom and get shovelled s***t by a slimeball .
I think you will find it hard at the start ,so its best to do as much of your own work , and do a bit of contract work ,get yourself a good reputation , and slowly drop off the contract work .
This will take time
you wont just be a salesman, you will now have 3 jobs
The fitter ,the salesman, bookeeper ,
long hours , lots of customers messing you around,
You have got to keep your own ship a float
If i was you, i would get a website(with pictures of your work), go around the local sheds (howdens, magnet, avanti ) advertise a fitting service if possible, get known for what you do best ,as people do talk ,if your good , at what you do. join tradesman sites, build a good profile . Nice clean van with images of work.
I think with kitchens and bathrooms , there is a decent market, with people willing to pay a few grand for a kitchen. The people paying 7.5k upwards wont be looking on the net , (but they will look at your website)they prefer to walk in to a quaint showroom and get shovelled s***t by a slimeball .
I think you will find it hard at the start ,so its best to do as much of your own work , and do a bit of contract work ,get yourself a good reputation , and slowly drop off the contract work .
This will take time
you wont just be a salesman, you will now have 3 jobs
The fitter ,the salesman, bookeeper ,
long hours , lots of customers messing you around,
You have got to keep your own ship a float
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Thanks for the update.
A bit of back ground- I had my own construction company but this was closed down by a very bad payer and I have worked in Qatar for the last 4.5 years but I really want to come home now.
I guess it is difficult to gauge how things will be but the area I`m looking at is East Yorks.
I would hope to have some cash as a float of around 20k plus rent etc and I can do some brickwork and plastering(My trade) to generate cash if I need to.
I am thinking of renting a small industrial unit as storage and showroom.
Really difficult decision as my job here is secure and I earn a very decent salary but I am unhappy here and I really do think I could make a go of it.
A bit of back ground- I had my own construction company but this was closed down by a very bad payer and I have worked in Qatar for the last 4.5 years but I really want to come home now.
I guess it is difficult to gauge how things will be but the area I`m looking at is East Yorks.
I would hope to have some cash as a float of around 20k plus rent etc and I can do some brickwork and plastering(My trade) to generate cash if I need to.
I am thinking of renting a small industrial unit as storage and showroom.
Really difficult decision as my job here is secure and I earn a very decent salary but I am unhappy here and I really do think I could make a go of it.
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Hi,
Sorry to hijack your thread, but it might be useful to you,
We offer house clearance service and I am looking at working along side installation companies like yours and many others.
Would it help your company with a team like mine going in first and taking the old kitchen/bathroom out and disposing of it? There would be no skips or anything. So basically you walk in with a empty shell to start work on.
Sorry again for hijacking your thread.
Ben
Sorry to hijack your thread, but it might be useful to you,
We offer house clearance service and I am looking at working along side installation companies like yours and many others.
Would it help your company with a team like mine going in first and taking the old kitchen/bathroom out and disposing of it? There would be no skips or anything. So basically you walk in with a empty shell to start work on.
Sorry again for hijacking your thread.
Ben
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We produce marketing literature and advertisemnts for a local bedroom manufacturer in Coventry.
Even though their market is upper end we have found adverts in the local directory mags and newspaper advertising is a good mix. However newspapers can really cut into budgets.
I think flyers also work but need to do at least 4 times a year.
My advice would be - get a good designed brand image and logo.
Get your vehicle/s branded.
Get flyers designed and printed - 10000 A5 flyers can cost as little as £170.
Distribution of them around £25/£30 per 1000.
Make sure to put an offer on them.
Get an advert produced at 2 sizes to use in local directory mags and newspapers.Again put an offer them , maybe limit it time wise.
Get a professional website to refer to in all your marketing.
Make sure to list your website in Googlke places.
This is what will work for you.
Best of luck.
Even though their market is upper end we have found adverts in the local directory mags and newspaper advertising is a good mix. However newspapers can really cut into budgets.
I think flyers also work but need to do at least 4 times a year.
My advice would be - get a good designed brand image and logo.
Get your vehicle/s branded.
Get flyers designed and printed - 10000 A5 flyers can cost as little as £170.
Distribution of them around £25/£30 per 1000.
Make sure to put an offer on them.
Get an advert produced at 2 sizes to use in local directory mags and newspapers.Again put an offer them , maybe limit it time wise.
Get a professional website to refer to in all your marketing.
Make sure to list your website in Googlke places.
This is what will work for you.
Best of luck.
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0
Team work is one of the most important aspects when setting up a business, particularly something like kitchen design and installation as there are a number of professionals involved and it has to be carefully coordinated if the job is to run smoothly for the client. Keep a close eye on everyone, monitor the schedule and always check the work and the job yourself if it is your name on the door. Good Luck!
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M
MD ABC
- Original Poster
- #110
I bought a small kitchen company that had traded for 30 years that turned about £200k PA with the view of expanding. Within 18 months we had got that to £1.2m but the overheads have become unmanageable. To scale up requires a massive investment. Keep it small and simple for years and grow it organically through recommends is my advice. Good luck.
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M
MD ABC
- Original Poster
- #111
VAT IS A KILLER!! I pay vat so if my Electricion, plasterer, plumber, fitter, gas guy, tiler, painter etc charge me £4k I have to charge my customer £4.8k without making a penny. I'm then competing with all the one man bands who don't pay vat and that's before I make a drop of profit and I've got to organise everything!!
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