Country Mouse and City Mouse

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wirenut2

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Columbus, OH
I'm a small electrical contractor (two man shop) that recently relocated from a county with about 100,000 people to a much larger metropolitan area with a few million. The town I used to live in only had a population of about 8,000.

Now, work was never in short supply where I moved from, but now I have been having difficulties keeping a steady stream of work. One would think in an area with this many people that it wouldn't be as difficult to find work. I just haven't been able to put my finger on the right type of advertising for an area this large. Especially when it seems that there are alot of large ECs in this area.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation in the past? Any advice? (and before some says it, I moved for family reasons so "Why did you move if the work was steady?" is not the advice i'm looking for :D )

Thanks,

wirenut2
 
I live in a large metro area - here are a couple of ideas:

- Check at the local small hardware store. If you can convince the owner that you provide good personalized service, this can be a goldmine. You would be very surprised how many people ask for help when they get in over their heads.

- Check with the local real estate agencies. They need reliable electricians to hit the punch lists from home inspections. Again reliability is a must because the sales depend on proper, licensed repair. It doesn't hurt if you can also do small handyman chores.

Mark
 
Did you place your yellow page ad, in advance of your move?, did you check the area you moved into, to see if there was a need for additional contractors, some areas have more contractors then the area can support, a lot of the larger areas are in decline, rather then growing, is this area a growing area?
 
Be more specific. No one knows who you are or your real name.
Where are you from & where are you now?

Get a part time job @ Home Depot & solicit jobs to people in there. All the guys in the HD near me are Masters that can't make it on their own.

But then Texas is grandfathering anyone that ever got a shock by sticking a scissors in a socket.
 
77401 said:
But then Texas is grandfathering anyone that ever got a shock by sticking a scissors in a socket.
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What ???, That is all I had to do ??? I had to go find the right box of cereal for my license !!
 
wirenut2 said:
One would think in an area with this many people that it wouldn't be as difficult to find work.
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That all depends on how many contractors there are vs how much work there is. Just because there are a lot of people in the metro area doesn't mean ECs are in short supply.
 
It should be no different if you look at it on a smaller scale. Focus on one area of Columbus Not the whole town. Find the high net worth individuals & where they live. Find out where they look when they need help and advertise there.
Yellow pages ads don't work for a small company othere than just to get listed.
 
busman said:
I live in a large metro area - here are a couple of ideas:

- Check at the local small hardware store. If you can convince the owner that you provide good personalized service, this can be a goldmine. You would be very surprised how many people ask for help when they get in over their heads.
Click to expand...
I also live in a large metro area. I tried at some hardware stores, but they were understandably reluctant to recommend me since they didn't know me. Many hardware stores do have bulletin boards where you can post a flyer or a business card, and I've gotten a few jobs that way.

busman said:
- Check with the local real estate agencies. They need reliable electricians to hit the punch lists from home inspections. Again reliability is a must because the sales depend on proper, licensed repair. It doesn't hurt if you can also do small handyman chores.
Click to expand...
Be careful dealing with real estate people. The ones I've dealt with usually want the work done immediately and as cheaply as possible, but once the work is done, their sense of urgency drops dramatically, particularly when it comes to paying. Real estate people are pretty much the only ones I've had to bug about payment.
 
77401 said:
Duffee
You got a low 4 digit #
You must a been the first to get the TMEL
But I don't see a TECL under your name.
Waz up wit dat?
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TMEL #5004
TECL #17133

And for what it's worth. I have taken and passed several Block and Associates, Experian and the SBCCI Masters tests. Don't believe me, test me again, I dare ya.
 
jeff43222 said:
Be careful dealing with real estate people. The ones I've dealt with usually want the work done immediately and as cheaply as possible, but once the work is done, their sense of urgency drops dramatically, particularly when it comes to paying. Real estate people are pretty much the only ones I've had to bug about payment.
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I agree. My solution is not to give them the invoice until I have the check in hand. I've found that they need the signed invoice from a licensed contractor to get thru closing.

Mark
 
Thanks for the ideas so far. I have approached a few realtors already, but my radar went off when they started in with "Our headquarters is in another city so how would you feel if we issue you a P.O. Number on a given job?"...which translates as "you'll get paid...it might take 6 months, but you'll get paid" No thanks.

I guess I will just have to switch gears and keep at it until I find what works for this area.
 
Realtors are actually good! They are loyal & the money they are spending is not their money, Its usually a buyer or seller paying the bill.
Having money out 30 days or 3 months is still getting paid!
What are you earning on your money market account in your savings? 4% maybe?
It must be nice to have so much work to turn down the realtors.

They may be demanding, as in need it now, but if you can service them, its like taking candy from a baby, as they are not shopping prices. They just want to make sure they have someone to call & that you can do the job & fast!

Half of todays intake was from property managers & realtors. & guess what? I will get paid!
 
"Yellow pages ads don't work for a small company othere than just to get listed."

That's intresting, we are a small shop, and have a small ad in yellow pages, it produces a study stream of calls, and usually, they are the ready to have work done group, local paper ads bring in about 1/10 of the calls that yellow does, and the ones from the local paper, are usually price shopping not buyers.
 
satcom said:
"Yellow pages ads don't work for a small company othere than just to get listed."

That's intresting, we are a small shop, and have a small ad in yellow pages, it produces a study stream of calls, and usually, they are the ready to have work done group, local paper ads bring in about 1/10 of the calls that yellow does, and the ones from the local paper, are usually price shopping not buyers.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected!
And I saw a billboard for the yellow pages today that said,

"How Lawnboys become landscapers"
 
Our ad, has been in for 25 years now, and we find good results, but if your in an area that is satutated with contractors, then any means of advertising may not work.
 
I may not have been clear. By realtors, I meant selling agents who want their sales to go thru. They can set you up directly with the HO who pays the bill. The Home Inspection lists are usually gravy work.

Mark
 
Start with a good cup of coffee everyday, and put on that 'Sales' face...

While you're at that coffee counter, when the person in front of you opens their wallet, stick a card to them to put in there...

Enlarge the lettering and phone number on the side of the rolling billboard... (i.e. Panel truck if you have one, the bigger the better, even if it can be read from space.) Make sure it is visable where you want to work. i.e. downtown, or resi, try to park on busy corners.

Print or "Vista-print" a few thousand cards hand them to everyone with a pulse, even those without a pulse. Put a card dispensor on your truck, people take them as they walk by. When you run out get more...

Contact every GC with a letter of introduction. Glad-hand'em till your arm falls off.

If you dont have much work, switch jobs to promoting your business until you do. No time to waste here on the forums, go drum up some work. ;)
 
e57 said:
Put a card dispensor on your truck, people take them as they walk by. When you run out get more...
Click to expand...

Good advice 57!

A funny story to share.
Back in the late '80's while eating Mexican food in Harvard Square with friends, while leaving , maybe a little drunk, I noticed a card dispenser with the "Casa Mexico" cards at the register. I removed their cards & replaced them with mine!

Next day, first thing in the morning, the manager/owner called me about my cards. I quickly apologized for my girlfriend putting those cards in there as I said she loves your Ritas & had too many. He was OK with it & actually needed an EC to come out for some repairs in the Kitchen. He became another one of my accounts and a good friends.

I always carry cards & I always manage to leave one just sitting somewhere. The golf cart valets all know me for leaving my cards as do the gate security guards in the gated communities.
 
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