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Personally, I try to avoid advertising directly. I won't buy from people who doorknock, or drop cheap leaflets through the door. Especially when they are offering all sorts of special deals, it smacks of desperation.
I'd get a good profile. Smart-ish vehicles with a memorable company name and website. A decent website doesn't have to be flashy or expensive, just functional with an easy way to e-mail you or find your tel number. It does help to get your name seen around an area, I think a lot of people now make a note of a website name rather than a phone number when they pass the site of a job they like. Little things like making sure staff are polite, radios aren't blaring out, even silly things like avoiding blocking pavements with vans, all help the neighbours notice you in a positive way.
What about contacting maintenance businesses locally? I don't do hard landscaping, and really struggle to find companies to recommend. That works both ways, as you can leave the client with details of a good contractor to look after the garden you've landscaped.
A few people have had success by advertising in small local magazines, for example, the Parish pump or monthly/quarterly What's On type mags.
More here: http://www.landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/leaflets-2
Apart from the good advice above..........make sure you know what you are doing and that your work stands out. If in doubt, find out! A decent company name board (not too fussy or flash) on all jobs. Ensure your site is always neat and tidy - so many have a name board advertising a bombsite - would you like your house to look like this?! Don't bullsh*t customers or passersby. Remember when estimating that you are not only selling your services, but you are selling yourself. Keep a ready supply of business cards with you and try leaving some with your customers.
There is so much that makes the 'package' and I'm sure more ideas will come along.
Finally, if you are working for another contractor, don't 'steal' work from him by handing out your cards!
I disagree, we are having more enquiries in now than in the Spring!
I find community magazines the best to advertise in though and I would stay clear of big directories if you wanted quality leads.
Nick
TGC said:
Should everyone else shut their buisiness down because of the current climate?! Although this isnt the best time to start a company if you read my conversation properly, i said i was starting in feb/march when the need for Landscaping is greater, also i have jobs lined up for the first year with other contractors and know i will have a steady flow of work even if my phone doesnt ring. I think although we have to think about the current economic status, we shouldnt take such a negative outlook, there will allways be work for good tradesmen with good contacts, I wouldnt be investing my money if i didnt think i could get a decent return on it.
I agree with TGC, you probably couldn't have picked a worse time in the last 30 years to start a new business, where i live the number of garden services/landscapers has doulbled since the recession, everyone with an estate car and a trailer is doing it now! I certainly wouldn't want to be starting up now.
have to agree with chris and TGC. Here in cornwall the same is happening. there has been a flood of new "gardeners" in this area in an already saturated market. I feel that an awful lot of people are going to loose a lot of money.
If its any help, this is what we have just done, We have done a recent mail drop door to door ( no knocking) and have 4 jobs booked in from one road !! Its a winter filler for us - we have work already booked in for next year, and we are a new business set up. See flyer attached , aimed at retired, bungalow type roads and areas, we drop 2 roads at a time. The feedback we have had so far is people like to know what they are going to have to pay without being given the hard sell.
There are many businesses on this forum who are increasing in size and gaining more and more work despite the so-called recession. There are clients all around my jobs paying for new landscape projects, and I don't just mean a new 3m patio - projects into 6 figures.
I started trading in autumn and faced the worst of this financial cirisis too, but I got work right away, and have been expanding ever since. I am getting new leads at this time of year - 5 in the last week (and they have turned into work) and as a maintenance provider this shows exactly what people need/want and that is beautiful gardens, recession or not.
You can succeed. My main tips would be:
1. Set up a good website. You will get a fair proportion of jobs from it. If I want a job done in the house my first port of call is google, many working professionals and families are too busy to hunt high and low for tradesmen and they will simply use the internet to find you.
2. Mention your business to people, friends, family etc. Everyone knows people that you don't know and all it takes is one of them to say they need work done and you suddenly become the landscaper they have heard of.
3. Always quote enough to ensure a competely thorough and professional job. You don't want to cut corners as this is what people will remember, not the fact you were cheap. Better to lose a job than win it and cut corners or lose money on it. Consumers are VERY critical and demanding as I am sure you know.
4. Watch staff carefully and don't have someone representing you if they are not polite, hard-working and presentable.
Best of luck too, you will succeed with the right attitude.
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