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• 

  Graeme @ BGS June 14, 2009 at 4:25pm

  David,
  
  Carding is a numbers game and depending upon the quality of the fliers you post though the door really does make a difference. You haven't said if you are getting responses to the carding for quotes. If you are what is your response rate and conversion rate?
  
  But carding in not the only method of getting clients and the pro and con's of carding have been discussed elsewhere in the forums.
  
  Firstly - how many regular clients do you have - Chances are if they are happy with your work they will willing refer you to their friends and family - But you need to ask them to refer you. They will be your best sales force. I have a nice little letter template that does very well for me - I will Email a sample to you.
  
  Have you joined any local gardening clubs? These can also be a useful source of new clients.
  
  Consider contacting the local branch of Age Concern.
  
  The TA centres are another useful source as the gov will pay for the TA members gardening when posted on duty.
  
  If you have a sign written van? Park it up outside garden centres and large supermarkets and have some business cards to hand out.
  
  Network with other trades people.
  
  I picked up six clients in one road once - I had one client and all their gardens were about the same size and format. Knowing what I charged my existing client enabled me to write a letter to all the other houses in the road offering a fixed price one off service. This way they knew what they would pay and also allow me to adjust the prices if I got wrong. Six out 50 houses signed up.
• 

  David Brain @ CGS June 14, 2009 at 6:31pm

  Hi BGS
  
  Thank you very much for taking the time to reply, and for the template offer. I do appreciate it.
  
  I have posted 2000 flyers purely advertising my services with 2 one off responses.
  
  I have posted over 30 targetted potential clients whos hedges/grasss was overgrown with one £10jobcoming back.
  
  You have given me some very good leads as far as certain sectors to contact ( I used to work for Age Concern ) many, many years ago but I think their garden work is based on volunteers nowadays? I maybe wrong.
  
  I do not have a sign written vehicle which I know really does help, but finances suggest I cannot invest in that as yet.
  
  I only have 5 regular clients that I picked up when I cleaned their windows back end of last year. Thanks to the weather, and a host of non understanding customers that expected their windows cleaned in the frost and the snow we had, that failed
  
  The most frustrating thing about this is the time it is taking to gain clients knowing the cashflow is just barely treading water, and that I am so confident in my own abilities to provide a first class service.
  
  Gardening is in my heart, but I have even had to diversify and clean cars on a golf course (you would think that would be good enough, but even there is a struggle), and asking around for other jobs.
  
  I know how hard I can work, and be prepared to work, but I am guessing I do not have the business sense to gain the clients I need to prove I can provide that top class service.
  
  I'll keep fighting though.
  
  Thanks again.
  
  Best regards.
  
  David. (Bristol)
• PRO

  Phil Voice June 14, 2009 at 6:52pm

  Hi David,
  
  I know how tough this is having been in your position. You sound passionate and willing but I would try and forget trying to win over 2000 potential clients and set your target on 5-10.
  
  Is there a local group you can offer to give a talk too or perhaps offer to maintain the borders at a local golf club in return for a permanent sign placed near the first tee or perhaps a day nursery?
  
  Pop in to your local nursery or garden centre and offer the same service in return for referrals.
  
  Don't give up - where there's a will and all that :-0))
• 

  Kerrie John-The garden design Co June 14, 2009 at 7:17pm

  Hi David
  
  No don't give up, you sound great.
  
  As BSG said try 'networking' with other trades. As a Garden Designer/Landscaper I often get asked for regular garden maintenance once a garden is finished. Search for your local Garden Designers/Landscapers and make contact, I am sure they will be happy to talk about the services you offer and put a bit of work your way.
  
  Housing Associations and Property Letting Agents could be a source of work too. I know that funds are tight, but if you can make your leaflets as top quality as you can afford to reflect your service then, I feel, this would help.
  
  Good luck and keep going.
• 

  David Brain @ CGS June 14, 2009 at 7:37pm

  Hi Phil.
  
  Thank you for those suggestions.
  
  I will discuss the golf course issue with the owner of the course I am currently cleaning cars on. I have been bugging him to hire me as a green keeper already.
  
  You say 5 - 10 clients.
  
  Should I aim for weekly maintenance?
  
  And if so that would have to be on a larger commercial basis so that 10 clients could be enough to sustain a worthy income?
  
  I really do have the passion, 14 hours a day passion, and I would dearly love the chance to prove that.
  
  Thank you.
  
  Best regards.
  
  David (Bristol)
  
  Philip Voice said:

  Hi David,
  
  I know how tough this is having been in your position. You sound passionate and willing but I would try and forget trying to win over 2000 potential clients and set your target on 5-10.
  
  Is there a local group you can offer to give a talk too or perhaps offer to maintain the borders at a local golf club in return for a permanent sign placed near the first tee or perhaps a day nursery?
  
  Pop in to your local nursery or garden centre and offer the same service in return for referrals.
  
  Don't give up - where there's a will and all that :-0))
• 

  David Brain @ CGS June 14, 2009 at 7:53pm

  Hi Pro Gard.
  
  Thank you very much for replying. Chepstow is a lovely part of the world.
  
  I am going to try Keynsham and Saltford along with other outlaying areas. I split the drops into groups of 500 in different areas according to affluence.
  
  I have an 'A' board already for the car cleaning which can be adapted.
  
  I appreciate the info you have given me. I will get some more cards printed too.
  
  Best regards.
  
  David (Bristol)
  
  
  
  Pro Gard said:

  I do not advertise, my work is all word of mouth, whilst a fair bit comes from people seeing me working and asking for a card a fair bit is generated by existing clients.
  
  When I stared I made a point that at the end of every one off job and periodically with regular customers to give them a handful of business cards to pass on to freinds who might be intrested........ This has been the mainstay to were I am now (fully booked). It costs nothing to do this and those you already work for will know others in the right circles.
  
  Perhaps make up an ' A ' board to put up whilst your working.
  
  Lastly, consider widening the target area you are willing to work, are you targeting the iner city areas or the outskirts eg keynsham, pilning? Id say the money will be in the outskirts.
  
  I am the otherside of the water in Chepstow, but I cant see why there should be a shortadge of work, in Bristol fact one of my freinds on another site runs agardening business over your side and seems to keep busy albeit small jobs.
• PRO

  Phil Voice June 14, 2009 at 8:01pm

  "You say 5 - 10 clients.
  Should I aim for weekly maintenance?"
  
  Recurring and regular maintenance work is a lot easier to service and schedule and means that you are not having to constantly fill gaps.,
  
  Just be sure to get the right price from the start.
• 

  Sefton Paine June 14, 2009 at 9:37pm

  It can be a little difficult to start of initially. It maybe worth while speaking to some local gardeners and see if they are booked up. Maybe they pass a few new clients onto you and you can pass them back if need be, or keep them. All my work comes from word of mouth, which is where you want to be, but it takes a couple of years. A gentleman, a member on this site, started from scratch like yourself a couple of years ago, and now he is looking to take someone on. So it can be done but you have to be quite ruthless.
• 

  Graeme @ BGS June 14, 2009 at 11:05pm

  David,
  
  I don't know your area but a little concerned when I saw the word "affluence". Don't be fooled into thinking that the big houses are rich pickings. Some of my most profitable work comes from areas that you would think twice or even more about venturing into.
  
  Search the forums for carding as this has been discussed in quite a bit of detail before.
  
  If I get time in the morning I will Email a few more sample letters / fliers to get you up and running quickly. I assume that you have all your own equipment and can handle most if not all jobs.
  
  Hang in there, it takes a bit of time to get going - the first 10 - 20 clients are the hardest to get but as Phil has mentioned key is getting the right work at the right price.
• 

  David Brain @ CGS June 15, 2009 at 12:00am

  Hi again BGS.
  
  I want to thank you for your time and your input.
  
  I only used the word 'affluence' as a guide to the areas I tested.
  
  I never meant that it was all affluent areas, I just started with 500 in the area that is known for being slightly more 'upper crust' then worked down to the last batch of 500 which I tested at what would be recognised as lower ends of the housing bracket. I mean no disrespect by my description, but I hope you know what I mean.
  
  I think my failings in the business side of setting up may be my nemisis, but like I said, I will keep fighting.
  
  Now I am off to where worries can't get at ya.
  
  zzzzz land :)
  
  Thank you very much once again.
  
  Very best regards.
  
  David (Bristol)
  
  
  
  BGS LTD said:

  David,
  
  I don't know your area but a little concerned when I saw the word "affluence". Don't be fooled into thinking that the big houses are rich pickings. Some of my most profitable work comes from areas that you would think twice or even more about venturing into.
  
  Search the forums for carding as this has been discussed in quite a bit of detail before.
  
  If I get time in the morning I will Email a few more sample letters / fliers to get you up and running quickly. I assume that you have all your own equipment and can handle most if not all jobs.
  
  Hang in there, it takes a bit of time to get going - the first 10 - 20 clients are the hardest to get but as Phil has mentioned key is getting the right work at the right price.