Work Dry Spell

[Richard R.]

Business Dry Spell

Has anyone besides me ever had a dry spell last for as long as 4 weeks?
Is it because it's so hot here in Texas?
Please give me some positive feed back.
Ever since I put an add in the General Contractors section in our local paper, I haven't recieved but one call. It remained in the paper for about 30 days. I have spent over 3 or $400 advertising in the local Telegram since I started my business and I think I got two jobs. I know it's probably a coincident but it's starting to worry me a little.

Thanks
Richard R.

 

[Dave Olson]

Hello Richard,

Look for additional services that you can provide using the equipment that you already have! Look for additional services that you could provide if you added to the equipment that you have.

Look for additional projects that you can do for your present customers. If you do truck fleets maybe you can clean their shop floor and or walls, remove decals when they retire units, etc.

We started out doing industrial accounts (heavy equipment, and manufacturing equipment). Added kitchen exhaust systems after being in business for a couple of years. Added paint stripping (whole building) and graffiti removal about 5 years in business. Flatwork for restaurants, gas stations, banks, hotels, etc. started after being in business for about 10 years. Added air duct cleaning after one of our better customers asked us to clean some of their systems (used subs and then purchased a negative air machine).

We have grown considerably since starting out in 1984. Still have slow times though! Our year to date revenue this year is down about 25% from last year! Sometimes it seems that the only one that calls is someone wanting to sell me something!! Then there are times it when you have a hard time keeping up with all of the work!

Dave Olson

 

[Glenn]

Hey,
Just hang in there big R, it will come back around again. I still after more than 2 years and a crap load in advertising have those slow spells. One week nothing, next week loose a couple gutter cleaning jobs cause I can't get to them fast enough. Be patient as it will come. This is what seperates the fly-by-nighters and the professionals.
Glenn

 

[Dan Flynn]

I have been slow too. I am new to Texas and starting from scratch. July was a dog and Aug is about the same so far. Hard to keep a full week going.

This is scary even to me. I have been doing this since the mid 90's. The best way to overcome this is get some commercial stuff going. Like window cleaning and power washing to get some regular work. This is the time to grow some *alls and get out there and ask for work. To this day, until I am starving I have a problem knocking. Once I get out there after one or two it gets a lot more comfortable.

If you spent every minute your doing something other than office work out on the streets, say 6 hours a day when your dead. You would be swamped. The first few you would sell close to the low side then the rest will build to more and more profits.

I have this answer and have a hard time putting to work for myself. So don't feel bad. Just say to yourself. Get the f out there and get some work. Then like Glenn said. The other stuff will come and you will be a happy camper.

Hang in there my friend. Try not to get down. Use that energy to hit the pavement. Learn as you go. It will be hard, scary and rewarding.
Good Luck

 

[JR Wood]

Things have really slowed down for me.About 2 calls a day!
But by the time I get to the estimate it's too late!
It doesn't help when the water authority around my area has imposed water restrictions and a lot of people do not realize that they can still have work done.

 

[Jon Fife]

Hi RR,

I am going to offer you a suggestion that i think would be very beneficial. I started doing this the last couple of months and it is really paying off. GET IN WITH OTHER CONTRACTORS!!! Most of the work i am doing right now is stuff forewarded to me from a deck and fence builder. The people call him after a couple of years and want him to clean and seal, so he calls me. I give him 75-100 dollars per every 1000 (i figure this in the bid) The same thing works when someone asks me to build a deck. I am now working with a roof and gutter cleaner that is going to foreward me his wood jobs. This is probably the single-most successful thing i have done to increase business. Heck, do it with landscapers. Tell them to ask their customers about their deck and if you get it, give him 100 dollars. This is enough money to really motivate someone. Try this RR, i promise it will work and you'll meet some new people who can make your business grow.

good luck,

Jon Fife
Nashville,TN

 

[David Saulque]

One advantage that we have vs. other types of business is that we are able to cold call. We can sell our service to anyone regardless of size. If you owned a retail store, a customer has to come into the store-if no one comes in & buys- you have no money. If you make 4 cold calls per day at the end of the year you will more than have the jobs. What you DO today will show up 6 months from now. Cold calls and plant seeds and look for opportunity of service. Running a ad isn't the key-you are the key-You must make it happen-it will not come to you. Get out and make cold calls, if you sell one in 10 you are doing great.

David

 

[Mike Hughes]

Well said, Dan.

I myself am just now starting to get caught up from my June........things got a bit out of hand.

I have not followed up on any estimates at all........so, if things get slow, they are the first people I will call.

Secondly, I will call existing customers that we haven't seen in a while....

Last resort will be cold calls........but I never seem to make it that far. I am considering adding a second truck..........if I do that, I will be cold calling for sure!

 

[Jon Fife]

hi mike,

i am also thinking that i may have to add vehicle and equip. next year. Question---are you going to go with your same setup, the F-250 and hot-water machines on trailer?? or are you gonna try something else?? I have cold machines that i keep in enclosed trailer, truck pulled. But was thinking of trying the open trailer and getting hot-water machine. Interested to hear whether you are changing or staying the same, it would probably influence my decision. Take care,

Jon Fife
Nashville,TN

 

[Mike Hughes]

Based on my current work load, the second vehicle will not have any wash equipment. Will be used for deck sealing, gutter cleaning, etc.

Sure, I'd love to have TWO of my setup...........can't afford it yet though. The trailer is paid off next April........might consider something new then.

My next setup is going to be a box truck.


Mike

 

[Mike Hughes]

Jon,

Just re-read your post. I said my next setup will be a box truck.......but not because I don't like trailers.........just because it will be easier for employees to drive, and can be heated in the winter. I would not want my only rig to be on a truck. I will still have my trailer as it is, and if the box truck ever broke down, I'd still have a working rig to fall back on.

My point is, I think the trailer would be the way to go for you.

 

[Bobs Exterior]

ITS BEEN SLOW HERE TOO IN MICH. CONTRACTORS SOME GOOD AND SOME BAD. I FOUND OUT THAT SOME CONTRACTORS DONT LIKE MY BUSINESS LIKE WHEN I WASHED A BANK FOR A PAINTER AND ALL THE GALS CALLED HIM AND SAID NICE JOB ON THE PAINT.
WE ARE DEVERSIFIED AND DO PAINT, WASHES NOT TOO MANY TRUCKS WASHED THOUGH.
GUTTERS DECKS MANY OTHER SERVICES
ITS BEEN SLOW AUG SO FAR. EARLY SUMMER THE RAIN KEPT PEOPLE FROM CALLING. HOPE THE FALL LASTS A LONG TIME GOTTA REACTIVATE CUSTOMERS.
COLD CALLS DID SOME OF THAT
ONE POSITIVE THING RATIO OF BIDS WRITTEN TO JOBS AWARDED IS UP.
SALES DOWN ABOUT 15000 GOTTA GET AGGRESIVE

THANKS BOB
PS HELP ON MY CARBON DUST POWER WASH POST ITS A 20000 BID

 

[Beth]

Hang in there Richard,
It's always tough during vacation season, since it's nice out and you would think the phones should be ringing off the hook. It should pick up in time for back to school, then you'll get another nice pop of business in the late summer early autumn months.

We have seen this year after year, for three years now in our area. It's a good time to put out extra flyers, and let customers know how much referrals mean to you when they tell you they love your work.

Beth

 

[Richard R.]

Thanks Beth,

You know, your right, I forgot about the vacation time. Hey,
even if it's not, I'll take it. I'll take any excuse I can get.
I did get a lot of work during the earlier part of the year when Ricky was in school.
I'll be so glad to get some more work, although I am also looking forward to cooler weather.

I try to work while everybody else cuddles.

Have you guys ever posted a picture of your rig on this site?
I guess I could look myself Huh? Just curious.

Thanks Again
Richard R.

 

[JR Wood]

This is unusually slow,I have never seen this before in 6 years.My first year in business was busier than this!
I am actually behind on my bills for the first time in a while.
The only thing keeping me going is gutter cleaning(I always get a bunch of calls after a heavy rain!) and driveway sealcoating,it's a pain in the butt but it keeps food on the table.I got about 4 calls for decks since last week and so far haven't got any of them.Today I pulled up to do an estimate and there was two trucks there doing the same estimate...I suspect some people are bidding real low just to get the job.I am hoping this dry spell is over soon.

 

[Clean County]

My phone seems like it also stopped ringing for the past month also. Thank God for some referalls and another contractor calling me to do some powerwashing. In 6 ys of doing this business I can't remember my phone not ringing like this at this time of year.

I have an estimate to do tomorrow and its the first one in literally 3 weeks that I got thru my add which I pay $108/week for(OUCH!). Hopefully things start to turn around real soon. Maybe if the stock market could turn a little for the better people wouldn't be so scared to spend some money again. I guess all we can do is wait and see as far as that goes.
[pc]

 

[Richard R.]

JR Wood,
Good to here from you even if it is under bad circumstances.
I'm with you, I hope the dry spell is over soon as long as it's all good that follows. I wonder if it has anything to do with the market. Some say the economy is hurting more than we realize. I'm having a hard time believing that's true, but it does seem that other businesses are effected as well. I've also been told that it was the uncertainty of our new President and that everyones holding on to their money. Since I'm not up on politics to much, I haven't got a clue what it could be. Maybe it has something to do with the heat. I know it effects me.

I hate to hear that your experiencing a slow down too, but at least I know it's not something I'm doing wrong.
Take Care

Richard R.

 

[charlie]

Richard

Been in the business 7 years. Spring is always busy July and August is slow. September and October get busy. Use this time and check up on your past customers and see if they need any more of your services for other projects they may have around there home or business.


Charlie

 

[Dan Flynn]

Hey Rich,

I have been slow July through mid August. Starting to pick back up. This week I had 4 old estimate call in for the work I estimated. I am slowly picking up. I am book to 9/1/01. I was starting to wonder what heck myself. Right now I just have a ad in a little free shopper, which just seems to do just enough for me not to drop it. I am in one book which is worthless.

The problem around here is I am new to the area and I am still getting a feel for it. There are 8 phone books in my coat closet. It's ridiculous. That is why the books in my opinion are crap around here.. But I live in a town that is large enough that 90% of the work I do is right in this area. This town has a book called Interfaith and it's the bible from what I here around here. That book covers my area and some surrounding places.

I have talked to many around, people and business and they all say great things about the book. I had several service type businesses tell me they get several call a day from it. Which I believe because the companies are not related to my business and I feel they have no reason not to be telling the truth. I think this book works because there are so many books around here nobody know which to use. This books office is right in town and Interfaith is a charity. Well I will let you know. The book comes out this month some time. I hope what I hear is true.

But sounds like the same story coast to coast. Things should turn around soon. If you go down, go down in flames. Don't be scared to advertise when your dead and broke. Or you will stay that way.

When times get hard, that's the time to step up. Start knocking on doors in the area. Knock on the door and say you are working in the area and you like to stop by all the neighbors and see if the need any work done. If they say no leave a card. Do that for residential and commercial.

 

[Richard R.]

Dan,

We have a small paper simular to the one your talking about here in this area. It's called The Thrifty Nickle which I've recently been told works real well. It's almost as expensive to advertise in as the local newspaper adds, but it's free to the consumer. It advertises garage sales and about everything you can think of in the community.
Better Yet!!!!, I recently found out something that was a shock to me. A simple 15 second TV add during Texas Today and The Todays Show with Katie Couric and Matt Lauer cost from $25.00 to $30.00 for every 15 seconds. I would have never guessed this would be this reasonable. I plan to do a few of those and see how it works.
If I would have known this about 4 or 5 months ago, I think I would have been better off.
I'm confident that there are many folks who don't even know the things we are capable of.
I meet with the TV Station Advertisment representative this week," I hope!"
I think I'm going to do it.
Even though I've been told that it generates more business than a small company can handle, maybe I can start a calender booking that will run through the winter months.
I know it's wishful thinking, but it has to be better than what I have going for me now.

I'm pretty excited. It feels like I'm starting all over again.

Hope yours works well.
Please keep us informed.

Richard R.