Home Improvement

6 Responses

1. Jimmy Cabinet says:

   January 25, 2010 at 2:24 pm

   You are kidding right? Have ya heard? We are in the worse depression since 1928 and the economy still continues to deteriorate. I can promise you that the last thing on peoples minds now is spending a wad of money on a new kitchen. They dont know when they too will be layed off. Besides everyone knows homes are depreaciating at a rapid pace. Why dump $20 grand into an asset that is losing value faster then this country is losing jobs. Any child knows better then that.
   Even the wealthy stopped spending money on their homes but this is the only market worth going after because some still are spending, just being more careful. The economy is choosing what cabinet to buy, not the customer. Those who walk into my showroom make a beeline for the pretty cherry but end up buying the less costly oak. As little as 3 years ago I had 3 to 5 people per week coming in with a $25,000 kitchen budget. Today once a month some one walks in with a broken drawer box they need replaced. The best part is when they walk in with a stack of bids 5″ thick and ask you for another one. New home starts across America stands just about at zero.
   Now to answer your question with a wish and a prayer. Advertising in newpapers or magazines is a waste of money. The consumer is numb from ads that bombard them every day. Most saying the same old crap. Lowest prices of the year. Best sale yet. Compare and save. Free installation…and on and on. Another waste of money are those contractor referral services. You pay for so called qualified leads. But only one in 100 ever call you back. Most of us honestly believe the Bob Vila and Service Master referral services have hundreds of fake phone numbers to sell leads with. Out of about 40 leads so far that we paid $25 each for, we got 2 small jobs from them.
   The one thing that does work is very expensive. It’s called google optimization. It cost us $1500. What it does is anyone searching key words will get YOUR business web site as the very first listing on google. Google already knows where the searcher lives. If they simply type “cabinets” into the google search bar, YOUR company will come up because google knows the searcher lives in Anytown,USA so it will find Anytown Cabinet company.
   My friend all you can do is sit and wait. I just hope you are living off the fat from the good days. But for most of us, the fat is decomposing quickly. I been in in this biz for 29 years and I still stand. But perhaps 70% of everyone I knew in the cabinet biz has moved on to something else. It is not good out there and I see little hope of any improvement in the housing market as well as the economy for a very very long time. Of course that is not what this govt says when they try to pull the wool over we the peasants heads. They are liars, criminals and crooks. I am honest and truthful with nothing to gain by being honest and truthful.
   I wish you luck. I really do.
2. J D says:

   January 25, 2010 at 2:49 pm

   It’s all about contacts. Do you go to home shows? Do you go around and talk to the remodelers who would be using your cabinets? Find venues to be able to introduce yourself to contractors, also setting up your own booth to advertise to homeowners. If you don’t have a show in your area anytime soon, you can just open up the phonebook, and/or look on google for remodelers/contractors in your area and make up a flyer and hand deliver them to their offices. Face to face is best. Good luck!
3. Allison1 says:

   January 25, 2010 at 3:06 pm

   You have to position yourself as an expert resource for consumers. I would contact a local pr person/agency or freelancer to help you get your name in front of the public. You can try local advertising, being interviewed for newspaper articles, an email newsletter with tips about fixing up your kitchen, selecting cabinets, etc. You could do seminars at local libraries to answers people’s questions about remodeling.
   Also, is there a way to hook up with a handyman company to offer those services too? This would keep you in touch with future customers until they are ready for bigger projects. Obviously the economy is affecting people’s willingness to do major work. Good luck!
4. Joanne B says:

   January 25, 2010 at 3:40 pm

   all you need is good and effective marketing and promotional techniques and strategies to grow your bsuiness, some of them are
   online marketing with your own website, online classified ads (they are free), forum paricipation, online ads, adsense and adwords
   newspaper and magazine advertising
   tv ads and radio ads
   put up banners in churches, community halls and fairs about your business
   sponsor an event and put up your ads where they are noticed by people
   get a catalogue made and devlier it to people
   there are hundreds of ways the advertise and grow your business but they all need hard work and also trial and error method to check out which ones work for you
   check out http://www.howtostartabusiness.ws/list-b… for the list of business and see how to promote your business the best way
   you will also find information on ways and means to promote a business
5. liteyesu says:

   January 25, 2010 at 4:16 pm

   try add ing another product or look into spicing up your products reasonable pricing The most most important part is your moral in the company and the installation process along with the delivery on date said.
   As for advertising thats not really going to bring anymore than what your already doing now. Its word of mouth and the quality of the work etc. Sometimes Little ads with incentives might help. Like if they get your Business you give them a free car wash from a business ask that business that is paid by advertising with you (just an idea) You have to spend money to make money. Oh i used to work for a lumber company and we supplied all that stuff with quotes and accounts.
6. Nelson says:

   January 25, 2010 at 4:31 pm

   go back to some of your past clients and check in with them. See if there is anything else they need. While you are talking to them ask for a referral.