Reply to: Contractors and Tradesman needs

[xoggoth]

Got a handed a leaflet in high street this weekend for someone doing just this. Don't agree it's a bad idea. Yell/yellow pages are not a real local service. The former does not provide many details beyond basic contact details. Some areas have something like this, some don't. If yours doesn't it may work. One could probably do worse than go round Tescos/B&Q etc talking all the cards from their boards and sending all of them a flyer.

[WarrenS]

Yellow pages on line

there are pleanty of well known brands already doing this sort of thing (Yellow Pages for one). Unless you're going in with a huge marketing investment and prepared for a huge loss initially, or doing something genuinely innovative, then the chances of competing with well established brands are pretty low.
.

Have you tried using this website? I just looked for a plumber and found nothing but hundreds of posts for recruitment agencies?!?!

[WarrenS]

PA service for Contractors

An idea that I have thought of in the past is this. I'm open about it as I don't have the inclination of ever doing it!

As a contractor I spend a long time away from home. When I get home I want to spend the little time I have with my family. But I still have to pay bills, do paperwork, and most of all sort out hotels.

The bills part of it my wife can do but things like hotels and getting a good rate is a real pain in the arse.

What about a personal concierge service that looks after all the crap like looking for hotel deals etc and other things. I would happily pay for a PA to do all this for me with my interests at heart (not a commercial interest) but I won't pay for a full time PA. So if someone could act as a PA for a group of contractors that would good. May be online, I don't know. Especially if they also took calls for you too like a real PA would.

All I do know is I spend too much time sorting out crap in my freetime!

In summary a shared PA!

That sounds very interesting! I do think that a lot of contractors just want to do the job and take the money home. A premium service that could reduce the peripheral leg work was exactly what i had in mind.

Contractors have lives too! The same as the customer, they want things to be as simple as possible...

So in theory would you (the contractors) consider out sourcing the administration, marketing, booking of accomodation etc? It could free up a lot of time for you to do other things. Services could become a lot cheaper with discounts and the like. Combine this with the potential to target the kind of business you want by times of day, job size, location etc.

What about a web service for contractors wanting to expand and market themselves to new areas...

All thoughts appreciated...

[DimPrawn]

And there's a fundamental catch-22 with this sort of idea: the service only works if you get a large number of tradesman to sign up, and large numbers of tradesman will only sign up if the service is already successful.

That's easy. It's called marketing, or in laymans terms, lying.

[VectraMan]

I never understood this "bad idea 'cos it's been done before" attitude.

Is this to say there is only room for 1 recruitment agency with a web site or only room for 1 search engine or only room for one .net developer ?

In my opinion Warren there is more than enough scope for your service ... particularly if what you plan will be better than what's already around.

True, but you have to consider how much room there is in the market, and you have to say there are pleanty of well known brands already doing this sort of thing (Yellow Pages for one). Unless you're going in with a huge marketing investment and prepared for a huge loss initially, or doing something genuinely innovative, then the chances of competing with well established brands are pretty low.

And there's a fundamental catch-22 with this sort of idea: the service only works if you get a large number of tradesman to sign up, and large numbers of tradesman will only sign up if the service is already successful.

[jason986]

It's called an American Express Platinum card.

HTH

I've got the Amex Platinum Card already for the free airport lounge access and
travel insurance.

But I can always find hotels cheaper than it can. That's my point. I want someone personally looking after my interests not theirs.

[BobTheCrate]

well said Bob the crate.

Not bad eh ? Especially from a supposedly unimaginitive, unenergetic, no risk-taker 40 plusser like me.

[threaded]

It's called an American Express Platinum card.

HTH

[jason986]

An idea that I have thought of in the past is this. I'm open about it as I don't have the inclination of ever doing it!

As a contractor I spend a long time away from home. When I get home I want to spend the little time I have with my family. But I still have to pay bills, do paperwork, and most of all sort out hotels.

The bills part of it my wife can do but things like hotels and getting a good rate is a real pain in the arse.

What about a personal concierge service that looks after all the crap like looking for hotel deals etc and other things. I would happily pay for a PA to do all this for me with my interests at heart (not a commercial interest) but I won't pay for a full time PA. So if someone could act as a PA for a group of contractors that would good. May be online, I don't know. Especially if they also took calls for you too like a real PA would.

All I do know is I spend too much time sorting out crap in my freetime!

In summary a shared PA!

[DodgyAgent]

Some positive, some negative. All taken on board.

Bob, I agree that just because the service is already available does not mean there is no potential for market share.

BG Geek, That was a useful link, thank you. I'll compare my proposed service to this and better it.

Tim, I accept that challenge... I'll keep you informed

Private eye, I agree about you point, not enough tradesman taking the small jobs. I will have a think around this problem and come with something.

Any relevant links, hints ans tips are welcome. Especially trades or ex trades people who know of common gripes with their business.

Paper work, accounting, customer contact, targetted marketing for bigger jobs,

Thank you all,

well said Bob the crate. My advice is keep it simple

[WarrenS]

All different perspectives are useful.

Some positive, some negative. All taken on board.

Bob, I agree that just because the service is already available does not mean there is no potential for market share.

BG Geek, That was a useful link, thank you. I'll compare my proposed service to this and better it.

Tim, I accept that challenge... I'll keep you informed

Private eye, I agree about you point, not enough tradesman taking the small jobs. I will have a think around this problem and come with something.

Any relevant links, hints ans tips are welcome. Especially trades or ex trades people who know of common gripes with their business.

Paper work, accounting, customer contact, targetted marketing for bigger jobs,

Thank you all,

[BobTheCrate]

Sorry to burst your bubble but it's been done and running for several years now.

I never understood this "bad idea 'cos it's been done before" attitude.

Is this to say there is only room for 1 recruitment agency with a web site or only room for 1 search engine or only room for one .net developer ?

In my opinion Warren there is more than enough scope for your service ... particularly if what you plan will be better than what's already around.

[privateeye]

What you have has basically been done already and as an ex-builder myself know that we are in such demand that no advertisng is necessary. I retired from that game over 15 years ago and still people come knocking on my door soaking wet with a stop cock in their hand or a black eye from the missus because they haven't put a shelf up.

What there is a shortage of and could be an opening for you you is that a lot of tradesmen turn down the small jobs such as changing a tap washer or just putting up one shelf. I don't think its a big earner but you may get spin offs from advertising.

[Board Game Geek]

Sorry to burst your bubble but it's been done and running for several years now.

118 Trades

[tim123]

Anyone else have an thoughts on this?

I think you've got zero chance of making it into a business, a hobby perhaps.

tim