Hard question, but I've got to ask!

[The Hare]

Hi everyone,

I've just joined the tiling forum here as I've been interested for a while now about getting into a trade where I can work for myself and with my hands which I think I'm pretty good at?!

I'm trying to do as much research as possible to find a really good 6-8 week course, qualifications needed and obviously how much you can earn.

The only thing holding me back at the moment is I have been asking friends and others about the possibility of throwing in the suit and tie for a new career as a tiler, but the answer that keeps coming back to me is: "Good luck, you won't be able to out price Eastern Europeans for work!"

Now, by no means am I trying to cause any problems, but I can't understand why people are telling me how hard it will be to get into a trade?? Is it ignorance on my part or is it a legitimate question???

I was speaking to a friend the yesterday and he is thinking about have his kitchen and bathroom done, and I was very excited as I could help to gain some practical knowledge before taking a course. He said I could help, but at the cost of having a friend of a friend's Polish friend do the job, its probably not worth it for me to help.

Now, I'm not even in this industry yet and offered my services for free and this is the first response I get, is this a problem that other tiliers have, as who would know better than the people out there working on the job? Even though I feel I have good business skills and a great work ethic, like probably most of you on this forum, is that going to count for much???

Please don't take this the wrong way as this thread in not meant in a bad way, its just the general response from people when I say what I want to do for a living.

I really want to get into this industry as I beleive I have the skills to create an excellent business and I've never had any problems talking to people as you can probably tell from the length of this message, but any advice would be great!

Anyway, love the forum and I could'nt beleive how easy it was to find a central area to find great advice from people in the industry.

Keep up the good work and thanks a bunch!!

Cheers

 

[TheWrightTiler]

welcome fella

enjoy the forums

andy

 

[grumpygrouter]

I think the "Eastern European" syndrome isn't just confined to tiling. These people have come here under the freedom of movement of labour within the European Community because they believe thay can earn more money. As the cost of living in this country is not exactly cheap, they are not going to get away with charging Eastern European prices for very long, they simply can not afford it in the long term. If they are here for a "short term" shot at making a bit of money then going back home with their reddies, then so be it. They will have to "slum it" here in the mean time.

The problem lies with the paying customer. Do they want to give work to the cheapest quote around? It may or may not be good quality work but I would suggest it is a risky thing to do for a customer to use a tradesman that may not be here in 12 months time if things go wrong with the installation.

I am a firm believer that there are always customers out there willing to pay a fair price for a fair job and will look at all pricing levels before making a decision. If you are in an area where immigration is prevelant then this will have an effect for a while. However, I think a more serious challange comes from the amount of people that are now training to be a tiler. Eventually, the industry will reach saturation point and like any business, only the strong will survive.

I think the "strong" will be the people that have established a good reputation, not only for quality of work but, possibly more importantly, also customer service.

Word of mouth is the best advertising there is, trouble is, it takes a while to build up the reputation. If you feel you are very good with your hands and can run a business (2 very different things I may add) then do it as soon as possible, before the industry is saturated, so that you can get established.

Grumpy

PS Welcome to the forums.

 

[Fekin]

Hi there and welcome to the forums.

Eastern Europeans are flooding all the trades at the moment in certain areas, thankfully I haven't noticed any round here though.
Where about are you from ?

 

[The Hare]

Hi Grumpy,

Thanks very much for the info as it was very helpful. I loved the "only the strong will survive" bit as it sums it all up really well.

Yeah, running the business/good with my hands are very different, but hopefully I can find something to bridge the two together hopefully and be successful.

Thanks for the help again!

Cheers

 

[brummie tiler]

its easy to say im good with people, good with my hands, good business skills etc, etc but its alot harder to put it all together in to practice , you have to be prepered for the tough times and there will be tough times, times when work is short and money is tight. But its like anything if you stick with it and put in the effort the rewards are there for you. Im not trying to put you off but its by no means an easy ride

 

[The Hare]

Hi Fekin,

I'm in Billericay, Essex. I have not researched to much the extent of this in my area, but hopefully like you, I will not notice it before I can get myself established.....but a long way to go until then.

Thanks for the comments Fekin

Cheers

 

[The Hare]

Hi Brummie Tiler,

I completly agree with you. Would never expect to walk into something and be successful straight away, but as with anything in life, its going to need hard work.

Hopefully though it will lead to being in a career that I'm responsible for, rather than my usual 9-5.

Listing being good with my hands and running a business were just examples of what I could potentially apply to a new career, and meant not to emply it would make changing careers to a tiler easy, and I know it would not.

Thanks very much for your comments Brummie, you guys have been loads of help!!

Cheers

 

[a1tiler]

hi there, good luck and welcome to the forums

 

[DHTiling]

hello and welcome to the forums....good luck on your career change.....

 

[CJ]

Hello hare

It does take quite a bit of nerve to chuck the comfort of your job in.....to start up on your own..........but try and do the family and friends route......it will mean working weekends/evenings, but its a starting point to test your own ability, and then that branches out to friends of friend etc etc.


Its how a lot of us started out..................


Then when you do get established.............you hate the family and friend jobs :lol:

 

[IvegotsTILE]

The site I'm working on has half English half Europeans,The europeans aren't bad(not great)and they work for alot less.
I'm doing a bathroom showroom and the foreman has said he might give one of the euro's a go at the tilng since thats what he does back home if I need a hand or get behind.

He has a small dry cutter only and asks me questions like why don't I start off with a full tile in the corner.He's a nice guy but he doesn't have anywhere near my knowledge and he's not as bothered about a perfect finish.

 

[Perry]

i have two Poles and a Albanian working for me and they get paid more than my english guys

 

[White Room]

i have two Poles and a Albanian working for me and they get paid more than my english guys

Are they faster, better, big blokes with broken noses and quite nasty looking:huh2:

 

[Perry]

they just work harder care more dont need 3 hours a day tea breaks so they get paid more :yes: :hurray:

 

[tiler tom]

Grumpy grouer has got it spot on and saved many of us that amount of typing. I think people realise that you get what you pay for and if you have a eastern european quoting silly money the have an idea what a job they are going to get. ( i don't quiet think "hey kamil get your *** back from warsaw and sort out these tiles" will work ) Remember ultimatley you are only as succesfull as the amount of effort you put in.

 

[abskiing]

I live and work in the Slough area, 60,000 Polish have moved here in the last couple of years, we all (Uk, Asian, African, East European) are after the jobs that are out there. However, I have not had a bad year for the last 5 years and I already have bookings to next February.
Advertising in the right place and doing the best job you can have always brought in work for me. The customer is looking for that little something extra and this will often get you recommended.


abskiing

 

[The Hare]

Thanks guys,

All very usefull comments and puts this all into a much clearer perspective.

Anyway, I'll take your advice away and hopefully keep my eye out for a good course.

Got my eye on a 6 week course with Diamond as everyone has some good things to say about it and it seem to be one of nearer schools with a good reputation.

Thanks again fellas'!!

Take care

Oh! and thanks for the warm welcome to the forum too!!