Have I made a mistake

[Aqua Tiling]

can u ring me mark,

yea, give me 5 mins, just waiting for the wife to stop hoovering.

 

[Aqua Tiling]

Good question, see there is a business man there.

i do try

 

[turnip]

like the one about 40,000 tilers missing, very good. aqua, re: pressure, its part of it unfortunately, only you can decide if you want that in your life, weight it up against the promised financial benefits. pm me with how far you are willing to travel for site work by the way.

 

[Aqua Tiling]

like the one about 40,000 tilers missing, very good. aqua, re: pressure, its part of it unfortunately, only you can decide if you want that in your life, weight it up against the promised financial benefits. pm me with how far you are willing to travel for site work by the way.

i would to stress over the work, just at the min stressing over no work

im thinking now that i have only sampled the bad in tiling, not the good, so i have to stick it out until then to get a insight of whats it like.

on my course i loved tiling, its all i could talk about, i had a few days out with another tiler who worked for the owner of the tiling course and agian i loved it.

I will stick with it and wait for the good, and when the good comes, ill tile harder and make the good times great times (hopefully)

Does any one do site work on here, if so whats it like, as ive been told its **** money when you finally get it

 

[diamondtiling]

Do you have a Cscs card Mark?

 

[Aqua Tiling]

No, mine run out, could get another one tho

 

[diamondtiling]

You will need it for site work mate.

 

[user123]

Not nice to feel disheartened, is it, not easy to solve it either. Hmmm...

Do you have the Thompson Local directory in your area? Or the Little Red book? Both are free business directories, don't know if the boxes are free but the small ads are. There are also small local trade directories that come with the local paper, my first stop when I look for any trade, because you rightly or wrongly just get this reassuring sense that these are local people and everyone will know them.

Forget about inkjet leaflets, the print is not waterproof, and all it takes is some drops of a mug of tea on them and they look smudged, cheap and nasty, not the kind of image you want to portrait. Yellow pages cost a bomb, really, don't think they work so well, never did for me, but that was in different types of works.

You don't have a van yet, but if you have a car, put a sign and your number in your car window, anything to make you visible.

And maybe you daughter could merrily chat away to her friends' parents what a great tiler you are? Only half joking about this, mothers do listen to their childrens' conversations, and it puts you in a trusted position immediately, seeing your daughter is a guest in whoever's house. Wear the t-shirts mentioned at EVERY birthday party!! :lol: That's all I can think of for now.
But good luck...

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

just out of interest aqua! did the people that took your £2500 tell you not to expect to be an overnight success or did they make out it was all for the taking mate! and I'm very sorry to hear about your troubles at the mo mate there but for the grace and all that!!

Sorry to hear your quiet m8, but I hope things come good. How good are the peeps on this forum. Nil illigitimi carbarundum.(dont let the grind you down)

 

[doug boardley]

it's tough reading through this thread Aqua, I feel for you mate. You've got to think about how to get a foot in the door, if you see a skip outside a house, go and knock on the door and present a business card, put some business cards in tile boxes at your local DIY stores, (don't let the staff see you tho).
On the upside, things have got to get better, the current climate is the worst I've known it. You've got to give it your best shot, but remember that your family comes first and you have to do right by them, if it means getting a more stable source of income, so be it.
I sincerely hope things pick up for you.

 

[Colour Republic]

it's tough reading through this thread Aqua, I feel for you mate. You've got to think about how to get a foot in the door, if you see a skip outside a house, go and knock on the door and present a business card, put some business cards in tile boxes at your local DIY stores, (don't let the staff see you tho).

I agree with the above to a certain extent

But be careful doing this, if it's during the day give it to the builder on site and introduce yourself, or ask him if it's ok to give to the homeowner if he doesn't get involved in tiling. By all means do it at night but if I see anybody put a card through one of my jobs I throw it away unless it's a service I don't offer. Just try not to upset a builder who may well give you work in the future

 

[Peter]

Have you rang round any squads of tilers or larger contractors? It's quiet this part of the year at the best of times, and with the current economical climate, many tilers with 30 years behind them are even feeling the pinch. Chin up, it'll all pan out, these times are sent to try us.

 

[Aqua Tiling]

Thanks again stevee, i owe you a :8:

 

[Aston]

even if you have made a mistake then so be it...learn from it and move on because you and the rest of us on here will continue to make them because thats life mate

the main thing is you've learned soemthing from that so called mistake and you'll be better for it...its in the past now and you cant change it but you can do something about the future cant you mate!!

have a beer tonight, right down a little plan of action and get out there and make it happen for you and that family of yours...we all get down and fed up but honestly mate, look at how you are gonna get through it and i promise you, you will!!

 

[hillhead]

Sorry to hear of your probs markie.its trying times out there at the minute.what you need is a lucky break. Fingers crossed your phone will ring.

 

[Aqua Tiling]

im only 23 as well. and as well as learning tile skills im also still learning life skills that you oldies already know. lol. you are great blokes, and woman, and got love for you all.

god bless tilers forums and the members that make it what it is.
may all your tiling dreams come true.

 

[Aqua Tiling]

Sorry to hear of your probs markie.its trying times out there at the minute.what you need is a lucky break. Fingers crossed your phone will ring.

when me house phone rings i jump up like ive **** myself

 

[Peter]

Age can be a problem too when you're young and trying to get work. I'm 22 but sometimes people look at me as if I won't have a clue what I'm doing, and sometimes I'll probably lose a job out to someone a few years older who they may deem more 'experienced'.

 

[Colour Republic]

Age can be a problem too when you're young and trying to get work. I'm 22 but sometimes people look at me as if I won't have a clue what I'm doing, and sometimes I'll probably lose a job out to someone a few years older who they may deem more 'experienced'.

I went it alone at 18 and found it didn't affect me too much, as long as you have confidence (does not read ****y) in yourself and what you do then it comes across well. Sometimes I found it could work in my favour if I played it right, as some of the older generation were only to happy to give me a chance, it made them feel as though they were making a difference in my life, which in many ways it did.

EDIT: I have to say I'm surprised at your age Wingn as I've read your posts before and haven't come across as 'young' at all, if you get what i mean

 

[Peter]

Happened a lot in subby work for another tiler. The tiler quoted the job and sent me to it. Customer often said "How long have you been tiling", as if to say "Are you capable?". Agree though it can work in your favour if you try to come across as confident and enthusiastic as you can. Always loved the jobs when a customer was aphrehensive of the young lad with no hair on his chest taking on their bathroom, only to give you a £20 tip at the end of the job. :hurray:

 

[LM Ceramics]

Age can be a problem too when you're young and trying to get work. I'm 22 but sometimes people look at me as if I won't have a clue what I'm doing, and sometimes I'll probably lose a job out to someone a few years older who they may deem more 'experienced'.

i had the same problem mate im 21 now and started on my own at 19 i started off alright with doing alot of commercial and subcontract work but when that was drying up i was struggling to gain new customers on the domestic front due to what i reckon was my age (doesnt help me caus i look about 18 which made it worse)

 

[Sean Kelly]

Age can be a problem too when you're young and trying to get work. I'm 22 but sometimes people look at me as if I won't have a clue what I'm doing, and sometimes I'll probably lose a job out to someone a few years older who they may deem more 'experienced'.

Quite right. I won a job just before Christmas because the customer thought I was a more experienced tiler due to my age (44). The other 2 quotes were from much younger tilers. My quote was the highest too! (only by £10 though). I'm coming up to my 2nd year of being a tiler. So the chances were that the other 2 tilers may have been tiling longer than myself!

Aqua Tiling, On a slightly different note....Have you looked at your finances? i.e. have you cut back on the not so essential items like sky TV & football games etc? If you are not working you will have to make what money you have last longer. Working tax credit and Child tax credit. You will be surprised at how much the Government can help you. Use this link to see if you qualify for extra help: HMRC Tax Credits Online

Use Martin Lewis (Money Saving Expert). He has financial budget planners and loads of tips of how to save money.

My training course finished in February (nearly 2 years ago). Read my underlined thread link at the bottom of this post.

Good luck, and believe me.......luck does play a big part in this game too.

Cheers
Sean

 

[jay]

hang in there if the work wont come to you go and get it

 

[Gazzer]

Ok i havent read all the posts in this thread so if i am repeating info then just ignore me.
Seems to me you are not exploiting the free or cheap ways of advertising and promoting yourself. You seem to be throwing money in every direction and only making the advertisers wealthy.

Step one, you have a PC so design a flyer without mentioning you are a newbie. Layout all the jobs you can do. Bahrooms, Kitchens, Walls, Floors etc etc....dont be shy with words...use things like Travertine, Stone, Ceramics, Porcelain....not just Wall and floor tiler !

Search the internet for other local trades and email them with your flyer....it costs nothing !

Get some flyers printed off one way or another.If you do them yourself dont get over ambitious , keep it simple and to the point.
Give as many contact options as possible, email address, mobile phone and home phone.

Get down to all your local Estate agents with flyers ( include in flyers that make overs can help sell houses) ask them to pass them onto house owners who are not having luck with a sale. Also Leasing and letting agents could use your services.

Do you have a university in the area ? if so there are usually areas that have streets full of student accomodation....find out who lets them out and get your flyer in there. This work usually is done in the main summer hols though. I do a fair bit of this sort of thing.

In the mean time, any part time job you can get will keep your spirits up and give some income.

Social activities have brought work to me too, such as a fishing club i waas with some years back...i probably did tiling for 50% of the other members.
Get your cards in the local cafes, chip shops, tile shops, etc etc...Always have cards with you !

If you know a nurse or someone who works in the health service, get them to put your details on the internal message boards...this is a great way to get work.....most of all dont stop trying and never stop promoting your self at every opportunity.

Most of the above will cost nothing but time....if you put the time in, it will come eventually.

All the best.

 

[Gazzer]

Just a few more points when doing your flyer.

Dont mention New tiler
Dont use the word "Cheap" "Cheap rates" in fact dont mention money at all.
Dont specify how long you have been tiling unless you do have years in the trade.

Can you offer out of hours work ? If so SAY IT.
Do you travel ? If so "SAY IT"

While you are walking down the High street searching for Estate agents you will see shops with tiled frontages which may need repairing....go in and offer your services " they may lease the shop so ask for the number of who ever does the leasing....you may find that one little job leads to lots more.

 

[Colour Republic]

If you know a nurse or someone who works in the health service, get them to put your details on the internal message boards...this is a great way to get work.....most of all dont stop trying and never stop promoting your self at every opportunity.

Some very wise words of widom from Neale in the posts above, he also makes a very vaild point with Hospitals.

Hospital staff have schemes running were they get discounts with local companies, most hospitals call it something different but they get details through internal bulletins as well as what gets stuck up on their notice boards so see if you can find out who runs it and get onboard

 

[Benny Tiler]

I don't know if this is been mentioned before on this thread (appologies if it has) but it is possible to make your leaflet drops more directed.

If I type my local councils name into google along with planning applications, so "council name planning applications" it takes me to an area on their site that lists all current and recent planning applications, uncluding name, address, and what their applying for. You can drop a flyer/card/letter through the letter boxes of those who are applying for conservatories, extensions, etc.

You can usually get the same info in your local paper under public notices.

Might not turn any work up instantly but it'll put you name infront of someone who is definately going to need some tiling in the nearish future.

Ben

 

[Aqua Tiling]

good idea benny

 

[poynton phil]

Just had a quick look through the other threads, so if this was mentioned before i missed it, but have you advertised on google maps, put mine on in august, and have had several jobs off it so far, and its free. There is a thread in the marketing forum, telling you how to do it. Good luck :thumbsup