after the first of the year i am relocating from durango Co, to brookfield missouri.
i’ve lived here my whole life and never had to work at advertising much, but this is a new place and i don’t know anybody. does anyone have any ideas on how to hit the ground running. ive bought a 1905 victorian in the heart of town thats livable but needs restored none the less, partially for the reason that i will be very visible to everyone and partially because it cost 20k.
Replies
We did that recently. Contact the Chamber of Commerce first thing. Then go from there.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
As you get to working along on that restoration, folks will get to know you and what you do well. the guys at the counter at the local lumberyard especially. Referrals will come from there.
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Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I would put a large sign in front of the house with company name and cell #. Then put a matching sign on the truck and everybody will think your working day and night to get the job done.
Then advertise in the local paper and offer a commission to the lumber yard for any leads.
See if the school or hospital has any need for some volunteer work.This is a good way to get your name circulating in a small town.
What are your hobbies and see if there are any local clubs to getr involved in.
ANDYSZ2
ANDYSZ2
WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
As I mentioned in the other thread you are in a very small town and will have to include others in 30 to 60 mile radius to get enough clients.
Google is your friend.
Start with City-data.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Brookfield-Missouri.html
I though that it listed newspapers, but I see that it doesn't.
But it does list radio stations.
But you also want to check at least the first tier of surrounding cities on city-data.
Google on the radio stations and check the About Us, Communitie happings and the like.
And here are the newspaper in the state.
http://www.usnpl.com/monews.html
http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/usstate/usmissou.htm
http://www.abyznewslinks.com/unitemo.htm
http://newslink.org/monews.html
Likewise note the some of the newspapers will be weeklies. Many of the radio stations and newspapers will have "gossip" columns. But the don't use that term. Basically they will cover coming and goings. Who had a party, who went into the hospital, and who moved into town.
See that you are mentioned.
Also check in a group like the JC's or Lions.
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Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
My most sincere condolences - from Colorado to Missouri?
I should talk; moved from Golden, CO to Michigan in '76. Zzzzzzzzzzz
good luck,
Carl
How could you leave Coors?
Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!
You do realize the clear mountain waters they use for Coors is directly down the hill from the Clydesdales' barn... or at least (imho) it tastes like it...
Actually, alot of beer is transported as dry goods and local water is used in the canning process. At least thats how it's shipped to Canada. I like Sam Adams personally.
Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!
Black Butte Porter, an Oregon microbrew is my favorite but hasn't (and I fear never will) reached Georgia.
When I was living in Golden, Coors offered tours with free beer; they got a little tired of seeing me and pals weekly. Carl
You'll have to get social. Anything that gets you in contact with others is a good start, but organizations that have a good deal of interaction are probably the best use of your time.
I moved to Boise about two years ago from just over the northern CO border in WY and I ended up working for a couple of other contractors for a spell and made some great contacts with subs and clients. While I'm living around 1/2 million people, my clients are in an area of 5-10k, so it's almost like being in a small town.
Now, before anyone slams me for taking clients away from poor innocent contractors who feed starving childern as a hobby and are about to enter the priesthood, let me say they knew full well that I was a contractor, I was new to town and like to work full speed ahead. Our agreement was I wouldn't solicit work from clients or subs while employed by them, which I didn't. Win-win.
Now it seems like a less than ideal way to market, but years ago I ran a series of simple adds in the local paper and would get a few days of work from that about once a month. They were the clients that didn't socialize well with others and were typically less than ideal. In a year's time there were two great clients. It did pay the bills and introduce me to others. In the end it was worth it when you don't know anyone.
Had I known then what I know now, I would have found a few ideal neighborhoods and gone door to door offering to work for half my normal rate. In tight nit communities everyone talks and once you get started just about everyone on the block wants you to do something for them. Heck, I could have volunteered my first week and had a series of regular paying jobs after that.
:-)
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
However you decide to get the word out, use at least 3 methods. Most of the projects I take on are 1/2 day to 4 day jobs. So I need a steady stream of inquiries needing my service. Me? Classified Ad, Direct mail post cards & I buy a booth at the local home improvement show. I make my own post cards and use a list from Hill-Donnelly bought on CD mailed in small quantities (+/- 1,000/ mailing) on a regular basis. Works great. 2%+ call the day they get them. Thats 20 phone calls! And I'd say another 15% stick it to there refrigerator for future reference.
Hope that helps.
Best to you and yours, Chris.
Some say I know too much.
Chris,
could you expand on that direct mail list,Hill Donnely CD.
Started investigating something similar back in the summer---didn't get too far into it. I am starting to expand into another ,specific,old neighborhood----and your method seems ideal.
currently I run a small ad in a weekly newsper targeted to that neighborhood. EVERY project resulting from that ad has been excellent----------but there aren't a lot of them so far. Statistically, the financial return has been GREAT---but the volume is not where i want it.
thanks,Stephen
First off, I tend to question your move from such an awesomely beautiful place like
Durango to the rolling pasture land of Missouri. I competed in high school sports against Brookfield... Two things rule in such a small town. Church is the first followed very closely by high school sports. If you're not a church goer or have a kid going to the local high school, you might want to start by showing up at the friday night basketball games just to be seen. The sign in the yard and on your truck would be a helpful touch like someone else mentioned.
Until you become involved in some of the local activities, you'll be the 'new kid in town' and kept at arm's length. If you're in a financial position to do so, sponsoring a baseball team might be a good way to wind your way into the locals' hearts. Check the local school to see if they have any vocational programs for students and maybe pick up a part time helper from the class who will then be talking about you to all his friends when he tells them about his job. They in turn will talk to their parents who in turn talk to their friends... you get the idea. It's all about getting known...
Do the small things too. Hold doors open for folks, stop and help someone pulled off to the side of the road, volunteer for a local cause, basically, show you'll blend into the local way of life replete with values and actions.
New towns are always about a six month process to become integrated into so you have some work to do in the months ahead. Being it will be the slow time of year for most projects in that area, you'll likely have plenty of time to work on your own place initially so your visibility along with your progress will say more than anything that could come out of your mouth. Remember, you're moving to the 'Show Me' state... Good luck.
Two weeks ago I was not at home and my daughter was here and there was a knock on the door.It was a financial consultant and he was walking door to door handing out "Edward Jones" financial brochures.Several days ago I opened my mail and he had sent me a handwritten card stating he had left info for me with my daughter and he mentioned her name.This guy is "farming" a specific neighborhood and this is a good way to build up your business.I am impressed with this guy and that he is out there working hard to build up his business. I don't really have any business to give him right now but I will keep his info here handy.Good luck!^^^^^^
S N A F U (Situation Normal: All Fouled Up)
I wanted to mention that my mother is in her late 70's and she lives in a neighborhood of retired people.They have money to remodel and fix up their homes. Someone in the neighborhood is always having something done to their home.Her neighbor across the street just had tile floors put in.Another neighbor had a new roof.They are always doing concrete work in these homes built in the 1970's. New sidewalks, driveways, patios.People have siding replaced. New windows or patio doors installed.Kitchen remodels. Bathroom remodels. Finishing basements, etc.All these people know each other and talk to each other on a daily basis.They talk about their contractor, who is doing good quality work, etc.They like to talk about their homes and ideas they have. Something they've seen at someone's home. Something they saw on TV. Something they saw on HGTV. Something new they saw at Home Depot.These are people who are not capable of doing the work themselves and they're desperating looking for someone they can trust. They can write a check for the remodeling.They want to hire someone they are comfortable with. They don't want to hire a rough looking crew (long hair, tatoos, rough talk, etc)I don't mean to offend anyone with long hair, tattoo, black leather jackets, etc but hey that's reality.Good luck!^^^^^^
S N A F U (Situation Normal: All Fouled Up)
thanks for the advice, i am clean cut and my people skills rival my carpentry skills, but i do keep a beard and im not to sure how that will fare with the southern folks. i hired a guy last summer out of chicago with long hair trying to get cabinet biz going here my first advice was to cut his long hair it took a few months but he did it.
I wouldn't get too carried away calling folks in Brookfield 'southerners' because they probably won't take it real well. Bear in mind, Missouri was one of those border states way back when. Midwesterners would be the more correct assignment of regionalism.
Well a couple of years a go there was an article the KC papers about some communities just south of KC that still had a number of Confederate roots.And there was a large number of southern syphisers in the KC area and the outlying areas where cleaned by Order No 9.But I don't have any idea how far that reached and Brookfield is NE of KC..
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Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Take pictures and keep a daily journal of the restoration, record every step. Using 'before and after' pictures, contact the local paper and see if they have a 'do it yourself' column or perhaps a 'local' section. Approach the paper about featuring an article about the rehab and mention local lumber yards and suppliers along the way. If they run even a brief paragraph with pictures of the project and your company name, then your on your way.
A local construction company did several small articles in the newspaper about simple items, such as custom handles on drawer fronts (pulls) and other custom features, included in their remodels and their desire to accommodate their clients desires etc. Look at it as advertising going one step beyond the rest of the pack. Once the local paper accepts a story or two, they will most likely be more than happy to take more stories later on. Suddenly, your company name gets spread all over town and all you did was write up a feature article in the Sunday paper.
Take a look at how FHB got it's start. Not a newspaper but monthly "how to" magazine.