Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 04, 2000 06:16am | #19

   *
   I'm curious how many of us have found a nitch that no one else if filling.

   I know one guy in my area that specializes in repairing old wooden windows instead of replacing. I think he makes a pretty good living.

   Lawrence does garden structures, A-Jack just said that he does tennis courts, Fred seals your house tighter than a balloon.

   I'd like to know what odd nitches you've all gotten into.

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 01, 2000 11:04pm | #1

   *My "nitch" is not having a nitch. And I'm discovering "that" in itself is a nitch around here! The current project is a set of built-in cabinets. The same people had asked me if I know anyone to put in a bath vent/wiring, install a vanity, and if I could recommend a plumber to do the new faucet and drain work. I said sure, me. Seems everyone else they had talked just specialized in only one thing, and only took those jobs. I have to buy/carry alot more/different tools, but this is the way I learned. I showed them my portfolio and now I'm to give them a bid on residing the back addition.They were amazed a cabinetmaker would do exterrior work.I said I'm not a cabinetmaker, I'm a Carpenter.If they needed a cabinetmaker, I have an excellent one to recommend. I can see some advantages of "nitch" marketing, but around here, it seems that is what everyone else does. I set my self apart by not setting my self apart! Weird. Sort of full service, but high-end full service.Not knock it together handyman style. There are a few things I shy away from, and a few things I recommend subs for, but I'll tackle most jobs myself.Keeps me learning. JeffOn another note, my "rural" buddy, does this. If he sees a barn going up. He makes a flyer that he's specializing in barns, and distributes it to all the surrounding homes. If it's a new garage, he get's a garage flyer and all the neighbors get that. New siding on a house down the street, He's having a special on siding, and everyone down the road is invited! Pretty clever I think. Probably works real well if the crew doing the initial job didn't canvass the neighborhood first!

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 02, 2000 03:39am | #2

   *Same here, Ryan. Nitchless. General Carpentry. Some contracting. Residential/Commercial. An example: Now on building offices in a warehouse, about 1000 sf. Next a master bath gut and remodel. County Park Meeting/Nature room. Countertop and custom cab. in a Kitchen. Artist drawing station and storage cab. Cherry shelf unit for 100 beany babies and for the husband, cherry shelves in the fam. rm for his 2800 bottle collection of hot sauce. Slatwall and Shelf unit installation in a locally owned Record Store (cd's now). Man, it never ends and usually doesn't get boring. But it's still work and as such, sucks. There you have it, nitchless in toledo.

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 02, 2000 05:58am | #3

   *This nitchless business is what I call being a pissant general contractor. Yes I'm a pissant general contractor. Try really hard to do commercial work. Do residential stuff for my friends who are willing to wait until I'm good and ready. Putting shelving up for a downtown retailer today. Remodeled a cabinet I built 4 years ago and installed it in one of the most high security, big money vaults yesterday. Working 7 days a week trying to get a head so I can build a dream home.joe d

1. 
   brisketbean_ | Mar 02, 2000 06:12am | #4

   *I kind of like extracting cast iron bath tubs, 3 or 4 swats with the micro adjuster,and carry the pieces out. It is kind of therapeutic.

2. 
   Guest_ | Mar 02, 2000 06:12am | #5

   *Like the rest, I specialize in "everything". The only things I don't do: large roofing jobs, large concrete jobs, and large (multi-room) floor coverings. I do everything else, and Like Jeff, I find myself recommending "ME" for a lot of work.My add specifies that we do almost everything, and it gets a lot of attention. I have found many, many clients that do not want to deal with several contractors when they have a project to do. This is where I come in. I deal with it all, and I never sub anything out anymore (although I used to). If I can't handle a specific job, I recommend a company to tackle the specific jobs I either can't, or don't want to mess with. Works out well. James DuHamel

3. 
   Guest_ | Mar 02, 2000 06:48am | #6

   *Old houses. Pre-war. (I'm working my way backwards)... currently at pre-WWI... but I'm open to suggestion (1856, 1812?).

4. 
   Guest_ | Mar 02, 2000 08:27am | #7

   *That's a good suggestion. Ryan, if you see alot of housing in a certain area that was built in a certain decade, make that your "speciality" for advertising in that neighborhood. Or if there's alot of a certain style of house, specialize in "ranch home updates". Something the customer will relate directly to themselves. How far from the souther shore are you, could be specializing in vacation home rehabs. Used to spend 2 weeks in Wildwood every summer growing up, I'd love to work in some of the old houses in Cape May or up to Stone Harbor/ Avalon. Jeff

5. 
   Guest_ | Mar 02, 2000 06:52pm | #8

   *FWIW, it's spelled "niche"

6. 
   Guest_ | Mar 02, 2000 07:16pm | #9

   *Quitcher nitchpickin'.

7. 
   Guest_ | Mar 02, 2000 07:28pm | #10

   *Ok got it "n-i-c-h-e". Now what the heck is FWIW. Figuring While I Wait? LOLPeace,Martin

8. 
   Guest_ | Mar 02, 2000 08:11pm | #11

   *Sorry to disapoint you guys...I am upto about 80% of the time spent on the deck/fence/garden structure biz. However, that still leaves a couple months in the winter for a sanity break. Last winter we framed and drywalled a 5000sq'gut job in Toronto. This year we actually planted a pile of footings and did a bit of work outside almost all the way through. (Have about a month of architectural cabinets to do before we are able to install more footings. I still do the odd out of niche job, entrances, mantels, bookcases, as well as the odd commercial job. Love the project management biz, it's interesting and lucerative. Just got a design call....*the local nudie bar...ha ha ha*, they want a new bar built...even if I don't get to build and install it...I get to design it. Even a belly scratcher can get lucky some times!

9. 
   Guest_ | Mar 03, 2000 01:32am | #12

   *If ya got a nitch, scratch it! Jeff. That's a famous quote from "Ni-che".

10. 
    Guest_ | Mar 03, 2000 02:41am | #13

    *FWIW: For what it's worth.Sometimes a lot, sometimes very little.Rich Beckman

11. 
    Guest_ | Mar 03, 2000 05:25am | #14

    *Niches are my only business. As a matter of fact, the name of my company is Nuthin' But Niche.The niche business has slowed down as of late, so I may be forced to take on some alcoves, nooks and the occasional cubbyhole. Hey, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do to make it in this tough old world.

12. 
    Guest_ | Mar 03, 2000 05:49am | #15

    *Nooks with no crannys...you'll go broke! jeff

13. 
    Guest_ | Mar 03, 2000 06:52pm | #16

    *Actually I have always thought it was better to be a man who knows a little about a lot rather than a lot about a little.Dave

14. 
    Guest_ | Mar 04, 2000 04:29am | #17

    *We haven't been a whole lotta help, have we?

15. 
    Guest_ | Mar 04, 2000 04:49am | #18

    *Real men don't eat niche.

16. 
    Guest_ | Mar 04, 2000 06:16am | #20

    *Jim,Did you use spell check again?Quiche to niche????