turnip:
Yes Harry. Know your place. How very dare you try to better yourself.
Not sure what exhibition companies will think of you turning up with a flat mind.
One thing I’ve found- and I was told that this would happen before I started- is that if you run a business, everybody knows more about how you should be doing it than you do.
I’m already making and taking enquiries about promo work and having done a great deal of that in the past I know that little freebies, pens, notepads etc can have an impact. Even if a truck-shaped ruler is tat, people are more likely to put it in a drawer and keep it, rather than just losing it like a business card (I do have those too).
So if I spend just over £100 having 250 of these made up with my name and phone number on them and give them away as and when, then it only needs to land me one job and it will have paid for itself several times over.
I’ve gotta agree with Harry (again ) business cards are okay, but are soon lost or hidden away, pens ( & mouse mats in my case) and other plastic tat are not, they have the added bonus of being a constant reminder of who to call. Once I’d got the clients business, giving them freebies looks like goodwill, but there was obviously an ulterior motive behind the gesture. The important bit is that it worked.
i hope to god harry makes a success of his venture…just so he can give his “admirers” a great big told you so,whilst wearing the fattest smuggest grin there ever was
Well, it might work and it might not. Anything can go wrong for anyone in any type of business, but anyone who starts out knows that anyway.
Currently I’m subcontracting while I build a credit record and a trading history, but I am looking to do my own work which would obviously pay more. So part of that involves getting my company’s name out there. If I have some small freebies made up, then even if nothing ever comes from doing it then the worst-case scenario is that I’ve wasted a hundred quid which isn’t the end of the world, especially as it’s tax-deductible anyway.
Got given one of these in a groupage warehouse in Lisbon years ago.
Always a handy thing to have around so IMHO it could be £100 well spent. I think the secret is to have your name on things that to be found on the desk of the man doing the hiring. Why look out a buisness card when you’ve got a mans number right in front of you on a ruler/mug/mouse mat/pen.
fly sheet:
This is surely not a serious post is it? Promo gear wtf your a starting out owner operator why waste money on tat? & why in gods name would people want rulers off You or are You hoping to entice carpenters to load Your tractor unit.
My tip is Mr Monk put Your promo gear idea to one side & go & buy a flat trailer because trust Me there is’nt a shilling to be had in pulling anybody elses & like I’ve told You repeatedly if it fits in a trailer it aint worth a carrot.
One 40ft flat & never stray outside of the home counties & You could even make a profit.
Theres no charge for My services here its a freebie, oh & send Me a ruler as I use them filling out log sheets
Yes Harry. Know your place. How very dare you try to better yourself.
Not sure what exhibition companies will think of you turning up with a flat mind.
I just gave the bloke free advice on how to better Himself did’nt I?
Harry Monk:
Well, it might work and it might not. Anything can go wrong for anyone in any type of business, but anyone who starts out knows that anyway.
Currently I’m subcontracting while I build a credit record and a trading history, but I am looking to do my own work which would obviously pay more. So part of that involves getting my company’s name out there. If I have some small freebies made up, then even if nothing ever comes from doing it then the worst-case scenario is that I’ve wasted a hundred quid which isn’t the end of the world, especially as it’s tax-deductible anyway.
Pull up outside the offices of who You want to do Your promo/exhibition work for with a mega van trailer & new top notch ali ramps etc & a tidy unit & that will do the trick I would imagine, try Imagination first as their close to You…& thats free advice too…this all depends on how badly You want that kind of work, Myself I would be showing up round all the bagged aggregate firms, concrete plants & cabin/generator hire etc companies local to You in Kent & offer Your services with Your new 40’ flat & go from there.
I respectfully have to disagree here, bagged aggregate and concrete work on a flat trailer is just about the poorest paying work there is, whereas exhibition and promo is just about the best paying work there is.
Harry Monk:
I respectfully have to disagree here, bagged aggregate and concrete work on a flat trailer is just about the poorest paying work there is, whereas exhibition and promo is just about the best paying work there is.
So put something else on the flat trailer
The ruler idea is not a bad one, getting your name in people’s minds is a good idea, but will it do you any good if you get a phone call for a spur of the moment job if you’re ■■■■■■■ with Gregorys’ work, you start messing them around and you could lose a tenner trying to earn a fiver
Here’s another thought that just occured to me, you keep saying how this thing with Gregorys is just a stepping stone, I hope for your sake that none of them (Gregorys) come on trucknet, you may find yourself stranded in the west country without a load, you’ll need a [zb]ing big stepping stone to get back to Kent from there
Harry Monk:
I respectfully have to disagree here, bagged aggregate and concrete work on a flat trailer is just about the poorest paying work there is, whereas exhibition and promo is just about the best paying work there is.
I’d have said as an owner operator a day hire from Supreme with a 40’ flat around the home counties would put what your doing to shame. I Myself used to get good money off Richard doing just that, I appreciate I was on a double earner as I’d always arrived in Kent for excellent money anyhow but nonetheless He paid good coin to Me.
I have a good friend in Kent who makes a good living delivering bagged aggregates up to the city each day.
I think in reality You want to be doing the miles & trucking on Myself, its whatever floats Your boat Harry.
& while I’m here forget the rulers Harry, if You want to spend a few quid go the whole hog & get a 100 good quality high viz vests & throw them about with Your name & number on them, in Your job they have to be worn & every loader etc loves a freebie a ruler will get shoved in a drawer & forgotten about. Get them in orange too much easier on the eye.
) business cards are okay, but are soon lost or hidden away, pens ( & mouse mats in my case) and other plastic tat are not, they have the added bonus of being a constant reminder of who to call. Once I’d got the clients business, giving them freebies looks like goodwill, but there was obviously an ulterior motive behind the gesture. The important bit is that it worked.
