flooring business

**master08** · 02-22-2008 04:34 PM

how are you,

me and my friends started a flooring company, we install and sell floors. however the finding customers is the hardest right now.

Doe any one here can suggest something or has any experience in it.

What we are looking to do is to establish relationships with management companies or big apartment buildings owners and serve them every time some one moves in or out. But just don’t know how to go about talking with them ? or how to get their business ?

Pretty much how to get to work with those guys? We have good prices, we can show the previous work.

Is any one know how to do out side sales or get some work from apartment management, constructors and work with them ?

Do I just call them? Who do I call if I do that ? or is there a site I can look where property managers put bids or request for some one to maintain their properties for floor work ?

Thank you for any suggestions.

**shawn0001** · 02-22-2008 05:11 PM

Hey master,

Just a sujestion but you might try going to local home builders and drop off business cards. Let them know who you are. You could also go to apartment buildings and find out who the main maintenace man is and let him know that if he ever needs anyone to do flooring for him your the man. A lot of realtors are also property managers, it might be worth your time to spend a few days talking to some of them about your business and offering your services. You could even make flyers and post them all over your city. Find out who your target market is and direct your efforts to getting their business.

HOpe that helps

**Paintguy** · 02-22-2008 10:25 PM

You might check out BNI(Business Networking International) BNI International Web Site find a group in your town with a strong contractor base, build great relationships, and leverage those relationships to sales. We have been a member for under 2 years and almost 70% of our business is coming out of the weekly networking...

Just a thought. Also, I don't recall the names of them of the top of my head, but there are certainly associations of property managers.

Cold calling is always a good option to.

Good luck!

Ethan

Originally Posted by master08

how are you,

me and my friends started a flooring company, we install and sell floors. however the finding customers is the hardest right now.

Doe any one here can suggest something or has any experience in it.

What we are looking to do is to establish relationships with management companies or big apartment buildings owners and serve them every time some one moves in or out. But just don’t know how to go about talking with them ? or how to get their business ?

Pretty much how to get to work with those guys? We have good prices, we can show the previous work.

Is any one know how to do out side sales or get some work from apartment management, constructors and work with them ?

Do I just call them? Who do I call if I do that ? or is there a site I can look where property managers put bids or request for some one to maintain their properties for floor work ?

Thank you for any suggestions.

**Lance_Best** · 02-27-2008 01:58 PM

Sales data will allow you to canvas a huge area and ensure you're getting to the people qualified to act on the mail.

You can purchase lists across multiple industries; work with a consultant to choose industry SIC codes and positions relevant to your needs.

Further you can target homeowners with high net worth and older homes which may benefit from your products/services~!

Give me a call if you'd like some help putting a list like this together as well as getting pricing and counts!

**cbrown** · 02-27-2008 02:50 PM

Where are you based?

I'm currently the Facilities Manager for a chain of 45+ locations, so I deal with Contractors / Vendors all of the time.

I would start sending your information to local General Contractors in the area, and let them know you'd like to bid on some of their future projects.

I would also submit your information to some of these National Handyman and Flooring Vendors. The majority of them are not "National," instead they have a list of qualified vendors in every city / state and they will bid the work out, and charge 5-10% on top of the local vendors invoice. I'd hop on Google and start researching and calling some of these Companies. There are so many of them out there.

Many large chains will use these Companies, because it saves a lot of time on resourcing and qualifying new vendors.