[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.

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

Pick up that phone and call them. You can't be afraid to do so if you want to make it as a business startup.

[JMI]

Also, advertise via craigslist classifieds: jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, events, forums

Just go there, pick your state and advertising, and viola, free advertising. I would suggest only putting up one ad per day, but you might find yourself able to put it under numerous sections (i.e. household, small business ads, skilled trade, etc.). Also, if you offer free estimates, put an ad for them under the FREE section. Finally, on a side note, if you do put up ads on craigslist, don't be obtrusive or loud with it. Don't title your ads as "FREE ESTIMATES FOR HARDWOOD FLOORING!!!!!!!2348". Basically, don't be an ass lol. Look professional.

[ADVERTISE HERE!]

I'm not a big fan of using free advertising (but of course, to each his own). Go sell yourself and your product. Don't wait for business to come to you. Go get it. Knock on doors, make phone calls, go sell.

[Ahern & Brucker]

well, you should have some plan of attack before you just call them... You have to do a little research... let's say abc apartments...

find out who is doing their work now and are they happy? what are they charging and what don't they like about their current guys?

You are going to have to establish a selling point and right now, you don't have one so develope one.

good prices and showing previous work sounds all fine and dandy but if your competitor is offering free vacations to aruba or vegas to the decision maker, you don't stand a chance...

You can save them money? well, now that's another thing but ...you have to show it. before you show it though, you want to know what your competitor is charging or have some added advantages in your back pocket that you can pull out if you get caught off guaard. ( free upgrades on their models or offer to do the decision makers living room with africian mahogony or something... (depending on if it makes $ sense) if you charge more than the guys they are using than point out the "why's" and how them paying more is actually less expensive or some such reasoning...


commercial property management companies probably use a lot of different contractors and are probably easier to work with... but they are all looking for bargains and handouts... but will forgo their dole for quick reliable service that doesn't cause them any grief for smaller jobs and for bigger jobs the same thing only with a handout

point is, before you call, research your opponent... talk to the maintance people and ask questions...your not going to make a sale with any of these guys on the first meeting, you have to get to the point of discussion and understand what tthe customer needs and wants before you can just make a sale. maybe quick service is more important than a few $ in savings?

you don't have to worry or be afraid of talking, what you have to be afraid of is not having the "right thing to say" and saying it to the right person. so be prepared and be prepared to think on your feet.

of course you could luck out and call a guy who just fired his old guy... but, better be prepared anyway.

your only doing business with other business guys.. so just go and get their business...

the main #1 thing is to be real...

[quickincorporators]

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[ADVERTISE HERE!]

Originally Posted by quickincorporators

Do me a favor. PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL ASSETS!!!! Form a company, look at our site below

Are you guaranteeing that my personal assets will be protected if I "form a company" with your services?