Is everyone having bad jan - feb

corky2904

New Member
Is it me or is the usual jan feb drout of work lasting a bit longer than normal? Usually im busy but for the last 3 weeks ive had 2 small jobs, i advertise local paper and internet, even quotes for bathroom installations have been rare and this time of year usually sees a rush from customers wanting to book in for work in the near future, has the unstable economy got people holding on to there cash, or is it just higher credit card bills from crimbo? This time last year i had my details in only half the places i have now but was busy
 
I was quiet a few weeks before xmas, busy all last month but a bit quiet this week and last week, 2 bathrooms booked in from monday and strong possibles for march. Have been hammered for quotes but don't seem to get much feedback, I feel a lot want a cheap job doing and i,m not a cheap job man think they must be pricing the suite in the sales and get a shock on how much for installation and tiling etc.
 
Corky I find the interest I get from my local rag when I use it is very dissapointing considering the cost, most of my work comes word of mouth now.
 
Im thinking of posting some business cards i had printed at the start of last year, has anyone had success with this method?
 
i know a lot of the new build is stopping,too many houses stood unsold,the builders,persimmon,wimpy and barrets are asking the subcontracters to take a 3% paycut,and they are clearing out loads of management.troubling times ahead.
 
dead here in the north east too,done a bathroom suite and few small jobs last week,but only one small job tomorrow,and thats the whole week.was dead from xmas really.there isnt even many plumbing jobs about up here as i checked those out today too.
 
hello,im from york,all the work is around leeds,bradford.you can bet on 1 thing though,it will be the shareholders who lose out last,we will all be living in boxes,eating rat for tea before they have to sell one of their cars.
 
Been pretty busy in the North East last 2 weeks and getting busier, was quiet before that. Last 2 days had 12 calls for quotes and minor jobs. Got 1 bathroom in the pipeline and 5 rads/pipework change next week for a customer, plus various other wc swaps etc. All in all better than last year I'd say.
 
I have been busy but talking to one of my brothers who does a lot of work for new builds and developers he says things are slowing up dramatically as developers are becoming cautious - lots of unsold flats are just sitting there - he thinks too many flats have been built but the developers are scared to drop prices/rents as they will precipitate a crash. - Dorset.
 
do you do gas dmp? where do you advertise then?
Im in the yellow pages,yell.com,thompson,free paper etc
ben
 
Jan was quietish, but I went on a couple of courses and we had a weeks holiday as I was expecting business to be slow.

Since the 1st Feb. I'm more or less booked up until 2nd week in April.

Done loads of quotes in January, but most people have not booked anything so probably people are starting to watch their wallets. The phones gone a bit quiet now, I guess at the same time all the Christmas credit cards came in.
 
I`ve heard that too , and in my local rag the plumbers list has grown from 3 or 4 to apx 10 .

My mate advertises in the local Church Mag , he got loads of work .

Amen
 
Looks like troubled times ahead, people are saving because they now have massive mortgages, so that new shower they wanted has been put on the back boiler, only work will be emergency's and i bet for half of them the customer will have a go themselfs to try and save a few bob, im in bradford/halifax area, anyone from round here with the same difficulties?
ALSO, Can i change the discussion to include advertising strategys? what works what does not?
 
Shhh..don't tell anyone but London is 'kin heaving with work..
oh damn..!
 
One small job this week! im going flyer dropping this afternoon.
 
Had a decent January which will carry me through this month if need be. Feb's looking slow at the moment but I've got a load of small jobs for letting agencies and private customers. Bit of tiling as well.

Maybe people are just getting Xmas and New Year out of the way.

Shortage of Bathroom fits though and I'm quoting as low as I can.
 
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