hi, i was just wondering how many other upholstery businesses in someone's locale would be considered too much competition for a newbie to start up against. i count about 53 upholstery businesses listed in my yellow pages. i'm looking along the line of furniture side of it, not auto or marine. thanks...
monte
in my area there probly about a dozen marine outfits. there was 2 furniture shop but tonight a noticed a new upholstery interior design shop opening up. not knowing you market area i couldnt say for me 12 might be it.
If you're lazy, you don't want competition. If you're industrious and know your stuff, WHO CARES??? If you are the best, the competition just becomes feeders for you. People go elsewhere, realize they've made a horrible mistake, and then come crawling to you with apologies because they should have used you in the first place.
Within 10 miles of me, I only have three or four other upholsterers in business that I know of (meaning they have ads in the phone book and a sign over a door). But, they aren't competition because none of these shops likes to do auto upholstery (one shop will do it if he's begged, but it's usually just a boat seat or a grain truck seat, and they are usually thrown together). So, instead of being my competition, they are part of my referral network. People come to me all the time based on referral from one of these shops and I send furniture back out (actually, back out to just one, because I know her work is on par with what I would expect to come out of a shop I've endorsed).
But, my competition doesn't stop there. I have had cars in from Wyoming, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri. As the crow flies out to Wyoming or to Iowa, there's a ton of "competition." Some do a better product than me, and others shouldn't be in business. But it doesn't matter to me because that one customer chose me based on what I had to offer. If they are happy, they will show off their ride and tell their friends, and word of mouth is a great buffer to the disadvantages of competition.
The thing I've noticed in this general area (maybe you have it too), my competition, whoever they may be, don't put themselves out there. I have a display for car shows. It's either just the display, or I get one of my customer cars out there with it. I don't even get set up all the way and I"m flooded with people asking about having their interiors done. It's not that I'm the only trimmer around here. I"m the only one going to them and meeting them and letting them know that yes, I'd like to have their business. It works.
Simple strategic business question - to be the low-cost provider, or to differentiate yourself somehow (quality, customer service, niche product). I broke into the business as the former, but am quickly moving to the latter because I like to eat and pay the mortgage. Competition in this area is very healthy. Lots of it. I don't worry about them.
I frequently encourage my prospects to shop around. This actually seems to have the reverse effect - once I tell them to call around, they don't. Happened this morning, in fact. I gave a price, he 'bout fell over, I told him to call around to see if he could get it for less, and sooner (I quoted late October), and 5 minutes later he gave me the job ;D
some of those might not be in buisness anymore . i had six at one time listed in the yelow pages . onley 2 in operation . now i am the onley one within 30 miles
had one competor retired from loss of a foot . another 30 miles away died another in the same town shot his wife and hemself . another town 30 miles the other way has lost all but 1 furniture upholstery shop . guess i might git some of their work . i now have a good helper and hope that i can .
Quote from: Mike8560 on September 21, 2007, 05:17:52 pm
Any story to that one was it stress from work or a cheating wife?
[/quote]
probably had a run on headliners lol
I have one other guy in town that supposedly does it part time but he sends most people who ask him to do something to me. One lady about 20 miles away that has been doing it for about 30 years but everyone I talk to says everything she does smells like cigarette smoke when it leaves her shop (she's about ready to retire anyway) and another guy about 30 miles from here who has also been doing upholstery for years but still hasn't learned to use a tape measure. I re did a custom pick up seat he did a few years ago that had 10 pleats on one side and 11 on the other side of the center panel and they ranged from about 1 1/2 inches wide to about 3 inches wide. I would have been emarassed to let it out the door. I think he may be retired now too. The only other real competition I have is over 100 miles away.
Just have confidence in your work and like stitcher said don't be afraid to get out and meet the people. Car shows are good and if you do furniture or cars try your local Home shows, anywere you can get your work out in front of a lot of people.
Steve
To add to what others have said.
Greet and meets are especially important in the begining, but I can't stess enough to learn you craft as soon and as well as you possably can. AND keep on learning !!!!! It's easy to miss in the begining, but whenever possable concentrate on learning to do quality, not just quanity. You may not see it now, but it will pay off in the long run.
Lots of "quick crap" shops have fallen by the wayside, and you won't hear colpiments, just complaints. The long term survives are usually the ones who can turn out quality. Usually the only complant one might hear about them is, "yeah they are expensive, but they're good".
Remember, honest word of mouth can't be bought! With time you won't have to spend as much time and money on advertising, your good work will advertise for you.
Paul.
I have people come in my shop and tell me to my face, "I've heard you're expensive and it takes a long time to get the stuff done. Here is my seat, call me when it's done." ;D ;D
They think I'm slow, but they just don't realize how backed up I am. When they part is on the table, it goes rather quickly. Oh well. At least I"m booked up.
ATRN arrived this week and an article appeared that profiled auto trim, auto acc., and canvas shops in the Miami area. What I read in this survey from local shops was a bit ironic in that they are experiencing a slowdown, some going out, and in general harder times.
The article provides reasons and they do range from too much inexpensive people doing canvas, without a license they emphasized. But, the formal shops do have competition down there due to the amount of undercutting.
Auto trim is way down and accessories are also.
Lack of quality skill was reiterated which would be worse if business was normal. It was speculated that some of the displaced skill in that area would likely have to move to other areas to find work.
It is an interesting article, if you have or can get a copy of ATRN, I am sure it is something most business people will want to read.
Here in the Midwest it is slowing some, but quality shops are busy.
Doyle
is this it Doyle?
http://www.atrn.com/ci_pick.cfm?id=390
I never heard of it so i googled it thanks
Yes Mike, that is the ATRN site.
Glad you did that because what you read is Part 1 which appeared in their issue 9 (September) magazine.
Now, the Part 2 is the continuation which is in their October magazine, or issue 10.
Definitely read part 2 also. Maybe it will appear on their site in time.
Is this copy protected against someone scanning and e-mailing to you?
I would think so, perhaps I should read the mag cover caveats.
You would find this interesting Mike. You are not that far down are you?
They profiled from surveys of industries in Miami.
Doyle
Seem like i missed the canvas related part Doyle. id like to see it.
Im not quite that far south and on the west side.
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi16.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb22%2FMikeM8560%2FShoebox%2Fth_florida-1.jpg&hash=cb3bdda319c28c9f9a339d22f0e2f46b) (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b22/MikeM8560/Shoebox/florida-1.jpg)
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QuoteSeem like i missed the canvas related part Doyle.
Part II, which hit the street this week had a few comments about canvas.
It isn't an extensive report, just an overview of the Miami area and how some of the shops (auto trim, auto accessories, and some canvas shops )are fairing right now.
Overall, things are down, shops that did have a number of employees are really down. The long established diversified shops known for quality are hanging on the best.
Problems cited are cut rate unlicensed guys - price undercutting!
Another point made is those with a lot of money are not free spending like a few months ago.
BTW, check your email. ;)
Let me know if it is readable. You might have to magnify.
Doyle
Quote from: stitcher_guy on September 18, 2007, 07:52:05 pm
If you're lazy, you don't want competition. If you're industrious and know your stuff, WHO CARES??? If you are the best, the competition just becomes feeders for you. People go elsewhere, realize they've made a horrible mistake, and then come crawling to you with apologies because they should have used you in the first place.
Sticker_Guy your a little, to say it simply, over confident.
Quote from: stitcher_guy on September 27, 2007, 07:13:05 pm
I have people come in my shop and tell me to my face, "I've heard you're expensive and it takes a long time to get the stuff done. Here is my seat, call me when it's done." ;D ;D
They think I'm slow, but they just don't realize how backed up I am. When they part is on the table, it goes rather quickly. Oh well. At least I"m booked up.
+1 on this statement I never get the "I heard you are expensive", but the rest of the statement holds true.
Kevin
That is the way. I do vinyl repair. people say, oh, everybody does vinyl repair now. err, yeah, and you can see thier work, literally. can you see mine?
actually onebonehead if you had ever seen sticher_guy work you wouldnt say overconfident at all. His work is excellent.
Excellent but not the best?
I agree with stitchers quote about if you know your stuff WHO CARES. For along time I've been the only one in town who's done upholstery except for an older lady who just doesn't do much anymore and an older man who's beem retired for many years.
Just last week though my next door neighbor told me she gave one of my cards to a friend who wasn't happy with the work they had done from a local marina. She told me the name of the marina and I thought "what's up I do all the work for them"! I also got to thinking I haven't done anything for them since last fall, but put that off to just being the off season up here.
I spent day's worrying about whether someone was dissatisfied with my work and then early this week I found out through the grapevine the marina was offering upholstery work now. It turns out they bought one of those industrial machines from Harbor Freight for about $300-$400 and are buying vinyl from a local fabric store that deals more in dress making material and cross stitch stuff than upholstery.
Anyway I'm not too worried anymore about the "competition" and will undoubtedly get alot of re-do's from other customers of theirs.
Kyle
Lets say Sticker_guy is the best upholsterer in the world. Now he comes to a town where the 5 shops are only number 2000, 2001, 2002... in the world. So now how does sticker_guy prove that he is the best and customers should come to him? After all he is number one in the world, and the other shops are behind him.
He can yell on the roof tops, "I'm number one! I'm number one!" But who and why would anyone care? So what?
If your competition is outright the worst shop in the world no problem, but what if you are only slightly better, or even 20% better then how do you get people to buy?
You can tell everyone your are the best but how will they know?
You can not assume everyone else is bad at upholstery, and you are the only good shop. That's dreaming. Even if the other shop is just starting out, after a few years they can be pretty good.
Quote from: OneBoneHead on March 24, 2011, 05:22:50 pm
Lets say Sticker_guy is the best upholsterer in the world. Now he comes to a town where the 5 shops are only number 2000, 2001, 2002... in the world. So now how does sticker_guy prove that he is the best and customers should come to him? After all he is number one in the world, and the other shops are behind him.
He can yell on the roof tops, "I'm number one! I'm number one!" But who and why would anyone care? So what?
If your competition is outright the worst shop in the world no problem, but what if you are only slightly better, or even 20% better then how do you get people to buy?
You can tell everyone your are the best but how will they know?
You can not assume everyone else is bad at upholstery, and you are the only good shop. That's dreaming. Even if the other shop is just starting out, after a few years they can be pretty good.
I see your point but Russ has a good reputation as doing good work and he has been in his location for several years. If you consistently put out good work, people will spread the word. You never want to be the best in the world but you want to put out good consistent top notch work at good prices. Once you build your reputation the work follows. Another thing is people also buy because they like the person they are dealing with. Customer Service is a very important part in our business.
Kevin
Seamsperfect, so what you are saying is, if I can paraphrase, by fulfilling more of your costume's needs better then your competitor are doing, you have a great advantage over your competitor which may in fact be a better upholsterer. So being the best at upholstery may actually be second to serving your customer needs for respect, value, honesty, service, personal and material development, adventure, love and connection, status...
I agree if that is what you are saying.
Quote from: OneBoneHead on March 24, 2011, 08:12:37 pm
Seamsperfect, so what you are saying is, if I can paraphrase, by fulfilling more of your costume's needs better then your competitor are doing, you have a great advantage over your competitor which may in fact be a better upholsterer. So being the best at upholstery may actually be second to serving your customer needs for respect, value, honesty, service, personal and material development, adventure, love and connection, status...
I agree if that is what you are saying.
I think they both go hand in hand. If you offer good work and you back that with customer service then it is a win win for both parties. I come from a IT sales background and have always been a consultant, listen what the customer is looking for and then give them a number of options and let them chose from there. If they ask for opinions then I give mine but I never sway them one way or the other I let them make the final decision.
My situation is a little different as I offer DIY BMW upholstery kits and have been doing so for several years along with local work.
I have built a reputation through customers on forums and I sponsor a number of them as well. As you know the internet can make or break you. I have been fortunate that my works and reputation is solid. The only complaint I get is wait times but as Russ stated (as a one man operation) some do and some don't understand how booked I am with projects. One thing that is nice is that I have become more well known for my works in Atlanta. I get referrals from shops that I do not even know. Customers bring their cars in for repairs and they think enough of my upholstery to pass on the word.
Kevin
I GOT SOME GOOD ADVICE FROM A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN WHEN i WAS YOUNGER, WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO SELL THE BEST PLACE TO SET UP SHOP ACROSS THE ROAD FROM YOUR COMPETITION.
Quote from: scottymc on March 25, 2011, 11:22:58 am
I GOT SOME GOOD ADVICE FROM A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN WHEN i WAS YOUNGER, WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO SELL THE BEST PLACE TO SET UP SHOP ACROSS THE ROAD FROM YOUR COMPETITION.
I agree if your product is just as good or better. If I was a brick and mortar where there was a lot of traffic. I would fill my showroom with custom reupholstered seats, leather works etc. Almost set it up like an Art gallery, but you can sit in in it and touch it. After all at the end of the day that is what we do, create art. It would not matter if someone did not know about upholstery. If you had something that caught peoples attention it will draw them in.
Kevin
I gave that idea of opening a shop across the street from your competitor some thought the other day.
And I might have a better idea, at least one to think about.
You might be etter to find out where people go before they call an upholsterer and build you shop there.
That is, before people decide to have a chair upholstered, where else might they go?
New carpeting
New drapes
Kitchen Remodel
and so on.
So in other words where do our customers go before they come or call use?
To take it further, what makes a customer stop and think, "I need to call an upholstery shop?"
There is a saying, if you can have any one thing for your restaurant what would you want more then anything else?
Best location, Best food, great atmosphere...
The answer to the question as I hear it was, "A hungry Crowd." Makes sense.
So where is our hungry crowd right before they get hungry? Now just maybe that is were I should build a shop.
Quote from: OneBoneHead on April 01, 2011, 11:41:00 am
There is a saying, if you can have any one thing for your restaurant what would you want more then anything else?
Best location, Best food, great atmosphere...
If you can have all 3 then you just got your answer. With this combination you will have success similar as to what I stated before good top notch work, good pricing and good customer services will keep people knocking on your door. If you could have only one thing I would say best food as it would also keep people knocking on your door. As far as upholstery I do not think you could have one with out the other and still be successful.
just my 2ยข
Kevin
Quote from: OneBoneHead on April 01, 2011, 11:41:00 am
I gave that idea of opening a shop across the street from your competitor some thought the other day.
And I might have a better idea, at least one to think about.
You might be etter to find out where people go before they call an upholsterer and build you shop there.
That is, before people decide to have a chair upholstered, where else might they go?
New carpeting
New drapes
Kitchen Remodel
and so on.
So in other words where do our customers go before they come or call use?
To take it further, what makes a customer stop and think, "I need to call an upholstery shop?"
There is a saying, if you can have any one thing for your restaurant what would you want more then anything else?
Best location, Best food, great atmosphere...
The answer to the question as I hear it was, "A hungry Crowd." Makes sense.
So where is our hungry crowd right before they get hungry? Now just maybe that is were I should build a shop.
You could set up across from a furniture store, then you could point out why your goods are better, the best place to find people looking for furniture is a furniture store and funnily enough you usually find a few on the same block as they are all competing.
Furniture store sounds good but won't people be coming in all day to compair your prices with new furniture prices? I guess that's where salesmanship comes in. How about next to a fabric store? Then again picking your location based on another business would be a gamble seeing that business may not be around next month.
All the way back to the original question, I noticed some of the listings in my phone book don't do the work them self. Decorators and fabric stores that farm the work out aren't competition and if I could get them to send that work to me they would be an asset. I was looking through a phone book from a city on the east coast that had 10 listings but when I called them only 2 we're real full time shops. I wouldn't base my decision on the yellow pages.