Labor Intensive Actives can equal lower return for a business

[baileyuph]

I will share this with my friends here, especially those who want to make better money.

My best luck has been:  Find something consumers will pay for that your business can do relatively efficient and do a lot of it.

It pays the bills, doesn't yield the same bragging rights, but it will spoil you.

The consumer doesn't understand much more than "how much". It is not about what they get it is all about "how much".  Those who do understand it all, quality, etc, will pay and some will not ask the price.  That type of customers gets the attention they deserve.

It is important for us small business people to pursue markets that the big box stores don't or can't support, that is don't go head to head against them, small operators will lose.

Repairs, for example.  Wood repairs can be a good source for profits.  I do them, low material cost, not much competition, they can be done fast, usually.

Consumers are keyboard oriented, some of the things we do with our hands (using tools) are foreign to them or they have no interest or understanding of how it is done, many will have the work done if it is less than replacement.

My .02 cents.

What works best for you in business?  We all can't or won't do it the same way.

Doyle

[bobbin]

I love repair work.  Always have.  I have only 1 requirement now... any work has to be clean.  I do a lot of interior "home dec." work in my shop and "dirty/grimey" is not compatable.  I'm happy to repair horse blankets, but they have to be clean when they come into my shop.  I won't struggle with really big and heavy items any more.  SORRY! I've done enough pool covers to last me into my next lifetime.  All done with that crap, thanks.  

Clothing alteration/repair? GRAVY for a well trained person.  Takes me -10 minutes to remove and replace a fly zipper in a pair of jeans, I'd do 'em all day long, thank you very much!  Make an app't. for a fitting/drop off and I'm your girl!

[sofadoc]

You're preachin' to the choir. ;D
Repairs are the easiest money I make. They take very little time, and they go a long way in paying the bills.

Some upholsterers are too proud to repair low-end furniture. They don't want to even be associated with poor quality stuff. And they don't feel right about repairing something that is just going to break again anyway.
Well send 'em to me.

Luv's me some cushion foam replacement, too!

If I had enough of that kind of work, I wouldn't do anything else.

[Rich]

OK, so it's agreed that repairs are good profit. My question is how are you going after this business?
Rich

[baileyuph]

Yellow pages, believe it or not yields calls.

Other shops that don't do them refer you.  Some don't want to work on the new junk, no bragging rights for them. 

Having a brick and mortar business for a number of year is a tremendous asset.

there are no secrets as to how to grow the business, just a desire to make money and a willingness to go and "just do it"!


Advantages - efficiences (no selling time)

Disadvantages - no bragging rights and a strong background in furniture upholstery and wood furniture a major plus, buy the right tools if they save time, buy them!

Can't say how important experience is!

Believe it or not, not everyone will like the work.

Doyle



 

[sofadoc]

OK, so it's agreed that repairs are good profit. My question is how are you going after this business?

I stress repairs and foam replacement on my website. And since I have a retail storefront, I have ample signage in my window.

I tried a "Google Ad Words" thing where I designate certain keywords (such as furniture repair) that will turn up first in a customer's Google search. I had a $100 free credit to start out. When the $100 ran out (.25 per click), I didn't renew it.

But for the most part, I just "Let the game come to ME".

Since I do repairs for all the local furniture stores, they refer their customers to me.

I agree with Doyle. The Yellow Pages do still work. But due to some confusion with my inept YP ad rep, my ad under "Upholstery" was omitted from my local phone book this year. My only listing is under "Furniture repair and refinishing". So far, I haven't noticed any drop-off in calls.

[byhammerandhand]

My opinion is that Yellow Pages was not cost-effective for me.  It cost over $500 a month for a business card-sized ad.  Most of the calls I got were telemarketers soliciting credit cards, accounting services, etc. etc.   

Then for a while I had just a one-line listing as a business phone / remote call forwarding number.  About 20% of the calls I got there were for the prior owner of that phone number (a recording studio) even though they hadn't been in business for a couple of years (either they had stale business cards or something).

I have a one-page web site that generates calls.   I also have a good rating on Angie's List and get a lot of inquiries via that.   Other than that, it's recurring B2B and repeat jobs that I've done for people.

I do "repair only"   I think it's a lot easier for someone to spring $100 for a repair than to spring $1000 for an upholstery job.

Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without

[Mike]

I just did a repair job wensday I bought no materials used stock I had and was extra I get repairs omce in a awhile now seems I used to see in NH ON many Saturdays in spring people bring in resews or bad vinyl windows needing replacement.not as much now. but even with new work I once had a neibor marina owner say to me after a walmart opened up in the area that maybe my tackle could be bought cheaper at ny wholsale costs actualy  but my canvas upholstery work will never be .

[kodydog]

OK, so it's agreed that repairs are good profit. My question is how are you going after this business?
Rich

Put on your salesman hat and stop by your local furniture stores. Most have plenty of work.

Each store is different. Some are concerned with price only. But others are more customer oriented and want fast turn around, quality workmanship and a professional attitude. These are the stores I like to work for. When your dealing with there customer your representing there store. A store like this will also refer customers to you who's furniture is out of warranty.

[Mojo]

I quit doing repairs. I only needed to do two of them before I realized it wasn't worth my time.
MY profit was ate up in just cleaning my shop and my machine afterwards. I had sand, dirt and grime all over the place and in my machine. I refuse to do repair work now.

The last one I did the customer washed the fabric before bringing it to me. My machines vibration bounced tiny sand particles right out of the weave and all over my machine.

In regards to doing something efficiently I believe I have a great product. The margins are hefty and the turn around time fast. I can turn products over relatively fast. I love specializing in the niche market I am in. But it took me a couple years to realize that I cannot do all things. I dropped my solar screen line as well as custom covers. They are more time consuming and  do not pay as well as canvas work.

I often wonder if I was a young man just getting started in this game which direction I would have chosen. Auto's ? Marine ? Furniture ? No idea to be honest. But I do realize that in order to specialize it takes years to master each one.

At this stage of the game and at this point in my life I am comfortable and happy doing what I currently do. It pays extremely well and is perfect for my health limitations. I also love motorcoaches so it feedss that passion for me as well.

[Rich]

kody's idea of going to the furniture stores was more the answer I was asking for. Getting your name out there is good and certainly builds long-term business, but is there a more aggresive way of actually hunting down this business? Targeting people who have this need and going after them? I'm thinking maybe direct mail if you knew who your potential customers were, but are there other ideas we can come up with?
Rich

[baileyuph]

Rich one has to start and demonstrate what they can do.  In repairs, the activity is closer to working with current manufacturing techniques and materials than restoring older furnitue.  That has and does change over the years.  

Like Dennis said, the game can come to you, I believe it is a given that there are fewer upholsters and repair people around these days.  Repairs require one to be fast and good.  That takes us full circle to efficiency.  If one isn't efficient in repairs, then there could be a problem.

Business is built of loyalty and reputation, no different in this case.

Just get your feet wet, there are things to learn.  Recliners can be a big part of the repair industry, just about everything, new, often has a recliner in it.  They can be a head ache.

Getting the work, may not be a problem, over time.
Doyle  

[kodydog]

Just got a recliner with two broken springs. I figure 1/2 hr to take the seat apart. 15 -20 min to pop a couple of springs in and 30 to 45 min to put it all back together. $150 for less than 2 hrs work. That's good pay in north central Florida. And the customer is tickled pink.

[JuneC]

Just got a recliner with two broken springs. I figure 1/2 hr to take the seat apart. 15 -20 min to pop a couple of springs in and 30 to 45 min to put it all back together. $150 for less than 2 hrs work. That's good pay in north central Florida. And the customer is tickled pink.

Now, if that was a boat seat here's how it would play out...  1/2 hr to take the seat out, except for the last bolt which was in the salt for the past 8 years is now frozen with rust.  It won't budge - you need to either get a hack saw blade in there and saw for 25 minutes or get out your angle grinder with a cut-off disk and grind the nut off and rebuild the damaged wood that you turned into sawdust with the grinder.  Pop in the new springs, except that the hardware you need to hold them in won't fit in the allotted space so you need to reinvent the wheel to figure out how to keep them in place securely.  Reassemble the seat - but the old bolts are too badly corroded so you need to replace them with parts that are $1.75 a pop and you need to either order and wait 3 days for delivery or drive 25 minutes to the next county to pick them up.  Gotta love marine work....  :'(

Let us know if it really is profitable in the end.

June

[timtheboatguy]

Just got a recliner with two broken springs. I figure 1/2 hr to take the seat apart. 15 -20 min to pop a couple of springs in and 30 to 45 min to put it all back together. $150 for less than 2 hrs work. That's good pay in north central Florida. And the customer is tickled pink.

Now, if that was a boat seat here's how it would play out...  1/2 hr to take the seat out, except for the last bolt which was in the salt for the past 8 years is now frozen with rust.  It won't budge - you need to either get a hack saw blade in there and saw for 25 minutes or get out your angle grinder with a cut-off disk and grind the nut off and rebuild the damaged wood that you turned into sawdust with the grinder.  Pop in the new springs, except that the hardware you need to hold them in won't fit in the allotted space so you need to reinvent the wheel to figure out how to keep them in place securely.  Reassemble the seat - but the old bolts are too badly corroded so you need to replace them with parts that are $1.75 a pop and you need to either order and wait 3 days for delivery or drive 25 minutes to the next county to pick them up.  Gotta love marine work....  :'(

Let us know if it really is profitable in the end.

June

Preach it Sister!