nEighter

I am going to be hitting the end of my work at the beginning of next week.

I am going to put together a brochure and get a suit and tie on and hit the businesses in the area, both close to me (literally a block away at the new shopping center) and any other local business that may need touchup and repair work.

I would like some feedback on some possible things I could put on the brochures that would help me get my business across professionally to the local business owners.

I plan on putting some pictures of the work I have done at the apartment complexes/town home community I have painted, the different businesses that I have painted for also. Would putting homeowner stuff also be appropriate for this? After all I am going after commercial business...???

I know that when you are writing a resume, you actually tailor that resume for the job you are going for.. would this be the same? Or can I make up a brochure that is a "blanket brochure" that describes my work? What would be better? As I am thinking of this, it makes me think a general brochure could possibly work... what is your guys' take?

Thanks in advance!

-Nathan

Brian

I would tailor the brochure to the particular businesses you will be approaching. A retail store probably won't be impressed with pictures of an apartment project, and vice versa.

Depending on how these will be printed, a generic template could be modified for different types of businesses.

Brian Phillips

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tsunamicontract

a painter in a suit and tie? Looking to do apartment touch ups and the like? In fact, a painter in a suit and tie period? I think that will come across as suspect. I would get a nice 3 button polo shirt with your name embroidered or screen printed on and some nice jeans or kakis.

premierpainter

Agree with the suit and tie. A polo would be a better fit.

johnthepainter

agreed,,,,,,dont wear a suit and tie,,,,,,this would hinder your efforts.

while you are out, chat it up with everyone.

look for residental repaints from the shop owners also.

bikerboy

Don't sell you. Sell what benefits the customer derives from hiring you.

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nEighter

Excellent feedback. Polo and Khakis it is Oh and yeah I WILL be trying to sell the business both at their business and their homes LOL I will let you guys know how it goes

sourcespin

Alot of companies don't like solicitation. I would do a good brochure, one that is well designed, and has some good information as to why to use a professional painter and why you should be that professional painter. Also don't go over board on the quality. Also do you do any faux finishes, murals or custom painting that might benefit the business?

If you decide to go the mail out route (which I would do), include a generic price list. Start with value and then work into quality.

Also, I have a buddy that gets her painting contracts by taking her dog to the off lease area in painters whites. She chats local house wives up and her summers are busy. She's an ok quality exterior painter and her prices reflect that.

If you decide to go the door to door, cold call route? Your a painter, be a painter. Instead of the suit and tie, consider getting t-shirts done with your logo or maybe even a white jacket with your logo on it and wear painter paints. Not new ones though...

sourcespin

Actually a brochure that shows your a diversified painter is beneficial. Like with our brochures for Paint Calgary. We have two, one for home owners, apartment interiors and builders, and another for commericial and retail.

The residential has pics, and smaller info on commerical and retails, while the commercial has pics and smaller info on residential.

Our brochures though we got from Overnight Prints, so they are a high gloss quality.

Brian

That is a good point. If the brochure is too narrow in focus, the recipient may not think you do other type of work. I am constantly amazed at how many exterior customers ask if we do interior painting and vice versa, even though all of our literature clearly states that we do.

Brian Phillips

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Alex PCI

I highly recommend Keith at KBK Graphx - Homepage for your brochures and anything else you may need. He designed 2 of my brochures and is currently working on a postcard mailer for me that directly markets to a commercial sector im interested in. His work is top notch and the pricing is very fair for his quality.

nEighter

What is turnaround? I think I heard somewhere he offers a discount for painttalkers? Is that right? I have more to respond to the above, but first have to install a new front door lock/knob for the neighbors.. work is never done it seems

Danahy

I'm wondering how many customers you've work'd for? The reason I ask, is maybe as an add-on to the 'cold call brochure' thing, maybe just write an email to some customers you've already had, saying something like "Merry xmas, tks for the business, lettin' u know I'm now putting together next years schedules, best wishes etc etc etc..."

I'll get a call atleast once a month with someone saying "I had to call the store to get ur number again, i don't remember what I did with ur card".

I just did this, hoping to fill in a small lag I had after xmas in my schedule, and I actually net myself 2 jobs that filled this spot nicely, and another medium size job for the spring...

I admire your ambition with the brochures

nEighter

Well sounds like you have a great customer base. I starting out doing industrial & industrial equipment.., BNSF hasn't called me lately LOL then got into commercial with individual homeowner stuff during slow times. So no customer base isn't as large as some of you guys, but I must say i have completed some rather unique projects