david knight
New Member
Hi. I started in 1983 decorating etc Did that for 23 years. (I'm 56) Specialised in plastering for the last 10 years (1996-2006 approx) Then got into other biz. Recently decided to get back into it 'cos I'm broke or soon will be.. let's gloss over that bit (quick drying type gloss 
)
Anyway, last month I rang a lot of tradesmen in and around my area (clacton) and a couple took my number for future ref etc. Everybody said it's quiet, near xmas ..
One guy (mick, Holland on sea, maybe you know him, maybe you don't ,hi mick if ur reading this thanks) gave me a days work. First time I'd picked up a trowel (his) for 10 years. Big kitchen ceiling skim over board. Was like I'd never had a break, went fine, he was happy, customer was happy, Mick couldn't give me anymore days on the job as he needed the work for himself (last 2 weeks before xmas etc)
Next day though muscles were aching a bit.. guess I need to rebuild the stamina back. But you know, ceilings are a bit more demanding ( not a lot. just a little bit more)
I've been putting out free ads online. Ad in local paper. Got an estimate thru craigslist. Got the job. 3 days work would have completed before Jan. What happened? Texted me he needed to postpone until Jan because of work commitments.
From my experience that rarely happens. Usually means it's cancelled, which also rarely happens. Most people will leave you alone in the house, but he wanted to be around, so can't rule it out 100% but really needed it. My instincts a rarely wrong though.
Next- designed and printed my own leaflets ( not bad at that sort of stuff so if you're in the market for a design job let me know and I can email you mine as a sample)
Went out and mailed a few hundred, freezing cold .. lovely. I was going to avoid the biggest house in the nicest road near me, cos sometimes people who are well off are the worst customers unless you been recommended. But as it happens he was on his doorstep so, I though, might as well.
"I thought you were bring me the winning lottery ticket"
"You don't really need it do you with a beautiful house like this."
"Thanks, that's really handy", he says looking at my leaflet. " Do you do wall papering" ?
I'm thinking- I hate wallpapering. Don't think I've even done it since the early 90's
"Yeah, do people still have wallpaper these days"?
"They still sell it in the shops."
Anyway his name is ron and he does regular prop maint. So hopefully something will turn up soon from somewhere. Doing more leaflets this weekend.
Happy new year...hopefully
)Anyway, last month I rang a lot of tradesmen in and around my area (clacton) and a couple took my number for future ref etc. Everybody said it's quiet, near xmas ..
One guy (mick, Holland on sea, maybe you know him, maybe you don't ,hi mick if ur reading this thanks) gave me a days work. First time I'd picked up a trowel (his) for 10 years. Big kitchen ceiling skim over board. Was like I'd never had a break, went fine, he was happy, customer was happy, Mick couldn't give me anymore days on the job as he needed the work for himself (last 2 weeks before xmas etc)
Next day though muscles were aching a bit
.. guess I need to rebuild the stamina back. But you know, ceilings are a bit more demanding ( not a lot. just a little bit more)I've been putting out free ads online. Ad in local paper. Got an estimate thru craigslist. Got the job. 3 days work would have completed before Jan. What happened? Texted me he needed to postpone until Jan because of work commitments.
From my experience that rarely happens. Usually means it's cancelled, which also rarely happens. Most people will leave you alone in the house, but he wanted to be around, so can't rule it out 100% but really needed it. My instincts a rarely wrong though.
Next- designed and printed my own leaflets ( not bad at that sort of stuff so if you're in the market for a design job let me know and I can email you mine as a sample)
Went out and mailed a few hundred, freezing cold .. lovely. I was going to avoid the biggest house in the nicest road near me, cos sometimes people who are well off are the worst customers unless you been recommended. But as it happens he was on his doorstep so, I though, might as well.
"I thought you were bring me the winning lottery ticket"
"You don't really need it do you with a beautiful house like this."
"Thanks, that's really handy", he says looking at my leaflet. " Do you do wall papering" ?
I'm thinking- I hate wallpapering. Don't think I've even done it since the early 90's
"Yeah, do people still have wallpaper these days"?
"They still sell it in the shops."
Anyway his name is ron and he does regular prop maint. So hopefully something will turn up soon from somewhere. Doing more leaflets this weekend.
Happy new year...hopefully
Onwards and upwards
As I go on I find myself switching the 'phone off so I don't have to talk to customers, used to be just weekends now it goes off at dinner time somedays!!
