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20-10-2018, 08:09
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: NY
Boat: Ranger 29 tug, C&C 34/36
Posts: 46
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I'm starting a new business....
I've been refinishing wood for over 45 years and have decided to take on work from boat owners who choose not to do their own work. Although I can refinish gel coat and fiberglass, I prefer wood.
Business cards have been designed and will be 'geurilla marketed' into cockpits of mooring fields. I will also contact local boat yards, sailmakers and Marinas to get the word out.
Comments please.
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20-10-2018, 08:18
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: New Bern, NC
Boat: Pearson 323
Posts: 391
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2savage
I've been refinishing wood for over 45 years and have decided to take on work from boat owners who choose not to do their own work. Although I can refinish gel coat and fiberglass, I prefer wood.
Business cards have been designed and will be 'geurilla marketed' into cockpits of mooring fields. I will also contact local boat yards, sailmakers and Marinas to get the word out.
Comments please.
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There is always a market for a quality product. Good Luck.
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20-10-2018, 08:26
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: New England
Posts: 356
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Hope they are waterproof cards lol! This way you can just leavethem at boats that appear to need your services. You should be really busy by Spring!! Best of luck with your new venture.
__________________
"Simplicity made the boat a pleasure to sail"
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20-10-2018, 08:30
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: NY
Boat: Ranger 29 tug, C&C 34/36
Posts: 46
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clamdigger
Hope they are waterproof cards lol! This way you can just leavethem at boats that appear to need your services. You should be really busy by Spring!! Best of luck with your new venture.
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I bought a few hundred little business card sized zip lock bags to put them in.
This method of marketing was very common in Europe in the 1970's. When I would get to my boat there was always a few fliers for divers, riggers and such. I never thought of this as trash. More like a decent resource and reading material for a cruise.
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20-10-2018, 09:50
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Indianapolis
Boat: MacGregor 26
Posts: 263
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
I personally refuse to do business with people who leave info on my car or home. Is it different in the boating world?
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20-10-2018, 10:34
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: NY
Boat: Ranger 29 tug, C&C 34/36
Posts: 46
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Yes. Boating is a club. We all have the same interests at heart.
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20-10-2018, 11:54
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#7
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,047
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2savage
Yes. Boating is a club. We all have the same interests at heart.
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+1, I have also kept those cards.
I've been very successful in the marine business and I put it down to only three basic things.
1. I show up when I say I will.
2. I do what I say I'm going to do.
3. I charge what I said I would charge.
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
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20-10-2018, 13:24
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#8
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,135
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Quote:
Originally Posted by boatpoker
+1, I have also kept those cards.
I've been very successful in the marine business and I put it down to only three basic things.
1. I show up when I say I will.
2. I do what I say I'm going to do.
3. I charge what I said I would charge.
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BP, if only other practitioners of marine services would assume these simple precepts...
good onya, mate, and good luck to 2savage. Good timber work is always in demand, and a joy to have on one's boat.
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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20-10-2018, 14:08
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Brisbane Australia
Boat: Schionning Waterline 1480
Posts: 1,987
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Quote:
Originally Posted by boatpoker
+1, I have also kept those cards.
I've been very successful in the marine business and I put it down to only three basic things.
1. I show up when I say I will.
2. I do what I say I'm going to do.
3. I charge what I said I would charge.
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So your the one...... I thought you were a myth :-)
EDIT.... I would keep a card left on my boat and they would be the first ones I'd call if I needed that work because I would assume they wanted the work.
__________________
Regards
Dave
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20-10-2018, 15:48
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 237
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
word of mouth will go much better than leaving cards.
happy customers will tell others...
be running my own handyman business, fixing houses, since 2003..by word of mouth..
no ads..no leaving business cards..BNI yes
my website hasn't changes since 2003/4 why I created it..no need.
-dkenny64
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20-10-2018, 16:09
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#11
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea
Boat: FP Belize Maestro 43 and OPBs
Posts: 12,888
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoosierdoc
I personally refuse to do business with people who leave info on my car or home. Is it different in the boating world?
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Definitely different.
Size of market, availability of skilled service providers and knowledge of how else to locate them are key factors.
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20-10-2018, 23:59
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Boat: Beneteau 423 43 feet
Posts: 850
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2savage
I've been refinishing wood for over 45 years and have decided to take on work from boat owners who choose not to do their own work. Although I can refinish gel coat and fiberglass, I prefer wood.
Business cards have been designed and will be 'geurilla marketed' into cockpits of mooring fields. I will also contact local boat yards, sailmakers and Marinas to get the word out.
Comments please.
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Where in ny?
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21-10-2018, 04:49
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minnesota / Florida
Boat: Westerly Fulmar 32
Posts: 475
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Quote:
Originally Posted by dkenny64
word of mouth will go much better than leaving cards.
happy customers will tell others...
be running my own handyman business, fixing houses, since 2003..by word of mouth..
no ads..no leaving business cards..BNI yes
my website hasn't changes since 2003/4 why I created it..no need.
-dkenny64
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Yes but you have to get words into mouths and start the reputation building somewhere...
Good luck with the venture...
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21-10-2018, 05:06
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Boat: Cal 33-2
Posts: 448
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Many marinas will not allow outside contractors to work in their yard. Or at least you have to register in the office and probably pay a percentage of your income for the job.
__________________
S/V First Tracks
1985 Cal 33-2
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21-10-2018, 05:34
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Bumping around the Caribbean
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,625
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Re: I'm starting a new business....
Quote:
Originally Posted by boatpoker
I've been very successful in the marine business and I put it down to only three basic things.
1. I show up when I say I will.
2. I do what I say I'm going to do.
3. I charge what I said I would charge.
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OMG yes.
I spent a few years based in Annapolis and there is so much work here that almost anyone can hang out a shingle and make a go of it. Unfortunately, and for awhile.
Referrals are king, and I think they are pretty much based on those three principles above. Set expectations and then exceed them. If a vendor can’t call me back when I have a question, doesn’t show up when they say they will, and doesn’t get the work done when promised for no good reason I’m not only not calling them back I’m making sure anyone who asks hears about my experience.
I would also cultivate boat brokers. New boat owners are always asking their brokers for the names of good service folks.
__________________
"Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most." -Kurt Vonnegut
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