Free Republic Business Networking Ideas

7/13/2002 | PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I own and operate asphalt-parking lot maintence co. and have enjoyed sharing ideas, methods, tax info, good investment's, contacts, marketing skill's, ideas for new business start ups, solving problems and in general just talking business with other Freepers when the occasion came up.

I think that they are others out there in Freeper land that would like to do the same, and would like to get together and talk business on a regular basis, hey were all capitlist pigs or we wouldn't be on Free Republic. :)

So the attempt at starting a Free Republic Business Networking Ideas thread came to mind, where we could get together on a regular basis and share business ideas. We would be using our creative talents to help each other achieve our goals as we cultivate a network of people strategically positioned to support our self's in our business goals.

#1 Helping others, and #2 Helping yourself. In that order.

Networking is about building supportive personal and business relationships, it's consistently meeting new people and making new friends, sharing ideas and having lots of fun in the process!

So, I've run it up the flag pole will anybody salute it?

BigMack

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Ok, I start with a problem I'm having and need help with. At the moment we have 20 jobs on the books to be done, and about 10 for sure bids out that we will get, and more on the way (I'm not complaining:) its about a 35 day work load. We run 1 crew and are buying more equipement and hiring a new 2nd crew to help with the work load.

The problem: Scheduling, everyone want's it done NOW, they think we can send one of our 10 crews right out, even in our business the BIG boys only have 1 or 2 crews, even with the new crew we are adding we will still have the same problem because we will take on more work, nothing like greed. :) I had this problem for years when the busy season starts, its been at best a juggling act. I need ideas if anyone out there has had this problem and what you have done to solve it.

BigMack

[weikel]

I like this idea and it helps the cause of conservatism if we are all rich? Bump from a 20 year old college kid capitalist pig wannabe( with a rich girlfriend).

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I like this idea and it helps the cause of conservatism if we are all rich? Bump from a 20 year old college kid capitalist pig wannabe( with a rich girlfriend).

Great thats the spirit. Do you plan to start a business when you finish college? And will the rich girlfriend become Mrs. capitalist pig wannabe? :)

BigMack

[Flyer]

everyone want's it done NOW

From a customer's perspective, never say you can do it NOW if you can't. Better to lose one customer that just can't wait than risk losing them all from over committing yourself.

---

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Big business bump! :)

BigMack

[weikel]

I will start my own business eventually but I don't like to borrow so I will work and save up the capital myself( Im assuming the job market in engineering will have improved in 2 years its at about a ten year low this summer and I haven't been able to find an internship) and perhaps raise the rest from friends and family. I have a 25% stake in a couple books other people are writing I just suggest ideas.

[Focault's Pendulum]

The problem: Scheduling, everyone want's it done NOW, they think we can send one of our 10 crews right out, even in our business the BIG boys only have 1 or 2 crews, even with the new crew we are adding we will still have the same problem because we will take on more work, nothing like

You need a butt kicking sales crew with a top notch sales manager who knows how to negotiate the BS that every customer..."needs it right now!"

I do this every day....listening to "prospective customers needing immediate attention....the usual implied threat of "going to your competition."

%85 of my prospects walk back in my door.

[Henrietta]

I'm in!

[Drango]

Do you have someone else that can supervise? Try rolling 4x10's.

40 hours a week, 10 hours a day...then a new crew comes on for the next 40 hours. Then the first crew comes back...and so on. Large construction firms combine this with a second shift when they want to fast track a project.

The key is to sit down with your employess and work out the compensation issues and to make sure your state labor laws will allow such a program.

[mdittmar]

The problem: Scheduling

Don't know if this will help at all,but it's all about customer service.

Do not "bite off more than you can chew".

Do the jobs you can handle perfectly(which I'm sure you do),and you'll always have more business than you can handle.

[Focault's Pendulum]

And BTW my employer has been in one location for 40 years.

We tell it honestly.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

From a customer's perspective, never say you can do it NOW if you can't. Better to lose one customer that just can't wait than risk losing them all from over committing yourself.

I understand where your coming from, but the nature of our business makes us take on all the work we can, its seasonal, everybody else is in the same boat I'm in, well you could say everbody is backed up, and they are, and customers will just have to wait till we can get to them, and thats what happens, but if I could come up with a better way I sure would like to know to keep my customers happy and coming back for more.

BigMack

[CHICAGOFARMER]

OK you have the best kind of problem. Work, to much work.

Growth is great. I spent 15 years growing franchising businesses. The biggest term I coined, and most certianly was not the first to coin it. "Controlled Growth".

If your limited resources (capital) limits expansion in the revenue department then it is time to reveiw the pricing structure. Either your too low, or too good, or etc.

Now is the time to revisit the pricing structure and increase the revenue rate until the work load is balanced.

Chicagofarmer

[Kermit]

"I had this problem for years when the busy season starts, its been at best a juggling act."

Offer discounts to schedule work in the slow season or discounts, if you can schedule at your convenience rather than theirs.

[Jackie]

I will work and save up the capital myself [to start a business].

All the big stiffs that are going down now operate on a line of credit and can't meet their obligations.

[Bob]

From a customer's perspective, never say you can do it NOW if you can't. Better to lose one customer that just can't wait than risk losing them all from over committing yourself.

I agree 1000% with that thought. Overcommitting leads to a miriad of problems no matter what the line of work.

Could charging a premium for rush jobs and offering a discount for more flexible scheduling be a possibility? Let the customer decide if he really needs the job done right away if it's going to cost him x% more.

[abclily]

I would really like to be included and kept informed about the networking arrangements. Thanks!

[weikel]

LOL my girlfriends name who I mentioned earlier on this thread is Jackie.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You need a butt kicking sales crew with a top notch sales manager who knows how to negotiate the BS that every customer..."needs it right now!"

I'm both, been in sales for over 20 years, I do negotiate the BS daily, belly to belly, eye ball to eye ball. :) Just looking for new ideas.

I do this every day....listening to "prospective customers needing immediate attention....the usual implied threat of "going to your competition."

Same here, any magic words?

BigMack

[spokeshave]

Check out my web site at www.lanchester.com

Where you will find lots of ideas for sales/marketing strategy/tactics.

. Based on the work of English engineer F. W. Lanchester (1868-1946) and his book "Aircraft in Warfare" from 1916.

Lanchester derives the equations of combat (taught today in all military schools)

However the Japanese adapted the Lanchester equations for the case of sales and marketing in the late 50s.

Until Lanchester Press established, none of the materials were available in English. Reagards