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I have been open only 4 months and I am really struggling to stay afloat. I have done a lot of marketing and my days are filled with me just sitting in the shop. I do get one or two or three things a week, but that isn't going to pay the rent. I am just wondering with the market collapse we are in the midst of, is it better to cut and run and maybe return again some day or do I stay and drive myself crazy with little or no work.
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
I am not speaking from personal experience seeing that I work full time and do this as a hobby...but I believe you should try to get in contact with certain companies that deal with customers that may want your service, such as a performance automotive shop. I think more of the business is obtained that way for people solely working on powder coating.
Best of luck, also if I were you I would look out things you can refurbish and powder coat. Alot of people won't pay the five dollars for that old rusted piece, but they will pay you 100 dollars for the one that looks amazing.
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
Its been tough here. I've been buying valve covers to coat and resell, seems to be working out pretty well actually though the business is still somewhat slow. Its definetely a good idea to try to get in touch with local speed shops to offer your services to. We do that here and have gotten a good amount of work thanks to a local shop down the road. With things being the way they are, you gotta do whatever it takes, even if that means lowering prices and doing more volume
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
Networking like everyone said is the best way to make your business succeed. Deal honestly with the customers best interest at heart and you can not fail. You may have other custom coaters in your area that may not wish to do the small jobs and they may put the overflow to you.....Great Topic, thank youComment
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
I've been "open" about 3 months and am just getting going. I have Harleydads list of places to go taped inside my notebook and if I am not in the shop I am out marketing. I am just starting to get repeat business from a local motorcycle shop, and have one repeating commercial account that will cover my mortgage. Now I'm working on one for food. I wouldn't work at something this hard for someone else, but a feeling almost optimistic right now. But it's scary as hell actually. I try to keep an ad on Craigslist for our area and have gotten some business from that.Comment
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
Dusty is exactly right, if you don't have work don't just sit in the shop get out and talk to people. Early on when I first went full time if I got caught up we hit the road calling on shops from the list HD posted and I never came back empty handed. It always got the phone ringing again too. It is scary as hell!! Next month will be 2 years since I left the day job to do this full time. The first year was rough but this year has been very busy and has not slowed during the current conditions if anything I have got busier. This month is turning out to be one of my best months this year.Originally posted by dustyspowdercoatingComment
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
I too have actually been busier the past two months. I had hit a body shop that is moving more to restoration than insurance claims a while back. I needed some blasting done and remembered I saw them soda blasting one day so I called him up. They didn't do the blasting, they had a sub contractor come out there to do that for him, but as I talked to him he had lost my card. I went by there a couple of days later and gave him some more cards and today hopefully I will be giving him back the last of his parts. He had half a truck bed load of parts for me to do and I am going to try to finish the last of them tonight. I stopped by another body shop to pick up some control arms from one of the guys that worked there and may have got some work out of them. An interesting fact for you fellow powdercoaters that he told me is that trailer hitches can not be painted by body shops. Since they come powdercoated insurance companies require that they be powdercoated or replaced. Most body shops, around here anyways, can't make any money off the pc work with shipping so without a local pc shop the hitches are generally replaced due to cost. I will be getting their work on those claims now.Comment
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
I trust this information has been helpful to you Dagall...
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
Guys I appreciate your comments and suggestions. I have done all of that. I go to the car shows and talk to people and hand out flyers, hit the metal shops, bike shops, rod shops, etc. I am on the vendor list with a major company in Orlando. There is just nothing happening. I have a couple things coming in here and there, but that is not paying the rent. I hate to just try and sell everything I have, but I may have no choice. It is kind of scary, because I spent a lot of money and time on this business and I may have to close in a month.Comment
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
I hope things pick up for you. If you haven't already done so, make sure you list your business here http://www.customcoaters.com/. They have a listing of coaters by state. I've gotten quite a bit of business from listing on that site, and I don't even have a business web site.
Best of luck.Dan
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I carry a gun because I'm too young to die, and too old to take an ass-whoopin'!Comment
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
Join the hot rod assocation, and put an add in their monthly rag.Comment
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
I am currently in the Mike Kelly's Cruise News mag that goes around to all the car shows and events. I am on the custom coaters site already. I am still trying, but it is hard to not have much business.Comment
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
Hey, Dagall,
Where are you located near Orlando? Im close to Orlando myself.Comment
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
I am in Winter Garden, www.powderfx-fl.com, for the address.Comment
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Re: How is Business with the Current Market
How many custom coaters are in your area?Comment
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