Soliciting Business in a Small Town
Soliciting Business in a Small Town
(OP)
My affairs are such that I can perform most of my engineering duties due North of my business and have set about doing just that. I’ve moved (or rather in the process thereof) to a town of about 300 people and the closest “major center” is about 30 mins away where about 5000 canucks reside.
I specialize in high-rise commercial restoration projects and metal fabrication. However, I get bored easy and moving up North offers the possibility of doing some design on cottages / residential that might be a nice change of pace. Also, it’s not totally foreign as I have done residential in a previous life (built custom homes, typical open concept renos, etc).
Question: If I wanted to offer such services via our engineering wing how best do you think about drumming up some business? I'm at a little bit of a loss as it's the exact opposite of what I do currently.
We are relatively restricted in terms of advertising in my Province (i.e. we cannot “exaggerate” to any degree) and so that option tends to be ineffective. All I can say in an advertisement is that I offer engineering, and am licensed. Not quite a marketer’s wet dream! Obviously, such a small place means grass roots is likely the go-to, and trying to take a step back in life I plan to volunteer to coach kids’ rep hockey and the like. That’s not for business but for fun. Though I am sure getting introduced the community that way will help. Perhaps more so than most things.
Still, if anyone has any great ideas, please let me know!
I specialize in high-rise commercial restoration projects and metal fabrication. However, I get bored easy and moving up North offers the possibility of doing some design on cottages / residential that might be a nice change of pace. Also, it’s not totally foreign as I have done residential in a previous life (built custom homes, typical open concept renos, etc).
Question: If I wanted to offer such services via our engineering wing how best do you think about drumming up some business? I'm at a little bit of a loss as it's the exact opposite of what I do currently.
We are relatively restricted in terms of advertising in my Province (i.e. we cannot “exaggerate” to any degree) and so that option tends to be ineffective. All I can say in an advertisement is that I offer engineering, and am licensed. Not quite a marketer’s wet dream! Obviously, such a small place means grass roots is likely the go-to, and trying to take a step back in life I plan to volunteer to coach kids’ rep hockey and the like. That’s not for business but for fun. Though I am sure getting introduced the community that way will help. Perhaps more so than most things.
Still, if anyone has any great ideas, please let me know!
RE: Soliciting Business in a Small Town
In small towns, word of mouth is gold. If you actually want the local work, and do it well, everyone will soon come to you. The same word of mouth can also have a negative effect if you treat the local projects as annoying side-jobs relative to your "big city work". I have personally built my own business almost exclusively on the word of mouth of the local contractors. The local AHJ also seems to occasionally refer on an unofficial basis.
In short, it's not hard to do well as a big fish in a small pond. Just be careful to keep that small pond clean and tidy!
RE: Soliciting Business in a Small Town
Any thoughts of breaking in with the builders given that I have no local contacts? My plan is to call around and see if anyone has any immediate need. Once Covid subsides I'll probably do a walk-in to some of offices to explain my history.
I was also planning to chum up the local commercial lumber yards. Instead of buying through large retail stores (for my personal projects) I might open accounts via my contracting business at some of these places just to establish some sort of relationship. And over a while let it be known what I do. I know a lot of builders obtain contacts via their material suppliers so I thought it'd be worth investigating.
Lastly, do you have any thoughts on rates? I imagine if I charged the rates I am accustomed to they would balk, which I totally get. On the other hand, just because I don't really need the money doesn't mean I want to demean the profession by providing good work for free. Do you have any advice perhaps even a rough % of what large city work might go for (e.g. charge 60% of what you would for similar project in a major metropolitan area)?
Thanks again!
RE: Soliciting Business in a Small Town
RE: Soliciting Business in a Small Town