2008 Networking

[Ian150482]

I think its a great idea, and like the idea of a private forum.

[Frank]

Not sure whats its like in the rest of the country but oop north in 'ULL there is loads of what can only be described as "pettyness" (nearly used the female dog analogy), between tree workers. Everyone is sooo nosey about what everyone else is doing and then people would rather stupidly undercut prices and lose money just to spite other people than work together to improve productivity and efficiency. The last phrase in Richard Allinsons post above is exactly the way it should be. Business is business and its a bout making money not friends but to make enimies is the worst thing to do. Networking is the way forward, my diary is 4 months in advance and I dont advertise or have my van sign written.

[Frank]

Join a local golf club or 2. Offer them some wood chips and get chatting to the ground staff, you can soon have some friends in high places.

[Ian150482]

No dig here, but if you dont advertise or have your van sign written, how'd you get the work?

 

i can see what you mean by people being bitchy but thats life. Its everwhere. I think having a good network of tree surgeons, climbers, groundies people with the equipment you may not have, is a cracking idea.

[Frank]

I got lucky when i first set out, with a couple of nice contracts doing any climbing required at 2 local estates (one with over 900 acres, majority woodland). Got these through knowing the right people and saying the right things, then doing a proffesional and safe job and being 99.9% reliable goes a long way to those people telling their people who then tell their people and so on. I also live in a village with no gas (only oil central heating or log burners) So i concentrated on monopolysing the market for fire wood. I also have a small network of 3 other tree surgeons who I have an agreement with that when they need help we dont subby, we price together and share the loot. I find it works well. Having been on the internet for a couple of months now I do have a free listing with google maps and yell.com, but havent had any feedback as yet. So Not advertising was a slight bend in the truth haha.

[Ian150482]

Fair play, i wish i had your luck. good luck to you and hope it works keep comin for you mate.

[Frank]

Cheers boss, 3 years on my own and I havent slowed down yet. My fiancee shares your hopes of the work keeping coming in haha

[jacko]

I agree with Edenarb, if we can help each other then we should.

As a small Industry if we band together then we can all progress our business sucsesfuuly without too much effect from this economic shenanigans, there are all to many fly by nights willing to work for peanuts, an honest days work for an honest days pay.

 

Ill be willing to pool skills with others in my area (Lakes and north Cumbria) if I can be of assistance to anybody.

 

Perhaps a members only list of shared resources might be of help.

[Ian150482]

been there, done that, i now im married, and the spending get worse.

[Frank]

Im getting married on the 16th. 13 days to go. Looking forward to it but getting all a bit "real" now.