Residential to Commercial?

[BCLS]

I wanted to pick the brains of some of you who have some experience with the this type of transition.

I'm in the process of setting of my strategy for next year and how I'm going to market and advertise my business. Residential was not a problem this year, as I prepared flyers and word of mouth helped. I did acquire three commercial accounts, but I want to really pick up in this segment of my business.

I know that I can walk in to an office park and give my business card to the secretary, but I don't know that as I leave my card is going into the waste basket. I want to come across as a professional, and not desperate or pushy for business.

Who do I ask for or how do I find out who is responsible for the property? How can I make an impression or at least good enough that I can get someone to call me back? I have tried looking into some property mangement companies, but it seems so hard to get in or at least to speak with someone who can provide some information.

What should I presenty other than a business card and my face?

I would greatly appreciate some ideas and hear about how some of you have been able to get into the commercial business and what you did to get there.

Tahks everyone in advance for your time!!

Eduardo
Bayou CityLawn Services

[Anderson Creek Lawn]

Try to find out who is the contact person is thats in charge of the grounds and just make an appointment with the person.. see if the jobs are bidded or just handed over make sure to have all you papers in order i.e. insureance workman comp and business lic. have your pitch ready because the person time is just as valuable as yours is

[dave_n_mulberry]

i go in and ask if i can give them a quote for future lawn service. then go out look the property over and then mail them an estimate with a price listing the service i would do for that price. ALways use a disclaimer that "the actual price may be higher if you require additional services or lower if you require less service." it works pretty well. that way you have the contact person name in your database and you send them a postcard every three months.

i buy postcard stock print my own and a 23 cent stamp adds up to cheap advertising on a trageted market place.

[Phil Nilsson]

BCLS

here's an answer ...

If you want to be successful at anything do what others are unwilling to do* ... what is your competition (at those commercials) unwilling to do? ... go find out ... (study those properties carefully) offer it, do it ... and the contracts will be yours.

What I'm saying is that in any competitive situation you and the other bidders are looking at a ladder with the same number of rungs ... (YOU) add a rung to the ladder ... and bid it with an "extra" ... simple ... logical ... when you go the extra mile ... your competition is exactly (one mile behind you)



* like homework for example ...

[Team Gopher]

Hi Eduardo,

Did you know that when Enterprise rent a car tries to get new accounts from local garages, they will stop in on hot days with a cold six pack of soda? They also do many other things as well to get on the good side of the mechanics and shop owners. When customers of the garage, come in and need a rental while their car is being repaired, guess who the shop calls. Enterprise.

You can be just as creative. Come up with ideas like this or others and you may find yourself being called to service their properties.

[Phil Nilsson]

Team Gopher is right ... you need to break the code ... 80% emotion and 20% logic ...

FYI ... smart players have broken the code (by avoiding it) by offering very low prices to customers ... then getting subcontractors to do the work, take the hit, yet pay the percentage to the "man" with the "plan".

Who is a good example of that and how well it works ... WalMart, that's who ... pretty dumb of them huh? ...

Works just as well with grounds maintenance ... too! Part of that 70% failure rate is due to dealing with those "general contractors".