Please HELP me

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Permalink Reply by savalatte on February 26, 2009 at 8:25pm

Is there anything your business gets a lot of requests for specifically (task wise) so that you could almost cold call a few local companies about? For example, does your company ever buy old computers and resell them? Almost every place I've worked at has perfectly good ones stacked away somewhere and just doesn't know what to do with them- things like that.

Usually people aren't very receptive to straight out advertising but if you just call and say you're running a special on (such and such) task this month they might be more likely to considerate it.

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Permalink Reply by Freddie on February 26, 2009 at 8:31pm

we collect computers and give them to a recycle company etc

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Permalink Reply by savalatte on February 26, 2009 at 9:28pm

You might try cold calling a few small to medium sized businesses in the area- I would say large but they usually have more *protocol* in terms of the phone system that makes it too complicated. You have to keep in mind there's plenty of people out there looking to get rid of stuff laying around but they won't be aggressive about it. Of course you know your business better than any of us but even if this one task doesn't make you a lot of money it might help you establish contacts for down the road.

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Permalink Reply by Phyllis H on February 26, 2009 at 9:34pm

Great idea! What if you advertised that you would collect computers at no cost (if possible; we have to pay an enviro fee to recycle our electronics here, no disposal at the landfill). People contact you to pick up the electronics, and when you go to pick them up, you leave a flyer outlining services, or a ballot to enter your giveaway if you're having one, etc. You leave them something that puts your name in front of them again, building your brand and making it more likely they will think of you when the time comes to call someone.

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Permalink Reply by Awesome on February 26, 2009 at 9:46pm

Other alternatives include (and these are US but I'm sure they have similar options available in the UK)
Craigslist and the Pennysaver.....

You can put your business cards on winshields at the busiest supermarket in your vicinity....Post flyers at the head offices of charitable organizations like goodwill, salvation army, veterans, sometimes people just want to unload stuff and sometimes these organizations do not offer to pick-up or deliver and sometimes people scramble at the last minute and will pay top dollar and then some to just find someone readily available to help them with the task.....

Sometimes local library's, laundromats, apartment complex's, even coffee shops have bulletin boards that you can post your services on too.....

Free t-shirts, that another excellent way to promote your business at a very minimal cost.....Have your boys wear them too.....When your employees are in uniform it gives off the vibe that you are very professional at what you do.....

Also, there are some communities that do joint yard sales or garages sales and usually, after such a big event, there may be the opportunity to contract a deal to have all remaining items towed off to a charitable establishment.....

I'm still thinking!

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Permalink Reply by Phyllis H on February 26, 2009 at 9:48pm

Business cards! You probably have them, start leaving them all over the place, not just given to people who ask for them. Post a stack of them on every community bulletin board you can find. Leave them in public places. Keep a handful on you all the time, and leave a few on the table when you leave the restaurant, leave them on the counter after you buy something at the store, A nice way to do this is to thank the clerk for the friendly/prompt/great service you've just received and pass them your card, saying if you can ever reciprocate, you'd appreciate the opportunity. It's taken MUCH more positively than a standard cold-call, and most people have enough ingrained politeness that they will take the card and actually put it in their pocket rather than toss it.

You can also tuck a business card into the envelope for each bill you are paying.

Contact existing/past customers to thank them for their business, and offer them a discount on their future jobs for every paid referral they send your way.

...still thinking...

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Permalink Reply by Freddie on February 26, 2009 at 11:10pm

well what can i say the creative juices are flowing and flowing well but dont stop there keep those ideas coming ``` i am open and attracting new ideas ! i am very gratefull so far

with the picking up for free we could do a promo in a local paper and ask people to nominate some one who needs help etc et c

keep those juices flowing xx

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Permalink Reply by Awesome on February 26, 2009 at 11:13pm

You are the man! okay now back to the thinking board!

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Permalink Reply by Awesome on February 27, 2009 at 11:58am

Hi Freddie....

I did a little surfing and found this too:

Alot of larger businesses like offices, warehouses, equipment companies or even major grocery outlets are starting to contract out removal and hauling services....

and then there is also the thought of adding a tow-truck to your fleet, thus just making your business more vesatile.....

Alot of companies like yours do not provide dismantling services which could actually be quite lucrative if you provided the service - especially for elderly communities.....

Just more thoughts.....

Awesome

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Permalink Reply by Freddie on February 27, 2009 at 1:16pm

thanks awesome you are great for looking at this 1
do you mean dismantle shelves etc

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Permalink Reply by Awesome on February 27, 2009 at 1:45pm

yes among other things.....Just indicating that you provide that type of service is just another incentive for your customers to consider when they are shopping.....

One example from an ad read:
We will dismantle a whole office (including cubicles) or take a part a large piece of equipment to prep for hauling.....

or

Prepping of your bulk material: our solutions also include prepping of your bulky material prior to removal.....

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Permalink Reply by Freddie on February 28, 2009 at 2:28am

thank you all so much for your input

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