Full Time Now

[MadMike]

Sorry I've not posted in a while. My Air Force Retirement ceremony was 16 July. From the beginning of that week and on, Its seems as though we've had lots of folks thru the house visiting. Then we took a week off to go camping. So I'm finally up and running full time and getting my feet wet.

Last week was my 1st full week, well if you call only Mon, Wed & Fri a full week thats what I did. No braggin rights on results, I met my bare minimum quota for the week which my wife and I have decided is 1 a day, to pay the bills along with my Air Force Retirement pay. Thats not my goal mind you, its just our bare minimum to pay the bills.

I'm doing the cold calling on the small business parks when I see a break I go in and ask who's vehicle is that, blah, blah blah. Most are very cordial and receptive. Very few so no there not ready.

My current frustation is locating breaks. Since most folks park nose first into a spot, I'd really have to get out and do a lot of walking a parking lot to find the breaks. Right now, I just drive till I see one, then get out.

What do you guys that are doing the cold calling (Coitster method) do? Do you get out and walk a parking lot, or do you just drive till you see a break?

Well thats all for now. I enjoy my flexibility thats for sure. Don't miss the 0700 to 1700 at all.

[scratchy]

Walk the lot with company shirt, snazzy clip board and maybe ID badge works good.

[Delta Kits]

Congratulations on your retirement Mike!

I think most, including Coitster, get out and walk the lots...

Just consider it PT

[maxryde]

Congrats Madmike!! I too am a walker just like scratchy said, nice embroidered shirt, clipboard. Just be patient on the numbers some days I cannot do any wrong on sales and other days it takes a while. Good luck!!! Scott

[MadMike]

Thanks fellas! I've enjoyed what I've been doing, just not seeing the number of chips as I'm supposed too, the walking will surely help. Plus I'll get more fresh air instead of sitting on my duff in the car. I'm sure getting out and walking the lots will definetly see my numbers go up.

I've got everything else to go with the walk. Nice embroidered shirt and hat. Snazzy official looking clipboard (belonged to a retired cop) Lettering on the car helps too!

So...Maxryde and Scratchy do you both do solely cold calling?

I've talked to several fleet business' and had no luck yet. Linen service, Meadowbrook (milk products), small used car lots, electrical shops etc. No bites on fleetwork yet. I'm sure I could use a little once the snow starts a flying.

[maxryde]

I have a pop up I set up on Saturday only. I get the majority of work from asking for it. The fleet stuff is my best seller I think because of my experience with that type of sales. I have worked the used car lots a lot since high school. The calling on personal customers is ok but I find myself back after the fleet work after I’ve been shot down a time or two. Not that it’s very hard to sell the individual I just like making a sale that reaps a larger reward, say 20 or 30 vehicles at one time$$$. The Saturday thing reaps my extra $ and can be really good at times too. Good luck Scott

[scratchy]

I do everything. Yellow pages gives some work, business cards give some work, walking around works good and working a key location at peak times works good. Also the truck lettering gives some work. I have just hit up a couple of good dealers and they said they will call when they do prep for sale now that I gave them a flat price per car for repairable damage. The bread and butter comes from walking around. It is no fun at all walking around in August Texas heat. Trying to do as little as possible. I am actually considering a 6 weeks layoff during August to mid September in the years to come and just do whatever work comes in over the phone at that time :roll:

[Mikedoby]

MadMike, Congrads on your Air Force Retirement. I too spent a tour with the 8th Air Force, 68th. Bomb Wing. As far as building up your business is concern, like the other guys, I walk the parking lots with my logo shirts and caps as well as ride slowly through the parking lots displaying my magnetic signs on both sides and tailgate of my RED truck. That get their eye probably more than anything else. I also set up on the weekends in a parking lots usually outside of Lowes or Home Depot. This always gets folks to come take a closer look :lol: I also have a hand full of my flyers that I created on the computer when I walk around in the parking lots. Once I spy a vehicle that is in need of WS repair, they get a flyer under their windshield wiper. This works for me and might do the same for you. Good Luck...

[screenman]

I have a 50/50 mix of fleet and motor trade I like to be able to do 3 or 4 jobs at each call I know you can do this walking but I am a bit lazy when it comes down to it. My best fleet customer has just gone over the £120.000 mark now that was a good call all them years ago.

[MadMike]

Thanks for the tips fellas. What a day today was! Very discouraging, I almost went home with my tail between my legs. However, the closer I got, I said to self. "Self, I'm not quitting yet. I'm gonna get as many no's as possible today" Boy did I get em. The good part is I might have my foot in the door at Dollar Rental car (I'll know tomorrow) and a couple of RV parks I hit not far from home. So with lots of no's. Tomorrow should be mostly yes's.

Hey I'm retired, I'm trying to have fun with this and keep it upbeat, cuz I sure don't won't the alternative.

So actually I finished my day very upbeat. Talked to alot of companies about fleet work. I followed the Coit's method to a tee and said I was out of business cards could I have one of theirs with a fax number and I'll fax em a flyer. So once home I made up a great flyer extolling the virtues of my service over some major glass houses service.

I'll be faxing like crazy first thing in the morning.