Marketing techniques

Post your windshield repair tips, questions, advice! Note there is a sub-forum specifically for business development questions.
new guy

Re: Marketing techniques

Post by new guy »

GlassStarz;31853 wrote:It depends on what market you are looking and what the competition in your area is once you have a grip on that build a plan that will give you max penetration with min $$$
I have heard from others that I live in a saturated windshield repair market. But I've never seen it offered at a carwash/detail place. A couple years ago, my wife had a pit which became a small crack. At the time I had never heard of "repairing" a windshield, and the guy who sold us a new windshield sure as heck didn't say anything either. :eusa_doh:

Perhaps I do live in a "saturated market", but I've been looking into it, and all I find are vague and unconvincing windshield repair ads on craigslist and yellowpages.


GlassStarz, which technique gives you max penetration with min $$$?
GlassStarz
Senior Member
Posts: 1951
Joined: November 12th, 2003, 6:11 pm
Enter the middle number please (3): 5
Location: Southern California

Re: Marketing techniques

Post by GlassStarz »

When I first started I cut a deal with a drive thru carwash I signed up act and got some ready made flyers from Liquid Resins its an easy sell "Mr Customer I noticed a chip I can fix it right away and its probably free to you if you have full ins coverage. If you sell it right the insurance customer you will get a better than 50% kill ratio.The cash guy not as high but close. 6 a day at $45 will make you better than 60k a year
The carwash was like the tent guys I didnt like just sitting waiting for a customer so I found a way to slowly get away from it.
The biggest downfall that cuses people to fail in this buisness is the inability to sell. It really doesnt matter how many guys are in your area if you can find a nitch and sell yourself. I worked in an area where there was a strong competitor in the Autodealerships he did a great job was super reliable and generally a really nice guy who had been servicing then for years tough to compete with/ So what I did was go to the little guys who either were to small for him to bother with or to cheap to pay for repairs. The guys who were to cheap i would go to and give a flat rate the little guys I would work the ones in the same area so when i put them together they made a ok balance eventualy i added other services and was able to get into the bigger dealers and slowly get the WR buisness as well the secret is to balance and build on where you do well
new guy

Re: Marketing techniques

Post by new guy »

GlassStarz;31867 wrote:...I didnt like just sitting waiting for a customer...
Thanks for sharing your experience. I plan to implement it.

I agree with you. I don't want to sit and wait either.
ProView WR

Re: Marketing techniques

Post by ProView WR »

There are plenty of chipped windshields in ANY area that there will always be work if you look for it. You may not get as many low hanging fruit out there, but there are always people with chips, and if you are there locating them, you will find them and you will be as well off as anyone out there. Don't worry about how many competitors are in your area, worry about how you can be better then they are and how you can get your name out there. There are plenty of windshields.
I102bs

Re: Marketing techniques

Post by I102bs »

Years ago I had a job advertising for a Television picture tube replacement company while I was in High School (1966). I rode my bike to the shopping centers in town and placed 3X5 advertising cards under the windshield wipers. I did it very carefully as I was trained to never grasp the blade but to slip the card between the rubber and the glass. I think I was fired the second week. I had placed several thousand cards and all the TV shop got was complaints about me damaging cars. the ground was littered so badly with the cards that my employer thought I just dumped the cards on the ground to ditch them. My Dad had to argue with the guy before he would pay me.
FREENCLEAR

Re: Marketing techniques

Post by FREENCLEAR »

Go To Garden Grove Car Wash Ask For The Owner He Is Middle Eastern - Very Nice Guy Tell Him Your New And Would Like To Solicit His Customers At The Vaccume Lines After The Ticket Writer- Offer Him $5.00 Per Job That Location Is Good For 5-8 Insurance A Day And 3-5 Cash And Credit Just Dont Get Greedy And Pushy Like A-lot Of Car Wash Guys ! "no Rent Overhead And If You Sale The Owner Of The Wash On Adding A Valubile Service To His Wash While Making $50-$100 A Day Its Great Jm
new guy

Re: Marketing techniques

Post by new guy »

Thanks FREENCLEAR,

I think I know where that is. I'll check it out.
FREENCLEAR

Re: Marketing techniques

Post by FREENCLEAR »

The Car Wash Method Is A Great One - Just Use A Short Simple Pitch - You Don't Have To Sell It ! Example "it's No Cost And Takes No Extra Time" The Customer Will Be At The Wash For At Least 30-45 Minutes And What Better Way To Spend That Time - Than On The Phone-learning They've Been Paying For This Service For Years And Had No Idea !
Just Don't Turn Into A Salesman "your A Technician That Is Contracted To Provide Windshield Repair At "no Out Of Pocket Cost With Comprehensive Insurance" Never Use The Word Free " It Scares People"
That Location Is Right Off The 22 Freeway Its Big And Was White !
*s.cal. Insurance Is Good But You Will Do 45% Insurance And 55% Cash And Credit "thats 12 Years In The Area Talkin" Don't Drop Under $40 A Job And Shoot For $50+$10+$10
*stay Away From = Aaa S.cal.-mercury-infinity-freeway-statefarm-most Of The Generals-you'll Find Tis Is 20-30% Of The Cars When You Pitch The Customer And They Say One Of The Above Insurance Companies "stay Positive And Just Say We Offer A Discount -we Normally Charge $50-10-10 But If Ya Do It Right Now Ill Do It For $40 Also Wawaneesa, 21st Century- Are Pains I Do Cash And Credit And Tell The Customer To Submit There Invoice To Get Reimbursd !
If You Need Any Other Help Call Me {phone number removed by moderator} It Will Save Ya Time And Money Fnc
LGM

Re: Marketing techniques

Post by LGM »

Do any of you belong to a BNI group? Please share any experiences/feelings you have about it.

Thanks much!
A. Martian

Re: Marketing techniques

Post by A. Martian »

LGM;31955 wrote:Do any of you belong to a BNI group? Please share any experiences/feelings you have about it.

Thanks much!
I joined a BNI group in February of this year. It has been the single best thing I've done to market my business. I get referrals (jobs) at almost every weekly meeting.

I pay $300 per year and get a weekly 60 second advertisement to 25-30 people who all have at least one car and know hundreds of others who own cars and need services. I also have the opportunity to speak to the group for 10 minutes about every other month and really get some depth into my pitch.

This spaced repetition geared toward a captive audience who live and prosper by the 'givers give' philosophy is invaluable.
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