[pianotech] economy

[Ryan Sowers]

One inexpensive way to advertise is door hangers. I tried this a few years
ago and got a few jobs from it. One of the best things about it is it allows
you to market to the people who are closest to you. My goal at the time was
to have every home within a mile radius of my house to know who I am and
what I do. We put a 10 percent off coupon on the hanger. I hired my daughter
and her cousin to hang them around the neighborhood. I think we paid them 10
cents a piece to hang them. So for $10 they hit a hundred houses. If I were
looking for more clients I would probably pursue this again.

You can order the blanks and print them yourself or take them to Kinko's or
another print shop.





On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 2:29 PM, Rob McCall <rob at mccallpiano.com> wrote:

> Marshall,
>
> I'm in very much the same boat as you are.  I have only been in business
> for about a year now, but I wholeheartedly agree with Wim.  I've talked with
> other business owners and techs in this area and it's much the same for
> them, as well.
>
> I know for me, the first part of March was pretty much a blank calendar,
> and then for some reason, the phone rang off the hook during the last two
> weeks of March.  Tunings, Dampp-Chasers, cleanings, regulation, fix broken
> wires... It was about $2,500 in sales in 2 weeks.
>
> Annnnnd.... now the phone is quiet again.  :-)
>
> It's probably a good thing right now because I'm trying to finish my taxes,
> but in my limited view of this industry, it has very much been cyclical.
>  Hang in there!  :-)
>
> Regards,
>
> Rob McCall
>
> McCall Piano Service, LLC
> www.mccallpiano.com
> Murrieta, CA
> 951-698-1875
>
>
>
> On Apr 09, 2010, at 12:06 , tnrwim at aol.com wrote:
>
> > Marshall
> >
> > I feel your pain and depression. It's been tough for me, too. But, the
> phone is starting to ring a little more.
> >
> > Here is something that might make you feel better. It won't solve your
> immediate problem, but hopefully will give you some encouragement to hang in
> there. When I first started in the business 35 years ago, an old timer told
> me that for no reason at all, the phone will stop ringing. It has nothing to
> do with the economy, the time of year, or the weather. He said that while he
> was looking for work, some of his friends in the business, in the same town,
> were busy as all get out. Then, for no apparent reason, customers will start
> calling again.
> >
> > I have found that to be true. Over the years I have had my ups and downs,
> and when I've been busy, other tuners have been slow, and visa versa. When
> I've looked at my income over a 5 year period, there didn't seem to be any
> pattern as to what time of year was slow, and when it was busy. During the
> '90 depression, I had more business I could handle. Yet, when the economy
> was strong, I had some very slow months.
> >
> > So hang it there, Marshall. Ask you landlord to be a little more patient,
> because in a couple of week, you'll have all the business you want.
> >
> > Wim,
> >
> >
>
>


-- 
Ryan Sowers, RPT
Puget Sound Chapter
Olympia, WA
www.pianova.net
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