whats the best way to market my new business?

Question

I am about to purchase a specialist all terrain cherry picker machine. basically this is to be hired out to do work at heights, such as tree surgery, sign fitting etc. As a side line when the machine is not being used i feel it could be used at residential homes for specialist cleaning of conservatories, clearing gutters etc. I am not sure if there is a market for this, or how I can begin to market it. Also what would people pay for this work (if at all). An honest appraisel would be appreciated
thanks

Answer 1

First ask "Who would use your Cherry Picker?" Then look at the Journals that would, or should, be read by your Targets Then look at the Geographical Area that they cover. It is no use spending a shed load of cash to get at a user in the Isle of Man (for example)
I was taught that the cheapest Salesman is the Telephone so having established your Targets get out the local Yellow Pages and get talking. Follow-up with a A5 size leaflet with all details and prices

Answer 2

Contractors usually rent this type equipment when they need it. I doubt that there would be a market for it even though it sounds like a really good idea. Before I made the purchase I think that I would establish a customer base through other types of work. For instance if you marketed yourself as a tree surgeon, eventually you would make a name for yourself as the guy who has the cherry picker and can do whatever you need done in high places. But just having a cherry picker will not make the world beat a path to your door.

There is a sign fitter in my area who uses his van mounted cherry picker to do his business, however, he is often hired to operate it for other uses. This is only because he has clientele established through his sign business. He could be putting up a banner for someone at the local supermarket and then one of the employees will say, "Hey! That thing is great! I wish you could bring that over to my house!" But attempting to market a cherry picker for that purpose alone will not generate enough interest.

Marketing is funny in a sense where people would rather buy into something if they think that they originated the idea as to what they could do with it vs. being told what they could do with it.

Many years ago there was this guy at the flea market selling popsicle kits with the molds and sticks.. and he was selling a bag of 100 sticks for something like $3. Well people were buying the sticks but not the entire kit simply because they wanted them for arts and crafts.

Answer 3

firstly, get yourself into the yellow pages, thompson etc. asap.

setup the cheapest, most basic website you can, and list your prices etc.. don't pay more than £200, just use it as an information area where you can put pictures of what you can do with it, and provide a little further information about yourself...

get a leaflet designed & printed, contact a local distribution company and get them to blanket cover the area you're operating in...

word of mouth works really well... phone up your local radio station, and offer a "get your cat out of the tree" service for free... you'll get loads of publicity and probably make your local papers... publicity you can't buy for any price...

start setting up meeting with anybody (mostly small companies)who do height work, such as sign-makes, electricians, roofing specialists. etc... tell them what sort of service you can offer etc... mostly these small companies have to hire cherry pickers for quite a bit of cash in order to keep jobs...

where ever you park the cherry picker, get a big, FOR HIRE sign on it, asap

the best way to find out how much people will pay, is start phoning around companies in the yellow pages and getting quotes from companies who already provide this service...

lastly, check out the necessary regulations concerning working on the public highway, (which is where you'll be parked mostly) and make sure you're legal and follow all the safety rules..

Answer 4

Start with companies that already do that kind of work. Equipment is expensive and if a company can use it without accepting the risk of owning it, they usually will. Payments for rented equipment does not show up on the balance sheet as a liability, a plus for most places.

Think of it this way, your specialty is not cleaning gutters, it is owning a cherry picker. Talk to the people who specialize in cleaning gutters.

Answer 5

Won't you struggle to get into people's back gardens with a cherry picker ? People tend to surround thier concervatories with pots and ornaments...bit of an access nightmare I would say.

Have you done the buisness case for the tree surgeons etc ?

Not wishing to be too negative but tree surgeons are trained to climb trees, their margins are really low, and I can hire a cherry picker from any hire shops.

Answer 6

Sounds live a very expensive machine to be renting out. How much would you have to have an hr? May be to expensive for a homeowner. You could try having several neighbors rent it to do all their gutters. Or could you take it into neighborhoods and charge people for you to clean the gutters! This would be good for old people or busy people. You could put a sign in the subdivision saying you'll be in the area on Tuesday and for them to call if they want their gutters cleaned. We could use you to get us high enough to top of trees we want cut down! That may be another good area to concentrate on. Good Luck to you!

Answer 7

All terrain. Will it get into back gardens with a small gate??? . What if the tree is in the middle of a ton of bracken. Will it just go over that lot. Is it mechanical or motorised. Im not sure but current tree surgeons have to use ropes and ladder and there work is specialised. Good luck to you though. Not sure it will be profitable for you

Answer 8

Contact large companies that already specialise in that type of work to see if they have 2nd tier contractors. Once on board you will be able to spread the word about your company. Fliers, emails, posters but most importantly - word of mouth and recommendation

Answer 9

Call up someine like Hertz Equipment Rental and ask how much to rent one like you have. If you're in the USA it would be good to talk to the Small Business Administration as they can help you decided if it's a good business and how to advertise.