Discussion:
contacting customers

I'm currently building up and publicising my new forklift mobile repair and service business. Does anyone have any advise on weather they know if potential customers prefer to be contacted by phone offering services and prices or do you find you have more success by door knocking and asking if "may I be able to speak to whoever is in charge of your forklift maintainence?'' I've gotten fair results both ways but am trying to narrow it down to the most efficient way. I'd be greatful for any help at all on contacting/finding customers as I am only new at this.
  • Posted 24 Apr 2006 22:58
  • By jason_k
  • joined 24 Apr'06 - 3 messages
  • Queensland, Australia
Showing items 1 - 7 of 7 results.
As an ex-employee within the material handling industry, and know a business owner helping forklift dealers for marketing media and training solution programs, I have a set-up a sales training website for free to my customers and would be more then happy for you to see if any of the topics could benefit your marketing approaches and or brush up on your selling techniques. Visit us at: gainmoresales.net If you need more specific information feel free to email me back, as I would be happy to send you a ebook for free on sales & marketing.
Kind Regards.
Andrew.
  • Posted 3 Aug 2006 01:42
  • Modified 3 Aug 2006 01:45 by poster
  • By GainMoreSales
  • joined 3 Aug'06 - 1 message
  • South Carolina, United States
I've been in the business for 14 years. There are many different ways to go about it. Try to find a large commercial park and start off with the smallest business there and word of mouth will get around, good or bad so be careful do a first class job, dont try to get rich, and be honest. Honesty will get you very far not too many dealers are truely honest (repairs, invoices ect.) Every market is different so you will have to do alot of leg work, my best approach was face to face. You can read there face and they can read yours, people do business with those they like. Good luck with your venture and remember if you ever need help you know where to find it.
  • Posted 27 Jul 2006 11:30
  • By jamesss
  • joined 3 Mar'06 - 7 messages
  • Iowa, United States
James S
Done - email address sent. Cheers
  • Posted 23 Jul 2006 10:33
  • By Admin
  • joined 18 May'04 - 265 messages
  • Queensland, Australia
Good, Glad things are starting to happen for you. If your stuck on any machines such as toyota's drop me an email.

Admin please would you pass on my email address. Thanks.
  • Posted 23 Jul 2006 05:25
  • By adrian_w
  • joined 18 Nov'05 - 33 messages
  • East Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Premier Mechanical Handling,
Hull.
UK
Thanks for the advice. I've been doing all of what you said and also a lot of contracting for other forklift businesses and it has surprised me how fast you can build up. In three months I've even managed to buy a couple of forklifts for my own hire fleet. I need to try golfing. That sounds good! Forkliftaction is an excellent back up tool in this business.
  • Posted 19 Jul 2006 09:05
  • By jason_k
  • joined 24 Apr'06 - 3 messages
  • Queensland, Australia
thanks for the advice adrian w. I'm now more certain with what i'm doing so i'll stick by it and like you say keep my eyese on the big picture on what's going on around the place. Thanks mate.
  • Posted 26 Apr 2006 20:34
  • By jason_k
  • joined 24 Apr'06 - 3 messages
  • Queensland, Australia
Well done, I started up 6 months ago and found that the way you are doing it is the best. Doing flyers through the post is a waste of time and advertising is not that successful. Just do a good job and watch what is happening in the areas your working such as, how old the machines are and what industrial units are empty.
Try and do some sub-contracting work for other forklift companies but don't shoot your self in the foot by poaching there customers. Just keep at it and the best customers are the ones who come to you. Keep at it!
  • Posted 26 Apr 2006 06:00
  • By adrian_w
  • joined 18 Nov'05 - 33 messages
  • East Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Premier Mechanical Handling,
Hull.
UK

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