Let’s trade better

What does it take to make a great trade business? To run it, and run with it? To grow it into something strong? To navigate the rollercoaster, juggle the workload and keep your customers happy? It’s a tough nut to crack, but we’re taking it on…

Here’s the thing. We work with hundreds of hard-grafting tradespeople, from plumbers and painters to brickies and sparkies. And a lot more besides. But it’s not just mucky boots and murky tea they’ve got in common. It’s the frustrations they feel, day in, day out – the long hours, the quiet patches, the lost leads, the piles of paperwork.

So we got to thinking. What if some simple changes could make a big difference? What if there were things we could all do to make life easier? What if working in the trades didn’t have to be, well, quite so much hard work? And you know what? We think we’ve come up with something. It’s a set of five no-nonsense ideas with the power to help you (and us, and everyone) smash it.

We’ve even given it a name – Let’s trade better – and its own page on our website, where you can read those five simple ideas in full. They’re going to be the springboard for a truckload of practical, game-changing stuff. But for now, here are the headlines. They’re not rocket science, but give them a go and they might just rock your world…

1. Follow every lead.

You’ve earned every call you get, so make it work for you. It doesn’t take long. Get back to people. Get on with people. And get that diary full of jobs you really want to do.

2. Have a solid system.

Ok, ok, this one’s about getting organised. But let’s face it, most of us need to. A van full of Post-its isn’t a filing system, it’s a headache. It’s time to map out a better way.

3. Be fast, be friendly.

Keeping people in the loop counts for a whole lot. In fact, it’s the difference between winning work and missing out. Nail it and you’ll be their go-to team for years to come.

4. Do admin little and often.

Don’t lose days (or nights) to paperwork. Take a bitesized approach and get it done little by little, on the go. Load lightened, stress busted, everyone’s happy.

5. Be the pro it’s good to know.

Confidence is everything. So give people a barrow load, by backing up your quotes with clear cost breakdowns, customer testimonials and a whole lot more.

So that’s our big five. They might sound simple, but that’s the magic. They’re practical, doable things we’re all guilty of forgetting – and together they’re a way of working we really believe in.

Which is why we want to share them with you. Not just as headline ideas, but as areas we can dive right into, exploring the difference they can make – and why. So, over the next few months, that’s what we’ll be up to. We’ll be writing about tools you can try, tips we’ve picked up and tradespeople putting our ideas into action, out there on the job.

You’ll see new articles here on the blog, on Facebook, on Twitter and everywhere you usually find us. And to make things easier, you can sign up to get them straight to your inbox too. No spam – just good, solid ideas we think you’ll get a lot out of. We hope you’ll come along for the ride.

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