Business Cards For Employees? Title?

Melissa

A lot of times our guy is at jobs by himself, and I think it would be good for him to have some business cards, so if a neighbor or somebody stops by the job site and wants some work also he can hand them a card. And a few other circumstances where it might be helpful. What do you guys think? Business cards for employees or not?

And if so, what title? We have been racking our brains trying to think of a title for him. Remodeling Technician??? Right now, he's still pretty much in training, but in the future we want him to be managing the jobs and maybe a helper or two beneath him.

AaronO

If you give your employees business cards, then the neighbors are going to be contacting that person for more information. Are they qualified to make a sale?

The best solution to your problem is simply add a funnel tube on your job signs, containing a brochure, or company information. This will allow people who are walking or driving by to get the information without disturbing your workers. It also allows the workers to simply point them to something, rather than having to stop work to answer questions they may or may not be qualified to answer.

Melissa

True. I wast thinking his bz card would have our office # and he could just tell them to call the office to schedule and appt, but it would also have his cell...

The brochure idea is good. I'm kind of scared it might bring in too much work though! We're not quite ready for that.

slickshift

I would be hesitant about giving any employee not qualified to make a sale business cards
This would include technicians or technician support people
(this would not include VPs, Purchase Agents etc...)

However you do bring up a good point
I use postcards (with pics) for that type of situation
I'm sure AaronO's brochures would be more impressive

It allows employees to hand out something w/o making them (in the customer's mind) the default contactperson/salesperson

The business card absolutely gives the customer the impression that it's OK, or encouraged, to use the person who's name is on it as a contact person
That's why they have business cards

I don't care for the "here's my salesperson/boss' card" thing, which is why I came up with the postcards

I agree the business should take advantage of the tech in contact with the public
But I think it's better that anything other than casual contact should be handled by the sales staff or office (or however your company works that)

...one of the reasons I am a strong supporter of the company "uniform", even if it is just a jeans and a shirt with the company name -and number- on it

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Grumpy

I am the General manager. Mike the Production and Quality Control Manager. Chris is the Authorized Estimator.

If youa re giving cards to your installers, get a bunch of cards printed with company contact information but no names. One company I worked for used to do that. I'm going to next time I get cards printed, since my company has grown since the last time I got card printed.

Melissa

That's another thing we're going through right now is the shirts. We have decided not to put the phone number on our new shirts, because we don't think it's useful. I don't really see anyone saying, "Excuse me, can you please turn around and stand still while I jot down your number?" I know most do this, but I've never really understood it.

slickshift

Well, it's really for name recognition really
I'm not sure how much business gets done directly from shirts
But it is the name recognition thing....when the time comes, if the customer remembers seeing your techs out, at the coffee shop, home center, whatever....the theory goes you've got an edge

I suppose the number thing, well, thats maybe a "just in case you never know" I guess
After all, a passerby can watch me work for about a minute and easily read the number off my back, because that's just about the only side they see....90% of the time, all day...while I'm working
My back
It's a great little bill board

Now picture three or five people putting up siding (or something sim.)
All with the name and # on their backs....

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Mike Finley

Biz cards for employees? Geeze maybe as a 5 year anniversary gift.

They should be carrying a stack of the companies cards.

Melissa

I was wondering what you would say Mike. So, company cards with no name on it? I'm trying to think what that would look like. The way ours is laid out there would be a great big blank spot. And we already told him he's getting cards, so it would be pretty weak if we didn't at this point. Plus he's not just an employee- he's one of my husbands best friends and we plan for him to be more of a manager one day.

So now I have to think of a title.... ugh! Why does 'Technician' sound so off? And he's not exactly a manager yet, so...

AaronO

Just out of curiostiy, why do you feel that you have to put a title on the business card?

I have worked with many companies, both large and small, that used no job titles for their employees, when creating business cards.

If you need to have one, use project consultant.

Mike Finley

Well if you haff ta do it...

Why not use some of the traditional trade titles, such as lead carpenter or such?

Technician?

I was torn on my cards between Lavatory Engineer and Turlet Switcher

maj

Dang Mike, ya beat me to it again.....

I was just going to say that....Lead Carpenter, Installer, Project Foremen, etc.

Mike Finley

Yep, those are good ones.

realpurty2

I would avoid titles all together because in my opinion it gives the customer the impression that the person has authorization to conduct company business and I'm just not confident enough at this point to put my fate in someone else's hands to speak for the company as a whole.

If it were me.. I'd go with just company name, phone, logo, website etc on the cards. If it's important to give him a title.. suggestions would be something that wouldn't direct the customer to try to solicit work directly from him. ( My logic might be wrong, but I'm thinking that if it said "Lead Carpenter" I could see potential for someone saying "Since your a carpenter, could you build this or that without contracts and all that hassle?" or such.)

Just food for thought.. sorry I can't come up with any valid suggestions but not knowing his full role or what he's allowed to do as far as sales or such, it's hard to come up with one thats fitting.

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Glasshousebltr

How would main maggot look on a card?

Or Boot scrappins?

Bob

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Glasshousebltr

Migrant Worker

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Melissa

Well the reason I want to put it title, is the opposite of what Realpurty said, so that people know his role in the company, and that he is not a salesman or project mananger or anything like that. That he is a ***xx.

Basically, right now he's an assistant. He gets a list at the kitchen or bath remod and will usually call with a lot of questions as he goes (if they're working at seperate jobs). But he's doing awesome for only 8 months or so in this line of work.

So, here we go, "assistant laborer" He's Mexican too, so my husband likes to tease him a lot!

ProWallGuy

Cards are cheap. Get him one with just his name for now, then upgrade to 'foreman' or whatever later.

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maj

Field Personnel...... or

Head Amigo...

Mike Finley

If you have two spanish guys working for you, you could put

Hose-A on one guys cards and Hose-B on the other guys.