Right Place, Right Time

bobbyg

recently we were shopping for a swing/slider for my daughters birthday at a local playground store, so I figured i'd bring some business cards and see if the company uses anyone to level and grade areas for their playgrounds installs...

we start talking to the store manager and he says the company is looking for someone to use/refer for site prep...then all of a sudden the CEO of the company walks into the store, the manager introduces us to him...we talk shortly and I give him my business card...

later that night the CEO calls and we have a lengthy conversation...i find out they have six stores in the state and that he wants someone like myself to take care of site prep for all his playground sales in state!...he said they had a guy the last few years that really bungled things up...during our conversation he says something that is still ringing in my ears, "SOMETIMES TIMING IS EVERYTHING"

I'm meeting with him, his president and his director of relations next week...

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denick

Bobby,

Bon a fortuna!

Be careful. Don't keep your eye on the dangling carrot. Do a lot of listening and not much talking. Don't! Don't! Don't! talk price with their whole team sitting there. A common tactic in corporate meetings load the room with their guys and keep things moving fast, and get a commitment on their terms.

Take a deep breath and think about everything you say.

I hope this is a good thing for you.

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Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

jmic

Bobby,
Congrats. Nick's giving good advice, but then he's probably the elder of Ct. forums. Nothing personal Nick.

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___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe

dayexco

i would suggest if he hands you a contract, ask for several days to digest what's in it. take it to your atty, and cpa....and see if it's a win/win for both of you like i hope it is!

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someday, i'll be as patient as Nick.

rino1494

Congrats on the possible work. This just may be your niche.

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tgeb

All good advice above.

The thing I would be concerned with is these guys wanting to get you to give them flat rate pricing. You know, they will tell you each of their play sets need an 18' X 20' level area, and they want a fixed price so they can sell it up front, or something like that.

As you know, their play-sets may all be the same or very similar, the sites where these are placed are all different.
Don't get roped in to a deal that will tie your hands (and cost you money), when you need to cut out a slope and build retaining walls etc. to make the site suitable.

Sounds like a great opportunity, good luck with it!

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Tom

www.gebcon.com

bobbyg

good advice...this could be a great little niche for me...

it definately cant be flat rate, just too many unknowns, but i know they are expecting to make a little $ off me (which is ok), just how much is the million $ question...

the CEO also mentioned giving me a flat rate to check out/visit the sites...he said he'd like to have me go out to all sites and make sure they are within the required grade...this would be a flat rate per visit

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MC Excavating

If your a one man show you may have a problem keeping up with them.

What kind of volume do they do?

Do you think you can keep up with all 6 stores?

How easy is it for you to cover all 6 stores (distance)?

If your going to be expected to do a job walk before you can even start, then this will be time consuming.

Shouldn't it be the salesman's responsibility to make sure the site is within the required grade? This will just add a unnecessary cost to each job and cutting into the profits. Yes it gives you extra work but its just a minimum flat rate. Now what are you going to do with the rest of the day or are you going to do this after your regular 8 to 10 hour days. Maybe you can schedule 5 job walks a day between your regular work but I doubt it will ever happen like that. Your going to be running around playing fire fighter.

Maybe you could work into this slowly, maybe servicing 1 or 2 stores depending on volume just to get your feet wet and see what your getting into.

If you had a estimator / project manager I think this could work out very well. But if your the guy that does everything for your business (estimator, accountant, secretary, operator, truck driver, mechanic, project manager, etc.) I think its gonna be very time consuming.

Do you have a family???