Question for the Pool Guys... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

GunitePoolGuy · 12-31-2007, 01:10 PM

Whats the best form of advertising for a gunite pool business? (Besides word of mouth).

It is my Grandfathers company and I will be inheriting the business soon. We are located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I have been learning the ropes and working in the field for about 6 years now. Now, instead of being a construction worker i need to begin being a business man. The past couple years have been slow for us. Id like to put together a marketing/advertising plan for the new year and really kickstart the business. Any advice/ideas would be of great help.

ruskent · 12-31-2007, 05:45 PM

What advertising to use, all depends on what type of clients you are going after. Are you doing production pools (Like A&S) are you doing more high end work?

First step to advertising is figure out who you are trying to reach.

GunitePoolGuy · 01-02-2008, 06:15 PM

Thanks for the response Rusk.

We build new in ground gunite pools and also do renovation work.

We are trying to reach people with pools who need repair/remodeling work and people who want new pools. Obviously, people who can afford to spend $40,000 plus.

Any ideas on how to go about doing that?

ruskent · 01-04-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GunitePoolGuy

Thanks for the response Rusk.

We build new in ground gunite pools and also do renovation work.

We are trying to reach people with pools who need repair/remodeling work and people who want new pools. Obviously, people who can afford to spend $40,000 plus.

Any ideas on how to go about doing that?

Market to new constructions homes as soon as the people move in.

POOLMANinCT · 01-07-2008, 12:50 AM

production pools can earn you some nice piles of money..... and btw I've
seen som incredible a&s work... I think they dissolved in ct about 15 yrs ago????

ray

dirt diggler · 01-07-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POOLMANinCT

i
seen som incredible a&s work...

oh Ray - be serious

POOLMANinCT · 01-07-2008, 09:28 AM

always am,
don't get me wrong I'm a hater at heart.

**joasis** · 01-07-2008, 09:50 AM

Ok...what is A&S?

In spite of dirt and ray, I am going to learn to build pools.....

GunitePoolGuy · 01-09-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POOLMANinCT

production pools can earn you some nice piles of money..... and btw I've
seen som incredible a&s work... I think they dissolved in ct about 15 yrs ago????

ray

What do you mean by "production pools?"

Ruskent:

Thanks. Youve been a lot of help. About the new home construction: Would it be better if I sent out some info/direct mail to the home builders?

I was going to send out some direct mail advertising to GC's/home builders in my area. Is that wise or just a waste?

panderson2414 · 01-09-2008, 08:48 PM

what is gunite is that some sort of coating or is it what you tell your wife before bed...gun ite I worked to hard today. I coat pools help me out

ruskent · 01-10-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GunitePoolGuy

What do you mean by "production pools?"

Ruskent:

Thanks. Youve been a lot of help. About the new home construction: Would it be better if I sent out some info/direct mail to the home builders?

I was going to send out some direct mail advertising to GC's/home builders in my area. Is that wise or just a waste?

Skip the home builders and GCs.

In my area we have alot of big devlopments going up, or we did. I would drive through them every few weeks and when i saw a new mailbox go up i'd mail them a letter. I signed jobs up to 100k with this method.

GunitePoolGuy · 01-10-2008, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruskent

Skip the home builders and GCs.

In my area we have alot of big devlopments going up, or we did. I would drive through them every few weeks and when i saw a new mailbox go up i'd mail them a letter. I signed jobs up to 100k with this method.

Thats a great idea Rusk. Thanks. What did you mail them? Postcards? Brochures? What do you think works best?

ruskent · 01-11-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GunitePoolGuy

Thats a great idea Rusk. Thanks. What did you mail them? Postcards? Brochures? What do you think works best?

I mail a well written letter (i had someone edit it for me), on nice letter head in a nice Rusk envlope, with a Rusk business card enclosed. It shows i mean business.

IF anything i think it sells your company better then a postcard.

Cascade · 08-07-2009, 09:31 AM

Sorry for resurrecting this old thread.

I get all my work from word of mouth. I started doing mostly renovations and moved on to more new construction.

Develop relationships with local maintenance companies. DO NOT combine a service and construction company until you are building enough new pools to grow your own maintenance division. Until that time the maintenance companies are your best source of renovation clients. Think about it, some of the larger companies in my area see thousands of pools a month, lots of these need tile and plaster. Make nice with them and give them a big pile of your business cards to give to their clients. Do good work for them and it'll pay off big time.

Next, to gain more new construction clients, target the big and high end builders in your area with personal calls to the decision makers. Push yourself in with requests to just have an opportunity to quote their work. Many of these companies automatically call their regular subs and would welcome a chance to "price check" them. Keep on them, it'll pay off. Sending impersonal generic letters to these companies doesn't work. They end up in the garbage can. I know the ones I receive do.

Bulk mail and yellow page advertising can be effective if you have a lot of time to deal with tire kickers. Personally I don't.

Just my $.02