IFA'S ARE YELLING "HELP!"

On dear, retail sales are down for the second month in a row, housing prices slide further and IFA's ( Independent Financial Advisers) are yelling "help!"

Until a few months ago Mortgage Advisers had 27,000 different mortgages to sell, that figure has now dropped to just 7,000. That is going to have a knock on effect in the Home Improvement Industry as the vast majority of your target customers re-mortgage to pay for their home improvements.

Now as a Business Owner you have probably been thinking that puts you firmly in charge of your own destiny, but it is not entirely true. For example I knew a business owner who had 75% of his annual turnover wiped out when Rover closed it's doors, not his fault, just the marketplace changed around him, nothing he could do.

There is a hugely successful Marketing Guru in the UK called Chris Cardell, who wrote this week:-

"For the last decade, the economy has been so good - that even those who were average at basic business skills - such as Marketing, Advertising and Sales - did OK. In fact, some did very well.

That's led to complacency. Unfortunately, many of these business owners are about to get a big shock.

When people stop spending money (everything points to this happening) the only way to survive - and indeed thrive - is by making sure you are outstanding at Sales and Marketing."

Change is inevitable, but surviving it isn't, you need to take action now before you lose control.

This weeks tip:-

Get Friendly with Thy neighbour!

If you know someone who runs a kitchen company, why not ask if you can send out a flyer of yours when they next do a mailing. People who buy home improvements do not just stop at one, kitchens, bathrooms and builders can all be your complimentary lead generators. You will have to oblige with theirs - but what a powerful alliance you would build especially in a local community.

1. Have a great offer for THEIR customers only - an exclusive

2. It should sound as though this great offer is possible only because your companies are working together

3. Test & Measure

Create or disintegrate .. your choice pal!

The Glazing Guru

The Glazing Guru

Marketing Strategies for the Double Glazing Industry