Ok, here it is: does the fact (or should the fact) that I work from home affect how I'm perceived as "a tradesman"...?

 

I appreciate that a bodyshop can't really work from home (unless they have a huge garage and all the proper facilities), but a trimmer has no such constraints. But does the "working from home" aspect alter how I'm viewed...?

 

Would people generally class me as being more professional or more reputable if I had business premises...?

 

Thanks.

In my eyes its the quality of work you turn out that affects how you are perceived. Not where you work from.

In my eyes its the quality of work you turn out that affects how you are perceived. Not where you work from.

 

I appreciate the sentiment, Gary - thank you. But if you had a "high-end" car (subjectively, of course), would you not prefer to take it to a proper premises, rather than to somebody's house...?

I agree Si your work speaks for itself. I don't need to tell you that as you grow you need to keep the overheads low and business premises is a sure fire way to screw things up. I used to run my engineering design consultancy from home and it never affected my reputation with my customers. If you feel you need a "Shop Front" then look at your local small business start up centres that can give you and address and manned phone number that diverts to you at home. And if you feel that premissis is the way to get the business stuff out of your house these incubators have units at very low flexible rental for couple of years.

Edited April 1, 201510 yr by Iangreenfield

I agree Si your work speaks for itself. I don't need to tell you that as you grow you need to keep the overheads low and business premises is a sure fire way to screw things up. I used to run my engineering design consultancy from home and it never affected my reputation with my customers. If you feel you need a "Shop Front" then look at your local small business start up centres that can give you and address and manned phone number that divers to you at home. And if you feel that premissis is the way to get the business stuff out of your house these incubators have units at very low flexible rental for couple of years.

 

I guess what's prompted this bout of introspection is this:

 

I recently had an enquiry off a guy with a Bentley Continental who was looking for the whole cabin to be trimmed. Now, I price my work based on cost of materials and labour, rather than increasing quotes based on how "loaded" I think someone may or may not be. Truth be told, I don't make a huge profit here - my hourly rate equates to waaay below minimum wage! There's certainly no way I could financially stomach premises right now and still be able to afford to cover all my bills!

 

Anyway, this Bentley owner was looking at a quote of over £5k, which is so far below anything else he'd been quoted that it's ridiculous! So we were all set to go, right up to the point when I told him I worked from home... that's when he said, and I quote here, "No offence, but I'd prefer to use a proper trimmer!" :(

 

As you can no doubt imagine, my confidence took a fairly good kicking at that point. I explained to him that my working from home was a good part of the reason that I was able to quote so low (fewer overheads) and that's when he delivered the killing blow: "Yeah, but this is a Bentley - I'm not going to let some amateur loose on it! I'd rather pay more and have it done properly!"

 

All this, even after he'd said that my work was some of the best he'd ever seen. :(

 

I guess I'm just worried that I'm destined to be perceived as "an amateur" as long as I work from home. There's only me doing this work and I'd honestly like it to stay that way - I love being able to see a finished interior and think to myself "I did that. Every last stitch!"

 

I appreciate that this guy is just one solitary enquirer and that his attitude isn't necessarily going to be mirrored by everyone out there with a "posh car" but it's honestly kicked me in the teeth a bit and it's been bothering me for days...

I appreciate the sentiment, Gary - thank you. But if you had a "high-end" car (subjectively, of course), would you not prefer to take it to a proper premises, rather than to somebody's house...?

 

Its quality that must come first. No use going to the place with the biggest windows and let them do a crap job. Its like a mechanic I know who is great at working at 300zx's but lives up a bumpy lane and works from his parents farm. I would go to him rather than Nissan.

As Gary said, the standard of your work defines you as a tradesman, but i totally understand where you are coming from, reading your above post.

 

The way to look at it, is to command big bucks from big clients in this day and age, they expect a shop frontage/premises thus they assume you must be serious and professional,,,,,,,

 

Its the same in my industry ( entertainment) i did a pricing experiment with a colleague who also runs a band, i quoted £3k, thinking its a fair price to get the job, he however, he quoted £6.5k and guess who got the job?

 

Not me lol, the clients think if they pay more, it must be better and some like to try and out do each other on how much they can spend. In some instances you do get what you pay for, but as part of this experiment we knew we were on a par with each other, so its how its been perceived thats different.

 

If you want the next level, then of course your pricing has to go up accordingly, its up to you where you need to go with this :thumbup1:

 

But dont let this one instance push you where you may not want to go :thumbup:

Your post 5 Si, what a cock springs to mind, let him go forth and pay double, don't worry about it one bit.

 

Small businesses close/fail at an alarming rate, the main reason for this is overheads, you carry on what you're doing working from home it makes great business sense certainly for the moment, a fancy shop with fancy prices does not.

 

Don't try to run before you can walk.

I guess what's prompted this bout of introspection is this:

 

I recently had an enquiry off a guy with a Bentley Continental who was looking for the whole cabin to be trimmed. Now, I price my work based on cost of materials and labour, rather than increasing quotes based on how "loaded" I think someone may or may not be. Truth be told, I don't make a huge profit here - my hourly rate equates to waaay below minimum wage! There's certainly no way I could financially stomach premises right now and still be able to afford to cover all my bills!

 

Anyway, this Bentley owner was looking at a quote of over £5k, which is so far below anything else he'd been quoted that it's ridiculous! So we were all set to go, right up to the point when I told him I worked from home... that's when he said, and I quote here, "No offence, but I'd prefer to use a proper trimmer!" :(

 

As you can no doubt imagine, my confidence took a fairly good kicking at that point. I explained to him that my working from home was a good part of the reason that I was able to quote so low (fewer overheads) and that's when he delivered the killing blow: "Yeah, but this is a Bentley - I'm not going to let some amateur loose on it! I'd rather pay more and have it done properly!"

 

All this, even after he'd said that my work was some of the best he'd ever seen. :(

 

I guess I'm just worried that I'm destined to be perceived as "an amateur" as long as I work from home. There's only me doing this work and I'd honestly like it to stay that way - I love being able to see a finished interior and think to myself "I did that. Every last stitch!"

 

I appreciate that this guy is just one solitary enquirer and that his attitude isn't necessarily going to be mirrored by everyone out there with a "posh car" but it's honestly kicked me in the teeth a bit and it's been bothering me for days...

 

I'd view that as a minor set-back at worst; and possibly a blessing in disguise at best. Whilst I can (to a point) understand the guy's initial reaction, the fact is, quality work speaks for itself - he only has to see a sample of your work to know that you are no "amateur." Whether working on a Bentley or a Mini, you have your standards and professionalism to uphold. And every business has to start somewhere - some of the best in their respective businesses are still working from home like you; because their lack of overheads means they can provide their customers with VFM and great service, whilst still doing a top class job. I know where I'd prefer to spend my cash!

 

So don't let this one knock your confidence - let him go. He'll spend £££s more in a fancy premises but, no doubt will not get such a top job done on his car. And then think about your own business - you've already said you don't make the huge margins; so, pride aside, how much would you have gained for this job vs your time commitment to it, compared to other impending work?

 

These people proliferate over the course of one's life - shrug it off matey; the world is full of arses...:wink:

 

Richard:cool:

Quality of work will always keep your business alive, provided you are active enough in promoting and encouraging people to talk about it and expose it to new markets, but the issue of having a premises cannot be discounted if you are going to expand your business exposure and expect to get a higher end of the market in reward.

 

If you put your self in a customers shoes with an upmarket (per say) vehicle, it s not a question of how good your work is (albeit Mr Bentley has contradicted himself) but the feeling of how would his vehicle be looked after in your care and that doesn't mean how you handle it, but the security of the environment it is kept and the access others may have to it. Do your for instance have third party business insurance and public liability? Can a customer be secure in the knowledge that a car left in your care at home is as safe as being housed in a garage overnight and during fit out.

 

The business impression that a premises gives is entirely dependant on the premises themselves and any number of sins can be covered by an unscrupulous trader, just because he has lavish surroundings, but in the same vain a good trader in a basic lockup with the tools and materials on show can also convey a sense of security that the job is in good hands.

 

It is I suppose about perception, but a premises generally will always convey a business going places as apposed to a home business, unless you are of course a service type industry. Whilst you may wish to save money for the client and thereby make more for yourself by working form home with all the associated lower overheads, you have to consider what market you are chasing! and whilst this Muppet may have a penchant for believing that its all about the look and not substance, it is never the less probably going to be an attitude held by others the higher up the "pay" scale you target the business.

 

It is a crossroads every business owner will at some time or another have to consider.

 

Good Luck though and take his crap with a pinch of salt, but think about the bigger picture and remember your number one strength will always be reputation!

In my eyes its the quality of work you turn out that affects how you are perceived. Not where you work from.

 

This

Good points from all. And SteveE is correct that, if I want to expand properly at some point in the future then premises of some description will be a must.

 

Just wanted to vent and get opinions about how businesses are perceived, that's all. I've only been doing this full time since September so I'm still learning every day!

 

Thanks, gang :)

Well apparently not in the case of Mr hairdressers car and I suspect others, but not all will, rightly or wrongly, have the same opinion.

 

We know Si's quality of work from the start, but potential new customers who already have a perception of what they expect from an upholsterer "probably having trawled various glossy websites" will perhaps have a different expectation.

 

It depends on the market he wants to capture, as I say the further up the ladder of car exclusivity, the more likely logic will be less of a factor among his potential clientele and therefore a new direction in accommodating them may be required and at the same time adjusting your costs for said service.

I kinda see where the Bentley guy is coming from however I noticed on another post you were booked up for month ahead so I wouldn't bother about him the more good work you do the more people will take notice. people are coming to you because you do good work not cause you have a fancy shop. anyone can have a fancy shop doesn't mean they are any good at what they do though

I don't know if this applies, but if I was wanting to use a trimmer, I would like to see where the car would be stored (assuming it would take longer than a day) - as this would be my concern, rather than the quality of the work. I started a new business six months ago, and I knew I had to have premises straight away. There are cheap ways to do it. I started for three months in a small office in a barn conversion, now my company is in bigger premises, and expanding. Although I cannot definitely say its down to "appearing to be a professional" but I do think having a base away from home has helped. It gives customers confidence and shows you are there for a long haul.

It may be worth applying to your local LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) for a small business grant to cover the cost of premises for a while. There are lots of grants available for new and small businesses to help you get started. Definitely check your county council website and then go an meet them and have a chat - it is so worth it.

Good luck anyhow! If you ever get near the South coast my drivers seat needs serious repair :)

I'm lucky (for the most part) that the vast majority of my customers thus far have been content to send their interior parts to me, rather than leaving the whole car.

 

Lack of a garage does concern me as a drive is obviously not as secure, which is just another thing that makes me think I'll need to consider premises in the not-too-distant future...

 

One of the reasons I like working from home is because I can then work "unsociable hours" should I choose to (or should the deadline dictate it!), whereas premises would put a limit on that in some respects.

 

Deep down, I k now that I'll need dedicated premises if I want to expand. The original question was: should the fact that I work from home make people (some people, anyway) automatically assume that my work will be sub-par...?

. The original question was: should the fact that I work from home make people (some people, anyway) automatically assume that my work will be sub-par...?

 

Well in the first instance, you have had as far as we know only one person who has arrived at this appraisal, even though the only grounds for him changing his mind was your working environment, so his point is irrelevant to the good work and reputation you have achieved thus far!

 

But in the event his concern has been lost in translation (being a twit!) his concern was in fact not on the quality of work, but how his pride and joy would be attended to in your care and as I posted before, the reality is and to some extent understandable, would a customer feel comfortable about leaving their car on your drive for an indefinite period without any security or more concerning (please correct me if I'm wrong) no public liability insurance!

 

Said Bentley owners concerns changed about your quality of work due to your working conditions, but In fact he may have just poorly and ignorantly explained his concern more about the environment his car would be worked on and kept in than in reality his belief in the quality of your work, which of course is why he came to you in the first place. I would assume he had the money to spend but wanted a complete loved up package for his car, forgetting that an exceptional price will not pay for this.

 

Si, you need to put this type of ignorance to bed! the issue over premises making for a better business is a nonsense, it is a better business in any premises that will ultimately bring you the best results, customers and profit, then you can decide how best your business is served, the game changer to change will be the need for space because you are too busy...never the other way around.

 

Good Luck mate and let's see more of these interiors....the words getting around!

Are you able to build some sort of workshop extension to your home ?

that would kill 2 birds with one stone.

From ur first question, from me that answer is yes it does!

Art213

From ur first question, from me that answer is yes it does!

Art213

 

Thanks for your honesty.