Work/Life Balance
Handyman helps busy homeownersMost people have a long list of things that should be done around the house, yet don't have the time to do them. ROGER PIERCE -- www.bizlaunch.ca |
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No job is too small for Paolo Fietta, the Home and Garden Guy.
"I focus on the smaller jobs or menial tasks that most people don't want to take on," entrepreneur Paolo Fietta says.
Aptly dubbed The Home and Garden Guy (www.the homeandgardenguy.com), Fietta provides general handyman-type services, including gardening, landscaping and minor home
repairs.
'More demand'
"I generally try to focus more on the exterior landscaping and gardening of a property because there is more demand for those services," he explains. "I can also do larger jobs involving garden design and decoration."
Fietta ventured into entrepreneurship for several reasons. "I wanted to do something I really enjoy that allowed me to apply my particular skills and work experience," he says. "Plus, I love working outdoors!"
Fietta learned about landscaping while working for others during his teenage years. He then opened his first landscaping business at the age of 20. The income from that business paid for his university education, as well as his graduate studies.
From running his own business for so many years, Fietta has honed a well-defined niche in his industry. He knows what his customers want.
"My ideal customer is someone who needs help with smaller or mundane tasks around the house, both inside and out, but can't find anyone willing to do the work because the job is too small," he explains.
He charges his customers based on time and materials so the homeowner can decide which jobs get done based on how much money they want to spend.
Customer service
"For example, I can do a yard cleanup in the spring or a leaf collection in the fall. I can trim, prune and weed a yard. Or, I can fix odd little things here and there, paint a railing or clean and organize a garage."
Fietta has learned the importance of good customer service. "I listen to them carefully to understand their needs and concerns so I get the job done correctly," he says.
"And I never cut corners to save a dollar or two, because that can jeopardize the customer's trust in me and I'd lose their future business."
Network to build your small business
There are so many ways to spend your few marketing dollars. What is best will be determined by your product or service and your target market.
Networking is affordable marketing. It's about meeting people who can help you grow your business. But to use your time and networking dollars wisely, it's important to develop a plan.
n Know who you want to meet. Select and attend functions where you will find them. There are hundreds of networking events in major cities every day that range widely in price. Select your networking event carefully.
When meeting new people at events, listen to them carefully.
Ask questions. People love to talk about themselves and you could learn how they may need your product or service.
Say something interesting about your business when introducing yourself. Explain how you can help the person you're speaking with. If somebody asks: "What do you do?" make your answer interesting. "I help people pay less income tax" is far more interesting than, "I am an accountant".
Develop relationships with important people in your industry or city.
Follow-up. Contact them within 24 hours of your meeting.
The more people you know the better. So get out there, get chatting and start building your business.
-- Startup expert Roger Pierce is co-founder of BizLaunch.ca. His company advises new entrepreneurs in free seminars delivered across the country.
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