One giant leap....

[Charlie Lyman]

Today was my wife's last day on her job.
This year has been absolutely crazy. Year to date we are up $15k.
We decided that we can get a better return on her time for her to quit and work with the business.
She will be marketing with door hangers, follow up post cards with our existing customers and getting new commercial jobs.
Our goal is to have a second van going full time by this time next year.
Our marketing investment arrived just in time for her to get busy:

She is currently working on getting her accounting degree. She will be done in 6 months. So if this flops, we will have that to fall back on. Otherwise, the salary that we have set aside for her will be used for a full time employee.
As we get busy this summer I plan on having long days but I will have one of my sons working with me.
We are excited for this new adventure.

 

[Old Coastie]

Go for it!

 

[Desk Jockey]

Sounds like a great plan! Exciting times, good luck!

 

[Able 1]

Your life will be SO much easier with her answering the phone!! My wife started taking calls 1.5 years ago, and it's been so stress free! She also gets more per job estimating for me..

 

[Able 1]

Another note on this.. I used to do flyers, a LOT of flyers to date about 500,000 flyers! Times have changed(not saying they don't work), but have your wife focus on facebook it's free! Get into the community pages.. Once you start cleaning for these facebook people, the news spreads like wild fire!

 

[Charlie Lyman]

We have done really good with door hangers. I honestly believe the success of them differs from one area to another. People seem to like them here.
She will be in charge of social media too.

 

[hogjowl]

She'll be in charge of EVERYTHING in no time dude.

 

[Desk Jockey]

LOL

 

[Kellie Hiler]

That's great news Charlie! Has she ever been on the truck with you before?
I highly recommend that you do it if she has not give her the chance to learn what you guys go through on a daily basis it will really help her with the phone calls.

 

[Charlie Lyman]

No. She has never been on the truck. She is a no sympathy type person. No excuses with her. She says suck it up and get it done. That's what I really like about her. I like to slack off and not get things done. I think she will push me more and really grow the business.
All of the jobs that she has had where she has been given the freedom to do stuff, she has really thrived at. Her last job didn't allow her that freedom. I've seen what she can do for businesses. I think this will be a good thing.

 

[mirf]

Wow big move but sounds like a great move!

 

[Old Coastie]

I second the idea of taking her into the field. Nothing, but nothing, beats hands-on experience. She'll build confidence and empathy, both powerful juju for dealing with customers.

 

[rick imby]

That's great news Charlie! Has she ever been on the truck with you before?
I highly recommend that you do it if she has not give her the chance to learn what you guys go through on a daily basis it will really help her with the phone calls.

Except if you take her on the Truck she might like that better and make you stay home and Cook and Clean and Answer the phone....

 

[BIG WOOD]

I know how the excitement feels. After working almost 20years at her job, my wife will be finally quitting in July to pull our kids out of public schools and start to enjoy life more.

The biggest thing that I'll need her to help with will be the thank you and reminder cards for the business. During slow times, it's easy for me to do. But when I'm slammed with work and coming home at 7:00pm, I have no desire to write those cards.

So I'm excited for you bro. Keep us up to date on your new challenges that await

 

[FB7777]

Congrats!

What's in the boxes ?

Who did the work for you?

 

[Charlie Lyman]

Congrats!

What's in the boxes ?

Who did the work for you?

Those are 5000 door hangers, 5000 thank you cards and 10000 reminder cards, 6 month and 12 months.
I had them printed at gotprint.net.
I had an old door hanger that I used to use. I had my graphics lady make it look better.

This is the 6 month reminder.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Sweet!

Love your logo!!!

 

[Charlie Lyman]

Sweet!

Love your logo!!!

We are really working on the branding. The logo is the main focus in whatever we print.
My old van was lettered and I never got a lot of calls from it. The new van seems to get more attention and I get a lot of calls from neighbors while I'm cleaning.

 

[adamh]

Remember us little people when you are at the top.

She will do great for you

 

[BIG WOOD]

That's an awesome business name

 

[FB7777]

Good stuff Charlie!

Looks like you are on your way

I've dropped the ball in a big way the last few years, rarely sending reminder cards. No new marketing pieces and my numbers are reflecting it

People that I haven't seen in 2-3 years have mentioned that it's been so long because they haven't been reminded to call

 

[hogjowl]

Doofus

 

[FB7777]

I've been distracted as$wipe !!

 

[Desk Jockey]

LOL

 

[Mikey P]

Send her to Nashville.

 

[rick imby]

Good stuff Charlie!

Looks like you are on your way

I've dropped the ball in a big way the last few years, rarely sending reminder cards. No new marketing pieces and my numbers are reflecting it

People that I haven't seen in 2-3 years have mentioned that it's been so long because they haven't been reminded to call

Spending too much time on Mikeys?

 

[FB7777]

Over the last ten years , I've been working towards a specific number to exit this business

I have very little interest in it , to be frank it bores the shit out of me. I like the customer interaction for the most part and I have been furiously selective over the years as to who I will not work for.

But " Tom Kinging" my business to 5 trucks is the farthest thing from my mind and personality at this point. Juggling customers and 6-10 employees is not what I want anymore.

I've been options trading and swing trading which i find interesting , rewarding and stimulating

But a new wrinkle to my plan has arisen... My 17 year old son is showing interest in the biz.

I project hittin my magic number in 5-7 years which could dovetail nicely with his age , experience and hopefully maturity.

 

[rick imby]

Fred,

I have had a pretty successful pass down to my son---the little bastard beat my most profitable year by a long ways his second year---proud father speaking. Send him off the summer after his Freshman year in college to work with Mike's son or one of the well run multi guys... Make him graduate from college before he can work full time for you.

There are probably some good books out there on passing down. I quit working in the shop and with the employees when I gave him the managers job. Dad has to get the heck out of the way.

The problem I had with options trading was I could be totally consumed by it and I could not go on vacation from it. Read the 4 hour work week---I setup my mail order with that model in mind.

 

[FB7777]

Thanks Rick

I'll check out 4 hour work week


'Mail order?"

 

[rick imby]

Fred.

My mailorder did about 750k last year through ebay and Amazon. I have one employee that does 95% of the work. I have adjusted the items we sell depending upon what we can make money on. Started with just little stuff and now we are doing a lot of wheels. It is working well. I could do all the work myself but I set it up to work part time from anywhere---Phillilpines and Thailand this next fall and winter.

http://stores.ebay.com/Zbikenut-Bicycle-Parts

https://www.youtube.com/user/zbikenut

http://www.amazon.com/s?me=AB66J7YXDWIPB

I have about 1500 listings on ebay and 500 on Amazon. My main supplier sold out and we are now adjusting to different suppliers... It makes a bit more than beer money---I am a lightweight---only about a sixpack a month.