PDA

View Full Version : Networking with other Indy Members



Tonyr
21-10-2004, 10:55 PM
Sorry if this question has been addressed already, but how can we find out who other members are in our areas?

Obviously a lot don't come here, and many don't say where they work, but I for one get calls for work I would rather pass on, and obviously would prefer to pass work to fellow indy members...

I dunno how, dunno who they are in my area....how can we network with members?

I'm passing a lot to Jims every season, I'd rather help out an Indy member but if I don't know who they are, work description etc I can't...

If Indy members prefer to be unknown for privacy reasons etc that's fine, their loss, the Jims guys here are fantastic and do fine work so if Indy networking is gunna be a problem that is cool, I just want to know....gave away a $130/ fortnight job to Jims today, 3 ressies last week, more previously....I thought networking was one of the strong points with being a member of an org. like INDY?

I'm sure there are more members than what visit here!

Either way I don't care, just want to know before the season really kicks in, and I could really use an HONEST, PROFESSIONAL, NON POACHING, LOYAL contractor/s to subbie out or give jobs to, that narrows the field, last 2 went behind my back and stole the work then lost it anyway, but I think we surely must have some great members now. Well if any from Hervey Bay want to talk, let me know...

Anyone else think we could benefit from networking more??

Hondy
22-10-2004, 06:10 AM
Maybe you could organize a M&G in your area. Bit of a barby, a few drinks and swap fishing stories.

Tony

Brad
22-10-2004, 06:51 AM
Good idea Tony.

I'm just starting out and am desperate for clients. I'm trying to keep my work located in the Pine Rivers Shire only so if anyone gets any customers in this are they dont want, then by all means call me :)

Brads Mowing
0404 852 163

Tonyr
22-10-2004, 07:39 AM
I guess that would go against indy's business maybe as work would go directly to the other indy member and not through them....I understand that.

But that doesn't solve this problem, how do we find other members in our area we want to network with, thinking though Indy is not in this loop, as members grow they will buy more parts etc, and be seen more. There must be a solution?

I'm not trying to go around Indy, just want to be able to pass work onto other local Indy members, all I'm asking is how...

What about in the members area on indmowing.com.au there is a locality directory of members that we members can access to find a member who wants referred work?

I'm not going to spend money on newspaper ads to try to find local members to give work to, save my dime and tell client to call jims.
Yeah Hondy, a few beers would be nice, at this stage I'm only wanting contacts for work, not social....but it would be nice to mate up with other blokes and discusss our lawn war stories lol.

Maybe Eb has this on her site, I will admit I haven't checked...forgot my login details LOL.

LOL, just a thought, ya know how we wave at fellow contractors, many wave back....maybe here the ones who don't wave back to me are Indy members, seen what a nutter I am here and want to steer clear of me and my little red lawn mower! ;)

Just kidding.... :p

mick
22-10-2004, 08:52 PM
Good call Tony!
Last season I turned down heaps of work because it was at the other end of the coast, too small, big etc.

If anyone would like to get and or give referrals, PM me and we'll see how we go this season!

Areas are Far North Nsw (Tweed Heads etc) and the Gold Coast!

Rather keep the work in house so we could all benefit! :aus-flag:

Tonyr
23-10-2004, 04:14 PM
Yeah Mick, thats how I see it mate!

Indy's logo reads ''professionals unite'' well sorry, but apart from a handful of members who bother to contribute to this forum, I can't see how we are united otherwise....for that moto to fit I would imagine it means we unite as members to strengthen this industry by networking within ourselves as much as possible, not just giving it to jims etc...

I don't really see us as being truly united just because a few of us come here and chat, though I have spoken about this before, I still believe networking within ourselves is going to benefit us long term, and being members of the Indy Co. makes this possible, but my point is if we are not networking we aren't truly united...

There should be a list of members in a members area who we can access state listed who want to network, so if ya need to give a job away ya just go to the online list and call the contractor who most specialises in that job type. How can not allowing members to know about other members be beneficial, how can we network, or unite?

That's my view anyway...networking/uniting has so many beneifits over not, but if blokes want to go it alone and think small and feel I've finally lost the plot then fair enough, excess work has to go somewhere, who?

I am so glad Jims is around, seems Indy's in my area don't like to let themselves known, all members know about this forum wouldn't they?

Or should we put $30 ads in newspapers when we want to pass on a job, "Attn, calling any indy member who wants a job!"
then see if anyone does, hmmmmmm, stuff that!

If I don't know who other members are in my area, I'm happy to just refer jims.

mick
24-10-2004, 12:03 AM
How about it Eb? :i dunno: What are your thoughts?

Rod
24-10-2004, 06:16 PM
Some weeks (especially next week as we are booked solid) I can pass on up to $200+ plus in work.

I think customer's appreciate a recommendation from you if you cannot assist, it is a shame when you don't, however, could pass onto another ILMCA member in your area as no doubt the gesture would be reciprocated at a later date.

I can't see in my professional opinion how the "Privacy Laws" apply where a member signs a permission slip (same as a credit check.) Where is the perceived difference when a potential customer goes to the INDMOWING site and makes a call to the 1800 number for a service call? Why is it different to book the job and call us for the lead?

Perhaps we should call the 1800 number when we have surplus work to have it allocated? I would like to have a relationship with the beneficiary of our surplus work at least on a personal level.

As a "Law Graduate" I cannot understand or accept why Members contact details are not made available in your immediate area?
If we had silent numbers or even more "Draconian" ways I might accept this.

Simon
24-10-2004, 06:52 PM
Have just started out and am always keen for extra work. I am located on the lower North Shore so if anybody is ever looking they can give me a call, Simon @ Things of Stone & Wood 0401670845, Cheers.
As for those other blokes Tony, mate it is all 'swings and roundabouts' and it will come back to get hem one day.

mick
24-10-2004, 07:12 PM
Have just started out and am always keen for extra work. Simon @ Things of Stone & Wood

Hope your around longer than the band! hehe

Welcome to the Forum mate! Are you a member of ILMCA? If not you should think about it! Good deals to be had etc!


Good luck!

Hills Lawncare Services
24-10-2004, 10:20 PM
Simon,

I knocked back a few small mowing jobs in cammeray recently. Don't know if you would be interested in that kind of work? Going to cammeray just for mowing is not worth my time, I'll go for landscaping and bigger maintenance jobs. Send me your details if your interested.

Thanks

Charbel

GregG
24-10-2004, 10:36 PM
I agree as I am trying too set up a business in the Maitland area and only concentrating on acreages I would like to pass on referrals to someone else who is an Indy Member. I recently had a call from a "suburban block" for a quote and I quoted higher as I did not need it. If I new of a local member I could have referred on.

Ebony
25-10-2004, 12:37 PM
I would have to go back in my email history (Tony or Mick either of your could do the same thing as i Know for certain you both received a copy) BUT if I recall, an email went out to EVERYONE on our mailing list, saying that due to privacy reasons we cannot provide a list of contractors, however if you would like to list your details send them to this email address etc.

This was back in August... 7 Emails is all I received from a list of 490 + people

Now you tell me...

:i dunno:

Network, network, network. That is what indmowing is about. If it was against our business you wouldn't have this forum, nor would we be getting stickers made up for members etc. We support our members anyway we know how.

But please note: if you want something you have to help work for it. It is very painful process for me to work for something, not get paid for it, and then have it all fall in a heap 'cause no-one could be bothered. Then a few months later people ask if I can do what I was already trying to do and say that maybe we haven't done it because it takes away from something we offer as a service - we prefer you go direct to one another re: sharing work, as we don't make any money, it simple helps keep us in contact with members.

COME ON PEOPLE

:wave-hi: Ebony

Tonyr
25-10-2004, 12:56 PM
Network, network, network. That is what indmowing is about. If it was against our business you wouldn't have this forum. We support our members anyway we know how.

But please note: if you want something you have to help work for it. It is very painful process for me to work for something, not get paid for it, and then have it all fall in a heap 'cause no-one could be bothered.

COME ON PEOPLE

========

Ebony, please don't think we are havin' a shot at you, in my post I asked HOW? do we...

I never accused you of not giving access to other members, I was however throwing the idea in to see if it could be done, yes I remember your privacy email, this is why I asked how can we network, not indy won't let us network lol.

All I can say now is a lot of members must be as thick as, networking is so important, if they are too scared to accept work then why the hell did they join?

There are so many more benefits apart from the manual and website, yet it appears most contrators can't see it ?

I dunno...this thread was to try to get imput, a solution as I want to help another member before a Jims, but if privacy laws prevent me helping another Indy member, bugger it, I offered....

This thread shows we who frequent here have some brains or something, we want to grow, make money, network, just goes to show, no wander clients see this profession as just a bunch of dero morons yobos, I agree, most are too stupid to know how to run a propper business, too frightened we are gunna pinch their lawns or something!

To ignorant to learn, too smart to come to forums to learn and socialise, too good to except work from us....I can assure you Eb, I won't start any more threads like this, if you only got a handful of willing contractors out of so many, then my time trying to network is wasted.

Sorry for wasting forum space, if other members are too good to accept my work, stuff em! I only tried to help us ALL....blew up in my face eh...

Ebony, I have to make sure you know, I was not having a shot at you. not game! lol.


"COME ON PEOPLE"

What?
I thought networking was Uniting which is what this is all about?
Ooops, did I get it all wrong again :confused:

Ebony
25-10-2004, 01:02 PM
Hey I am as frustrated as anyone. The members who are already members are hard to get to. We, as human beings are lazy, OR SOMETHING lol. Because I can't seem to stir up some excitement in anyone these days. How many people read this forum but don't post?

By saying "come on people" i am simply expressing my frustration.

New members are easy, we add a question for our new membership form that asks if they want to be listed on the contractor register. Easy as. But even if we did a huge mailout to current contractors on the system I feel the response would be very minimal (as was the case with the email)

:confused:

You tell me how to stir up some enthusiasm in people and that will give me a list of contractors, until then, I cannot list members without their concent!

Ebony

P.S. Tony I know you are not having a go at us lol

Tonyr
25-10-2004, 01:09 PM
Mate, I hear ya, I understand ya (shhhh, don't tell anyone I said that lol) BUT I can't understand people. :confused:

like a gift horse looking them in their mouth or whatever the saying is, and I can understand your frustration....

I'm frustrated on week days that end in 'Y' :laughing:

=====

Because I can't seem to stir up some excitement in anyone these days.

=====

Ahhh shucks, you still rev me up LOL! Especially on Mondays! ;frosty;

ya left yaself open for that one old grrrrrl! ;frosty; :laughing:

QLD turfcare
25-10-2004, 02:47 PM
Tony,

I am hearing what you say, and it is important to network... this website is one way of doing that, and the ideal way in many respects... I know this from a marketing/design background...

I have seen other (non-mowing) boards use a referral system, by area, for certain services, and I could also think of other ways to make existing members either opt-in or opt-out of a contractors listing on this board...

Once that info is available, then more will happen... Tony is right, if you don't know who these people are, then what are you supposed to do, spend your own money and time chasing them to do them a favour...?

There will always be a silent majority on forums like this, and until more people are prodded harder, they will wait for others to do it...

I would like to throw ideas around for ways to network more amongst other members...

David

GregG
25-10-2004, 04:00 PM
I totally agree networking is the to go. I think that there is more than enough work to go around and if we keep our prices at a reasonable level and no cut throating then we will all prosper and hopefully without working too long ( 3 days a week will do me ). This site has helped me with getting an idea on pricing and being confident to quote a high reasonable rate, the last thing I want is to inavertandly start a pricing war by unknowingly underpricing.
I am targeting a market niche in acreages so therefore I would like to pass on suburban blocks to a specialist Indy member and hopefully I will also be reffered acreage stuff if they don't want it.

Butchers, Bakers, Plumbers etc. all work in together and play together so why can't we. I got out of my previous employment due to bicthiness and backstabbing, so I am hoping that we can all work together, life is too short.

mick
25-10-2004, 05:04 PM
Just today I turned down a job in an exclusive part of the Gold Coast. It was to far away and by the time I would of got there it wouldnt be worth the drive! If I new of other members in that area I would of past it on for sure.

Maybe we could just start something in this forum. Start a thread and who ever wants to be part of the network could just say I'm in, there basic where abouts and where they work etc. Any phone numbers could be given over the Private message. Would only have to do it once because if you find someone in that area etc I would keep using that person. I would also use this for gardening work. I dont do it so I could easily pass some work on.

Eb, maybe you could send the address of the thread to all the members who have email. Cheap, quick and easy and if it dosnt work well it hant cost anything.
What do yas think? :i dunno:

Simon
25-10-2004, 07:00 PM
Having only just joined I am keen to get my details out there so where do I fill in my details.
If we build it they will come. Its just a case of perservering and if a few of us get some benefit from doing this than so be it, better some than none and I am sure that in time others might come to see the benefits. This might be pie in the sky stuff but I reckon it is worth a crack
Cheers

APS_QLD
22-11-2004, 01:50 PM
I dare say i'm not on the contractors list, so would like to be added how do i go about it :).

I also have work to pass on.

Brian

Ebony
22-11-2004, 01:57 PM
Put your details here... www.indmowing.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=603

An old register we set up that listed websites was: www.lawn.s5.com

I noticed in lawn maintenance thread you were mentioning a job in CHermside, there is a contractor listed on the above site in that suburb.

Ebony