Current Industry News.

 

 

NEW HSE GATE SAFETY BULLETIN - JAN 2011

 

HSE Warns of the dangers of children playing on automated doors.

 

 

 

Pricing for a Job (Trade Fitters).....

 

Some one has asked the question........ I am new to being self employed and have a job to quote for, for a pair of gates, what should i charge?

 

This is an interesting question, to which there is no hard and fast answer, i though it would be beneficial to everyone who works for themselves to here the reply.

I spent many years making and fitting steel and wooden gates, keeping in mind this was nearly 10 years ago, an average price for a 3.5m x 1.8m double gate fitted and not automated was £900.00 + vat. If the gate was more than the standard, then prices went up as high as £1950.00 + vat.

 

It all depends on what gates you are making and who you are targeting with your advertising. Many large houses, care homes, businesses, offices will require nice robust gates, well made, for security and peace of mind. If you target these people, then price to them is not really the deciding factor. i.e. if someone quote's £400.00 and you quote £1500.00 and what they are looking for is a strong and solid gate to last a lifetime, which comes with the support and guarantees that these people are looking for (they are busy people with money, and they don’t want to have to touch this gate at any time in the future, they just want to know that if a problem presents then they can call on you and you will be there to sort it in a reasonable time) then they will most probably pay a lot more than you think, and also will conclude that £400.00 will not get them what they want as it is far too cheap! The job is yours.

 

Many people will compete on price, and this is fine if you are targeting people with no disposable income, if they have to scrape the money together for a gate, because they need one to serve a purpose (keep kids off busy road) then these customers will buy on price, as they just need something to perform the purpose for the immediate future (its not a want, but a need)

 

However, if you are quoting for a gate for a house in the high end of the market, where this customer wants a gate to add character to the property, value and aesthetics to the property along with added security. Then this guy is looking to pay for the service and the finished product.

 

The more he is quoted the happier he feels that the gate will be what he is looking for. This guy will not buy on price.

 

Remember this when you are advertising and when you are quoting. It is no good advertising to the high end and quoting low prices, just as it is a waste of time and money advertising to the low end and quoting high prices.

You need to decide where you are pitching your standards and quality and service. Before you advertise and before you fix pricing. If you do this then your business will be more effective and more profitable, and your customers will be happier in the knowledge that they are getting what they require.

 

This is why you will find a bottle of bud in your local for £2.50 and the same bottle in a glass, in a wine bar in Monaco for 10 times that price, it’s all about knowing who your customer is and what it is they want from you as there supplier.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

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