Ideas for boosting sales? (kitchen revamps)

[singlecoil]

For a year now my firm (just me and the wife at the moment, small but very efficient) have been offering a kitchen revamping service- make and fit new doors, new drawer fronts, worktops sink etc. Sales have been reasonably good but I could do with some more leads.
I have an OK website but it's really only to support my local advertising.
I only advertise locally because I can only provide a service locally, most jobs require minimum 3 or 4 site visits and long journeys would cost too much.
Apart from the advertising I do, the only decent idea I've had so far is to leave my card at local home improvement shops, making it clear to the manager that I pay worthwhile commission for productive leads.
Can anyone come up with some other ideas?

[wolf1]

There's a company locally called "cupboard love" I'm assuming they do something similar to yourselves. They have quite a reasonable word of mouth reputation which is always good for buisness.
Ever thought of making small display boards to stick in your local diy merchants? They will probably want a small fee but could be worth it in the long run. You could even put a on display on certain weekends to try and hook punters on the Sunday morning "what can I buy from focus/homebase outing"

[thepeoplespal]

Offer a bounty to your current customers for recommendations that get you business. Your customers can be your best salesmen.

[Davel]

Word of mouth is invaluable, so agree with previous post.

Either offer a reward to people who recommend you to someone who then places an order - or ask satisfied customers if they might be happy to show potential customers the work that you've done for them.

Advertise in the local press or 'Buy Sell' magazine.

[greenisbest]

Do you cover Southampton?

[D-Angle]

thepeoplespal said:

Offer a bounty to your current customers for recommendations that get you business. Your customers can be your best salesmen.

Beat me to it, a great idea. Get some vouchers printed and give 3 or 4 to each customer. Put a few different options on there for what they can have, and let them tick the one they want and fill in their details. I should imagine that a day on the golf course or in the beauty parlour would be far less than the price of a job you wouldn't otherwise get. It just encourages people who hear their friends say they want a new kitchen to say "Here, use these guys and I'll get this if you do."

Another idea could be to get in touch with local property developers, maybe through estate agents, and strike up a regular arrangement.

[Pistonfest]

Just an idea, and only that.....
Is your ideal customer not the Lady of the House......and do they not want to "show off" their new kitchens by inviting guests over for dinner?
Perhaps (if I'm right) they would welcome a good bottle of wine (branded by your company) as a promotional gift, with vouchers attached?
Maybe that's a way in the door to show the quality of your work, and get unnofficial viewings done, and get them to hand out vouchers etc to assist with the marketing?
But then again, I put the dishes in the washing machine once, so what do I know !!!!!

[singlecoil]

greenisbest said:

Do you cover Southampton?

I'm in West Berkshire, Southampton would be a bit too far, I'm afraid.

[singlecoil]

I did think about incentivising existing customers, but one thing that worries me is, what if an existing customer had been referred to me by a previous customer? (ANd I didn't know) Would they then not think that the previous customer had received some kind of commission, and had only recommended me in order to get that commission?
Funnily enough, since I posted the original question I've had an upsurge in replies to my existing advertising. This has been the story all along, feasts and famines in a completely random pattern.
I'm planning my after-Christmas sales campaign now, maybe feature 30% off but wothout being too specific?

[micky g]

Hi, I too am in the kitchen industry (10 years) & largely agree with the previous posts. The best way to get recommendations without sounding corny or paying commissions, is to simply ask your customer to recommend you to their friends, colleagues and family on completion of their job. We also ask if they would mind us photographing their finished kitchen (as it looks so nice) and if they would mind us arranging for potential customers to see their kitchen (only one or two - not all of them)! This appeals to the customers pride in the nicest way and makes sure they don't forget you. The skill is in building yourself a reputation locally. If you manufacture it may also be worth considering the 'trade' as a further way of boosting sales by contacting builders, developers and local authorities.
One easy way to find selective mail shots is through the local newspaper planning applications, but this may be slanted more towards complete kitchens.
Feel free to E mail me, I'd be pleased to help in any way.

[vex]

Why don't you target Estate Agents as well. (With the much needed incentive / voucher)

That way they can 'suggest' a cheap kitchen upgrade to either the seller before the house goes on the market or to the buy as it is being sold!