Kim takes a selfie while flying on a client’s private jet
In spite of the fact that we live in a disposable society, demand for furniture upholstery and reupholstering is not slowing down.
Actually, the opposite is true, especially for the upholstery service that specializes in recovering antique furniture. Not only that, but you can start and operate your upholstery business out of your own home (yes, you can work from home!) and you can do it part time if that is your goal. So what are the keys to becoming a successful upholsterer?
Kim and I have been doing well in our upholstery business for over 20 years, and we continue to meet great people and have many wonderful experiences. Let me now give you some advice that I call our 5 best secrets to upholstery business success.
1) Answer your phone. It’s one of the simplest things you can do. So many times we hear the client on the other end of the line say “Wow, you answered your phone!”, or “I wasn’t prepared to talk to a real person, give me a second to re-think what I was going to say”. You know yourself that you hate talking to an answering machine or never ending list of options for leaving a message. By answering your phone you get your prospect while she or he is ready to talk to you. This is a hot lead. They are now impressed and you can wow them more by answering their questions on the spot. Kim usually says, “Good morning, Kim’s Upholstery” or “Good afternoon, Kim’s Upholstery”, and 9 times out of 10 it’s the wrong time of day, so right off there is a laugh to start the conversation.
2) Do what you say you will do. If after you have answered your phone you agree to go to a client’s home on a certain date and time for a consultation, be there on time. You will make a huge impression by being on time. You surely have experienced the difficulty of waiting for a delivery or a service to arrive at your home. No one likes waiting. We see happy customers all the time just because we showed up on time.
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Kim responding to emails
3) Call back all missed calls ASAP. On the same day if possible. You will find that half of your customers will be surprised to get that call back. How many times have you left someone a message and didn’t get called back. Stand out as different in a good way with this simple step.
4) Answer all of your emails. A prospective client that takes the time to write to you most likely really wants to work with you. Maybe you forgot to call this person back after they left a message. If you are trying to use the social media channels to grow your business you better get in the habit of answering emails.
Thank you note to a happy client
5) Go the extra mile. Give your client something they didn’t expect. A pillow made from their leftover fabric, cleaning instructions for the fabric you just put on their newly upholstered chair, fabric swatches from the job for them to take shopping when they want to match decorative items for their room with what they have. You can be sure by doing these things that they will mention your upholstery business to their friends.
If you would like to start your own upholstery business why not check our Upholstery Classes membership site where you can start building the upholstery skills you will need to succeed.
Have some tips or secrets of your own? I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks for reading. Let’s get connected!
Bill
