|
|
Post by greenpesto on Nov 27, 2005 1:23:12 GMT 1
Ltd company is good idea. Will change to that as my a/c has suggested this every year.
For the benefit of 'Inkjet' ... you have to remember that the £400+ wages is on paper. You actually run your account much as you did before. You will double you accountants fee but the tax savings out way this cost. But, you MUST have an accountant in order to do this.
VAT registered on the other hand is up to you but if you are not earning the required amount I'd suggest you steer clear. If you miss VAT return deadlines for example you can find yourself in serious poo-poo!
|
|
|
|
Post by blinder on Dec 19, 2005 20:43:07 GMT 1
Bonus? Bonus?
Whats Bonus?
|
|
blindmansam
Full Member
P/T advisor (over 5 years)
Posts: 225
|
Post by blindmansam on Jan 24, 2006 0:33:16 GMT 1
How do i run my business?
Well Consider this ...... This afternoon i spent 3 hours of my time , re-fitting 7 freehang pleated (25mm) which would not raise and lower smoothly ( even the bottom rail was not enough in weight to make the blind lower fully! ) all of these were of course D/O/R d !
Also a trip to fit a wood Valance to finish a pre-xmas job that was supplied incomplete!
It all cost me more Fuel ( £6 ) and the labour , all at my expense, for faults and errors with the products which we ought to be able to rely on !
So..... out of pocket by a good £40 ! This, Hillary's just assume i do with out complaint !
Its NO WAY to run a business , i am running at a loss!
December sales figures are well down in value ( and commission ) and lead effect has taken a dive ! This brought about as you may guess by the dreadful marketing strategy 3 for £99.
I am left thinking that if nothing ( or not much ) improves following the North/South meetings then this agency is doomed .
Trying to find something good to say here , but there is nothing - The top brass need to throw us a lifeline here ...... Quickly!
|
|
|
|
Post by desmorse on Feb 3, 2006 11:17:09 GMT 1
Putting together a couple of recent unrelated postings, 1 regarding I.R. not allowing Hillarys workwear as an expense, another about Ltd company working, got me thinking.
Hillarys argue that we should wear branded clothing, but their EXCUSE for not supplying it is it would jeopardise our self employed status. Now those of us working as a Ltd company are not self employed, we're employees of our company. We as individuals do not contract to Hillarys, our company does.
Large companies like Mars and Birds Eye Walls, supply promotional material and freezers to small corner shops on loan, free of charge, to promote their product. So Hillarys could do the same if they wanted to, by loaning us promotional workwear. I'd happily wear it, keep it in good condition and return it when worn out. (clothing or me!)
Unfortunately, I think the key phrase here is "WANTED TO". I don't think Hillarys want to, due to cost involved, and would use any excuse to avoid it, but when you see how much is spent on advertising, loss making 3/£99 offers, and every man and his dog throwing discounts at customers, would it really be such a huge cost?
|
|
|
|
Post by russell on Feb 3, 2006 14:38:43 GMT 1
youre spot on there des  owl still no forum feedback but as it was only presented to board on tues i dont think we will hear quite yet ive not had anything in todays post anyway .as to mellisa my grapevine says shes gone  |
|
Bear
Full Member
Posts: 230
|
Post by Bear on Feb 3, 2006 15:24:28 GMT 1
youre spot on there des owl still no forum feedback but as it was only presented to board on tues i dont think we will hear quite yet ive not had anything in todays post anyway .as to mellisa my grapevine says shes gone I also have it on good authority that Melissa is away. Did she fall, or was she pushed? Do we care? I was deluded into judging a book by its cover in her case. Silly me! Bear |
|
|
|
Post by kakalanka on May 5, 2006 23:10:23 GMT 1
Here's the dilema.............
I have found myself with a bit of a welcome problem of late.
Using Sam, on completing a successful sale I book the fit date 2 weeks away so, for example, if it's a Tuesday morning sales call, the fit will be the Tuesday morning 2 weeks from then (of course this is not always possible but in the main it works). I do this because if the customer is available for a sales call, it is highly likely that the fit date will be convenient also, and it keeps me in the post codes allocated for that day of the week.
The problem is that I am finding myself fitting nearly all of every other week which leaves the door completely open for new advisors recently appointed in my area, and myself with no leads for that week as I have no availabilty.
So.......should I be more erratic in my fit dates?, booking 3 weeks away for some, and make availabilty for leads more consistent, or should I just count my blessings that I'm busy? It worries me a little when I see my diary looking a bit "sick", but then it revives in those weeks when there are less fits booked in.
This situation has accidentally become routine of late and I'd be interested to here from anyone who had come across this "dilema".
Kakalanka
|
|
|
|
Post by greenpesto on May 5, 2006 23:21:08 GMT 1
I find that Mondays & Tuesdays to be main selling days so I tend to avoid fitting on those days.
Wednesdays & Thursdays can be a mixed 'bag' & Fridays is fitting only as I've always found that to be bad for selling.
The main difference to you is that I am available for all my post-codes each day.
I do however, restrict the area I cover & concentrate on these.
Not being available every day for an area I have found in the past leaves you open for other Advisors to 'sneak' in which defeats the point of trying to cover a larger area in the first place.
I can maximize my area as a result of this.
Nothing is 'cast in stone' as I can move selling & fitting days around if required.
|
|
|
|
Post by desmorse on May 5, 2006 23:25:59 GMT 1
Yep, been there too, found same problem. I always try and leave capacity for at least 2 appointments every day, but don't always manage it. In Hants, we were part of the AOEs and were actually measured down on any fit not booked on 14 days. It fairly soon fell in to disrepute, with late deliveries even though we had priority in production.
Personally, I book 2,1/2 to 3,1/2 weeks now, but still group my post codes. I find most customers are impressed that we can actually do that, without promising 2 weeks. I know a lot of people still book fictional dates on SAM and arrange fit dates when they have the blinds. I wouldn't want to go back to that, but it's whatever works for you. What I do do though, is have spare, small fits in the back of the van for areas where I'm working that day. If I get the time, maybe a cancellation, I'll call a customer and do their fit if they're in. This does 2 things for you. 1) gives you something to do if your too far away to nip home. 2) closing a fit early on SAM releases the time back for CLG to put a lead in
|
|
|
|
Post by greenpesto on May 5, 2006 23:33:04 GMT 1
You are right GVM!
If you book fits 2.1/2 weeks ahead on e.g. a Weds/Fri you can offer certain dates first to the customer so that you can group post-codes together or so that you can plan the most economical route for that day.
Works for me!!
|
|
|
|
Post by kakalanka on May 5, 2006 23:34:13 GMT 1
Thanks Greenpesto.......most helpful.
I have to divide my area in two as its pretty rural, with a couple of nice towns, and about 50 miles across in parts, so the post code issue is quite important in keeping things manageable.
I might try fitting more at the end of the week as I agree that the start of the week is better for selling, together with the weekend, (usually).
Thanks again.
Kakalanka
|
|
*Star*man*
Full Member
Advisor with some experience - UK
Posts: 171
|
Post by *Star*man* on May 29, 2006 22:05:42 GMT 1
I have always compiled my own 'end of the month' figures , this is a spin off from years ago when hillarys had all agents do this and manually return the figures to HO.
To be honest it gives me a better and highly acurate picture of how i am doing on a monthly basis. far better than todays in-acurate self management reports we get from Hillary's.
looking at whats happened for May ( and indeed the last 3 months ) it seems costs are rising due to more sales calls , more fitting calls and more D/O/R and service calls . Fuel costs have risen (99p litre for diesel)
But....overall Earnings remain generally about the same ( slightly down in May tho) , Average number blinds per order 2.68 , Average sale Value per blind £75.70 ( thats bad!) and average order value poor at £202.88. All these figures INCLUDE VAT.
So my point is this ...... I am running around like mad covering all things the 'hillarys way' and its NOT doing me any good!
Is it just me ? Please reply and let me know!
Hillary's are not doing us any favours with the marketing plans they have used over the last 6 month,s and our expences are creeping up all the time .
Think about....
SAM costs.
Fuel.
Communication (phones and fax).
New issues concerning D/O/R costs and the PL Thing!
If there are lots of other agents following the same thoughts - Where are we headed! Help Please!
|
|
|
|
Post by RED on May 30, 2006 8:14:53 GMT 1
I So my point is this ...... I am running around like mad covering all things the 'hillarys way' and its NOT doing me any good! Is it just me ? Please reply and let me know! Hillary's are not doing us any favours with the marketing plans they have used over the last 6 month,s and our expences are creeping up all the time . Think about.... SAM costs. Fuel. Communication (phones and fax). New issues concerning D/O/R costs and the PL Thing! If there are lots of other agents following the same thoughts - Where are we headed! Help Please! Dead right. The Hillarys way works one way. Advertising and offers/promotions SHOULD be set between us, not forced on us. There should be input from the very people in the field. Not a group of suits dreaming up offers JUST to make the bloody phones ring. As i have said before, if the advisors do not have any say on the offers, the people who dream em up should be MADE to go out and try em BEFORE going live with em. They need to target the customers they once had, the ones that gave Hillarys the good reputation for Quality and Service not the ones who are pre price programmed with 3 for diddly squit offers. My fed has never bin more up!! I do not run my own business, Hillary's do it for me and what a complete shambles it is. Hard to make any money at all now. Swapping and changing days around just to accommodate this ludicrous idea that I must see a customer within 4 days just leaves me with more spaces than ever, and a completely uncontrollable diary. Getting really cheesed off now. Red |
|
|
|
Post by farmer on May 30, 2006 8:43:11 GMT 1
I have always compiled my own 'end of the month' figures , this is a spin off from years ago when hillarys had all agents do this and manually return the figures to HO. To be honest it gives me a better and highly acurate picture of how i am doing on a monthly basis. far better than todays in-acurate self management reports we get from Hillary's. looking at whats happened for May ( and indeed the last 3 months ) it seems costs are rising due to more sales calls , more fitting calls and more D/O/R and service calls . Fuel costs have risen (99p litre for diesel) But....overall Earnings remain generally about the same ( slightly down in May tho) , Average number blinds per order 2.68 , Average sale Value per blind £75.70 ( thats bad!) and average order value poor at £202.88. All these figures INCLUDE VAT. So my point is this ...... I am running around like mad covering all things the 'hillarys way' and its NOT doing me any good! Is it just me ? Please reply and let me know! Hillary's are not doing us any favours with the marketing plans they have used over the last 6 month,s and our expences are creeping up all the time . Think about.... SAM costs. Fuel. Communication (phones and fax). New issues concerning D/O/R costs and the PL Thing! If there are lots of other agents following the same thoughts - Where are we headed! Help Please! Totally agree 100% Although I have not done my figures, for the last month, i dont need to, I can tell by whats on the bottom of my commission statement whats happening. I used to have to present my month end figures like you. Isn't it strange now that they do them for us, the bonus seems to have dissappeared. ! all i am doing is like the rest of you, running around doing 3 for 99, and 4 for 129. (still haven't been shown how to sell up). My diary has gone to pot again, thats after Ross coming to see me to sort it. So 4 months on from forums, what have we got ? Answers please, 'cos i am at a loss. Trouble is I cant do owt about my diary, otherwise my wife gets the f.s.m swearing down the phone at her, saying we are nothing but moaners..... she might be correct in what she says, but just why are we moaning. ? so yes earnings are down, running around like someone not right in the head, just to put more money in the coffers of the tax man, who then will be donating to the people who are buying the 3 for 99's off us. Whilst they go to the pub, gamble, smoke, go on holiday, drive a flash car, widescreen on the wall. there not wrong, i am for being the mug doing them in the first place. Time something positive happened now, to put the fire back in our bellies... After 4months i think something should have happened. Bye the way, are there any courses to learn how to sell up from 3 for 99. Probably not, because will anyone know how to at HQ. |
|
|
|
Post by desmorse on May 30, 2006 8:45:14 GMT 1
Whilst I understand your frustrations, I've just 2 of my best months for over a year. April totaled £33,034 with an AOV of £542 and May to-date £36,358 with a £577 AOV. But, Oh goody goody, just so we can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, all the silly price offers are back next week.  As I've said before, I sell on Saturdays and Sundays, and thats when I do most of my business. Weekend just gone I did £2.1k Sat and £3.9k Sun. Previous weekend I did £6.6k. I see customers together and when they're a little more relaxed, I'm able to negotiate and close the deal. I don't have any children at home, just me & Mrs GVM, so taking our "weekend" mid-week suits us. It certainly wouldn't suit everyone. What I can never understand is advisors who sell weekdays and fit weekends. I do just the opposite, I think I did 1 weekend fit in the whole of last year. Weekday daytime or evenings are fine, maybe only 1 partner there, or both but busy with meals, kids, had-a-bad-day etc, but you can just get on with fitting. If selling, you need their attention. Don't like service calls booked in to my diary, but as soon as I see one, I close it off as "successful", then ring the customer and do it when convenient to ME! By closing it off on SAM, the time is released allowing leads to put a profitable job in. I totally agree about costs. I've seen deisel at 100.9 locally, and Hillarys are doing their level best to make our life harder and more costly, but I'll make hay as the sun shines, cos this run won't last much longer. |
|
