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Post by noggins on Feb 27, 2007 0:48:23 GMT 1
Cheers for the enlightening Blindmansam as I can perhaps appreciate all that you have written and I have certainly felt the frustration on seveal occasions but I guess I'll have to bear that for now and see how things pan out, I'm quite strong willed.
I've been in similar scenarios in previous employment and was glad to get out of it, city working, politcs and all that, and I'm sure this is no worse but I'm quite new and enjoying being out of the ratrace for now and the freedom.
I'm sure none of the moans are unjustified but I'll try and keep my eye on the way ahead too, thanks for the advice.
The Web blinds and supermarket are the worst bug bear and don't quite know what Hillarys are trying to achieve perhaps I'll ask my FSM to see what response I get!
I'm begining to wise up and see the light - don't go into the light....
Thanks again
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Post by thelloydgang on Feb 27, 2007 9:22:40 GMT 1
Hi Noggins
I've been with Hillarys for 7 years now and although we've had our frustrations with Hillarys have been relatively successful and earn a decent living from a very flexible job.
Don't pay too much attention to the negative comments, I find it's all down to attitude at the end of the day. If you want to do well with Hillarys you can!
Blindmansam, I think you're unfair posting comments like this to a New Advisor...........Luckily Noggins appears to take what you say with a pinch of salt and give it a good go. No agency is ever the same.............I admit some are more successful than others but this is not just down to one factor.....being the head office obstacles!
Good luck and I hope you are successful.........just keep your mind open to all suggestion both from here and head office!
Karen ;D
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Post by noggins on Feb 27, 2007 9:56:43 GMT 1
Hi Noggins I've been with Hillarys for 7 years now and although we've had our frustrations with Hillarys have been relatively successful and earn a decent living from a very flexible job. Don't pay too much attention to the negative comments, I find it's all down to attitude at the end of the day. If you want to do well with Hillarys you can! Blindmansam, I think you're unfair posting comments like this to a New Advisor...........Luckily Noggins appears to take what you say with a pinch of salt and give it a good go. No agency is ever the same.............I admit some are more successful than others but this is not just down to one factor.....being the head office obstacles! Good luck and I hope you are successful.........just keep your mind open to all suggestion both from here and head office! Karen ;D Thanks for your feedback Karen I appreciate it as I hope too that I'm successful, as at then end or the day it's up to me to make it work. Being successfully is also getting the support from Hillary's which - form my point of view - has been reasonably good so far with a few issues that were simple to fix (in my view) but took so much of my time dealing with to get an acceptable conclusion. Blindmansam was only giving his view which is what I was asking for someone to provide but as we all know there are good and not so good points in all jobs Cheers Dave |
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Post by keenasmustard on Feb 27, 2007 9:57:15 GMT 1
hello noggins when you say politics and getting out of the rat race is your names tony and you dont have a wife who's a barrister by any chance  with these credentials you will go far ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by noggins on Feb 27, 2007 10:05:47 GMT 1
hello noggins when you say politics and getting out of the rat race is your names tony and you dont have a wife who's a barrister by any chance with these credentials you will go far ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D LOL Keenas ;D her names' Norma 'any more peas Norma' |
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Post by BlindWizard on Feb 27, 2007 10:14:16 GMT 1
Hi Noggins I've been with Hillarys for 7 years now and although we've had our frustrations with Hillarys have been relatively successful and earn a decent living from a very flexible job. Don't pay too much attention to the negative comments, I find it's all down to attitude at the end of the day. If you want to do well with Hillarys you can! Blindmansam, I think you're unfair posting comments like this to a New Advisor...........Luckily Noggins appears to take what you say with a pinch of salt and give it a good go. No agency is ever the same.............I admit some are more successful than others but this is not just down to one factor.....being the head office obstacles! Good luck and I hope you are successful.........just keep your mind open to all suggestion both from here and head office! Karen ;D thelloydgang I agree, that is good advice. I do think that in the last year or so the company hasn't endeared itself to the advisors by the way it has dealt with problems & issues and also the change in terms regarding fines and public liability insurance etc. Also communication could be greatly improved such as the setting up of specialist products advisors leaving already trained advisors in the dark to how this will effect their income if they don't make the leap of faith and go specialist products only. As you say it is a very flexible job both in times you work and the way you work. I do think you need to decide what you want out of it and then run your agency to make sure you achieve that. I think there are in general 3 choices:- 1. You want to earn as much as possible no matter what time is needed - Offer as much availability as possible, work evenings and weekends, push the cheap sale fabrics if customers aren't biting, do a deal, beat the quote, send your quotes in. Don't work out your hourly earnings just sell sell sell, fit fit fit. (oh and don't spend much time on forums !!) 2. You want to work 9-5(ish), have a family life and need to earn an average (ish) wage - Set your availability to weekdays and the odd evening (offset with time off during day). Don't push the sales offerings too much, don't match quotes, only offer small discounts. Keep an eye on your month earnings (income against costs) and don't work outside your standard hours. 3. Your not too worried about total income (probably already paid off your mortgage), your more interested in quality of life and want to take time off when it suits you - Keep availability down to a few days a week and fit outside those times only when you want to increase your income or fancy working a bit more, keep all the sale fabrics out of the binders and only show them when customer insists or if you want the job (eg nice and easy fit into wood frames, conservatory side etc), don't sell any blind under £120 or any one order for less than say £220, if it's a nasty fit increase sales price and do a paper quote, don't do deals or match quotes, don't send quotes in but do follow-up the quotes for the good earning jobs. Don't worry about conversion rates or time to diary, but do worry about average order value, keep a track of hours worked and calculate your hourly earnings. Work smart not hard !! Plan what you want out of working for Hillarys and you should achieve it (well within reason !!) I'm sure others could add further constructive advice. The choice is yours, yes the company could make it easier with more planning/discussion and thought but they are only small obstacles that we just needed to deal with. Good luck noggins |
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Post by keenasmustard on Feb 27, 2007 10:24:59 GMT 1
hello noggins when you say politics and getting out of the rat race is your names tony and you dont have a wife who's a barrister by any chance with these credentials you will go far ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D LOL Keenas ;D her names' Norma 'any more peas Norma' your john major arn't ya |
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Post by noggins on Feb 27, 2007 10:41:32 GMT 1
Hi Noggins I've been with Hillarys for 7 years now and although we've had our frustrations with Hillarys have been relatively successful and earn a decent living from a very flexible job. Don't pay too much attention to the negative comments, I find it's all down to attitude at the end of the day. If you want to do well with Hillarys you can! Blindmansam, I think you're unfair posting comments like this to a New Advisor...........Luckily Noggins appears to take what you say with a pinch of salt and give it a good go. No agency is ever the same.............I admit some are more successful than others but this is not just down to one factor.....being the head office obstacles! Good luck and I hope you are successful.........just keep your mind open to all suggestion both from here and head office! Karen ;D thelloydgang I agree, that is good advice. I do think that in the last year or so the company hasn't endeared itself to the advisors by the way it has dealt with problems & issues and also the change in terms regarding fines and public liability insurance etc. Also communication could be greatly improved such as the setting up of specialist products advisors leaving already trained advisors in the dark to how this will effect their income if they don't make the leap of faith and go specialist products only. As you say it is a very flexible job both in times you work and the way you work. I do think you need to decide what you want out of it and then run your agency to make sure you achieve that. I think there are in general 3 choices:- 1. You want to earn as much as possible no matter what time is needed - Offer as much availability as possible, work evenings and weekends, push the cheap sale fabrics if customers aren't biting, do a deal, beat the quote, send your quotes in. Don't work out your hourly earnings just sell sell sell, fit fit fit. (oh and don't spend much time on forums !!) 2. You want to work 9-5(ish), have a family life and need to earn an average (ish) wage - Set your availability to weekdays and the odd evening (offset with time off during day). Don't push the sales offerings too much, don't match quotes, only offer small discounts. Keep an eye on your month earnings (income against costs) and don't work outside your standard hours. 3. Your not too worried about total income (probably already paid off your mortgage), your more interested in quality of life and want to take time off when it suits you - Keep availability down to a few days a week and fit outside those times only when you want to increase your income or fancy working a bit more, keep all the sale fabrics out of the binders and only show them when customer insists or if you want the job (eg nice and easy fit into wood frames, conservatory side etc), don't sell any blind under £120 or any one order for less than say £220, if it's a nasty fit increase sales price and do a paper quote, don't do deals or match quotes, don't send quotes in but do follow-up the quotes for the good earning jobs. Don't worry about conversion rates or time to diary, but do worry about average order value, keep a track of hours worked and calculate your hourly earnings. Work smart not hard !! Plan what you want out of working for Hillarys and you should achieve it (well within reason !!) I'm sure others could add further constructive advice. The choice is yours, yes the company could make it easier with more planning/discussion and thought but they are only small obstacles that we just needed to deal with. Good luck noggins Cheers Blindwizard - very good points you have made and if I'm honest I'm in the middle currently and might move up a notch when I can fit faster, but just got to get faster with my fittings some go blindingly well (excuse the pun ;D) some not so... like yesterday 13 vens (2 large and one small bay included and all with sticky out handles) and one large vertical I thought I'd complete them in 3 hours ;D but they took 5  Dave |
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Post by RED on Feb 27, 2007 10:48:44 GMT 1
Nogins.
Some good sound advice there from BlindWizard. Run it as you want to and dont let it take over your life.
For example, if you plan a Sunday off with family and a customers says Sunday is the only day she has, do not give in, you will find they can always come up with another time.
The one piece of advice I can offer you is this.
Remember, it is not your business, never will be. You are effectively an ambassador for Hillary's. If you go sick they will bring someone else in, if you go on Holiday they will give your leads to another adviser, they will do things behind your back. It hurts deeply to find a customer you have cultivated and built up a relationship is just given away to another adviser simply because you were running at 5 days.If you bear all this in mind and it does not bother you then go for it.
Just remember, It isn't your ball you are playing with,and we all know the story of the little boy that wouldnt play ball.
Red
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Post by thelloydgang on Feb 27, 2007 10:51:58 GMT 1
Happy Birthday Red! ;D
Happy Birthday Sharif! ;D
Have a great day you two!
Karen ;D
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Post by RED on Feb 27, 2007 10:55:39 GMT 1
Happy Birthday Red! ;D Happy Birthday Sharif! ;D Have a great day you two! Karen ;D Awww, shucks. I'm all embarrassed now. . Thanks Karen. |
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Post by russell on Feb 27, 2007 12:39:13 GMT 1
Happy Birthday Red! ;D Happy Birthday Sharif! ;D Have a great day you two! Karen ;D Happy birthdays hope you both have the day off. |
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Post by RED on Feb 27, 2007 15:27:37 GMT 1
Cheers Russ I am having a day off. A totally Hillary's customer free day today. Distressing my system. ;D. You know when you are getting old when Saga send you a letter offering you discounted insurance and holidays like I got this morning. I wouldn't mind but they are 3 years too early.  |
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Post by noggins on Feb 27, 2007 16:12:11 GMT 1
Nogins. Some good sound advice there from BlindWizard. Run it as you want to and dont let it take over your life. For example, if you plan a Sunday off with family and a customers says Sunday is the only day she has, do not give in, you will find they can always come up with another time. The one piece of advice I can offer you is this. Remember, it is not your business, never will be. You are effectively an ambassador for Hillary's. If you go sick they will bring someone else in, if you go on Holiday they will give your leads to another adviser, they will do things behind your back. It hurts deeply to find a customer you have cultivated and built up a relationship is just given away to another adviser simply because you were running at 5 days.If you bear all this in mind and it does not bother you then go for it. Just remember, It isn't your ball you are playing with,and we all know the story of the little boy that wouldnt play ball. Red Many happy returns Red (unless it's not that many of course  ) Thanks for yer feedback too and I understand what you are saying, and indeed I'll not be roped into working my rest days either as I gottta have a life u know. Have a good day and 'ave a beer on me. ;D |
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*Star*man*
Full Member
Advisor with some experience - UK
Posts: 171
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Post by *Star*man* on Feb 27, 2007 18:25:27 GMT 1
Hey Karen,
Don't knock the old blindmansam , he's a well experienced guy and very pro-hillarys .
We all have SOME problems with hillarys , it could be your AREA , or your FSM.
What these forums really say is this ....... IT's NOT JUST YOU !!!
Make of it as you will - But do it your own style !
((((((((Blindmansam, I think you're unfair posting comments like this to a New Advisor...........Luckily Noggins appears to take what you say with a pinch of salt and give it a good go. No agency is ever the same.............I admit some are more successful than others but this is not just down to one factor.....being the head office obstacles!)))))
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