Seeking advice on Kitchen Cabinet Refacing business (small business, sales, budget)

[tonyandclaire89]

Hi All,

I'm new start-up in the Kitchen Cabinet Refacing business...I cant seem to get the business off the ground...Ive advertised in the yellow pages...Did a home show here in Boston...but the phones are just plain dead....not sure what to do...Ive always dreamed about owning a business...and I'd hate to fail...I know the economy is lousy...but is there something I can do market myself that I've not thought of...I tried networking but dont know many in the trades...any advice would be appreciated...

[desertsun41]

Yikes man I may be the wrong person to ask advice from on this subject. I am your competion yet I am on your side as a small business owner. Im an award winning Kitchen Designer. My motto is replace, dont reface. In 80% of the time I can give brand new cabinets for less then one can reface.

That all being said, as a fellow small business owner I still have nothing good to offer but not because I dont like refacing... but because in this economic depression people aint buying big ticket items. Some one on here asked me the other day about hows business. I posted that not very long ago people came in with a $20,000 budget for their new kitchen and now they come in with a broken drawer they need replaced or they want to add a nic-nac shelf.

Who is going to reface or buy a kitchen when they fear the ol pink slip any day now? I love the business we are in. When I cut my vein I bleed cabinets. Been doing so for 27 years.

Housing starts are the worst since records started being recorded. Many of the nations largest and oldest once powerful Builders are calling it quits forever. You see all those over 50ish people working at fast food joints? They lost their good paying "secure" jobs and the only jobs available are those $7.50/hr jobs. That dont even cover their bills, how are they going to buy a kitchen?

It is awesome that you have the go-get-em mind to start a business, any business but things are real bad now. I think Boston is only in a recession but about 9 big cities are in a confirmed depression. Homes once worth a million are selling at auction for $400K. Those investors buyng them thinking they are getting a bargain will find next year that home will be only worth $300K. More foreclosures.

Home shows are the very best places for leads. If you got nothing from that I dont know what to tell you. Most of the home shows today are half Spa dealers all fighting eachother. What a waste. There are more spa dealers then there are pizza palors.

I wish ya luck. Just hold on. We should see homes selling in another 4-7 years. Some laugh at me, I will get flack for saying that. But 3 years ago I said 08-09 we will experience a total and complete economic collapse. Tell me now how far off I was.

Go Celtics !!!!!!
I love Boston by the way.

[maf763]

As desertsun wrote, not a good time to start a business like that but maybe you can contact realtors and pitch the refacing as an option for people trying to sell houses with old kitchens - cheaper than replacing but can look a lot better for showings.

[chet everett]

Target people with solid income. Sounds simple, but doing it can be tricky. If you do get a mailing list it is fairly easy for the services to offer you a list of people in "affluent" zip codes. That is a start, even better are the lists that are targeted by profession. I would think that in and around Boston there ought to be more than enough medical professionals, government workers and education professionals. Those kinds of mailing lists cost more, but you can target people that are more likely to have cash...

The "coupon mailer" people can also offer some targeting too, but you need to compare their "total cost" to just getting a list and doing your own flyer / mailing.

[LittleDolphin]

Perhaps target older couples, empty-nesters who still have some money--or those getting ready to sell, or those who can't sell and need to do a frugal kitchen update to be appealing.

I'd make your headlines for ads, direct mail and your Web site concentrate on the frugal, money-saving aspects of your services:

--Get a New Kitchen for Pennies
--Frugal Kitchen Design begins when you call us...
--Want a Pretty New Kitchen That Looks Expensive, Saves You Money?
--Trouble Selling Your Home? Reface your kitchen cabinets for a fresh, updated look
--Ugly Kitchens Look Pretty for Pennies
--We Do Extreme Kitchen Makeovers for Smaller Budgets

Hope this helps...

Little Dolphin,
Your Scribe and Advertising Copywriter

[tonyandclaire89]

All

Thanks for all the advice...Desert sun...not what I wanted to hear...but thanks for your honest opinion...if I may ask how can u beat pricing for refacing 80 percent of the time...can you share your secret with a competitor...lol...hey dont worry I wont tell anyone plus no need to worry ...Im located in Boston...lol

[golfgod]

I've been doing rental RE and flips for 30 years and I'd suggest you contact your local real estate investment club. I'd probably target homes in neighborhoods that are 12 years and older. I'm guessing that's the age at which cabinets start looking bad. Realtors should be another good lead as another poster suggested.

The best thing I can suggest is GET OUT AND KNOCK ON DOORS. Like any other business you have to be a SALESMAN first, and then a CABINET guy. Once you sell one job TAKE LOTS OF BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES, if you can't stage good pictures find someone who can! Ask EVERYONE you meet for referrals!

golfgod