Homebase

[Rappid]

Had a call from Homebase the DIY chain, they are looking to promote trades within the store and I would be only 1 of 12 trades and the only electrician.
Gonna cost £10 a week for 2 years and that includes the displays and leaflets promoting my business.
Do you think it's worth the punt?

 

[trev]

Homebase near us has a rack where Uncle Tom Cobley and all can shove business cards.

 

[Sparky Ninja]

We put our card in Tesco about 15 years ago with the other services, didn't get a single hit from them.

Obviously homebase will attract the DIY, the odd one who will feel out of their depth. It depends on if you can afford the hit and the risk of not getting £1040 worth of profitable business in this time-frame.

 

[Des 56]

A thousand pounds per individual for the 2 years 12 trades £12000 is a nice earner for the company
Multiply that by perhaps 1000 stores and they stand to rake in £12,000,000
That could be their motive

If you have advertising money available,try and decide whether people actually go to these places to do thngs themselves,then the percentage who may prefer a tradesman.then the percentage who already know someone,then the chances of getting the calls from whats left
There are no easy ways to promote yourself

 

[Strima]

For that price I would expect all my advertising to be around the electrical area including the lighting bays etc.

 

[RISElectrical]

To be honest people going to a DIY chain to buy electrical items are just that, DIY which means they will probably do it themselves. Those that want to use a tradesmen will usually ring them up for them to supply. You may get the odd light to put up when someone sees a nice fitting they want but that would need your leaflets to be placed accordingly in the store which probably wont happen.

£10 a month is a lot of money to pay out for what I think could be a low return.

Do they have a pay monthly scheme, even if its £15 a month you could try that without committing and see how it works out for you

 

[StuSpiers]

Don't think Homebase call local trades up.

Sure it's not a reincarnation of the blue light scam?

Sounds highly suspect to me.

 

[needasparks]

Would not think anyone would get a chance to see the board behind the tills, usually too many people trying to sell conservatories standing in front of them.
Most people leave the till and run to the car with a warm glow of getting the drill out again.......Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....................!!!

 

[telectrix]

had the same sort of deal offered me by wicks. better to ad. in the local rag.

 

[Strima]

Or get frustrated by the overly helpful staff at the self service tills that just get in the way and complain they haven't got enough staff to man the tills...

 

[pjcomp]

Don't think Homebase call local trades up.

No, Homebase do call people up like this (or at least their advertising agency does). Sainsbury, Tesco, all the sheds and big stores do it - they all have these boards to charge tradesmen a small fortune to get not a lot. The boards are always at the exit, which means people get the chance to browse what's on show and pick up cards on their way out, but also when they've finished their shopping and want to get it all out to the car. If anyone here has tried this and earned their money back from it I'd love to know.

PJ

 

[Guitarist]

You would be better off giving the electrical "expert" at the local shed a grand to promote you whenever he sees someone buying a CU

Hope that's not illegal. If so, I take it all back....

 

[Guest55]

the cash is better spent on a good website design.

 

[Guitarist]

the cash is better spent on a good website design.

Or a holiday in Majorca. I don't think I have ever seen anyone reading the cards at any DIY place.

 

[Guest55]

Or a holiday in Majorca. I don't think I have ever seen anyone reading the cards at any DIY place.

your idea is waaaaaaaaaay better than mine lol.