The tag line I use on all my marketing is
“We’re Not Your Typical Painters. We’re Better.”
It’s short. It’s effective. And it’s a great conversation starter.
But you know what? I hate it.
It means I am part of an industry where typical generally translates to “lousy”. And I don’t like that. I would much rather be part of a well respected industry instead of capitalizing on our ability to be better than the average person’s impression of a typical painter.
So I have decided I am going to make it my mission to make my tag line obsolete.
My strategy is to make homeowners smarter.
I’m doing it by calling out bad paint jobs. I’m educating homeowners on what’s good and what’s bad. And hopefully forcing the ones giving our industry a bad rap to step up their game or find another line of work.
I’m not alone on my mission either. Check out the guys at Prep to Finish. They have taken their expertise to the streets with a whole new series of training and education for both new painters and established ones that want to improve their techniques and systems and are committed to best practices. They’re teaching best practices to the next generation of painters.
Coming at this issue from all sides and actively be a part of the solution instead complaining about what’s wrong in our industry is how we end the stigmas associated with the painting industry.
My question to you is what are you doing to raise the bar?
This is such a timely article for me. I’m a restoration and painting contractor in Portland, Oregon, and usually charge “time and materials” for my work, since you never, ever know how long a restoration job will take! Recently, I’ve been asked to submit “estimates” for jobs so the homeowners can compare my price with other painting companies. My first estimate was excepted, but only after I reduced my price to be more competitive. This was a stupid move on my part (yes, I can call myself stupid from time to time!), because my original estimate fell short of the actual hours I worked, and by reducing my fees even more I underbid the job my 100%! I’m now in the process of bidding on what could be my biggest job in Portland… the lobby and staircase of a 140 year old historical building. This time my estimates will be better thought out, and I will NOT lower my price to compete with other painters! I am so much better than that, and lowering my price to be competitive with painters who put out shoddy work only hurts me! I want the painting industry to get the respect it deserves, and if that means calling out bad painters and bad paint jobs like Heidi does, then that’s what I’ll do!
Thanks Judy! Glad you came to your senses! 🙂 I’ve seen your site and your work, very nice, love the photo galleries. I think you could easily create some project stories/spotlights to print out and use with your estimates, sure to set you apart! Check out Tess Wittler’s posts here on BP and on her site for more info.
Hi
great scripts and thought and ofcourse i totally acree with both your views.
Coming from England and while not the best painter about i still appreciate and take care to establish client confidence in my ability to do a thorough job.
You think you see shoddy work in the states,damm you need to see the actual damage painters have caused to some of Great Britians most histotical properties.
My own lead in my sale is,
“what does your decorator use”
I then list and explain various methods an tools i use.
Not a call out has such but a hint to a client who may not no better.
Fairplay you should call out bad work,i do.
Chris