So many job shops fall into the trap of trying to be everything to everyone, but instead of that making them more versatile and creative, it limits their potential to grow, land bigger and better projects, and gain profitability.
Read More
I meet a lot of job shops that don’t know how to sell beyond their local market and some that don’t even think to try. Traditionally, job shops pop up in budding manufacturing hubs out of an increasing need for their custom services, but in today’s global economy, it’s not only possible but highly beneficial for shops to look for customers outside their immediate area.
Read More
Many job shops are too small to justify a salesperson, so the owner ends up being the one who goes after work–in addition to all the other hats they wear every day. If they're lucky, they have natural sales instincts and maybe a bit of experience, but even then, it's easy to miss opportunities and leave money on the table. Sales work is hard.
Read More
Generally, when job shops get an RFP, they gather all the details they need to put a proposal together and then send it off into the ether to await a response. Sometimes they get the job, but sometimes they never hear from that prospective customer again after having wasted all that time on getting them a quote.
Read More
I’ve seen too many job shops grow to a certain size and get stuck because they’re still trying to operate like a small shop and flying by the seat of their pants. They don’t want to build processes and systems because they are focused on pleasing customers or they think it will limit their creativity and freedom.
Read More
I’m going to get real for a minute: you’ll never have a radical job shop with the potential for increasing profitability and influence if you operate from the traditional service-based business model where you’re continually re-inventing the wheel to meet your customers every need.
Read More
If you’re like most job shop owners, you’re offering a broad range of manufacturing services to a wide variety of customers, and you’re probably not hitting it big. But I’m here to tell you a secret. Somewhere inside your current body of capabilities is a hidden geyser of gold waiting to erupt.
Read More
When you run a custom manufacturing shop, you are providing a service to your customers, which means they are more than just a quick sale. If they’re a great customer, you hope to work with them long-term. Strong relationships require consistent care and attention. This is a fact of life for any type of relationship.
Read More
I don’t care how rich you are: We are all blessed with the same amount of time and energy to use in a given day, and how you put these resources to work translates to your success rate. Do you use that time developing your brand to attract the customers you want, or hitting the pavement to sell your machine time?
Read More