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Those wishing to establish a bathtub refinishing business would know that it’s no child’s play. Bathtubs are among the most eye-grabbing aspects of any bathroom. So, people ensure they’re aesthetically pleasing.
Since bathtubs are slowly making their way into the homes of several people, they’re no longer a luxury. Therefore, it’s easy to see why they enjoy high demand these days.
However, with increased demand comes increased pressure to outdo your competitors. It’s also increased pressure to win more customers. You can even win more customers in the process. If you’re unfamiliar with how a bathtub refinishing business works, then you’ve come to the right place.
We’ll take you through the various aspects of setting up a bathtub refinishing business. Our tips will help you get started with yours in no time.
Discover Your Specialty
Bathtub refinishing is a flourishing industry now. It’s flourishing thanks to the growing costs of purchasing new tubs. However, since it’s a labor-intensive business and requires specialist knowledge. So, it’s wise to first discover your specialty before you move ahead with a business plan.
By your specialty, we mean you should evaluate which bathtubs you want to refinish. There are currently more than a dozen types of bathtubs available in the market.
Type of Bathtub
The most popular kinds of tubs are alcove tubs, freestanding tubs, and built-in tubs. Out of all these tubs, freestanding tubs are often the costliest to purchase and refinish. This steep pricing is mainly thanks to the high-quality materials used in these tubs. It’s also because of their durability.
Alcove tubs are among the most common types of tubs available today. These tubs are present in large, medium, and small homes alike. So, you’ll likely receive more business if you deal with alcove tubs. However, alcove tubs don’t generally have additional accessories to refinish.
However, more often than not, freestanding tubs require their own set of accessories. They require these, especially if they’re not pushed up against a wall. If you choose to specialize in refinishing these tubs, then it’s good news for your business.
Bathrooms with freestanding tubs are often larger than the average bathroom. We say this considering these tubs are generally pretty large. Therefore, it’s safe to assume these tubs belong to wealthy clientele. This clientele is usually willing to pay more for a refinishing job. After all, such large tubs aren’t common in smaller bathrooms for obvious reasons.
The refinishing work you’ll need to perform on the tubs depends on the kind of material they consist of. Porcelain and acrylic tubs usually require a higher degree of maintenance. On the other hand, copper tubs last longer with minimal maintenance.
It’s wise to evaluate which areas across the country see higher sales of high-end tubs. In this way, you can obtain a clearer picture of how to maximize revenue before you set up your business.
Learn About the Trade
If you’ve worked in the refinishing business before, then you may not want to learn about the trade all over again. However, it might surprise you how quickly demand in the industry changes. Therefore, it’s not always easy to keep pace with the latest trends in the market.
More often than not, it’s helpful to work in other areas of refinishing, like tiles. Working in these areas will likely help you learn the tricks of trade gradually. Besides, working in other companies is a good way to pick up skills. Working with them won’t allow you to take any pressure upon yourself.
However, if working with another company isn’t your preferred way to learn, then don’t fret. Thankfully, there are other learning methods available today, like refinishing courses. These courses allow you to pick up the basics of refinishing all kinds of bathtubs. They do so without demanding too much investment.
Also, since bathtub refinishing involves using hazardous chemicals, you should update your knowledge. This knowledge will help you perform your services better. It’ll also help you ensure your customers are safe during the refinishing process.
Craft a Business Plan
The most important step in starting a refinishing business is making a business plan. This plan should ideally include the pricing model for your services. It should also include promotional techniques you’ll use to entice customers.
The business plan should also include the costs of the materials and staff you’ll need to hire for your company. Since bathtub refinishing requires hazardous chemicals, you’ll have extra costs. These costs include protective gear and specialist equipment for your employees.
Lastly, you have to take into account your budget sales for the month or quarter and how you’re going to meet them. For instance, are you going to run a marketing campaign and first target hotels? Alternatively, are you targeting luxury homes in upscale locations and marketing to them?
You could even offer refinishing services for tubs that are common in most homes. An example of such tubs is alcove tubs. Refinishing these tubs isn’t very costly and could make for a steady source of income. However, you’ll need to factor in how much staff you can spare for servicing luxury tubs.
Remember, you’ll require additional staff for servicing common tubs.
Recruit Skilled Staff
It doesn’t matter if you have the best quality chemicals and equipment if you hire staff that doesn’t know how to use it. If you can’t find skilled staff right away and wish to commence your operations soon, then don’t worry. You can always look for somewhat skilled staff and train them.
In other words, you can hire staff who have experience refinishing bathtubs. Then, you can update their knowledge according to your business.
Remember, not every refinishing business offers long-lasting services. More often than not, people complain that refinishing is expensive and its effects don’t last. To avoid facing similar complaints from users, take the necessary steps. Ensure you hire sufficiently skilled staff to carry out your operations.
Offer Additional Services
It’s not just tubs that require refinishing; other accessories and fixtures do too. If you want to rake in extra revenue and boost your competitive advantage, you have options. You can offer users additional services.
While all bathtubs contain accessories, some require them more than others. Also, these accessories often require refinishing as much as the tubs do. For instance, in large bathrooms, fixtures and freestanding tub accessories require regular maintenance. This maintenance often involves refinishing.
If these accessories consist of fiberglass or porcelain, then you’re in luck. These materials are ideal for refinishing. Besides, if you’re going to take on a refinishing job for a tub, then you can offer accessory refinishing too. You could include additional services as part of a package deal.
Conclusion
Bathtub refinishing isn’t the easiest business to establish, but it is rewarding. With the ever-increasing demand for luxury bathtubs, you’ll never run out of customers. This demand will benefit you if you play your cards right. Besides, offering great quality services will help you succeed in a competitive industry.
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