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PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 3:00 pm 
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wrexhamdriver wrote:
I am wondering if after 2 yrs I am still being haunted by the bad image, just feel like I am bashing my head against a wall as I know we got work and can get lots more just cant get any until more drivers.


Have you thought about re branding?

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 3:44 pm 
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grandad wrote:
wrexhamdriver wrote:
I am wondering if after 2 yrs I am still being haunted by the bad image, just feel like I am bashing my head against a wall as I know we got work and can get lots more just cant get any until more drivers.


Have you thought about re branding?


Good idea clean slate and all that??

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:00 pm 
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wrex, did you take on the old firms tel number whan you took the office?

1st POC nowadays is the phone, and proven case is that every number in the book will get calls

get a new number = rebranding


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:23 pm 
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Get a new number, keep the old one.

Market both numbers then gradually bring the new one to prominence.

Make a big play on the number; most people will remember a catchy number rather than a name.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:52 pm 
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Last year we bought a new memorable number and it has taken a while but is now starting to pay dividends. I can tell by the increase in the phone bill. :sad:

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:30 pm 
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You could go this way, the cose for Wrexham is 01978 then the number like this 654321 or 747 747, 884 884, you can go down loads of routes. Make the number memorable, a good number will bring you good quality work.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 8:07 pm 
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wrexhamdriver wrote:
I am wondering if after 2 yrs I am still being haunted by the bad image, just feel like I am bashing my head against a wall as I know we got work and can get lots more just cant get any until more drivers.

Have you considered starting a knowledge school, and maybe buying some more cars for drivers to rent?

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 8:16 pm 
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Of course there is a down side to having a memorable number......................................the pi55 heads can remember it when drunk. :sad:

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 9:05 pm 
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I did rebrand the company the first day I took over.

I changed the name had a new sign put up and painted the premises and got rid of all the deadwood receptionists. The last driver stayed for a year but has since left.

The office has two numbers which I kept and I have been thinking for a while about getting another number and phone line so that the office has three phone numbers and lines. I wanted an easy number such as 123 123 rather than 12 12 12 as I think it would be more memorable, but am wondering if it is such a good idea these days with the rise of mobiles as most people dont have to remember numbers, what do everyone else think? One of the drivers seems to think an 0800 would be better? I was thinking along the lines of cabbyman and slowly bring the new number to replace the other numbers. What do you lot think?


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:27 am 
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wrexhamdriver wrote:
I did rebrand the company the first day I took over.

I changed the name had a new sign put up and painted the premises and got rid of all the deadwood receptionists. The last driver stayed for a year but has since left.

The office has two numbers which I kept and I have been thinking for a while about getting another number and phone line so that the office has three phone numbers and lines. I wanted an easy number such as 123 123 rather than 12 12 12 as I think it would be more memorable, but am wondering if it is such a good idea these days with the rise of mobiles as most people dont have to remember numbers, what do everyone else think? One of the drivers seems to think an 0800 would be better? I was thinking along the lines of cabbyman and slowly bring the new number to replace the other numbers. What do you lot think?


With due respect, you say that the office is rarely manned so why do you need 3 phone lines?

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PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:14 pm 
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The office has a receptionist from 6pm every night 7 days a week until it goes quiet, 2am early weekday nights and 6am weekends. I work mainly days now and when I am not on a job I sit in the office with the door open.

I am in a catch22 where I cant build up the work without more drivers and any new drivers arent going to stay without work as they dont give it time to build up before they leave.

My point is and always has been to build the office from the ground up so that when the drivers do come I am ready to hit the ground running. Therefore, thinking ahead is it better to stick with two non standard numbers or have a new number along the lines of 123 123 which would stick in peoples heads and therefore increase work?

Do you understand where I am coming from now?


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:29 pm 
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have you any PAYE drivers in YOUR car(s)?

if it was me?.....

id cut the base rents through january, stay in the office and maybe get a freephone number

yes it will hurt for a while but you have to get and keep cars+drivers, you also need contracts to keep drivers happy 5 days a week term time


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:55 pm 
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PAYE Drivers? How does that work?

I have thought about a freephone number just not sure about the cost and trying to work out if it is best to get a freephone or a paid easy to remember no?


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 4:58 pm 
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It means you employ them to drive your car, leaving you free to man the phones during the day.It's also what you should be doing if you employ a receptionist. Beware how much info you give out over a public forum. Out of interest what are you doing to promote your business?


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:52 pm 
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Thanks westside1. I have heard of offices paying drivers hourly rates and then the office taking all the money, just heard a few bad things about that and worried with myself being so small that it might be a disadvantage at the moment.

Promotion wise I just give out cards at the moment as I cant handle the work that is coming in now so there is no point wasting money on advertising if I cannot handle the work.

I have plenty of ideas and have got the work for more drivers, its just I need more drivers to build office but none come over thinking that we have no work!


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