Opening a repair business, how to obtain customers

I don't understand, your whole family has done this since the 30's but you are asking US how to advertise and/or get customers?

 

I wouldn't say that; "just going out and talking to people doesnt seem to cut it anymore". It may be harder but, it still works. I just find it hard to believe that there isn't someone from all those years, that you can get help from. A son, nephew, daughter, neice, granddaughter, grandson....on and on..

 

I would say one of the best things you can do is get a website up and going. As a truck owner myself when something happens on the road and I need a mechanic, I get on google and start searching the web for the area that I am in. Websites are cheap nowadays, do a little reading online and set one up yourself, just make sure you use good keywords so you come up in the first few listings of a search.

 

Set up a website and put a sign up at a truck stop. you gotta put the man hours in sitting around and ground pounding... you are essentially your own sales person and cold call sales is a tough business.

 

This sight is definetly a great place to introduce yourself, thats for sure. Give details in exactly what you can do, a location and give some insight to what YOU are capable of. Craigslist is a good place as well and last but not least, get your own websight.

 

I see you are in the Seattle area, knocking on doors and cold calling (other than a website) is going to be about the best things you can do. Places like grocery warehouse's, and other places that distribute goods that own their own equipment. When knocking on doors and cold calling just remember, statistics show that these are a good means of generating customers but normally only yield one customer out of ten.