Rebranding

[chirpychippy]

I advertise myself as a Carpenter & Kitchen Fitter and have done for a while, but, I feel like i should be just sticking to Carpentry & Joinery in my adverts.

The insecurity i have is whilst I can do certain forms of Joinery im not a fully fledged joiner so the latter feels like a blag.

But Carpenter kitchen fitter I feel like im selling myself short.

Does it really matter, here's some examples, I convert ageing staircases to Oak, ive done two this year, they do look good, I also build wardrobes and doors mostly out of sheet materials and class that as modern Joinery.

What do you think?

 

[stevie888]

I'm not sure what proportion of your customer base would appreciate the distinction: Wood stuff = carpenter to a lot of peeps.

 

[chirpychippy]

I'm not sure what proportion of your customer base would appreciate the distinction: Wood stuff = carpenter to a lot of peeps.

There is that i suppose, I think its more that my vehicle livery needs attention.

I have a wood plane sitting on skill saw blade with my name in large letters through the middle of it and in much smaller font underneath Carpentry & Kitchens, I think its back to front or the wrong way round...

 

[ericmark]

As a user of tradesmen, I expect a chippy to be able to fit a work top, and to fit stairs, also floor boards, and bespoke kitchen cupboards domestic wise, and concrete shuttering commercial wise. A kitchen fitter I expect to be a scheme member and also be able to do the electrics, or at least have a scheme member he can call upon when required, and able to issue a compliance or completion certificate.

My so-called heating engineer admits he does not know how to wire, since I do, I have no problem employing him. As long as they admit what they can't do, I don't care less. Only when they claimed they know how to do something which they don't when I get upset.

 

[stevie888]

As a user of tradesmen, I expect a chippy to be able to fit a work top, and to fit stairs, also floor boards, and bespoke kitchen cupboards domestic wise, and concrete shuttering commercial wise. A kitchen fitter I expect to be a scheme member and also be able to do the electrics, or at least have a scheme member he can call upon when required, and able to issue a compliance or completion certificate.

My so-called heating engineer admits he does not know how to wire, since I do, I have no problem employing him. As long as they admit what they can't do, I don't care less. Only when they claimed they know how to do something which they don't when I get upset.

Totally agree except that I wouldn't want a domestic chippy trying to do major formwork: there are different skills/mindset required.

 

[Deluks]

Kitchen fitting is the easier part of joinery. As you are just assembling manufactured units and making them fit, it's more like problem solving.
At the end of the day call yourself what you like, if you look at a job and think it's too much for you, politely decline or price in the cost of another tradesman who can do the bits you can't (Although that does require you to know another skilled tradesman)

 

[chirpychippy]

As a user of tradesmen, I expect a chippy to be able to fit a work top, and to fit stairs, also floor boards, and bespoke kitchen cupboards domestic wise, and concrete shuttering commercial wise. A kitchen fitter I expect to be a scheme member and also be able to do the electrics, or at least have a scheme member he can call upon when required, and able to issue a compliance or completion certificate.

My so-called heating engineer admits he does not know how to wire, since I do, I have no problem employing him. As long as they admit what they can't do, I don't care less. Only when they claimed they know how to do something which they don't when I get upset.

I fit alot of kitchens some cost £6k some cost £120k the latter are handmade mostly hardwood and require alot of care and skill to instal. I am a qualified time served Carpenter & Joiner i went into kitchen fitting because the return is better than Carpentry, I dont really have to do much organising, mostly turn up, fit the kitchen and leave. Whereas Carpentry involves loads of planning and organising of materials which makes the return less attractive by comparison. Joinery, I dont enjoy it, but I can do certain aspects of it.

I am strong believer i shouldn't meddle in other trades, I do well in my own field I dont need to be Part P or a plasterer or a tiler,. I do however have trades in every field to recommend.

Im ok, I can cut and pitch, do concrete shuttering, do loft conversions, 1st Fix and 2nd Fix, I dont lay floors "Two knee ops" no thanks.

This stems from one thing, work is quiet, im wondering if my van would attract more customers if I put Carpenter & Joiner, but its a silly notion, I dont really enjoy joinery.

 

[chirpychippy]

Kitchen fitting is the easier part of joinery. As you are just assembling manufactured units and making them fit, it's more like problem solving.
At the end of the day call yourself what you like, if you look at a job and think it's too much for you, politely decline or price in the cost of another tradesman who can do the bits you can't (Although that does require you to know another skilled tradesman)

I agree with assembling manufactured units and making them fit "I dont fit Flat Pack kitchens though". Setting out is the key to kitchen fitting. Being good at scribes helps, knowing how to cut an out of square worktop joint is useful. Fitting a handmade kitchen isn't easy either, they dont have adjustable feet, the whole job is scribing start to finish and they normally cost 10's of thousands.

Im just fidgety, work demand has reduced, its making me feel a tad nervous - I've decided to advertise, something I've never done.