How to Sell an Upholstery Job

Getting The Proper Mindset

The best advice I can give you about how to convince a client to have you do their work is; "DON'T try to convince a client to use you." Clients can sense when you are trying to manipulate them to buy your services. They don't like to be manipulated and that's one of the quickest ways to drive clients away. Instead, remember, they either called you or came to your shop for a reason. They already have their feet at your door. Just be there to answer their questions and help them to discover what the best option is for them, even if it is to go someplace else. Talk to the client as if you were talking to your best friend. Give advice with no strings attached. When you are genuine and real with the clients and they sense that you are not trying to sell them anything they will often let down their guard and genuinely engage with you. Sometimes that discussion will go in ways that you don't expect or can't control. But  your willingness to just be open and real, and give advice like a friend would give advice, will earn you the respect of the client, even if they decide to do something else. Start every interaction with every client with this mindset and never leave it. With that in mind, let's look at how to prepare for offering your services to clients.

Preparation

Sample books

foam sample

Set up your bookkeeping

calendar, job schedule

Fabric stores

estimate forms

work orders

Give them all the time they need. Tell them that they don't have to make a decision today.