[Stonehenge]

Why is it that brick paver sample boards are so hard to come by? It seems like since the beginning of time in this area, I've heard every story in the book about why I can't have a sample board:

"We only have a few of them"

"They cost $_fill in the blank_ to make."

We've had a bit of a dealer/manufacturer shuffle this year, and there's a new kid in town that a lot of folks East of Wisconsin are probably familiar with. And it sounds like their system is going to be to check out sample boards. That's fine - hope they don't have late fees. One of my local suppliers pretty much knows that if I get a sample board in my hands, it's never coming back.

I've even gone to the lengths of stealing sample boards - I'd find them at the back of a building or inside a shop, and grab what I needed and dash to the truck.

Seems to me you'd sell more pavers if people could see what they look like. And it's not like I'm stealing money or saleable goods - I'm resorting to stealing so that I can sell more of a product that I obviously like.

I've also made my own sample boards, but I don't think I should have to do that.

Ok, off my soapbox.

[HRLand]

When I first started using Belgard pavers I asked for boards and would always hear "we're working on getting you some" from the rep. After about a year I finally get a nice set of baords with a canvas bag. Then I'm told Anchor is now making Belgard pavers but not all styles. So now they sit in my garage collecting dust until I throw them out.

[Rex Mann]

When I first started out the Unilock guy made me buy the sample boards. Had to buy the whole set not just the popular styles.

I used to lug those things around! What a pain. Then the pavers starting falling off the boards. I ended up tossing them. I can honestly say those sample boards never help me sell a job nor did I ever have a client pick a color or style off the boards.

Now I just carry the local manufactures collateral and hand out. I send them to a dealer with a display to get a "hands-on" look.

Peace,

Rex

ArizonaPavers.Com

[Bill Schwab]

Unlock Chicago used to band a blend of what you were laying so you could show everyone. I ended up having people meet me at the Unilock showroom to see them all instaed. Ended up changing alot of minds that way. Also, if someone was serious enough to meet at the showroom, they would sign our contract, thus, not wasting my time. When you make it too easy for someone, it becomes an item of entertainment value and the focus is off the purchase.

[Stonehenge]

This is an interesting perspective. I know that most suppliers have racks with the business cards of most of my competitors in their offices, so I try not to send them to a supplier if I can help it - I'd like to be the only voice they hear from start to finish. As a side note, rarely do I give the client more than 3 options. Part of my job is to select the best option for their hardscape, and I've found that when I give them too many choices, the process can bog down.

So I like bringing sample boards (or for most of the Unilock stuff, the strapped samples - though those are quite a bit heavier ), and I like to show them the pavers against their home, so they can see how it'll look relative to their space. I don't seem to have much of a problem with close rate for these folks, so I guess it's just a case of different strokes for different folks.

[GLAN]

I thought a picture was worth a thousand words?


I seem to approach people as if they have difficulty visiuolizing. Run into a couple of those.....might as well think they all are......I would rather provide pictures......work we have done and other sources of pictures. Even walk/drive the client through the neighborhood.

[Stonehenge]

We have a portfolio with pictures, but pictures often mislead the eye as to color. Wet or dry, sunny or not, the pic can present the very same paver in very different manners. We show pics more for design and install, but prefer to use the real thing when choosing the material. This way there can be no issue later with "I thought that there was going to be more _fill in the blank with a color_ in the brick. Would it be a problem if we changed pavers?"

[GLAN]

OMG............quick change that to Visualizing!


LMAO

[GLAN]

Oh yeah Stone.........the old Switch out the paver ploy.....

Well.....you got me there......that's also why I drive the neighborhood with the customer....Not for pavers per-say. For me it's plant material

[site]

I just send the customer straight to the supply yard. They can hang around all day comparing colors and textures. I have never lost a customer to a competitor by sending them there either.

[Earth Tool]

In our case we usually go out to the back of the shop and pick through the over stock that has accumulated over time and toss them in the back of the truck then do a hunt and pick of what ever color the customer requests while at the first interview.
If you are using the same or similar material year after year it is fairly easy to pick it out or be darn close even in photos.
Hope that helps.

[Lanelle]

We do the hunt and toss routine also. I've found that it helps to mark the color blend on the paver with a Sharpie marker. Then the customer is less likely to 'remember' a non-existant blend.