A booklet that works
Home Handbook is exceeding all hopes, both in its success for advertisers and in how deeply appreciated it is by readers. These two letters convey its impact – and they are not isolated cases.
The advertiser
Placing a full page advertisement in Home Handbook has been a success beyond my highest expectations. The response has been nothing short of amazing and after being in business for over ten years, I would rate it has the single most productive piece of advertising I have ever done. I see it as an opportunity not just to advertise but to tell your story and sort of break the ice with potential customers before you have even met them. What better way than have a journalist produce a written piece professionally as part of a high quality brochure delivered directly into your local area. It’s April 30 and the handbook was delivered the first week of January and already I’ve secured over 40k worth of work locally. I only hope this continues until Peter’s next edition.
(Builder Craig Danson, of Garstang)
The reader
I want to say a huge thank-you for the Home Handbook. It is a really happy little book with all the smiley faces. I have used some of the local traders already and have been very happy to do so. I’m trying to sort out my outstanding jobs and my first will be to contact a local guy, Bob Walker, for an estimate to tidy up my garage soffits and then James Carpets to sort out my kitchen lino. Then I’ll have a smiley face, too!
I love the way those photographed and advertised are not afraid to have their details in. This does give confidence. It was also lovely to see local people featured who I know have a good, strong honest work ethic.
I’ve also recommended your handbook to a friend in Lea, Preston.
Thanks again.
(Mrs Marlene Thompson, of Lythcoe Avenue, Fulwood)
North Fulwood, 2010:
(Comments made three months after distribution in October 2010)
I must have had at least 20 calls from the first issue. Everybody I've spoken to has kept hold of it and people are showing it to family and friends – I've even had a couple of calls from outside Fulwood from it.
– plumber Darren Clark
This has been the best value advert/form of advertising I've used in 15 years of being in business. I've used the big directories at much greater cost and not had anywhere near the response as the Home Handbook. I am still getting calls every week and most turn into jobs. I'll certainly be placing an ad in future issues – Jacques Brown, Home Gas Services.
It's done very well for me and kept me busy over the Christmas period. I've had eight or nine jobs and they're still coming. People are all praising the booklet and saying it's nice to keep by the telephone.
– electrician Peter Coughlan
It's certainly bringing in business – I've had about eight calls since it came out and I'm still getting about one a week. A lot of existing customers have said how useful it is and that they're going to keep hold of it. – property repairer Steve Hardman
What I really like is the background on each person advertising, which gives customers more confidence in who they're dealing with. It's that little bit different to all other booklets I've seen. I've had about five customers out of it so far, including two regular cleans.
– Jackie Abram, of Ajax Cleaners
Hope that you are going from strength to strength. I have four new customers! – piano tuner Jim Titterington
South Fulwood, 2011:
(Comments made three months after distribution in February 2011)
I've had about 12 calls out of one issue and about £4,000 of business, which is very good for the cost of the advert. I didn't expect so many calls and I'm more than happy with it.
– plasterer Paul Wrona
It's been great for me – I've had about 15 calls and a good month's work from two issues and I am still getting calls as people keep hold of it. They find it helpful and feel a bit more at ease when you go round to their house. - joiner Andrew Bennett
I've had about 12 people so far from Home Handbook and some have used other people in the booklet. They've been really pleased with them and said how good the booklet is. It's more personal with the photo and a bit about you. When I arrive, they feel like they already know me. – foot health practitioner Julie Gee
It has been fantastic for me. Both issues have given me custom – on average I get at least three new enquiries each week. I did suit alterations for a chap who recommended me to a bride-to-be whose dress came two weeks before the wedding and was too small. I was able to redesign it to fit. I have also had a lot of work making curtains and roman blinds. Most customers have said what a useful book it is and that they have used other people from it.
– tailoress Maria Williams
This is a worthwhile form of advertising, better than the big directory we had been using before.
We've had at least 15 leads or more which have led to good sales and we're happy we are building up a solid clientele who will come back to us. We find it very useful ourselves – we've used the car valeter, who's brilliant. And an old friend saw my picture and renewed the acquaintance, which was really good!
– Preston Tyre Specialists owner Duncan Higham
Rural North Preston, 2011:
(Comments made four months after distribution in May 2011)
I recommend Home Handbooks on a regular basis to people I know. It's a great way of promoting businesses. I personally receive at least two telephone calls per month from people requiring work who have read my advertisement in an edition of Home Handbook. The jobs range from small jobs to a garage extension lasting a month. It's been great and I wish it continued success.
– carpenter Steve McGill
It's been brilliant for me. So far I've had six flat roofs from the last issue in May and more enquiries than that – I got one job from as far away as Fleetwood. People like the personal touch and the photographs – it gives them a bit of trust and they warm to you as a person. I've even had people stop me at the shop saying they had seen me in the book! The price to advertise is a big thing as well – I think it is really good value. - joiner Ben Swinson
I've had about a dozen jobs out of three issues so far. It's more than paid for itself as far as I'm concerned
- landscape gardener Peter Smith
What Home Handbook has done for my business has been fantastic. I have had a brilliant response. All new clients say how much they like the book and the personal touch of seeing the person in the picture. I will be forever grateful to my husband for placing me in it and giving my business the boost it needed. My friend's an accountant in Thornton and when I heard Home Handbook was going to cover that area, she snapped up the opportunity
– accountant Nicola Hughes
As an advertising vehicle, it's definitely worked for me – after three issues I've had in excess of 50 enquiries by phone and email, more work than I expected. Customers who have contacted me feel it's much more personal and they're more confident in it – it's almost as good as word of mouth.
– tree surgeon Mick Platt
Longridge, 2011:
(Comments made four months after distribution in September 2011)
Thank you for my advert. I was impressed by your expertise and knowledge and the ad was produced to a very standard, showing off the best side of my business. The yield has passed my expectations, with a return 10 times over – and the booklet still has eight months left to run. I can safely say this is one the best value adverts anyone could place
– Les Orr, of Preston Carpet Cleaners
I don’t normally advertise and the only promotion I do is business networking. I chose your publication as it was totally unique compared to all other booklets of its kind. I like the fact the write-up is personalised, and the inclusion of a colour photograph makes the money I spent extremely good value. So far, I have received over £2,750 of business. My latest client said “The Home Handbook is my Bible!” as she has just moved house and requires plenty of work doing. Thank you for including me in your booklet. – Ian Whitaker, of IC Decorating Services
The handbook has worked really well for us. Our office is out of the way and we don’t get a lot of passing trade, so it’s increased our profile in the area. We have certainly had work from it – people have said they’ve seen us in the Home Handbook. It’s certainly fulfilled its purpose in getting us additional business. And we’ve also had enquiries from our presence on the website
– Debbie Pettit, marketing manager, Marsden Rawsthorn solicitors
Garstang & Fulwood issues, 2012:
(Comments made after distribution in early 2012)
Home Handbooks has been a great boost to my business, generating many dozens of new contacts as well as reminding local people of the services we offer.
“Its glossy style and the way in which the adverts are written give customers an insight into the business and the confidence to proceed. Home Handbook is a complete resource of local trades people and I have found customers referring to it throughout the year - it is their first port of call for reliable businesses. The web listing is also a great way to generate customers, who find the businesses and their details by Google searches. - Mark Passmore, domestic appliance repairer
As a brand new business in a competitive market, we were well aware how important our initial marketing campaigns would be to get us off the ground. Without a shadow of a doubt, the single best business decision we have made to date was to advertise through the Home Handbook. We invested fairly heavily as a new business in various marketing strategies, and Home Handbook has by far been the most effective, with more than 30 new clients visiting as a result of our listing in the directory which was only distributed a month ago. More expensive campaigns in local glossy publications have yielded no new clients.
- Anthony Whinn, AM1 hair salon owner
Just thought I'd let you know I've now taken orders from seven customers who found me in the booklet, totalling £3,688. One of which is an excellent shutter job on Garstang Road. So as you can see it's more than covered the bill.
– David Rigby, of Avanti Blinds and Curtains
Home Handbook is a good production and it’s generated a lot of enquiries and some big jobs for me – I’ve had at least two months’ work out of it.
Everybody I’ve spoken to says positive things about the booklet. I’ve not met anybody who’s thrown it away yet – it’s something people keep.
It’s very personal and it publicises my name within my local area. I’m very happy with how it’s done and I’ll certainly go in it again in future.
- Peter Stirzaker, landscape gardener