I hate losing.
Author
Discussion

ukvoyager.info

Original Poster:

2,782 posts

253 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
I found out last night we lost a tender we went for a few months ago. There are only about 6 of these a year so each one counts. Plus there are only 3 of us in the market.

After the post mortem with the consultant it looks like we were equal top on quality but lost it on price.

It wasn’t much money and the budgeted margin wasn’t that high but even so I am still very gutted.

Anyone got some good news?

Mr POD

5,153 posts

223 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
ukvoyager.info said:
Anyone got some good news?

my son is out of hospital and had a good night, sleeping from 10 pm til 2am and then til 8am. the pnuemonia is clearly improving.

VX Foxy

3,962 posts

274 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
Yesterday, we got our first order! Woooohooooo! biggrin

SGirl

7,924 posts

292 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
Business-wise?

I've just found out that my phone number has been programmed into the autodial settings at the premises of a newish client. smile

Mr POD

5,153 posts

223 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
Mr POD said:
ukvoyager.info said:
Anyone got some good news?

my son is out of hospital and had a good night, sleeping from 10 pm til 2am and then til 8am. the pnuemonia is clearly improving.
At work, in June, the site took on more orders than it usuall takes on in 3 months.

and on wednesday, we moulded the biggest 'XXXXXXXX' type of Product ever in the world, using 4000kg of PU, using the biggest mixing and dispencing machine in the world.

1 moulding ? £100000 in revenue.

SagMan

686 posts

251 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
You have just been told you were equal top in quality!!!. Why the hell do you need cheering up!
That is great news, go and celebrate that all those months and years of effort have put you at the top of the game.

Market leading quality and service sustains a business, little or no margin sales don't. Having said all of that a few overhead recovery contracts to maintain cashflow flows helps everyone!!!

stimmers

2,312 posts

234 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
A company i have large interest in just signed a contract to fit out and maintain an energy saving product i found out in Taipei to every Swarovski retail outlet in Europe. It also looks like we might be about to sign a huge, long term contract with the Government for a similar product that will run throughout the UK.

Can't say what the product is for obvious reasons, but its big time news !!!!!

ukvoyager.info

Original Poster:

2,782 posts

253 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
SagMan said:
You have just been told you were equal top in quality!!!. Why the hell do you need cheering up!
That is great news, go and celebrate that all those months and years of effort have put you at the top of the game.

Market leading quality and service sustains a business, little or no margin sales don't. Having said all of that a few overhead recovery contracts to maintain cashflow flows helps everyone!!!
scratchchin The SagMan has a point!

We have only ourselves to blame on the margin. We came in to the market 18 months ago and undercut people in a big way.

SagMan

686 posts

251 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
Interesting business UKVoyager. Are the six annual contracts available for the public sector or other? Just interested, I'm in manufacturing so buggered anyway. Spend most of my time looking for supply chains in Asia, sick of flying etc....

groomi

9,331 posts

274 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
On Sunday I was looking at a fairly lean few weeks coming up.
On Monday morning I had a phonecall out of the blue with an enquirey.
By Monday evening I'd submitted a proposal.
By Tuesday evening I'd won the job.
This morning I had the pre-start meeting.
On Monday we start work - flat out for the next six weeks!


Cheered me up! biggrin

Mastiff

2,515 posts

272 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
Nice to hear some good news, I'm pushing water uphill with a poxy pitchfork at the moment. frown

Still, I'm going to cheer myself up by starting a new project next week, nailing blamange to the ceiling.

VX Foxy

3,962 posts

274 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
Mastiff said:
nailing blamange to the ceiling.
frown time to LPG the ML?

cozmic

202 posts

220 months

Friday 11th July 2008
quotequote all
Mastiff said:
Nice to hear some good news, I'm pushing water uphill with a poxy pitchfork at the moment. frown

Still, I'm going to cheer myself up by starting a new project next week, nailing blamange to the ceiling.
"Good news"...Razor blades now on a special 2 for 1 deal at asda....

.................................................wavey

Justin Miles

193 posts

222 months

Sunday 13th July 2008
quotequote all
Just remember... if it was easy, everyone would do it!

Keep going, and keep smilimg (even if it is through gritted teeth!)

Just

phoenixblend

216 posts

228 months

Sunday 13th July 2008
quotequote all
Bad luck Voyager. Our market is swamped and I have only lost out to much bigger far more experienced agencies and that has been rare, but I still get really jealous and pissed about it (then feel a bit petty and embarrassed but still pissed!).

On a good note, I have been approached by a multimillion£ company who have expressed any interest in buying me or absorbing me as a partner. To put this in context, I'm a sole trader in my 2nd year. I probably won't take it as I like being independant but I feel bloody pleased with myself.


Plotloss

67,280 posts

301 months

Sunday 13th July 2008
quotequote all
Mastiff said:
Still, I'm going to cheer myself up by starting a new project next week, nailing blamange to the ceiling.
Place blancmange on board, insert nails through blancmange into board, nail board to ceiling.

I might go back into consultancy...

Mastiff

2,515 posts

272 months

Monday 14th July 2008
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
Mastiff said:
Still, I'm going to cheer myself up by starting a new project next week, nailing blamange to the ceiling.
Place blancmange on board, insert nails through blancmange into board, nail board to ceiling.

I might go back into consultancy...
You'll make another fortune!

My apologies for appearing to put a dampner on an otherwise uplifting thread! smile My post was a bit tongue in cheek.

Things are actually OK at the moment. Last month was really good in fact.

I have learnt to live with an egotistical lunatic as a boss and have got used to the fact that, like everyone else I am working twice as hard as I was five years ago to earn pretty much the same money.

What the hell, good family and friends and a decent holiday in October to look forward to. Just keeping my head down and ploughing on.

Like the original poster.....Next!

ukvoyager.info

Original Poster:

2,782 posts

253 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2008
quotequote all
God I love winning!!!

Found out yesterday we are preferred bidders for a big job in the Midlands! Those of you not familiar with OJEC tendering, when they announce the winner, there is a 2 week standstill period to allow for challenges of unfair practice or the procedure not being followed correctly.

The question is, will I have any nails left by the end of the 2 weeks? scratchchin

jamesuk28

2,176 posts

284 months

Tuesday 23rd September 2008
quotequote all
Well done, fingers crossed