Firewood Sales, Finding the Right Neighborhood

[Woodcutteranon]

Hi everyone...

I'm trying to target the right kind of neighborhood for my firewood sales. Obviously, I would want those houses to have a wood burning fireplace! As I drive by houses and notice their chimney how can I be sure if they are wood burning or (ugh) gas?

When I observe a house from the street, I see the chimney running up the side of the house, so I can assume there is a fireplace but is there a way to determine for sure if it is gas or wood? For instance, my house has a chimney with a double-walled pipe running up it. It is capped on the top with a tin hat. I think it was intended for gas but I burn wood in it. Other chimneys I can see the clay tile sticking out the top, which I can assume it is for wood.

I suppose I could ask people in the neighborhood and use that as a networking opportunity but I was curious to see what the AS sales community does.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

WCA

 

[lknchoppers]

Target high end neighborhoods around a city. Most cities have historic or elite areas where people prefer to burn firewood over gas. Many will have outdoor fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and indoor fireplaces. Be prepared to stack, many will need to go up stairs or around back. Charge according to the stacking job. I bring a wheel barrow, ramps to go up stairs and a broom to clean up. If you are not on craigslist get on there and write a detailed consistent ad, put a lot of pictures of neatly stacked firewood at high end houses. List your prices up front, no sense in having people call that want a $50 pickup load. Put the neighborhoods you want to focus on in the location field of your ad. My Dad told me a long time ago, "If you have to be at work get the most you can". I drive about 35 miles one way to many of my deliveries, I carry a couple cord so I can hit them all without going back until I'm done. I'm not cheap but I'm not the most expensive either, I also offer a satisfaction guarantee, if the customer is unsatisfied, I will replace what ever wood they are unsatisfied with or pick it all up and refund all of their money. Be professional.

Check this out:
http://www.greatamericancountry.com/places/local-life/great-neighborhoods-in-cleveland

 

[066blaster]

Use craigslist or facebook buy/sell/trade sites, or add in paper to reach alot more people. You need to target whole towns or counties. Are you trying to sell bundles? Or face cords and cords?

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

If you are doing it right, people will find you.

Google is a big one. Type "firewood" here and my site is the first listing.

 

[lknchoppers]

Here is a half cord job I did last night, down the stairs and stacked on some racks around the back of the house. I used my skid steer ramps and a wheel barrow.

 

[jrider]

Agree with Valley, if you are doing it right people will find you. No need to target particular neighborhoods or worry who is burning wood. Make a few sales. Get on Facebook (Free) and if you do it right, it won't be long until you have all of the business you can handle.

 

[Full Chisel]

Yep...good quality firewood practically sells itself. You just gotta get the word out and put the work in!

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Word of mouth is a big one too. I've had MANY customers from a friend or family buying from me or even neighbors.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Here is a half cord job I did last night, down the stairs and stacked on some racks around the back of the house. I used my skid steer ramps and a wheel barrow.

View attachment 561493

I don't play that game anymore. When I first started out I just used a trailer so often... "well, since you have to toss it off, can you just stack,"... and it'd turn into a 4+hr job through the dog poop covered yard, put 2 cords somehow on a rack or deck that couldn't handle 250lbs, much less 10,000

Now I pull in and dump. They deal with it after that. I don't play mountain goat 4x4 offroad with the truck either. Sorry, but no I'm not going through the muddy yard, pit, 3ft if snow, 25% side slope, 5ft wide path, etc. I will put tire chain if it's icy, that's about it.

I do have a couple regular customers I do stack, but they pay well... like $200-300 to stack 2 cords well.
And I did once for an old lady that just had heart surgery... got insta bad karma somehow too, slipped off the truck and twisted my ankle.

 

[lknchoppers]

I don't play that game anymore. When I first started out I just used a trailer so often... "well, since you have to toss it off, can you just stack,"... and it'd turn into a 4+hr job through the dog poop covered yard, put 2 cords somehow on a rack or deck that couldn't handle 250lbs, much less 10,000

Now I pull in and dump. They deal with it after that. I don't play mountain goat 4x4 offroad with the truck either. Sorry, but no I'm not going through the muddy yard, pit, 3ft if snow, 25% side slope, 5ft wide path, etc. I will put tire chain if it's icy, that's about it.

I do have a couple regular customers I do stack, but they pay well... like $200-300 to stack 2 cords well.
And I did once for an old lady that just had heart surgery... got insta bad karma somehow too, slipped off the truck and twisted my ankle.

I just make them pay, it is a lot of extra work but if I can turn a cord into $500 in an hour or two I'll do it.

 

[fireemt799]

If you want basic market demographics start with the U.S.A. census website. They have reports by county, city etc. that will give you information on home heating. Reports will state how many houses use electricity, oil, coal, wood, pellets or other methods of heat. This will give you a good look at the market potential in any given area.