Hi Tom, Don't worry about stepping on other's toes. You need to be assertive if you want to survive. Look at how the others do their run by observation. See how much they charge and what range of products they carry to sell. You then offer something that is superior for the same price or cheaper to entice those existing clients. You will get knockbacks, that's part of learning about business. If you dont have much luck you may have to try areas that a normal van would not bother to go to, and that will mean a bit more traveling for you, but as long as it brings business and success for you then it's worth getting a bit off the track. So instead of targetting the main industrial areas, you could target retail sectors or medical, transport, offices that's in a population center. There will be places within the industrial areas where the other vans won't bother, perhaps they become more selective so they can reap the most benefits for the least amount of work/traveling, so that's where you come in to pick up the crumbs so to speak, you may do well. Bottom line is, don't worry about stepping on other van's tyres, you may get one or two telling the area s taken, but there is no law saying you can't. If you operate as an independent operator, you are free to go anywhere you want, unlike a franchise who is restricted to a certain territory and still have to compete with other franchises or independent operators. All the best and i wish you success.
