The Dulwich Carpenter
The Dulwich Carpenter

How it could run

A few simple systems, built around your business, for you to tap through. The jobs and names are made up. Nothing is switched on yet.

1

One calendar that holds every job

Jobs are sold Monday to Thursday. Friday is kept for overruns, small jobs and quotes. Each job is a block of days with its spec inside, so drying days and gaps are easy to see.

Try it

Mon 9 to Sun 22 November

Tap any job to see its spec. Add one of your own and watch where it lands.

On siteStaircaseDrying, off siteQuotes and visitsFree or bufferFriday float
Sold days8 of 8
Drying days2
Fridays used½ of 2
2

Your day, on your phone

The same calendar, phone sized. Today is in order, the spec is on site with you, and the reminders do the remembering. Tap the checklist.

Today
Wednesday 18 November
8.00am · Court LaneDrying day

Oil, coat one

About two hours, then off site while it dries. Back tomorrow 8am for coat two.

10.30am to 5pm · Half Moon LaneOn site

Hang two oak doors

Latches and hinges supplied by the client. Permit in the glovebox.

  • Collect the doors from the workshop
  • Hang both doors
  • Ease and fit the latches
  • One photo for Instagram
4.00pm · 15 minutesFriday check

Is the week on track?

If yes, Friday is free. Offer Priya the Turney Road shelves, half a day.

5.00pm · 2 minutesUpdate

Tell Sarah how today went

Coat one is on and drying, back tomorrow at 8am for coat two. One photo, one line.

3

WhatsApp answers in your words

A customer messages while you are on the tools. WhatsApp Business sends a greeting you wrote once, and the real reply still comes from you that evening.

Try it: message Charlie as a customer

The greeting goes once per customer. After that it is you, so nobody ever gets a robot twice.

Six messages you write once

Quick replies. Type a slash in any chat, pick one, change the words in yellow, send. Tap one to see it land in your composer.

    The five o'clock update

    One photo and three lines at the end of each day on site. Two minutes, and the client never has to chase.

    4

    The holding email

    What a customer sees seconds after sending the website form. Written once, in your words. It sets a clock you can keep, and it asks for photos and sizes before you even call.

    Try it with your own email

    Two emails go out: the holding email to you, and a copy of the enquiry to thedulwichcarpenter@gmail.com, exactly as a real one would.

    5

    How I work

    Eight promises with dates in them. For the website, the quote pack and the back of the flyer. Change any number you cannot keep before it goes anywhere.

    1. I reply within one working day.You get an acknowledgement straight away, then a proper reply from me.
    2. I come and measure up within a week.We look at the space together and talk through what you want.
    3. Your written quote arrives within three working days of my visit.It says what is included, what is not, and how long the job will take.
    4. Your start date is agreed in writing.I text you the evening before I start.
    5. You get a short update at the end of every day on site.What got done, what is next, and a photo.
    6. If anything changes the plan, you hear it from me the same day.With the reason and a new date.
    7. Extra work or cost is agreed with you in writing first.No surprises on the invoice.
    8. We walk round the finished job together.I fix any snags, and only then do I invoice.
    Charlie
    thedulwichcarpenter.co.uk
    @thedulwichcarpenter
    6

    Twenty minutes every Friday

    A fixed slot at 2pm. Check last week against the plan, book next week, write two rules for the week, and one person you pick gets the note.

    How last week went
    ✓Replies within a working day6 of 6
    !Quotes within three working daysCalton Avenue went out two days late1 of 2
    ✓Finished on the promised dateBurbage Road wardrobesYes
    ✓5pm updates sent4 of 4 days
    Hours guessed24
    Hours it took28
    Over bya sixth

    After a month you know your own number, and the calendar's buffer uses it.

    Two rules for next week
    If a job is a day behind by Wednesday, then I text the next client that evening with the new start date.
    If a quote is still unwritten on Thursday at 5pm, then I write it in the van before I drive home.