A new survey from UK workwear supplier Clothes2Order has found that over 9 in 10 British people say they prefer to hire independent tradespeople rather than large companies.
The survey of attitudes towards hiring tradespeople like plumbers, electricians or decorators found a massive 93% of respondents said they opt for smaller, locally-based sole traders or small businesses.
This landslide vote indicates that, overall, the public perceives smaller businesses to be more trustworthy, or perhaps expects to receive a more personalised service when working with an independent contractor.
When asked specifically, four in five said a tradesperson’s technical ability and attention to detail was their top priority. Three in four also picked reliability as being very important.
o 79% of participants voted for a high skill level & attention to detail
o 75% of participants voted for reliability
o 59% of participants voted for regular and consistent updates
o 24% of participants voted for respect for property and tidiness
Nearly all participants favoured these qualities above competitive pricing. Other important factors mentioned were a professional and smart appearance, and the speedy completion of a job.
On the downside, the findings also highlighted some red flags that customers have encountered. Things like tradespeople adding unexpected extra costs part way through a job or poor communication over timelines both featured highly in complaints. Leaving a post-work mess was another annoyance for some.
While price is a factor, Clothes2Order says this research is a vote of confidence for small, local traders who offer high quality work and excellent customer service. It suggests that for most people, a personal, reliable service is worth more than going with a faceless company just because they’re cheaper.
