The $5 Tradie Hack That Brings in Thousands

Andy
No, we are not. We are talking about a tiny gesture, five bucks, maybe 10, that makes your customer remember you and talk about you and call you back next time they need a tradie or better yet tell their mates about you. 

Ange
And before you roll your eyes thinking, I don’t need gimmicks to get work. This isn’t about gimmicks. This is about being memorable in a way your competitors aren’t. 

Andy
Exactly. Today we’re sharing some genius examples from real Aussie trade businesses that have nailed this idea, and we’ll leave you thinking, what should I be doing as I leave-behind? 

Ange
It’s low cost, high return marketing, and the best bit, it doesn’t feel like marketing at all. Stick around because by the end of this episode, you’ll have your own leave-behind idea, ready to roll. 

Andy
You’re listening to The Tradie Show. This is the podcast for trade business and contracting bosses like you who wanna lead with confidence, make more profit and create a better lifestyle. 

Ange
We’re your hosts. Andy and Angela Smith, husband & wife team and co-founders of Lifestyle Tradie. Are you ready to have some fun? 

Andy
Hell yeah! Alright, let’s cut to the chase. When was the last time your business worked for you, instead of running you into the ground? If you are sitting there thinking, yep, that’s me, then we need to talk. I’m Andy Smith and I’ve been where you are. Long hours, cash flow, nightmares, no control. Does any of these sound familiar? But here’s the thing, you don’t have to keep living like this. There’s a way out, and it starts with a game plan call. It’s just 10 minutes. We are going to identify the bottlenecks holding your business back, and map out a clear, straightforward plan to get you moving forward. Think of it as your shortcut to make more profit, more control, and more time to actually enjoy your life. And if you are stuck with cashflow issues, team headaches, or just feel like you’re drowning in endless work, well guess what? I’ve got you back. So here’s what you need to do. Head to lifestyletradie.com.au. Hit the big green game plan call button, or just scroll down on your phone. Listen, if a 10 minute call could save you hours of headaches, why wouldn’t you take it? Make the move. Let’s turn things around and get your business working for you, not against you. Hell yeah!

All right. It’s time to kick things off with some Hell yeah wins from our amazing Lifestyle Tradie members. Hell yeah! These are the legends who’ve been smashing it in their business, proving that small changes can lead to massive results, and hopefully these give you some inspo on what you can do in your business. Ange, what do we have this week? 

Ange
So we’ve got some great hell yeahs to share today, Andy. First up is a big shout out to Mick who runs a stair company in Sydney and he shares, I have a meeting on Monday with a stair CAD company to get 3D designs. 

Andy
That is awesome mate. These little things just impress your clients and take it to the next level. Make sure that you are winning these jobs time and time again. Who’s next, Ange? 

Ange
So next up is Brad, who runs an electrical automation business in WA, and he writes, got a race car motor rebuilt and raced Sunday. This is the first time me and my son are racing each other. Happy days. 

Andy
Hell yeah. How good is that? It’s not a cheap industry to be in this car racing, but to have that father and son connection. I absolutely love that. 

Ange
Okay, so next up is Jacob who owns a plumbing and renovation business on the central coast of New South Wales. And he writes, I just finished up a call with Andy and I’m super excited to get stuck into bettering the business. 

Andy
Yeah, this is a big hell yeah as well, because the isolation in trade businesses are real, aren’t they? And so many businesses out there are just playing average and don’t know where to go next. Jacob, you’re a superstar, and watch this space. I’m looking for big things from you, mate, and that’s what it’s all about here. Helping tradies take control, make changes, and see the winds roll in.

Most tradies put all their energy into the first impression, right? You know the drill. You turn up on time, clean uniform, your handshake, maybe even slip on those boot covers so you don’t mess up their carpet and yeah, that is important, but here’s the kicker. The first impression is only half the story. 

Ange
It’s the last impression you leave that makes all the difference. That’s what sticks in their mind when you are long gone. That’s what they tell their friends about and that’s what helps them decide whether they call you again or if they scroll Google and pick someone else next time. 

Andy
Yep. It’s the same as when you go to a restaurant. The food can be amazing, but if the wait is rude when you’re paying the bill, that’s what you remember, right? Well, there’s no difference in the trade industry. 

Ange
And here’s some proof. This stuff matters. According to the latest Elman Trust Barometer, 78% of Aussies are more likely to buy based on a personal recommendation than from any ad. Think about that. All the time and money you spend on marketing, but a single conversation between two moms in the school pickup line could be what wins you the job.

Andy
And it’s not just referrals. Retention’s a big one too. There’s a stat that in Australia and New Zealand, poor customer retention is costing businesses about $2 billion a year. That is $2 billion. That’s work that’s just slipping through your fingers because you’re not giving people a reason to come back.

Ange
And that’s why we’re talking about this leave-behind idea. It’s not a gimmick, it’s part of the customer experience. It’s the cherry on top that makes sure your business is still in their head a month, six months, a year later. So what is a leave-behind? Let’s break it down. 

Andy
A leave-behind is a small, thoughtful gift to give at the end of every job. Not an invoice, not a flyer and a magnet, but something that makes them smile, remember you and talk about you to their friends and family. 

Ange
And here’s the thing, this isn’t just about being nice. There’s psychology behind it. Ever heard of the law of reciprocity? When you give someone something, they feel a natural urge to give back. It’s actually subconscious. It could be calling you for more work or recommending you to their mates. It doesn’t have to be expensive this leave-behind, even five bucks can make a big impression if it’s thoughtful. 

Andy
And when you pair that up with great service, good communication, turning up when you say you would do the right job, you are setting yourself up for repeat business and referrals. People don’t just refer based on quality work. They refer because the experience stood out. 

Ange
Yes. Think about that. If you finish every job with something that makes your customer take a photo, maybe post it or show the neighbor. That’s free marketing.

Andy
Or maybe it’s something they see or touch every day, like a branded pen that will keep you on top of mind. So when they need a tradie next, they think of you first. Now, that is smart marketing. 

Ange
So this isn’t just theory. We’ve seen it work in real trade businesses over and over again. 

Andy
All right, let’s get into some real world examples so you can see how this works in action. And think about what you could do in your trade business.

Ange
So first up, we know a plumber in Victoria that leaves a roll of toilet paper. Who gives a crap style, but with their own branding. It’s cheeky, relevant, and useful. You’re gonna use it, right, but before you do, you are going to have to see their logo staring right at you. Now, that’s a win.

Andy
That is a big win. And for the bigger ticket jobs, like builders who complete a 300K Reno or a new home, these guys are leaving a gift basket with some good French champagne, a selection of quality food items and a handwritten card. It’s classy, it matches the value of the job, and it shows genuine appreciation for the relationship They’re built with the customer over months.

Ange
And at Doctor Drip, we left blue and orange jelly beans in branded sealed bags. We also left blue pens plus stress balls shaped like our Dr.DRiP logo little man. It was fun, memorable, and perfect for our family based customers, our avatar. The kids loved them, and every time they played with a stress ball or used the pen, they thought of Dr. Drip. 

Andy
The idea is to match your trade and your customer. So if you’re an electrician, it could be a branded torch. If you’re a painter, it’s a touchup paint tin. If you’re a landscaper, it could be a small plant or herbs. 

Ange
And here’s the beauty of it. Once you make this part of your system, it’s not an afterthought. It’s built into the way you finish a job. Just like sending the invoice or packing up your tools. You know the cost, you know the impact and you’re doing it every single time. 

Andy
So now you are probably thinking, alright, but how do I actually pick something for my business? And this is where you’ve gotta get strategic. I leave-behind. It isn’t just some random freebie, it’s gotta tick a few boxes. 

Ange
Yes, that’s right. So let’s take a look at what you should consider when picking your leave-behind. 

Andy
Imagine it’s a year from now, you wake up, the sun’s out, and instead of rushing out the door stressed, you are taking your time and enjoying your coffee. Your business is running smoothly, your cash flow is steady, and your weekends are actually yours. Sounds good, doesn’t it? But if you like most tradies I’ve met, that feels miles away from reality right now. I’m Andy Smith, and I know the grind. I know the late nights, the endless stress and the feeling that your business owns you, not the other way round. But I also know what it takes to turn that around, and I want to show you. Let’s jump on a game plan call. It’s just 10 minutes. We’re gonna cut through the noise, figure out what’s holding you back, and build a clear roadmap to get you to that better place. So go to lifestyletradie.com.au. Tap the game plan call button or scroll down. And lock in a time that suits. You are closer than you think to building the business you’ve always wanted. One core can change everything. Let’s make sure that 2025 isn’t just another year of struggling, but the year that everything clicks, let’s make it happen. 

Ange
Number one, it’s got to fit your brand personality. If your brand is fun and lighthearted like Dr. Drip, then something playful may work. 

Andy
Number two, it’s gotta be useful or memorable. So for the record, branded fridge magnets are fine for general brand awareness, but they’re not a true leave-behind. Why? Because they’re about you, not about a benefit to them. A leave-behind should feel like it’s adding value to their life, not just putting your logo in their face. You want something they’ll actually enjoy using, or that sparks a smile every time they see it. 

Ange
So number three, make it relevant to your customers. Think about your avatar, who you work with, what would they actually appreciate? For example, if you work with busy moms and dads, something the kids enjoy, maybe like jelly beans and stress balls, makes the whole family smile. If you’re working with retirees, maybe it’s a branded pen that they’ll use every day, or a gardening item if they love being outdoors. 

Andy
And number four, it can’t be cheap and nasty. If it’s flimsy, poorly made, or looks like you’ve grabbed it from the $2 shop, it’s gonna cheapen your brand. You’ve worked hard to build a reputation. Don’t undo that with a dodgy trinket. The quality of your leave-behind should match the quality of your work. 

Ange
Absolutely. And number five, budget for it properly. Your leave-Behind is a marketing cost, which means it should be built into your operating expenses. Don’t treat it like some random splurge. Price it into your hourly rate so that every job you do is already covering the cost. That way you are not dipping into your profit to pay for it, and you can keep the quality consistent without feeling the pinch. 

Andy
And finally make it repeatable and consistent. This isn’t a one-off thing you do when you remember. You’ve gotta systemize it so it happens every single time. 

Ange
Yes, that’s true. It’s a little gesture that has a huge bang for its buck if executed the right way. 

Andy
Let’s talk about the money side of this, because at the end of the day, that’s what matters. We are not suggesting you give stuff away just to be nice. This is about making a smart investment in your business. 

Ange
So think of it like this. If your leave-behind costs you $5 and it gets you even one extra job, you’ve already covered the cost many times over. And if it leads to a repeat customer over years or a string of referrals, the return is huge. 

Andy
Exactly. You gotta stop looking at it as spending money and start looking at it as buying future work. That little gift is like a marketing ad that doesn’t get thrown in the bin. It sits in the kitchen and gets used, gets talked about. And unlike a Facebook ad, you know exactly who it’s going to. It’s in the hands of your best customers.

Ange
And this isn’t just about immediate work. Remember those stats we mentioned earlier? 78% of Australians are more likely to buy based on a personal recommendation, and businesses are losing billions because they’re not keeping customers. A leave-behind is one way to plug that gap. It helps lock in the customer relationship, so they call you next time instead of shopping around.

Andy
It’s called long game marketing, and you may not see it pay off tomorrow, but you will see it over time. We have had customers that Dr. Drip called us years later and they still remember those jelly beans or the stress ball drip man, and that’s how powerful this is. So yeah, you’re spending a few bucks per job, but if your brand stays in their head and you are the first name they think of when you need work done, that is money well spent.

Ange
Okay. Before you rush off and bulk order 500 or something from the internet, let’s talk about the traps to avoid because done right, a leave-behind can be gold, done wrong, it can actually hurt your brand. 

Andy
Yeah, mistake number one is going cheap and nasty. We said it earlier. It’s worth repeating. If your leave-behind looks or feels tacky, it sends a message that your work might be the same. So no one’s gonna say, wow, these guys do a great job if you hand them something that falls apart in five minutes. 

Ange
Yeah, true. A mistake number two is making it all about you. If the only value is that your logo is plastered across it, you’ve totally missed the point. A fridge magnet is fine for general visibility, but a true leave-behind should feel like it’s for them, not just a free billboard for you.

Andy
Mistake number three being random. Your leave-behind needs to make sense for your trade and your business. So if you’re a plumber and you’re handing out centered candles, yeah, maybe you’ve lost me. Keep it relevant so it reinforces your brand message. 

Ange
And mistake number four, forgetting to actually deliver it. You know what? It sounds obvious, but if it’s not part of your process, it’s easy to forget when you’re busy packing up. That’s why systemizing it is key. Make it a non-negotiable step in your job wrap up. 

Andy
Bottom line, if you keep it high quality, relevant and consistent, your leave-behind will work for you long after you’ve driven away from the job.

Ange
All right, so we’ve talked about how it works, what it is, how to pick the right one, and what mistakes to avoid. Now it’s time to stop just thinking about it and actually make it happen. 

Andy
And here’s your challenge for the week, pick one leave-behind idea and trial it for a few months. That’s it. Don’t overthink it. Don’t spend weeks getting quotes from 20 different suppliers. Just choose something simple, order it and start handing it out at the end of every job. 

Ange
And systemize it from day one if you’ve got a Ute Chucker box of them in the back, so you’ve always got them on hand. 

Andy
And more importantly, tell your team why they’re doing it. This isn’t just a fun extra, it’s part of your marketing. And when they understand it’s about keeping customers and getting referrals, they’ll be more likely to hand them over with a smile, not just leave them sitting in a box in the back of the ute. 

Ange
So remember, the aim is to make this part of your workflow. It’s not just a thank you. It’s a smart marketing tool. So start now, keep it consistent, and watch how those small gestures turn into big results. 

Andy
It’s tradie dilemma time, and it’s brought to you by Buy4Tradies, the buying group, helping tradies like you save serious coin on materials, fuel, vehicles, tools, finance, and other services. If you’re not using it, you are probably paying too much. This is our Q&A segment where you let us know what you’re having trouble with in your business and we’ll give you our best advice to sort it out. 

Ange
So today we have a question from Samantha who operates a landscaping business with her husband in North Queensland, and she writes, Hey, team Smith, we’re a growing business and realize we just don’t want the little jobs anymore. We always said yes to everything, but how do you start saying no to the small jobs we don’t want in a professional manner? 

Andy
Hey, Samantha. Great question. Yeah, it’s interesting, isn’t it? I understand these little jobs for a company of your size and what you do, sometimes it’s just not worth doing those jobs. So you can do one or two things. One is you can block it into half days or even full days, so you can make it financially worthwhile for you, and if the customer wants to go ahead with the job they do. The other thing you could mention to them is, listen, we work on jobs between this price and above. At this stage, this is a smaller type of job. Here’s someone that we recommend. So you’re giving them an option either way to go through you or you’re giving a recommendation of a smaller company that does that type of work. 

Ange
I think what’s important is when you’re really clear about the avatar and the actual style of work that you wanna be able to focus on, it is absolutely okay to be saying no to these smaller jobs. So thanks so much, Samantha. I hope you’ve got some value out of that. If you’ve got a tradie dilemma you want us to unpack on the show, head over to lifestyletradie.com.au and send it in. You never know, it might just end up right here on The Tradie Show.

Andy
And that’s a wrap for today’s episode. Hopefully you’ve got a few ideas buzzing for your own leave-behind. That’ll keep your customers talking long after the job’s done. 

Ange
So remember, small touches can set you apart and they don’t have to cost the earth to have a big impact. 

Andy
If you love this episode, share it with a mate in the trades industry, and if you’ve got a tradie dilemma, send it our way.

Ange
Until next time.

Andy
Subscribe to The Tradie Show, wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Rate, and write us a review or for more information about Lifestyle Tradie, head to lifestyletradie.com.au.