Locksmithing - A Lock Distributors View

Twelve years ago, when I was a locksmith in my own business, it was a rare circumstance that required me to work on an electric or electronic lock other than an electric strike. In the time since then, however, the growth of electronic and electric locking systems has exploded. One of my colleagues at the hardware distribution company where I now work says that soon a notebook computer will be a standard tool for every locksmith.

Don't get me wrong. It is still very possible to make a good living at selling, installing, and repairing mechanical locks only. Mechanical locks are still indispensable - at least for the time being. Nevertheless it pays to look ahead. Electronic and electric locking systems are getting more popular, not less, and certain security problems can only be handed electrically. Therefore it is vital for every locksmith who wants to have a future to get into electric and electronic locking systems.

The great grandaddy of electric locks is the electric strike. Electric strikes are by far still the most popular way to achieve electric locking on an opening. For a locksmith, this is good news because the majority of electric strikes require talented installers. Locksmiths are probably the most talented hardware installers in existence.

A knowledge of the varieties, configurations, and application of electric strikes is a valuable asset for a good locksmith. Sale of electric strikes is a profitable business if you know what you are doing. Therefore if your electric strike knowledge is lacking, you would be doing yourself a favor if you took the time to learn all you can about this particular piece of hardware.

Maybe someday there will be no need for keying, but that day is not here, nor is it in our foreseeable future. A key is still the simplest and easiest form of access control to install and maintain. There are a tremendous amount of existing master key systems and end users are ordering more every day.

A nearly sure way to lock in repeat business is to administer a master key system for an end user. The best way to do that is to create and install the master key system yourself. That way you, as the locksmith, have the most control. The customer can still fire you and demand a bitting list, but as long as you do good work and provide good service at a "reasonable" price, that's not going to happen. Because you have their list of keys, they will come back to you.

If you don't currently create your own master key systems, you might consider picking up a master keying software program. There are several available. Call your lock distributor to find out what kind of master key system software they carry.

The commercial market has always been where it's at, but today, the residential market has greatly declined, and the commercial market is a smaller pie that is being divided into more slices than it used to be. In other words, there is lots of competition.

Nevertheless, what I see is that knowledgeable, talented installers working in the commercial hardware market are indeed getting work and making sales. Not only that, but these sales are currently increasing.

The message? The commercial market is the place to be. Get there. How? Be knowledgeable and talented.