Company Opens Labor-Sharing Web Site for Independent Trade Contractors

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Aug 10, 2010, 08:50 ET

DENVER, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Guildshare, LLC announced today that its highly anticipated web site, http://guildshare.com, is now open for business. Guildshare.com enables independent trade contractors to share tradesmen in an online exchange format. After signing up, contractors can post the availability of their own tradesmen so that others can search for and book them online. When they need help staffing a job, contractors can also search for and book qualified, local tradesmen.

Guildshare's director of community development, Andy McCabe, who is himself an independent electrical contractor, said of the new web site, "I think we are addressing a real need of trade contractors. As an owner of an electrical contracting firm, I sometimes spend hours on the phone either trying to find people to staff a job, or when things slow down, to find work for my staff of electricians. Guildshare will allow me to do the same thing without spending all of that time."

Guildshare simplifies a common practice among contractors in the construction trades. "With Guildshare, instead of dealing with only three or four other contracting firms, contractors will be able to access the entire pool of local tradesmen," said Mr. McCabe.

A key feature of the new offering allows contractors to rate both tradesmen and each other based upon performance on completed bookings. Ratings are then displayed in search results so contractors can make a reasonable judgment based on others' experience.

Guildshare.com offers a free membership that allows contractors to post their tradesmen online, but requires contractors to select a paid membership plan in order to confirm a booking or to book other contractors' tradesmen. The site uses a credits system where the lending contractor pays a credit for each confirmed booking. Each membership plan includes a number of credits with additional credits available for purchase as needed.

"We are excited to bring a new choice to the independent trade contracting community for locating qualified resources," said James Thomson, the company's CEO. "We have received very positive feedback from our focus group of independent contractors and anticipate healthy growth as we continue to promote the service."

The company initiated its marketing efforts with a direct mail campaign within Colorado, its pilot market. It is also developing online and offline partnerships and is heavily emphasizing member referrals by offering reward incentives to members that refer other contractors.

For more information, visit http://www.guildshare.com.