[mick hay]

Ive built my whole business on leaflets, over nearly 4 years and have a very profitable one. i leaflet where i want, yea had some calls of off the "big men" stating im on "their patch". Really strange when they actually meet me and apologies for their attitude saying they was having a bad day....lol

I never poach other w/c work, only take on custies who have no cleaner. As from march i will be dropping 10,000 a month for 10 months. Always been my best source of advertising.  

[Chris Galloway]

you know what custys are like 50 pence cheaper then they will go with anyone

Goes to show your custy service cant be that good. Or maybe its the type of custy's you have taken on in the first place.

However if my current custys want to go elsewhere for 50p, then they are welcome too.

Just because someone already has a window cleaner doesn't stop me from earning a living, however i wont blatantly under cut anyone just to get it. I will just give my charge, if that less, then so be it. ( I never ask how much anyone pays).

Not everything is about cost anyway, as many of my customers are paying more then they used too. They are happy for a reliable, honest window cleaner.

[geefree]

One customer said i was £4 dearer than her previous window cleaner, whilst having a cuppa with me.... but she said she likes how i work and what i do , compared to him... he left all his dirt on the window ledge.. and missed an odd window...basically she said he put more dirt on than he took off.

And i hear that very very often.... and see it too.

And i say... keep doing it....

it helps me no end.

[ftp]

Mick Hay, just curious but why would you want to drop 100,000 leaflets? I always thought you were very successful so would think you had a full round - or do you employ as well?

[peter holley]

you know what custys are like 50 pence cheaper then they will go with anyone

  iv never read such nonsense in my life.....the customer decides who to have , and its not based on prrice alone....oh and i like to see you or anyone else kick my ladders... they are on top of my van so you will iether hurt your foot or strain yourself.... big company? :

[mick hay]

Mick Hay, just curious but why would you want to drop 100,000 leaflets? I always thought you were very successful so would think you had a full round - or do you employ as well?

 i'm looking to take on more work to start employing end of next year.
 i'm just about to reach the vat threshold on my own, so as soon as i go over the threshold, i might as well take the bull by the horns and start building a larger business.
 Ive someone i know well who keeps asking if he can come on board, we have spoken a lot and he knows how i work and what i expect, so hopefully, he will be a good employee!!   

[ftp]

Well done Mick, i've got a lot of respect for chaps like you. You'll have to publish your secrets one day. 

[windowswashed]

Good window cleaners build up good rounds by word of mouth from happy customers and advertise where they think best.

Leafleting 10,000 potential customers, (some who already have a window cleaner) is poaching other window cleaners work intentionally unless clearly stated on the leaflets IMO.

Obviously window cleaners need to find new work from time to time and competition can be healthy, but too many window cleaners in one local area will slowly force prices down regardless how good one can clean windows. Economic year to follow will see many new redundant workers enter window cleaning, driving the prices down, ruining it for regular, professional w/c'ers obtaing new work at a later time when these wanabies move away from w/c because the economy picks up and they move into easier jobs again. WFP has made it all too easy for many more new starters to establish themselves in the market of window cleaning as they don't have to climb ladders anymore or clean tradition style.  

For those who have an established round who leaflet..... if your customers are happy with your window cleaning service and you are short of work ask your customers to recommend you to their family and friends and their friends too.

[ftp]

How do you get your work Windowsashed?

[windowswashed]

How do you get your work Windowsashed?

Most of it is from recommendations, some from parish magazine, some from advertising elsewhere and some from website. Never leafletted although there's always a first time for everything.

[mick hay]

I definatley dont drive prices down, im the most expensive in the area, other w/c cant understand how customers pay it!!

I leaflet to keep my name and logo fresh in peoples minds, and i get referalls weekly who know how much i charge, so they are happy to pay that bit more!

You have to remember though, you go into business to make money, and you wont make money by being shy about putting your name about in case you annoy other w/c.

 I didnt get into window cleaning with the outlook of cleaning windows til i retire, i want to be in the office overlooking everything, and my next step is towards that!!!

[DaveG]

Ive built my whole business on leaflets, over nearly 4 years and have a very profitable one. i leaflet where i want, yea had some calls of off the "big men" stating im on "their patch". Really strange when they actually meet me and apologies for their attitude saying they was having a bad day....lol

I never poach other w/c work, only take on custies who have no cleaner. As from march i will be dropping 10,000 a month for 10 months. Always been my best source of advertising.  

Mick , when you leaflet drop do you call back and door knock or do they contact you?

Cheers Dave

[gary999]

its a free market i leaflet where i want to
unless it states on the door no free papers or leaflets

customer decides who they want

i dont leaflet houses that i know for sure have a window cleaner

[mick hay]

I dont knock, i have 10,000 at a time go out, then about 2 months later another 10,000.

I always wait for the custie to contact me and ASK ME for a quote, rather than me asking them if they want a window cleaner. When they ask you, you are in control, hence you can demand a higher price!!

I come from a sales background, sold timeshare in spain, cars advertising. etc etc, so i still use some of my sales knowledge.

Door knocking is an excellent way of building a round, if you have the time, however, i found the way i do it, i can get better priced work!!

You jus have to be a bit patient, but believe me it works!!!  

[peter holley]

its a free market i leaflet where i want to
unless it states on the door no free papers or leaflets

customer decides who they want

i dont leaflet houses that i know for sure have a window cleaner

bbbbbaaaahhhhh! how ya doin matey?

taffy

[AuRavelling79]

How do you get your work Windowsashed?

Most of it is from recommendations, some from parish magazine, some from advertising elsewhere and some from website. Never leafletted although there's always a first time for everything.

Sorry, windowswashed? Say that again... because if that Parish magazine goes out to my customers then you are no different in essence to the leaflet dropper. Offering your services to my customers!

Do that round my patch (everywhere within a 250 mile radius of Birmingham) and I'll smash your windscreen, push you off your ladder and behave like the complete thug that I am!


In case anyone thinks my threats are serious - j/kidding ww!

Seriously - a Parish mag is a much better idea than leaflets IMO.

[Paul Coleman]

Mick Hay, just curious but why would you want to drop 100,000 leaflets? I always thought you were very successful so would think you had a full round - or do you employ as well?

 i'm looking to take on more work to start employing end of next year.
 i'm just about to reach the vat threshold on my own, so as soon as i go over the threshold, i might as well take the bull by the horns and start building a larger business.
 Ive someone i know well who keeps asking if he can come on board, we have spoken a lot and he knows how i work and what i expect, so hopefully, he will be a good employee!!   

Hey, that's some business you've built to go near the VAT threshhold on your own.  Well done !!  I hope to emulate you but that will take a while I think.

[Glyn H]

10,000 leaflets @ 30 seconds per leaflet = 83.5 hours work,
so you will need nine helpers working for 8 and bit hours each -
sounds exhausting

[stfc]

im doing a leaflet drop that day,when i go out i aim for around 10 per 1000 delivered,and never fails,im aiming for around 40 new customers for january,and i deliver around 300 pe hour

[gary999]

its a free market i leaflet where i want to
unless it states on the door no free papers or leaflets

customer decides who they want

i dont leaflet houses that i know for sure have a window cleaner

bbbbbaaaahhhhh! how ya doin matey?

taffy

okay sheepmeister

have a good one