[collins ReVive Stoneworks]

looks like i will have to soldier on and get some decent work to use this kit

any ideas ?

[nevil]

In the absence of full time CC work, work as a full time marketing man for your own company.

[nevil]

I am not exactly setting the world on fire, and I don't like this type of year very much as it's always quiet for me. However I have more work this winter than last and much more then the first two.

This morning I decided to deliver business cards in a local village. At the 6th house the owner saw me coming up the drive and came to the door. I said hI I'm your local carpet cleaner, I'm handing my cards out so you know how to contact me should you need anything. ( This is all I ever plan on saying to people unless they want to talk to me about it. )

Can you do me a quote now? he said. Of coures I can. He booked to have the whole house cleaned for £350 next week.  ( it's a big house ).

The key to it is don't try to sell to them. Be polite, freindly and be prepared to go or you may just make sure they won't do business with you.

[collins ReVive Stoneworks]

for the truckmount

just over 1yr old this 20hp from woodbridge with tanks and hose reel etc will

set you back £11500  with the vat

i will consider any serious offer it is in excellent condition with 142 hrs only

has been serviced at woodbridge.

The RX tool is excellent again hardly used will accept  £1800  No vat

and that is over £1000 saving  they are £2450 +vat Hydramaster site

Hard floor Brush attachnent £250     or will swap possibly  for Host  kit

01376 529951

also anyone considering hard floor eqiup check out

klindexuk.co.uk

[mark_roberts]

Are you selling your TM and getting a host machine??

Mark

[Bennie25]

Keep the TM instead I say.

Is there much work with the hard floors to the domestic market?

[collins ReVive Stoneworks]

in reply to you Mark

i know you are busy and good on yer

i am not selling the |TM just to get a host set up ,

but i would like to look at host in detail again i think its come on a lot more now

and green seems to be the buzz word at the moment.

but if anyone has some genuine feed back i would very much appreciate a debate on here.

as to hard floors yes i would say they have been a very useful allie

for quite some time the but its hard to incorporate that type of work when

people know you as the carpet cleaner and its written on all your marketing materials, they are a bit apprehensive to say trust you with there  Marble, or Limestone, slate, travertine etc.

so any feeds welcome here too

any way back to Host any experiences

[mark_roberts]

Ive only used host a few times on problem rugs ie. dye bleed.

IMO its not a deep clean system as is very limited.  What about stairs, upholstery, rug fringes, extraction needs, odour removal etc etc.

Why are you selling the TM??  Are you not making ends meet??

You have the most thorough method of carpet cleaning available so think long and hard beofre you make a big mistake.

Also green cleaning is a very small market and can be achieved using a tm if desired.  But then again what is not green cleaning??

MArk

[collins ReVive Stoneworks]

Hi mark

i have to be honest and say that i am not making any money

and i have kind of stagnated not knowing what to do i have given up with the yell pages simply become far to expensive for the leads

yell .com not doing much either

tried some joe polish you know free rooms etc -

and trying to design leaflets -   im not sure whether to go in cheap like some of those laeflets you know the half price stuff

either way i have gotta get busy as sinking here ?

thanks any way mark

[Joe H]

Sorry you are struggling.

You go the machine so it must be the marketing.
Its obvious a lot of the guys do leaflet drops in their thousands regularly to the same areas - familiarity and all that.

Why not post in the main ccleaners section see if any one would be generous enough to let you copy a leaflet that has proven to work?
then spend your time going round doing leaflet drops
Or knock on doors and ask? - are you a good sales person?
Present yourself smart and sell yourself.
You know that if you do a good job one job leads to two or three more.

[mark_roberts]

Sorry to hear your finding it tough.

New business is hard to get at the minute, time of year and economic slowdown etc.

Ive no idea how much experiance you have but i assume your a trained professional and know how to conduct yourself professionally.

You need a direct and effective marketing approach.  Direct mail, flyers, door knocking, BNI etc are all effective ways when done properly.  Theres lots of info on these boards about these things.  Personally door knocking while difficult is the most effective esp on commercial.

Regarding pricing you need to know YOUR figures and charge accordingly.  Always aim to be the best cleaner and not fall into the temptation of cheap price fast and sloppy cleaning.

It takes time although you have jumped off the deep end with a TM purchase.

Mark

[stevie wonder]

Is your truckmount still for sale.

[ashbash]

this bloke is asking crazy prices. does he really think anyone is gona pay that money. 9k, hes had 2 many beers when he posted all of this.
(probably why he cant put a picture up.) 

[Mark Lane-Matthews]

Hi Karl
Get an offer from Woodbridge,at least you will have something to fall back on if you get really desperate if it dosn't sell on ebay.
                                              Good luck

[clinton]

Well you have the best cleaning equipment and the most effective,i started in this buisness nearly 18 years ago,am still going lol,it does take a long time to get established and to have the  phone ringing from your regulars,so why not sell your truckmount and keep your portable?i did the host many years back and found it hard work and with all the bits it left behind,was never happy when the customers saw the resedue that it left beind.. clinton