Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Sseddon on June 02, 2010, 10:22:54 am

Title: Canvassing/leaflets
Post by: Sseddon on June 02, 2010, 10:22:54 am
Hello all,

I've had various jobs over the years, mostly in sales + ran my own software business. I have an online audiobookshop, but it's starting to struggle, so I'm looking for a second income. I've cleaned windows in my youth. My dad was a window cleaner & so was his dad for 40 years, so I'll be a 3rd generation window cleaner at 46!

I remember my dad starting up when I was around 6 or 7 and I remember going out canvassing with him. I had thought it might not be acceptable anymore, so I was going to leaflet, but reading here, that might not be much good. Any thoughts?



Title: Re: Canvassing/leaflets
Post by: stfc on June 02, 2010, 02:06:29 pm
go out and leaflet mate,ive never knocked on doors and im not doing to bad.
Title: Re: Canvassing/leaflets
Post by: formb on June 02, 2010, 02:53:00 pm
Depends on your preference.

I would never buy anything from a cold caller.

I will never cold call.

I have never had a problem getting customers. We have got ours through either leaflets or referrals.
Title: Re: Canvassing/leaflets
Post by: darren clarke on June 02, 2010, 02:57:13 pm
go knocking i ahve been out 2 day between 11 - 2.30 and pick up 15,  all from areas that i have leafleted months ago
Title: Re: Canvassing/leaflets
Post by: Sseddon on June 02, 2010, 04:59:33 pm
In business I have no objection to cold calling. I have a gut feeling that we have a shortage of window cleaners here, so leafletting might do it. I think I'll test drop a few hundred leaflets & see how I do. If I'm not happy with the return I'll canvass. My dad had a really big round that he got through canvassing at the outset. I don't remember him canvassing again.
Title: Re: Canvassing/leaflets
Post by: stfc on June 02, 2010, 05:15:38 pm
In business I have no objection to cold calling. I have a gut feeling that we have a shortage of window cleaners here, so leafletting might do it. I think I'll test drop a few hundred leaflets & see how I do. If I'm not happy with the return I'll canvass. My dad had a really big round that he got through canvassing at the outset. I don't remember him canvassing again.


Make about a 1000 leaflets,should take you a good day to hand out.Then look at the results when the phone doesnt stop ringing.
Title: Re: Canvassing/leaflets
Post by: Murdie window cleaning on June 02, 2010, 05:24:56 pm
It will depend if there is a need for a cleaner in the area your looking to work in. I've just had a phone call from a leaflet I dropped maybe 2 or 3 months ago, but I've also dropped leaflets in areas and never got a single call. My advice would be to use both, maybe drop a few hundred in an area and then go back round in a few days, that way they may have had a look at your leaflet and thought that they could use your service, but in reality they will put off phoning you for various reasons so when you knock on there door they will be happy that you've saved them a phone call.

Very lucky if you can build a round from scratch without door knocking, I wish I could.
Title: Re: Canvassing/leaflets
Post by: formb on June 02, 2010, 07:10:04 pm
We have been leafleting for nearly 20 years.

We have consistently got about 1% call back, even if we are leafleting in an area for the second time in a few months we will get about 1%.
Title: Re: Canvassing/leaflets
Post by: darren clarke on June 02, 2010, 07:17:06 pm
form b

how many leaflets r u putting out at a time
Title: Re: Canvassing/leaflets
Post by: formb on June 02, 2010, 07:55:47 pm
form b

how many leaflets r u putting out at a time

That varies, usually 2 guys a couple of days in one month to top up a round. Say around 1500.

In the past, when we first started out for example, my dad had me and all of my mates leafleting all day. That was 1000s.

Over the last 2 days we have had 2 guys out they have done 1200. I have had 8 so far. I would expect there to be at least 4 more by the time I get into work in the morning. This is a new area to us though and a couple of the new customers have told me that they have been struggling to find a window cleaner (heard that one before).