Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ben Peters on September 04, 2010, 11:29:40 pm
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Just an idea that came into my head while reading a few posts was introducing a loyalty scheme to retain customers and protect your business from fly by night window cleaners.
For example offer a free/halfprice wc clean after say 5/10 cleans??? something like that?
Has anyone tried or is doing something similair?
It works for tesco and the like so theres some value in it i guess!
Just putting it out there see what the feedbacks like....
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eh no :P
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If you are friendly, reliable and do a good job you will have no problem retaining good customers.
If a customer leaves you for a cheaper window cleaner, then they are not worth it anyway!
I cant see the point in working for free if you dont have to.
Andy
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the only thing i offer is a free clean for every custy they get you, works ok
if you think about if if every custy gets you 1 custy every 6 months then you can double your round, might cost you a bit of money in free cleans, but think long term,
if they have been with you for a long time and want to get loyalty out of them offer a half price gutter clean, or a free gutter clean every 12 months, they are with you, as after the first clean they are easy to look after
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No i would not does this for loyalty i knock some money off for one the other services i do ie gutter and fascia clean ,carpet clean,driveway clean..............at least they think i do lol
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at least they think i do lol
Thats the point - Never work for free :)
Andy
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a custy will remain loyal as long as you turn up and do a good job,
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Thats right darren do a good job and turn up when you should and the customer will always be happy.
im running a business and can not aford to be be doing work for free
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a custy will remain loyal as long as you turn up and do a good job,
exactly ;) ;)
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Visit them at the frequency you discussed when you first took them on. Clean their windows, frames and sills. All of them. Be polite. Dress appropriately. Price fairly. Close the gate on the way out. Say 'Thankyou, I'll see you next time'. Dont compromise on price or quality of your work.
Do those things and you wont have any issues.
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iv sed it time an again if we only got each nxt door
to where we clean we would double our income
simples ;D ;D ;D ;D
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It would be a nightmare to administer. You would have disputes with the customers about whether they should be free or not this time. And the idea of working for free just devalues your service.
Go to the cash and carry at christmas, buy a load of bottles of Jacob's Creek Chadonnay for about £3.60 a throw and give all your good customers a bottle and a card.
Much easier and cheaper, probably tax deductable too.
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Ok when i say free that was just an example it could half price/20% off another service etc etc....
Sometimes price is all what matters to some custies and will without question use another wc if they will do it half price, it has happened me many times only for the custies a few weks later to ask for my services again as the other lad never came back again! And yes I will clean them no questions asked, some of you will say you would refuse to reclean etc, but im running a business here and a paying customer is a paying customer....
Everyone including you and me likes to think that we are getting a good deal no matter what your paying for, whats the difference with wc, if you had a wc im sure you like to get an extra bit of value sometimes even if it is only small...
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Ideas like this sound ok on the small scale, i.e. mrs jones job is 10 quid and every 6 months she gets it free or reduced. yeh sounds ok dont it. but x that up by your entire round :o
So every 6 months you would do a whole months work for nothing? Thanks but I will risk losing the odd customer here and there.
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Ideas like this sound ok on the small scale, i.e. mrs jones job is 10 quid and every 6 months she gets it free or reduced. yeh sounds ok dont it. but x that up by your entire round :o
So every 6 months you would do a whole months work for nothing? Thanks but I will risk losing the odd customer here and there.
"Ok when i say free that was just an example it could half price/20% off another service etc etc...."
Am really looking for some out of the box thinking here with this as im serioulsy thinking of implementing something, so positive feedback/ideas/experiences please.
Thanks.
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Ben just use your nod mate and say to your customers that if you can get me 3 family or friend customers for me and i will give you one free clean!
I have and is going well,they love it!
I also have it on my windows been cleaned today slips saying the same offer!
Ideas like this sound ok on the small scale, i.e. mrs jones job is 10 quid and every 6 months she gets it free or reduced. yeh sounds ok dont it. but x that up by your entire round :o
So every 6 months you would do a whole months work for nothing? Thanks but I will risk losing the odd customer here and there.
"Ok when i say free that was just an example it could half price/20% off another service etc etc...."
Am really looking for some out of the box thinking here with this as im serioulsy thinking of implementing something, so positive feedback/ideas/experiences please.
Thanks.
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Ben just use your nod mate and say to your customers that if you can get me 3 family or friend customers for me and i will give you one free clean!
I have and is going well,they love it!
I also have it on my windows been cleaned today slips saying the same offer!
Ideas like this sound ok on the small scale, i.e. mrs jones job is 10 quid and every 6 months she gets it free or reduced. yeh sounds ok dont it. but x that up by your entire round :o
So every 6 months you would do a whole months work for nothing? Thanks but I will risk losing the odd customer here and there.
"Ok when i say free that was just an example it could half price/20% off another service etc etc...."
Am really looking for some out of the box thinking here with this as im serioulsy thinking of implementing something, so positive feedback/ideas/experiences please.
Thanks.
Nice one, like that idea!
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I suppose you could inflate your prices to cover it. E.g. a £10 job becomes a £12 job and they get the sixth one free ...
But I don't no how relevant the idea would be.
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Loyalty schemes are a good idea because people like them but it's worth bearing in mind a typical supermarket loyalty scheme gives just 1% back to the customer.
A free clean every six months, or even once a year, would be giving away far too much.
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Just an idea that came into my head while reading a few posts was introducing a loyalty scheme to retain customers and protect your business from fly by night window cleaners.
For example offer a free/halfprice wc clean after say 5/10 cleans??? something like that?
Has anyone tried or is doing something similair?
It works for tesco and the like so theres some value in it i guess!
Just putting it out there see what the feedbacks like....
it doesn't work for tesco's mate as I shop at Waitrose ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Hi Op
I did suggest a couple of these ideas a couple of weeks ago. Now im not meaning on a MASS scale.
I agree with "if you do a good job" etc. But that might be ok if you are an established round.
But the subject of marketing has been raised on here recently.
I suppose its like you say we do have to think outside the box, because there are new marketing methods that come into play, as in with most businesses. Because the consumer DOES change their mind on the buying decisions that they make.
Also somebody made another point, with the current climate for employment, window cleaning seems to have been suggested as a possible start up for people, so along with that comes competition, so thats where I think sometimes other ideas may have to be implemented or applied. I just think it pays to be one step ahead, as you never know what might be round the corner or what your competitors have planned.
Think the recommend a friend/family could be good, with some kind of incentive, you may lose a small amount but gain more in the long run.
Theres no harm in sitting down and going through the different options, if the figures add up.
Just my humble opinion
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i usually offer a free clean of the inside of the kitchen window ,not so much as a loyalty scheme ,more to later get doing the whole insides on a regularish basis . this is then leading into blind cleaning which im not so sure i want to do
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Think thats a brilliant idea Bobby, plant the seed, and its cost you 1 cleaning of an inside of a window.
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i dont offer a loyalty scheme , but i do give a bottle of wine for any reccomandations plus i always try and have a chat with customers as i hope it makes them less liable to drop me if we get on well ;)
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Ive offered a recommend a friend and get a free clean for a while now and its worked out well
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I was saying on here before, I see you guys as a "community" business. Not some conglomorate in the community, so I suppose along with that comes community based offers, marketing personal service, relationship building, however you want to interpret.
So a bit of the personal touch never goes a miss I dont think. Commercial completely different kettle of fish I would imagine.
Good point Croxley Steve, building relationships
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Ewan, can you not respect that people might like to try other things? Rather than just chucking leaflets through a door? or door knocking. Dont you think if your in business has any opportunity of gaining a customer is great, however you do it.
You dont know unless you try.
Industry really really does move on, especially in the current climate.
You cant knock something until you try it yourself, thats blind opinion.
The phrase "thinking out of the box", its far from a cliche. It's "hey come on lets do something different" and with hindsight if you set something up that IS different it could work for any business model.
You only have to look at the guys above, one doing wine, one doing free inside clean, surely theres something in that merit to move on.
These guys are just trying a different approach, moving on, new things, different angles, I think resting on ones laurels and oh "I provide a good service" wont cut it. Unless you are a very established person in your area
Ive said before its not just "window cleaning" its a community based business.
Bobby is empolying a very clever tactic, "Im giving you a taster" think that is an incredible way of doing things, hindsight
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woops only been in marketing for 20 years
Ewan, its not a business cliche, its reality
Your only labelling it without knowing its meaning.
Come up with 10/5 ideas not involving leafleting or door knocking
My challenge to you ha ha
I hate hate business cliches, but this really is one "out of the box " no leaflets, no door knocking, no cold calls, no nothing.
Best thing is not to put a label on it
Lets come up with a list 10 things that you would do, without leaflets, without door knocking - its going to make you think, thats where the dreaded phrase comes into play,thinking out of side the tools that you have!
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Ok Ewan you win
Quite shocked really at your assumptions that I dont run a business
Been self employed for 12 years, Ive been running my own telesales business for 12 years. So not really sure what you mean.
But hey ho, were all different
Ewan you can only explain what you mean, then I can/we can try and sort it out.
But you cannot knock other peope for trying different things, its their choice
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Thats cool mate
No no nothing to do with winning at all
But I just think that we all have to respect other peoples views thats all, what works for one dosent work for another.
No worries at all Ewan xx
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you sound very bitter and imho i doubt you have a very good business at all,i think that you come on here to try and put people down but deep down your probably jealous that you don't have the ideas or customers that alot of the posters have here!
Theres some big fish on here who are very friendly and helpfull!
It’s not about winning on here Kate.
I’m sure you have plenty of marketing skills, I will agree with some and not others.
Don’t feel bad, I give advice to people on here who charge to little, tell them to have a minimum price and try and charge as much as you can, and that’s gets thrown back in your face. They will go further still and argue the cause for charging to little.
Like I said this site can be hilarious at times.
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have to agree with you there mate.
although he calls it ADVICE but personally he's a very jealous sad bloke, he was even trying to have a go a hot wfp users sorry give advice to hot wfp users that they were just wasting their time as cold was just as good or even better.
he tries to make out he is some sort of big business advisor but just like the rest of us he's a common w/c nothing more nothing less
but god still loves him
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If anyone has any pilot ideas please post
Right
I need to elaborate on this
Do You honestly think , that between you guys on this forum we can build a consortuim?
Im only asking due to national jobs?
I can put up a poll?
Kick my arse if you think ideas are poope
Kate thats a pile of poope
But....
Im thinking corporate
I dont know its just thoughts guys
\must be really difficult
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anyone ever hear of the story of 2 lemons?
I sat in a seminar hosted by René Carayol it was an eye opener and really motivational. i would recommend it
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Yep Steve Im one of those lemons ha ha
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was you part of the recipe for the lobster?
no i do know what your on about really and i think your far from a lemon :)
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Woops try running a business, you really don’t have a clue as to what I mean Kate.
and this is from aman who wont say where he work what he work if he works.
;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
ewan a w/c not a chance in hell.
a lemon yes. :P
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Am really looking for some out of the box thinking here with this as im serioulsy thinking of implementing something, so positive feedback/ideas/experiences please.
Ben, why are you looking to implement something, is there a problem somewhere?
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Ewan,
This thread is not about money
Its about ideas
Its about different suggestions that other people have.
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I am with ewan on this I don't see the need to offer loyalty offers, I have a constant referrals from existing customers without the free offers. There are plenty ways to increase turnover without doing things for free
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Stu Mac
Why are you saying for FREE?
Why automatically has something got to be for "free" to progess?
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doesnt it all depend on what stage you are at with ur business, if you only have 50 custy and can get 10 new custy every month for giving away a free clean, the go for it, but a lot on here what rounds off 300 plus so dont need to get more custys and say i would never do that
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Stu Mac
Why are you saying for FREE?
Why automatically has something got to be for "free" to progess?
because that was the original post "free or half price"
doesnt it all depend on what stage you are at with ur business, if you only have 50 custy and can get 10 new custy every month for giving away a free clean, the go for it, but a lot on here what rounds off 300 plus so dont need to get more custys and say i would never do that
that is a fair point Darren and offering a clean here and there in return for a referral makes sense and gets the customer doing your canvassing for you, but that was not the original poster's question, he wanted advice on retaining customers not gaining new ones.
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good point stu, but if you are good enough to be recommended then you should be able to keep them, even if they only keep u to get free cleans, but get u a new custy every month then great
to keep a custy just keep the windows clean and turn up and be polite and take a interest in them
i use to have a wc before i became a wc and never even knew his name, most he ever said to me was, that will be x amount or this is the new bloke taking over, and had him over a year i think the window cleaner change about 3 times in that year
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good point on the name thing and yes if you are good enough the customer will refer you without any offers, that's why I don't offer anything, back to the name thing my name is on my slips, leaflets, website as is my address and it installs trust without all the free offer stuff. If you are targeting customers that want a cheap deal or freebie offer they are the wrong type of customer anyway and will drop you as soon as a better offer comes along.
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yeah have you seen a doctor knock off a price for appointment or a dentist
,why we should do?, like somebody else said already,if you are reliable and good,that s all matters............ ;D
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Nobody is saying what you currently do is not a bad idea
All the original poster is saying is that hes exploring different avenues
I dont really see a problem with that
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kate start a new post and see what are the best ideas to come up!
Ewan,
This thread is not about money
Its about ideas
Its about different suggestions that other people have.
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Hi Doc
The ideal situation would be a sep forum for marketing ideas.
You share them see what works for each other instead of fighting against eachother. You guys on here have an ideal situation to form a coperative.
You have already sitting here all the tools that you need. Ive said it before
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totally agree kate!
Hi Doc
The ideal situation would be a sep forum for marketing ideas.
You share them see what works for each other instead of fighting against eachother. You guys on here have an ideal situation to form a coperative.
You have already sitting here all the tools that you need. Ive said it before
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ASDA first then?
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i prefer tesco ;D lol
ASDA first then?
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This site is hilarious at times, maybe there should be a thread on ‘360-degree thinking’ that way people can go nowhere and end up where they started.
Thats why we have got you on here Ewan, the resident flim-flam man.
I notice you are often quick to offer criticism but never help.Is that because you have no ideas yourself? I suspect so. If not, lets hear some of yours.
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Folks I was only looking for a few idea on offering a little more value to my service to keep the customer thinking they are appreciated as my customer....fair enough some of you dont think you need to offer anything and thats fair enough...buy in my area there have been alot of lads with there ladders out and charging very little therefore effecting my business...
Just so you no I operate as much a professional service as possible, do the best job i can, be friendly with customers, am fully insured, new sign written van, T shirts with business info on them etc etc...
At the end of the day the reality is what we do is not rocket science and anyone can lift a bucket and start wc which is is what is happening around me and is effecting my business....for example a cul de sac of houses I clean is £10 per house, i clean 7 of them =£70 I have lost 4 of those customers = £40 to a guy charging £3...
Hence the reason of maybe offering some sort of loyalty scheme and looking some opinions/ideas on them...
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You may end up costing yourself even more money trying to compete with him. I'd just sit it out, at £3 a pop maybe he won't sustain that for to long.
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The first question you need to ask is WHY are your customers becoming disloyal and leaving you.
If they are not leaving you then you don't need to offer a loyalty scheme.
If they are, is it just about price.
The trick is to offer something that has a high perceived value which costs little.
I did an offer at one time, Introduce a customer and both receive a 'Thorntons' chocolate bar.
Cost was 79p each, so £1.58 cost. Customers loved it. The 'value' of the chocolate was perceived to be greater than it was as it was well thought out.
Don't offer money off. I did this and it was a nightmare. I will post more later.
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Treat customer losses as a way to re-new your round with better paying customers.
Personally I see around 10 - 12% loss per year whether moved/dumped/ dumped me.
I am at the minute 'removing certain' customers from our round due to being messed around for varying reasons.
As for retention schemes..march to the beat of your own drum.
Dave.
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Personally I see around 10 - 12% loss per year whether moved/dumped/ dumped me.
Dave.
Yes probably about the same as me, I have had about ten die so far this year.
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Ah yes...Thank for the info....will have to create a 'dead' column on the spreadsheet... ;D