Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Katt on January 27, 2011, 03:02:12 pm

Title: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Katt on January 27, 2011, 03:02:12 pm
 :D any info would be great. Many Thanks
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Kate2 on January 27, 2011, 03:09:16 pm
Sure peeps will come along soon
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: lyndy on January 27, 2011, 03:26:05 pm
Hi katt a lot say knock doors and just ask if they need a w/c,we put 10,000 flyers out in one hit,you could do both
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: PAIN IN THE GLASS on January 27, 2011, 04:10:17 pm
Hi, just go and knock doors. I find people would rather see a face than just a leaflet through the letter box. I'm not saying dont put leaflets through. I now find the best time to catch people in my area  is between 4pm- 6pm before the family sit down for there tea and all part-time workers are back from collecting the kids etc. But whatever suits you.
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Jake Kelly on January 27, 2011, 04:14:16 pm
:D any info would be great. Many Thanks

Hi Katt, whereabouts are you based?

Jake
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: bobby p on January 27, 2011, 04:32:05 pm
find out how much the big firm in your area charges and charge a quid or 2 under . as said above then just get door knocking . if you are going trad  id say it will take you a few months to be at ease up a ladder, you will have to grit your teeth in the early days .
                        best of luck
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Smudgeoff Cleaning Services on January 27, 2011, 04:36:49 pm
Hi katt a lot say knock doors and just ask if they need a w/c,we put 10,000 flyers out in one hit,you could do both

Lyndy how many custys did you get from your 10,000 flyers mate..

Kind Regards


Darren
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: prestige cleaners on January 27, 2011, 04:39:18 pm
Women belong in the kitchen!
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: lyndy on January 27, 2011, 04:51:31 pm
We get about 10-20,and a lot of one off conny roofs,one offs more than pays for the flyers
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Scrimble on January 27, 2011, 05:24:10 pm
find out how much the big firm in your area charges and charge a quid or 2 under . as said above then just get door knocking . if you are going trad  id say it will take you a few months to be at ease up a ladder, you will have to grit your teeth in the early days .
                        best of luck

dont underprice to get work  ::) put a few thousand flyers out and get canvassing
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Paul Coleman on January 27, 2011, 05:44:15 pm
Women belong in the kitchen!

Are you related to Andy Gray?  :)
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Paul Coleman on January 27, 2011, 05:54:38 pm
:D any info would be great. Many Thanks

Door knocking between about 4 pm and 7.30 pm (maybe 8 in summer) will yield the quickest customer yield.  Customers who are obtained this way don't always stick around as long as customers who respond to leaflets but as you are just starting, I assume you want volume for now and unload any messer abouters later?  Leaflets can be OK but if you exceed 1 job per 100 leaflets, you are doing pretty well.  More houses covered more quickly but lower response rate - unless you get lucky and hit a good area at the right time.
You can advertise in various ways but generally, I prefer to do the targetting rather than having the customers target me.  This is because when I do the targetting, I omit to knock or leaflet any properties which clearly have bad access.
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: A@R WINDOWCLEANING on January 27, 2011, 07:31:18 pm
find out how much the big firm in your area charges and charge a quid or 2 under . as said above then just get door knocking . if you are going trad  id say it will take you a few months to be at ease up a ladder, you will have to grit your teeth in the early days .
                        best of luck
i would not under cut that is dirty  before you know it you find yourself working for peanuts ,good luck]
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: andy1975 on January 27, 2011, 07:35:02 pm
hi katt, welcome to the world of window cleaning.obviously its different to see a woman trying this but then ive asked my wife to help me.door knocking is definetly my way,i never did leaflets until fairly recently and discovered it was crap.i recently dressed really smart and knocked some doors and it made the customers eyes really open wide and seemed tolisten what i said,spoke nicely back to me and accepted quite easily
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: barry mallett on January 27, 2011, 07:43:42 pm
wear a short skirt and hope the fella answers the door . if your an 8 pinter forget the skirt and hope the woman answers the door  ;D
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: bobby p on January 27, 2011, 08:34:33 pm
find out how much the big firm in your area charges and charge a quid or 2 under . as said above then just get door knocking . if you are going trad  id say it will take you a few months to be at ease up a ladder, you will have to grit your teeth in the early days .
                        best of luck
i would not under cut that is dirty  before you know it you find yourself working for peanuts ,good luck]
i didnt mean to canvass the big firms customers,just give a price thats lower at Fresh customers. a lot of these will have used the big firm in the past . Its important to find out the going rate in the town you work before you start out.
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Steve CM on January 27, 2011, 08:43:28 pm
find out how much the big firm in your area charges and charge a quid or 2 under . as said above then just get door knocking . if you are going trad  id say it will take you a few months to be at ease up a ladder, you will have to grit your teeth in the early days .
                        best of luck
i would not under cut that is dirty  before you know it you find yourself working for peanuts ,good luck]
i didnt mean to canvass the big firms customers,just give a price thats lower at Fresh customers. a lot of these will have used the big firm in the past . Its important to find out the going rate in the town you work before you start out.

Why do people think the best way to get business is to undercutt or be cheap. How about offering the customer the service that reflects your price?
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: prestige cleaners on January 27, 2011, 08:52:03 pm
why cant anyone on here tell when its a windup?
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: AC Window Cleaning on January 27, 2011, 08:56:58 pm
Leaflets are a waste of time,door knocking at peak time-4-7 produces the best results.
It takes a certain type of person to respond to leaflets,il be honest,most of the leaflets that come through my door for roofing/carpets upvc products go in the fire.
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Katt on January 28, 2011, 08:15:25 am
Hey thanks for all your replies  :) I'm good with ladders so shouldn't be a problem "i hope"  :P How soon in advance would you knock on doors to when you do the work?
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Katt on January 28, 2011, 08:24:07 am
Sure peeps will come along soon

Lol i hope so. thanks
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Katt on January 28, 2011, 08:26:42 am
Women belong in the kitchen!

That's a very sad outlook on life you have.  ;)
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Katt on January 28, 2011, 08:28:05 am
Women belong in the kitchen!

Are you related to Andy Gray?  :)

No he is Andy Grey lol
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Katt on January 28, 2011, 08:31:22 am
hi katt, welcome to the world of window cleaning.obviously its different to see a woman trying this but then ive asked my wife to help me.door knocking is definetly my way,i never did leaflets until fairly recently and discovered it was crap.i recently dressed really smart and knocked some doors and it made the customers eyes really open wide and seemed tolisten what i said,spoke nicely back to me and accepted quite easily

And does she  ;D i think i'll do both see what i can drum up  :)
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: prestige cleaners on January 28, 2011, 02:17:04 pm
Women belong in the kitchen!

That's a very sad outlook on life you have.  ;)

my wife enjoys it in there.
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Katt on January 28, 2011, 04:18:13 pm
Women belong in the kitchen!

That's a very sad outlook on life you have.  ;)

my wife enjoys it in there.

your terrible. lol
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Kate2 on January 28, 2011, 04:19:15 pm
Hi Katt

Have you made a start, or is it all in pre planning stages at the mo?
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: lcwalker on January 28, 2011, 05:20:39 pm
Ive done door knocking one time and really hated it, i deliver home made leaflets they dont look to cheap nor to flashy,on average i get 1/2 customers per 100.I delivered a 100 odd monday got a job just up the road today, i also do gardening in the summer so i put my leaflets back to back.
I delivered 160 today ill let you know how i get on in a week or so.My best return was 2 jobs from about 30 leaflets and then when i was doing one of them i picked up a £35 er, and the other one turn into a gardening job aswell so that worked out great.
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: geefree on January 28, 2011, 05:46:38 pm
We get about 10-20,and a lot of one off conny roofs,one offs more than pays for the flyers

Sure thats tight lindy?... we average around 2% , out of 10,000  we would hope to get  200 customers
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Ian101 on January 28, 2011, 05:55:02 pm
i can sell you all my dodgy customers if it helps  ;)
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: steve rix on January 28, 2011, 07:04:00 pm
Best way is to leaflet an area first then follow up by knocking on doors. If anyone says that they have a window cleaner just say thanks for your time. DO NOT UNDER CUT you will get no respect from customer. If they switch once will do again.
The only people who gain from a price war are the customers. 
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Katt on January 29, 2011, 08:12:56 am
Hi Katt

Have you made a start, or is it all in pre planning stages at the mo?

Pre planning at moment want to get customers lined up.
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: andyM on January 29, 2011, 08:53:25 am
Go out and do some door knocking to get a feel for demand in the area.
You could also go armed with some business cards or leaflets to post in the doors when nobody answers.
Obviously you have to be confident you can provide good results and service and this will come across if thats the case when you are talking to prospective customers. Don't BS them because in this game its all about reputation.
You will also have to be confident at pricing work because when someone asks you to quote you dont want to just pick a figure off the top of your head. You will have to survey the whole property and take a quick mental note of everything and then total it up to provide a price.
Take a note book and pen with you and a diary may also be useful for scheduling work to be done.
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: bobby p on January 29, 2011, 08:58:08 am
once u doorknock/leaflet  be ready to clean  same day/next day .   look keen,why not , everybody likes to see a tryer
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: Katt on February 06, 2011, 03:46:37 pm
i can sell you all my dodgy customers if it helps  ;)

The dodgy ones awww thanks lol
Title: Re: starting up and what to do to get customers
Post by: lyndy on February 06, 2011, 03:53:53 pm
Gazza that's 10-20 that stay with us,the others another 10-20 were messers