Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: allergease on October 05, 2005, 09:16:31 pm
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Hi,
Only found this site today and have been busy reading all the old posts.
I've recently started my own mattress cleaning business and am finding things extremely difficult.
Sent out 5,000 flyers (professionally designed) with the local paper for three weeks running....... not a single reply.
Have advertised in the weekly paper for three consecutive weeks ... had a few responses but yet to have a confirmed booking.
Have delivered 150 flyers by hand to local houses, no response.
I am offering a free allergen test on my flyers / adverts with no mention of cost but am not sure why the response is so low.
I'm now considering paying someone to deliver flyers for me as they might have a better chance than those delivered with the paper (can't be any worse :'().
Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of uptake on flyers put through doors versus flyers in envelopes addressed to "The Homeowner) please.
Thanks,
Conrad
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Do a search for leaflets.
I think your problem is you are in a market that is a new concept.
I think you would do better door knocking and explaining benifits.
Could try Guest houses.
But also General door knock
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Thanks Ian,
I've sent about 100 letters with flyer to guest houses, B&B's etc just a few days ago and will follow up with a phone call next week.
I am thinking about handing out flyers in the city centre as, although I haven't really got the gift of the gab, I believe that I really need to talk to prospective clients to promote my service.
I guess I'm just a big baby worrying about the lack of interest at the moment and really have to get off my butt and really sell myself and the business. Like a fool I presumed adverts in the paper and flyers delivered with a newspaper would generate sufficient leads.
I was considering approaching a few carpet cleaners to see if they could put any work my way (10% commission). What do you carpet cleaners think, would you be offended thinking I was after your business or would you be more than happy to hand the work over ?
Conrad
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Hi
What cleaning process do you use? As carpet cleaners offer this themselves with the right equipment.
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Its too small a market. I havent been asked to clean a mattress in 4 years. Even when I was advertising it I cleaned very few.
Some will say they need cleaned because of all the bugs etc but really only a very very small number of homeowners care.
Best advice is to get in with carpet cleaners, house maids etc so they can offer your services as an additional part of their business with you giving them a commission.
Why did you start this business? Is it a franchise? Can you clean carpets with your machine?
Mark
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Hi Conrad,
flyers delivered with local paper total waste of time, unless of course yours was the only one,find a local distributor who never delivers more than 3 leaflets at any one time
regards Conrad ;D
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Difficult one Conrad. I think it will take a long time to build up a business by just offering mattress cleaning alone. Maybe you should target Hotels who might be interested from a hygiene point. I always cleaned a few mattresses yearly but only since I began using the Allerg- Stop products I have started to promote mattress cleaning more.
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Answers to your questions
I use vacuum, UV light and sanitising spray. Also have dry steam if required.
No I don't clean carpets, I can remove dust mites etc from carpets but the equipment I use won't remove any stains etc. unless I use the dry steam, and that's very time consuming.
Not a franchise.
Why did I decide to get into this ... I'm a single father with a five year old and needed to find something that I could do which would allow me some flexibility regarding working hours.
Cheers,
Conrad
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Hi Guys
Speak to Richard at http://www.comfortsector.co.uk/ he is the expert.
Respect
Ian Harper
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Hi Guys,
Mattresses are a niche within a niche.
Possible to sell to certain people if they are already pleased with your carpet/upholstery cleaning but as a stand alone not much chance.
Conrad,
It would be perfectly possible to clean carpets etc as a single dad.
Good luck,
Doug
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Speak to Richard at http://www.comfortsector.co.uk/ he is the expert.
Nice Website Richard. Appealing to the ladies methinks ;)
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When you think of the millions of homes and therefore millions of mattresses in the UK you would think this would be a HUGE market. In the past there have been a few mentions on mattress cleaning but nobody seems to be making any money out of it and all seem to struggle to get customers.
I think this could be because unlike general cleaning and carpet cleaning, mattressess are 'out of sight and out of mind', and as long as you have clean bed linen etc then we perceive we have a clean bed!
If I was tackling this sector of the market I would go with a heading on my leaflets that reflects this like the one I have already written " Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind" with a picture of a clean bed asking what lurks beneath?
Sorry to hear you're having a struggle at the moment, but with all the thousands of leaflets you have distributed you should have had a few calls, some of the people on here have reported that they have increased sales by using a certain product but at the end of the day it is ALL down to getting the marketing right. Is there any chance you can post your leaflet on here or send it to me by email so I ( or we ) can pull it apart and see if we can come up with any ideas or let you know where you have possibly gone wrong.
PS, Just back from holiday, missed this forum ( believe it or not ), bright eyed, bushy tailed & raring to go, and at the moment in a really good mood!!!! :) ;)
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Thanks for the offer of advice on the flyer Gary, I tried to post it here but it wouldn't display so I've E-mailed you a scan of it.
Conrad
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Conrad
Try doctor's surgeries. Speak to the practice manager and tell them the benefits for asthma suferers. They may let you display your leaflets.
Rod
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The leaflets are very good, and to be honest much better than I could do!!!
Next step then....... have you tried targeting different housing areas and villages?
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Gary,
I live in a city with about 120,000 houses so I'm sure there must be more than enough people there who need my service. I have thought about smaller villages for flyer drops but thought I would see what response I get from my own backyard first.
I think I'm just going through a "lack of confidence" phase at the moment. I am confident that the sevice I offer is of a very high standard, I am polite and courteous and not that ugly that I'd scare clients off when I meet them face to face. I haven't got much experience in actual sales but am reading books etc to improve that side of things it's just getting the initial response that's lacking.
My local newsagent has allowed me to put fliers in the local daily paper tomorrow and they will be delivered free of charge. I'm then going to visit a few doctors surgeries to see if they will allow me to put my flyers in there. (my local surgery does not allow private enterprises to advertise unfortunately).
It looks like I'm going to have to knock on a few doors soon. This is something that I probably won't enjoy until I'm more experienced but if I want to suceed it's probably something I'm going to have to do.
I'm also thinking of writing a press release and see if the local paper would print it as this business is unique in my area so there might be some public interest.
I suppose the problem that I have is something that many start up businesses experience and it's easy to feel sorry for myself and sit round the house worrying all day instead of going out and chasing up work.
I'll let you all know when I get my first paying customer.
Conrad
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You will get your first paying customer. Mattresses do have to be cleaned and mattresses are being cleaned every day by someone somewhere. Maybe you should knock on a few doors, I knocked on doors myself when I began my carpet cleaning business.
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Thanks for the encouraging words. It looks like door knocking is the way to go, it's free aswell :)
Conrad
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I dont know about the rest of you but our mattress only lasts about three years.
Conrad,
Look out for a good CC machine put the two together then you will have somthing to sell when you Door Knock.
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Hi allergease 'your set up sounds impressive,have you tried offering a free demo in hotels?
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Ian,
Three years for a mattress, what sort of bedroom olympics do you get up to ;).
Many mattresses now have a seven year guarantee but people tend to keep them even longer.
Mark,
I have written to about 130 guest houses and residential homes offering a free demonstration and will phone them all next week to arrange a date for a free demonstration ... watch this space.
Conrad
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Conrad,
Target your marketing Asthma clinics are a good start. Contact your local Asthma clinic nurse, explain to her that you wish to do independent tests on dust mite removal with your new equipment and that these tests will be conducted free of charge.
An important point to remember. At this point explain that you are not looking for an endorsement of your product or services (nurses and doctors as professionals will not endorse any one product or service don’t ask).
I usually ask for three tests if all goes well you will get the endorsements from these clients. But the benefits will come via word of mouth to others who suffer from Dust Mite Allergy. You will find that an unofficial recommendation from the nurse usually takes place.
Don’t have scary photographs of Dust Mites on your advertising this puts a large number of people off, concentrate on the benefits of a dust free environment it’s all about Indoor Air Quality.
Ian,
Thank you for your endorsement
Martin,
Home run it’s the ladies who control the purse strings and take care of the family’s health.
Regards Richard.
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Thanks for the tips Richard. I've been trying to think of a way to speak to an asthma nurse but am not sure how to go about it. Obviously most medical people are very busy (curing the ill, handing out sick notes etc) and I don't want to appear to be wasting anyones time by booking an appointment when I'm not ill myself so I'll have to find a way around that.
I was thinking of advertising for people with a dust mite allergy to phone my number for a free clean but obviously would prefer an asthma nurse to be involved somewhere along the line.
Many thanks,
Conrad
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Home run it’s the ladies who control the purse strings and take care of the family’s health.
Absolutely Richard, couldn't agree more.
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hello mate,i think as has been said before you could also carpets as a sindle parent,it is fairly easy to work around your commitments,i have for a long time now.It may be worth looking for a secondhand machine.Then at least you have a chance to promote your mattress cleaning whilst earning some money doing carpets and upholstery. ;D
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Problems I have with carpet cleaning are
a) I've never done it before,
b) Reading all that's written here kind of frightens me. What's a microsplitter for instance?
c) I need to hold as tight as I can to what little money I have as even though I have zero income the bills still need to be paid. I can't really afford to spend much money on something which I don't understand, I will need to start making money from day one if I was to dip into my rapidly depleting emergency fund.
. Also I don't own a van (have a Picasso though).
I like to think that I do my best at whatever I do and wouldn't like to leave unhappy customers which might jeopardise my mattress cleaning so where would I start .. a dry system perhaps ? what would I need to spend to offer a decent service £1,000 ? £2,000 ? how would I learn to use the equipment (apart from on my own carpet) ?
Sorry but I've got too many questions to ask and can't give anything back to the forum.
Conrad
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Conrad take a week off and go with a carpet cleaner and learn what to do des
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Conrad,
That is what Forums are for.
Re Carper Cleaning,
If you are short of cash could be a gamble to far, however if you were good at promotion leaflets door knocking you would generate cash flow.
I could suggests ways of doing it on a small budget but as I do not know your circumstances, ( I am not asking for them) It would not be wise to suggest this aproach.
Techniques therory Microsplitters etc basics quite simple and could easily be leaNT BUT AGAIN would cost you about £300 to £400 to do a course
There are some good manuals available which would teach you the basics but they are about £59 each.
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Hi Conrad,
Have you got the Allerx system or the hygienitec?
Clive
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Hi All
The difficulty with mattress cleaning is that most customers do not understand that there is any problem with the mattress in the first place, those that do, do not know that the problem can be treated successfully.
There is the added issue of the condition of the mattress to start with in terms of soiling. So the apporach to this type of work has to be very professional.
Best regards Nick
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Hi Guys
What I am doing with one of my intro offers is giving free mattress cleaning them charging for treatment. after I have sold them on the idea. You only need to do this once and they will see the benifits.
Respect
Ian Harper
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Clive,
I use the Hygienitec system (or would if I had any work). I also have a "dry steam" system which can be used on curtains etc.
Nick
I agree that not many people are aware of the problems associated with their mattresses. Hopefully my flyers will educate people to this problem but no uptake yet. (had 1,000 delivered Tues - Wed so the phone may ring soon).
Ian,
I offer a free Mattress allergen test (takes me about 15 mins and costs me a couple of pounds) which shows the level of toxins (if any) in the mattress. I've only had 4 people take me up on the offer however none went ahead with the mattress clean. I believe that I had set my original prices too high so have now reduced them to a more realistic level, not sure whether I should phone the 4 prospects up and inform them of my new pricing structure as I don't want to appear desperate (even though I am).
Conrad
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Conrad,
What sort of prices are you asking for this service?
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I think that people tend to treat thier mattress as a rather personal thing and do not want people inspecting it etc.I agree with some of the previous posts that this service needs to be offered along with something else,you mention your equipment is able to clean curtains,why not offer this service foremost and the mattress clean as part of your service not your main selling point.I am quite sure the mattress cleaning market has a future but you definitly need something with it until its kicks in. Also dont be to dismayed if your leaflet response is low,not everyone rushs to the phone soon as it drops through the door a percentage keep it with the intention of using it one day. Out of interest where are you based ?
Paul
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Martin,
Original price was £35 for a single, £50 for a double
Now £25 for a single, (add one duvet and two pillows for an extra £5) and £35 for a double (add one duvet and four pillows for an extra £5).
Paul,
Based in Coventry. The Dry steam would remove dust mites from curtains but not sure if it would clean them satisfactory to offer it as a cleaning service, I'll have a go on my own at the weekend.
Conrad
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Conrad,
I wouldn't say that your original prices are outrageously expensive.
Remember though, for someone that's only paid say £100 for a cheap Mattress/Bed, they may think it expensive. For someone that's paid a lot more though, they may think it's good value and want to look after their investment.
Bit like Carpets and Upholstery really.
Horses for courses.
Regards
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Hi Allergease,bit concerned why you would clean curtains but not carpets as they could be more probmatic,i think you are going to need more strings to your bow if you are going to survive,as so many cc's already offer these services and more from a customers point of view.Give Nick a ring at solutions it won't do you any harm and i am sure he will be a great help to you .
cheers mark
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At last, I feel like a millionaire :o
Just returned from a job, double mattress clean for £35 I also cleaned three pillows and the duvet free of charge (this months special offer). I spent almost two hours with the client but as I had nothing pressing to do after the job I was more than happy to stay and offer advice as their three year old son has very bad eczema triggered by dust mites.
They had picked up one of my leaflets from their doctors surgery so I will now try to cover even more GPs knowing that that method of marketting has worked once it might well work again.
To top things off I received a phone call whilst at the clients house from someone I gave a quote to three weeks ago, they want two singles and a double cleaning on Wednesday with pillows and mattresses (£100).
I know it's only a small start but I feel like celebrating with half a shandy tonight. I log onto the forum most days so I'll keep you informed how things go. Thank you all for the advice offered so far, I suddenly don't feel so alone any more.
Conrad
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Conrad,
Well done , 10/10 for persistence.
Bear in mind the CC , because as you become more confident and hopefully wealthier , it's a good business to be in.
Cheers,
Doug
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yes well done mate, things can only get better now u hav first job under u belt
p.s agree with doug cc could go hand in hand with what u are doing
cheers gary
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Well done Conrad,hope the work keeps coming in for you .
cheers mark