Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: wpclean on June 10, 2011, 11:42:50 pm
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I have seen a lot of window cleaning vans on the road and wondered why they do not have them sign written ?
Wouldnt it be to an advantage have the advertising . . . . or am I missing something ?
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have you ever tried signign on, in a sign written van, they start asking questions
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have you ever tried signign on, in a sign written van, they start asking questions
Good point
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i always wonder that, loads have called me from seeing my van signage
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if you dont have it signed you can do other trades if you fancy. an example would be your wife could deliver her ironing in it . or tea bags ,thats a service i notice is popular now on the estates, tea bag delivery in a wicker basket . i imagine they buy special tea or other goodies and then run up a nice looking price list and then deliver it in a plain van.
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My vans not sign written doesnt mean im signing on.Mot in september will be sign written after that.
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ive had my van done a month ago and had a few good jobs as a result, plus it looks more profestional and sets us out from all the old cars wi ladders on em. risk of sounding a snob ithink it dose not give window cleaning profestion a good image or is it me ;D
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Also shows your serious and won't disappear after one or two visits.
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I will buying my next van in the coming year but I will not be having it sign written this time....the business is established and most work comes from mouth to mouth advertising ... I have nothing to hide most of my customers pay by bank transfer so very little cash in hand and I declare everything but just do not see a need to sign write my new van....horses for courses.
Cheers
Dave.
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Nor me Dave. And it's telling anyone and everyone what's inside the van to be nicked too :o
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I will buying my next van in the coming year but I will not be having it sign written this time....the business is established and most work comes from mouth to mouth advertising ... I have nothing to hide most of my customers pay by bank transfer so very little cash in hand and I declare everything but just do not see a need to sign write my new van....horses for courses.
Cheers
Dave.
Hi
I agree with Dave and Pole 2 pole. I have been doing this 6 years and this is my 3rd van and none have been sign written. I started off with a Suzuki 1.3 Carry with which I towed a WFP trailer that everyone in the area got to recognise. We initially bought a neglected round consisting of about 2 weeks work for 1 person which we changed from trad to WFP. Although we were new to WFP at the time and first cleans were painful (previous guy never cleaned frames together with our inexperience) the before and after results were great. From this we have built up a good round for the 2 of us, mainly on the back of referrals. We keep getting these and a present have more work than we can cope with, so why spend money on sign writing for the vans?
Yes, we did consider it and even had templates drawn up, but as work was coming in quick enough, we never got round to do it.
Both of us try to always do the best job we can, are always friendly and take a genuine interest in them as a person/family. One thing that has never ceased to amase me is how much people talk about us.
Spruce
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I don't have my van sign written either, I have a couple of magnetic signs which I only use when I am working in a good area where there are large houses that I would like to take on, if I'm anywhere near a council estate.. I whip the signs off quick!!!!!!!! ;D
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I have been in the game for 14 years now, and have never had any of my vehicles sign written.
Customers and non customers alike know who I am, and therefore I advertise myself simply by being seen doing the job that I do and being the person that I am. My van is clean and tidy, and 'unusual' enough to be recognized without it needing to be sign written.
I have nothing to hide, I don't sign on, I have just been around long enough for people to know me, and I have a full enough book.
John.
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Nor me Dave. And it's telling anyone and everyone what's inside the van to be nicked too :o
yep,iv heard there is alot of thieves out there today breaking in window cleaners vans pinching there dirty rags and half empty fairy bottles ;D
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iv got sign written van but sometimes it can be a pain as with a full round of custys you just dont seem to get enough time to do the other jobs pvc/gutter cleaning,iv got about 6 jobs that have been waiting for a month now,dont mind when someone rings for w/c tho,next van im going get magnets so can take them off aswell
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Hi Guys
We have got three vans all sign written the same,its a family business and have built up a good repution in part i belive due to the vans being sign written.
Regards Oliver Collins Rise & Shine Cleaning
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A non sign written van also allows people to work as subbies for other companies without their custs knowing they are subbing the out work.
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oh I have a shed load of arm tattoo's and currently growing a beard....and even this doesn't seem to affect the business too much...
Dave.
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I work wearing just a Borat style swim suit and have lost only one customer because of it :)
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pssssss got any pics? 8)
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Nor me Dave. And it's telling anyone and everyone what's inside the van to be nicked too :o
yep,iv heard there is alot of thieves out there today breaking in window cleaners vans pinching there dirty rags and half empty fairy bottles ;D
Oh the wit ::)
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Magnetic signs here.
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Hi Guys
We have got three vans all sign written the same,its a family business and have built up a good repution in part i belive due to the vans being sign written.
Regards Oliver Collins Rise & Shine Cleaning
Hi Oliver.
Been thinking about this for the last few days.
People know you in the area, probably because of your sign written vans, but for other reasons as well.
I believe that you look professional with your uniform and sign written vans, so a new customer will perceive you in a better light than someone who isn't dressed that way -ie., me for example. First impressions are what count so being young, well turned out, clean shaven and neat hairstyle are also contributory factors to these first impressions.
However, your reputation, especially in the long term, IMO is to do with the quality of service you provide and that's what makes you or breaks you.
If I wanted new windows and a salesman rocked up in a brand new MB SLK or Porsche Boxter my first impressions wouldn't be favourable as I would believe, rightly or wrongly that he was making too much profit to afford that vehicle. (Even although I spent many years in the motor trade and often experienced the monthly lease figures for a BMW where cheaper than for a C5, I would still have an issue with this).
If on the other hand a Plumber came to quote on installing a new boiler in an old battered van, I would also be put off his quote as my first impressions wouldn't be good either. However, he may have come recommended and have a good reputation despite his van. I might consider him on that basis, but if I recommended him to someone else because of a high quality work standard, then I would probably say to the person not to be put off by outward appearances.
I'm sure there are a few window cleaners out there whose vans are old and tatty, but they still have a full customer round.
Then I also remember not so long back when you ran 2 old Vauxhall Combo vans that wouldn't have the same image as you have now, but you still had plenty of work. Have you got any more work in 'Snobs Hill' than you had when you still had your Combo's? If so, is it your sign written van, or is it a conscious effort of you targeting higher paid work that's got it?
You made an interesting point and I enjoyed thinking about it.
Spruce
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"A BUSINESS WITH NO SIGN IS A SIGN OF NO BUSINESS"
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I hope you all know that although you do not have to have your van "sign written" you do have to have either the owners name and adress or firms address written somewhere on the outside of the van. Look at any old grocer van or even ice cream van.
The plod don't bother that is until their is a reason too and then you get fined
Gordon
ps there is no good reason not to sign your van, it is cheap and tax deductable
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3 of my best paying jobs have come from when we been working and they seen the van signage.
so it allways pays,cause you never know what that next job will be. ;)
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My van is a pile of s**t rust bucket that was all I could afford. I'll wait until I upgrade before I put a sign on it. Was interested in Spruce's comments.
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I have only run old vehicles since becoming a windy 14 years ago. I have had a full book for the last 12, and have even had to cull work when I got too busy.
Never had signwriting either. I have built my reputation on the way I present myself, the way I deal with people, and the quality of my work, not by having a flashy modern van.
The van I drive now is 12 years old, but I look after it, and it is clean and tidy, but not sign written (I don't need any more work!)
I am not knocking signwriting (it clearly makes a lot of sense), it's just that I have never needed it in order to attract new work myself.
John
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I have seen a lot of window cleaning vans on the road and wondered why they do not have them sign written ?
Wouldnt it be to an advantage have the advertising . . . . or am I missing something ?
How do you know they are window cleaners then? ;D
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I have seen a lot of window cleaning vans on the road and wondered why they do not have them sign written ?
Wouldnt it be to an advantage have the advertising . . . . or am I missing something ?
How do you know they are window cleaners then? ;D
Cos they had their poles out :P
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;D
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I hope you all know that although you do not have to have your van "sign written" you do have to have either the owners name and adress or firms address written somewhere on the outside of the van. Look at any old grocer van or even ice cream van.
The plod don't bother that is until their is a reason too and then you get fined
Gordon
ps there is no good reason not to sign your van, it is cheap and tax deductable
Hi Gordon
Never heard this before - doesn't this apply to larger trucks and vans? Can't find anything on internet. ??? ??? ???
Spruce
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I hope you all know that although you do not have to have your van "sign written" you do have to have either the owners name and adress or firms address written somewhere on the outside of the van. Look at any old grocer van or even ice cream van.
The plod don't bother that is until their is a reason too and then you get fined
Gordon
ps there is no good reason not to sign your van, it is cheap and tax deductable
Hi Gordon
Never heard this before - doesn't this apply to larger trucks and vans? Can't find anything on internet. ??? ??? ???
Spruce
same here, although tonight I looked at the ice cream van and it had name and address on it, as I noticed most of them do, it makes sense I suppose but had never heard of before today, I though maybe it was because they were classed as street traders or similar
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I hope you all know that although you do not have to have your van "sign written" you do have to have either the owners name and adress or firms address written somewhere on the outside of the van. Look at any old grocer van or even ice cream van.
The plod don't bother that is until their is a reason too and then you get fined
Gordon
ps there is no good reason not to sign your van, it is cheap and tax deductable
Hi Gordon
Never heard this before - doesn't this apply to larger trucks and vans? Can't find anything on internet. ??? ??? ???
Spruce
my peugeot partner is an ex CO-OP van,still has the co-op address on it low down on the sides. i have left it on,maybe looks as if im the OFFICIAL co-op windie,adds provenance !