Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Johnny B on June 19, 2011, 09:26:02 pm

Title: Business Survival Plan
Post by: Johnny B on June 19, 2011, 09:26:02 pm

There are a lot of threads discussing undercutting/overcharging at the moment.

What are your thoughts about the short and long term survival prospects of your businesses? Do you have genuine fears that you may lose a significant proportion of your businesses to cheaper competition? 

I would be interested to know what genuine concerns you may have, and what action you may take to preserve your livelihood.

If you feel secure about the way things are, I'd be interested to know why this is so.

Thanks,
John. 

Title: Re: Business Survival Plan
Post by: mlscontractcleaner on June 19, 2011, 09:29:54 pm

I'd like to think we do a good job at a reasonable rate and are reliable. If our customers think the same we have no problems. After 20 years doing this job I think they do.

Title: Re: Business Survival Plan
Post by: g.brookes on June 19, 2011, 09:30:07 pm

i'm more worried about the technology of self cleaning windows improving than I am having my customers taken.  I get a good price but I dont rip them off.  I make sure I chat to them, so im no longer just the window cleaner, but a person they know

Title: Re: Business Survival Plan
Post by: Paul Coleman on June 20, 2011, 06:36:29 am

Quote from: Johnny B on June 19, 2011, 09:26:02 pm

There are a lot of threads discussing undercutting/overcharging at the moment.

What are your thoughts about the short and long term survival prospects of your businesses? Do you have genuine fears that you may lose a significant proportion of your businesses to cheaper competition? 

I would be interested to know what genuine concerns you may have, and what action you may take to preserve your livelihood.

If you feel secure about the way things are, I'd be interested to know why this is so.

Thanks,
John. 

I don't feel that undercutting would have a particularly bad effect on my business.  I would be more concerned about whether my customers could afford a window cleaner at all - especially if interest rates start rising appreciably.

Title: Re: Business Survival Plan
Post by: Llaaww on June 20, 2011, 08:54:17 am

Quote from: g.brookes on June 19, 2011, 09:30:07 pm

i'm more worried about the technology of self cleaning windows improving than I am having my customers taken.  I get a good price but I dont rip them off.  I make sure I chat to them, so im no longer just the window cleaner, but a person they know

self cleaning windows are a total joke.

I stood a woman in front of her self cleaning windows and pointed out that we couldn't see through them, they were covered in spiders, dust, fly crap and all sorts. But because she had paid through the nose for self cleaning glass she was adamant that they didn't need to be cleaned.

Now when they say they have self cleaning glass I explain that it means they will have to clean it themselves.

Title: Re: Business Survival Plan
Post by: Pope vader on June 20, 2011, 08:59:48 am

like paul coleman said, undercutters wont be a problem if prices start to rise as ever body has a point where they cant afford a wc any more