Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Steve Gunn on October 31, 2011, 05:38:18 pm

Title: How things have changed
Post by: Steve Gunn on October 31, 2011, 05:38:18 pm
Four or five years ago I was fully booked till xmas eve over the last couple of years always able to fit people in now ???
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Paul Moss on October 31, 2011, 06:03:18 pm
Steve up til now I have not got a Dec booking. :o
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: clinton on October 31, 2011, 06:06:18 pm
Same here and it was just always a full diary in dec with the run up to xmas..
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Chris Hawkes on October 31, 2011, 06:10:34 pm
Paul

I know you've got lots of fingers of lots of cleaning and restoration pies so for you to say things are slower than usual is worth highlighting.

I thought diversification was always the key to survival/growth in this game but if you are slow with a multi faceted business then it must be slow.  People just aren't spending and I can't see things improving for a long while.

Chris
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Paul Moss on October 31, 2011, 06:21:20 pm
Chris, things always have a way of panning out if you keep working hard. One thing I have noticed over the past few years is that Dec is not the mega month it used to be, but rather just a normal run of the mill month.

Things are hard for all at the moment and anybody doing well is very lucky as things tend to change quite fast.

In this current climate you have to run fast in order to stand still. So as long as you can pay your bills and end up with a few quid in you pocket, you just keep smiling. :)
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: davep on October 31, 2011, 06:55:02 pm
Got 6 in for December here ;)
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: derek west on October 31, 2011, 06:58:15 pm
first 6 months of the year i was well up on last year but i'm actually down on last year now, took my eye off the ball for a few months and that had some bearing on turnover but even now i'm focussed again i'm still struggling to hit last years takings. hey ho, time to try even harder i suppose.
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: M.Acorn on October 31, 2011, 07:03:40 pm
Same here,nothing for Dec so far other than the possibility of a £450 com job,the company who want that doing have just been bought out,so won't be holding my breath there.
This week is looking good so far though,having to travel a little further afield though.
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Fintan_Coll on October 31, 2011, 09:59:07 pm
For the past two or three years I have noticed this trend but when my diary for December is full as it normally is by around the first week I simply close it and take no more bookings. I remember years ago trying to squeeze in every single booking right up to Christmas eve. But the month of January was always dead then, now it seems to be as busy as most other times of the year.
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Jim_77 on October 31, 2011, 10:05:43 pm
Mark, don't come too far along the A14 in my direction :D

Sorry chaps but I'm roadblocked at the moment, next 2 weeks booked up solid, 2nd half of November looking good already and got some december bookings in the diary too.

But I had a terrible October :-\

I hit my list with mailshots about 2 weeks ago, with hindsight should have done it 6 weeks ago to rescue October, but have definitely found a lot of repeat customers giving it the old "oh I've been meaning to call, then your letter came...."

If anyone hasn't mailshotted their list yet, DO IT NOW!!!!!!  That's my best advice :)
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Doug Holloway on October 31, 2011, 10:25:05 pm
Hi Guys

Xmas has not been that busy relatively for me in the past 15 years, summer is much busier!

Cheers

Doug
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Craigp on October 31, 2011, 10:39:16 pm
Same here Doug, may to August are the busiest months, this is the time it slows down with a small pick up to Xmas, probably July is the best overall, you should have saved enough to carry yourself over the quieter winter months.
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Neil Williams on October 31, 2011, 10:50:40 pm
You could spent 3 years putting together a university grade study on the subject but I'll bet no-one will ever get to the bottom of it.
Back in Feb I was cacking myself about the lack of work whilst others on here were flat out, so I phoned them to try and get some guidance. Three months later and I was flat out whilst the same people were struggling. This same thing was happening in this area when I spoke to others, one week I'd be busy whilst he wasn't, one week later and the roles changed.

Normally for me Jan & Feb are busy whilst July & Aug are quiet. this year has been the exact opposite.

The only conclusion I can come to is to advertise, write to previous customers and get recommendations all year around. The trouble is when you are busy it's (a) hard to find the motivation to do this because everything is great and (b) find the time to do all the advertising.
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: M.Acorn on October 31, 2011, 11:20:45 pm
Quote
Mark, don't come too far along the A14 in my direction

I am off here tomorrow   Wicken bonhunt,strange sounding place
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Jim_77 on October 31, 2011, 11:32:53 pm
That's OK Mark, opposite direction to me :)
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: wynne jones on October 31, 2011, 11:45:26 pm


If anyone hasn't mailshotted their list yet, DO IT NOW!!!!!!  That's my best advice :)
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: The Great One on November 01, 2011, 02:35:40 pm
Hi

Very weird this year, heaving one minute, dead the next, summer usually stacked out, this year did nothing for 3 weeks!

Anyway, down on last years gross by £12,931.50 so far (£2000 a month).

Martin 8)
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Paul H on November 01, 2011, 02:54:26 pm
Is that down 2k per month.. :o

Or you are taking 2k per month..
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: M.Acorn on November 01, 2011, 04:48:39 pm
No idea what's been going on today here,booked 4 quotes in the space of about 2 hours,and booked 2 reg customers for next week,why is it either dead,or crazy,wish it could just be steady
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: The Great One on November 01, 2011, 05:00:20 pm
Is that down 2k per month.. :o

Or you are taking 2k per month..

Down £2000 a month gross on last year.
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Richard Basey-Fisher on November 01, 2011, 05:31:29 pm
Oct was my 2nd best month this year  .  continues to be steady this year and generally booked up 10-14 days in advance .  Most of what i am doing now is repeats and refer   


never really experienced much of a xmas rush apart from my annual christmas shop on xmas eve thats a bit of a rush  ;D
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: MAX Carpets on November 01, 2011, 07:20:49 pm
1 booked for Dec. Xmas never that great, even if it does go crazy we only have 3 weeks to fit it in so never massive figures.
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Hilton on November 01, 2011, 07:55:14 pm
Just look at the amount of kit coming up for sale on the boards .people deciding to sell up for various reasons, but a sign of things to come.
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: will_turton on November 01, 2011, 08:17:46 pm
 xmas is always flat out for me it always has been, i expect the same this time round, ive plenty booked in, and will be sending reminder out this weekend
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on November 01, 2011, 08:48:55 pm
I have quite a bit in for December the usual crowd always book in for the same dates (oaps)

Shaun
Title: Re: How things have changed
Post by: M.Acorn on November 02, 2011, 03:13:08 pm
Woo hoo,just booked 2 decent jobs for Dec,have booked everything I have quoted on recently,things are looking up  ;D