Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Lee Burbidge on August 14, 2012, 07:00:05 pm
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How many on here are in the Fed? What would you change about it?
I am due to interview the FWC shortly..... Is there any serious questions you would like me to ask or is there anything you wished the Fed would do for members?
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i dont know much about em lee .but i always think federations like that are just a way of squeezing yet more money out of our pockets , but as i said i dont know too much about em ??? ???
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i am a member.
i would like you to ask them about their relationship with the internet and if they have any plans to utilise it more in the future
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Good post - Ive been a member for about 5 years now, and the reason i joined them was purely for there canvassing leaflet and badges etc, as i felt it looked like a governing body to reassure the customer that i wasnt dodgy upon start up! (although they do say 1 year min exp). I found this helped me out (although not certain?), but now im established im not sure as im domestic only wc, if (for me) its worth the £92.50? But i do still give out the odd leaflet and have the logos on the van. I did look into the mgwc, but at the time they didnt have a canvassing leaflet, great badge though! and they are about £20 a year, i might change over when i get around to it. However, this is just my thoughts as a domestic wc, not a commercial one as i think they do have more benefits on that side of stuff. Hope this helps.
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Ask them when they are going to get into the 21st century as they seem to be languishing somewhere around the time of decimalisation to me ...
Oh and ask them if any member can see their accounts?
And what is the point of their existence?
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Ask them why they rubbished WFP on tv and then embarrassingly retract their statement.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_4230000/newsid_4231900/4231920.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_4230000/newsid_4231900/4231920.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2
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How many on here are in the Fed? What would you change about it?
I am due to interview the FWC shortly..... Is there any serious questions you would like me to ask or is there anything you wished the Fed would do for members?
who ?? the federation of window cleaners ??
never heard of em ... what do they do ??
how can they benefit me ?
can they get me "proper" discount on my van insurance
do they offer approved insurance for life, accident etc etc
can they nail a national deal with a bank to help with charges
etc etc
obviously I do know who they are but dont really think they can help my business .. not into badges etc more into saving money.
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i dont know much about em lee .but i always think federations like that are just a way of squeezing yet more money out of our pockets , but as i said i dont know too much about em ??? ???
The Fed is a Government recognized trade association. Yes it does cost a small amount a year, I guess, but what do you think a trade association like this should offer its members?
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i am a member.
i would like you to ask them about their relationship with the internet and if they have any plans to utilise it more in the future
Great questions.... I will ask them. They do have a website with a members area... is this what you mean?
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Good post - Ive been a member for about 5 years now, and the reason i joined them was purely for there canvassing leaflet and badges etc, as i felt it looked like a governing body to reassure the customer that i wasnt dodgy upon start up! (although they do say 1 year min exp). I found this helped me out (although not certain?), but now im established im not sure as im domestic only wc, if (for me) its worth the £92.50? But i do still give out the odd leaflet and have the logos on the van. I did look into the mgwc, but at the time they didnt have a canvassing leaflet, great badge though! and they are about £20 a year, i might change over when i get around to it. However, this is just my thoughts as a domestic wc, not a commercial one as i think they do have more benefits on that side of stuff. Hope this helps.
Tell us about the mgwc.....
Do you think a trade association should be doing more for the membership?? After all... if all your getting is a badge, are you just paying the wages of those employed by the FWC? Do you think we need a return of the FWC event that used to take place once per year? Do you think the FWC should have a 'van vest' of its own or offer online webinars of marketing gurus etc?
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Ask them when they are going to get into the 21st century as they seem to be languishing somewhere around the time of decimalisation to me ...
Oh and ask them if any member can see their accounts?
And what is the point of their existence?
Ok.
Yes all members get an annual report which shows accounts....
Point of existence? Im not sure... its a well established brand, may be it could be kept and a vote of no confidence on the board would be an oppourtunity to refresh the panel and ideas if change is what people really want ( it can be done)..... ??
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Ask them why they rubbished WFP on tv and then embarrassingly retract their statement.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_4230000/newsid_4231900/4231920.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_4230000/newsid_4231900/4231920.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2
I think the Fed from its history has been more re-active than pro-active. I have extended help to the Fed with ideas to build up the brand but the message is not getting through.... ( i think they think Im a smart arse, but really want a Fed of some worth. I think the Fed can achieve so much more.
You only have to look at my friends Chris and Alex in the States. Chris sat on the board of IWCA for about a week or so and instantly recognised the IWCA model could be done in a different way.... he went on to set up the successful WCRA (Window Cleaners Resource Association) it offers $15,000 worth of stuff when you join up and heaps more stuff on going with heavy discounts on supplies from their shop and business tools to help you succeed....)
I think it will be time for a new association soon enough or some sort of change within the FWC wether that be people or ways of thinking.....
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The timing of this post couldn't be better for me as I'm thinking of joining the FWC, but if there is a viable alternative I'd be interested in that too.
I think I'll hold back and see what develops.
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interesting topic i think the federation should offer its members a top spot on google for the areas they cover they used to offer slots in yellow pages i think ;D
Im looking at joining once i have done my city and guilds with impact 43
Paul
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i am a member.
i would like you to ask them about their relationship with the internet and if they have any plans to utilise it more in the future
Great questions.... I will ask them. They do have a website with a members area... is this what you mean?
what i mean is the website is really quite out of date and barely updated. the internet is by far the dominant way of informing people about everything and it is the technology side where i feel the federation is most lacking. it has a 'find a window cleaner' function which was the main reason i joined, and potentially a brilliant tool, but its hidden away in the menu bar on the left, and most people looking for a window cleaner would not spend long enough on the site to look for it. they have a brilliant opportunity to vouch for registered, insured window cleaners and i think this part needs to be massively played up, and it will bring in a great deal of member imo. its like the nationwide window cleaners things but actually run by a competent organisation rather than money grabbers
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also note i am a fervent believer in the federation and think its fantastic. its just needs a bit of a fast forward
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ask them why they are seen as out of date and out of touch to the modern windy,
this is the way i see them,so far behind the times.
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And what was that about some dodgy business deal that they did that annoyed the heck out of Philip Hanson and some others?
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i see the fed as old, outdated, and full of dead wood ....i think the idea of a federation is brilliant but i think it needs to be a complete new one with fresh faces.
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Lee,
i have been a member for years and NEVER ONCE have had a call from them regarding providing quotations anywhere.
Your not telling me, that The Federation of Window Cleaners do not get calls from potential customers asking for a reputable window cleaner ?
To be totally honest its pretty poor, they should be forwarding all enquiries to window cleaners to allow them to atleast have a chance of providing quotations.
Or is this jobs for the boys ??????????????????
Apart from using the logo and saying im a member of the federation of window cleaners, i cannot really see what its about.
They should be helping window cleaners to make contact with as many potential customers as possible instead of having to pay or join up to money making schemes.
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The Federation of Window Cleaners
LOL
Joke organization.
That is all.
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cheers for that nick, useful contribution. Archer I can confirm that they do pass on all of their leads equally, its just that they get so few lads because 99% of people looking for a window cleaner have never heard of FWC and do go through FWC to find a cleaner
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G.brookes,
can you explain why in all the years i have been a member,i have never recieved ONE lead from then, that is if they are passed on equally ??????????????????????
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G.brookes,
can you explain why in all the years i have been a member,i have never recieved ONE lead from then, that is if they are passed on equally ??????????????????????
You support Man U don't you?
Nuff said. ;D
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Tosh,
yes i do, but the point i was trying to make was g.brookes said they pass enquiries equally, i have been a member for years and never once have they even contacted me apart from asking for yearly subscriptions.
So they DO NOT equally pass them around at all.
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archer, as i said in my previous reply, its not that they dont pass on their leads fairly, its that they barely get any leads at all. when they do get a lead, they give the phone number of the 3 window cleaners closest to the customer. so even when they pass your details on they may not ring you cos they ring one of the other two.
they post in the magazine and in the yearly newletter what postcodes they have had enquiries from, so you should check that and if your post codes covered comes up then give them a call
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if there anything like the carpet cleaning lot they will be sat there lineing there own pockets knocking every new starter that doesnt conform to there rules
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g.brookes,
can i ask how you know exactly that they dont get many leads ?
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There web site is very badly laid out and very complicated for non regular users? if your in any doubt log on.
None of my customers care if im in the Fed as they have no idea who or what they are?
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when i started out i couldn't believe their was a professional body for windy's - and i was proved right the FWC are so
outdated i'm not sure that they even know ww2 has been and gone...
thats sad really - window cleaning has moved on the Fed has not - i was sent a couple of 'free' issues a while ago and i was asleep by the end of page 1 - i know WFP is still very much in the minority but to ignore completely is utterly stupid.
a proper organisation should protect ALL forms of the industry and as a recognised body it should gathre and collate all large tenders and pass these onto members for them to bid on - the Fed dhould also have an open forum for all and closed forum for members only. real discounts for accountants, insureance, equipment etc...
oh yes - and a mag that does not bore the reader to death banging on about the same 2 companies ( such great details as the latest office bod has passed NVQ level 2 ! - woo hoo well worth a page and a half ) and the latest region commitee vote where (yet) another non wfp experienced chappie is voted in as chairman
FWC - no thanks i can spend £100 notes on something more worthwhile !
and by the by - no custy has ever asked or stopped using me because i'm not a member !
Darran
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The Master Guild of Window Cleaners does what it says on the tin.
I'm a member of it.
You get some stickers, a logo that you can import to word documents to show you are a member and proof that a member has public liability insurance (which is the only thing I get asked for by some commercial and local authority custies) is shown on their website.
I don't think I have ever had a call as a result of being in it except one "D'you want to do the police mag" scammer who referred to it.
But it's only £20-odd, they support wfp as the safest method and so why not?
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Cheque is in the post Malc! ;D ;D ;D
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The Master Guild Of Window Cleaners,
A girl in an office 18 miles away from me asked her dad(200 miles away)the best way to find a good window cleaner(she was given the job of finding one).He got on the net on her behalf and reported back to her "You shouldn`t go wrong if you get someone on the Master Guild of Window Cleaners site,all insured etc.".
£244 every 6 weeks,pleasant work and excellent hourly rate,thank you.
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Lee,
i have been a member for years and NEVER ONCE have had a call from them regarding providing quotations anywhere.
Your not telling me, that The Federation of Window Cleaners do not get calls from potential customers asking for a reputable window cleaner ?
To be totally honest its pretty poor, they should be forwarding all enquiries to window cleaners to allow them to atleast have a chance of providing quotations.
Or is this jobs for the boys ??????????????????
Apart from using the logo and saying im a member of the federation of window cleaners, i cannot really see what its about.
They should be helping window cleaners to make contact with as many potential customers as possible instead of having to pay or join up to money making schemes.
I am thinking the same thing ( I too am a member since 1999 )... I will be putting you guys comments to the Fed shortly.........
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cheers for that nick, useful contribution. Archer I can confirm that they do pass on all of their leads equally, its just that they get so few lads because 99% of people looking for a window cleaner have never heard of FWC and do go through FWC to find a cleaner
I think that is an area that really needs to be improved... I found a comment earlier that mentioned the 'find a window cleaner' section of the FWC website was difficult to find.......
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archer, as i said in my previous reply, its not that they dont pass on their leads fairly, its that they barely get any leads at all. when they do get a lead, they give the phone number of the 3 window cleaners closest to the customer. so even when they pass your details on they may not ring you cos they ring one of the other two.
they post in the magazine and in the yearly newletter what postcodes they have had enquiries from, so you should check that and if your post codes covered comes up then give them a call
Thats a good idea. The FWC needs change and profile raising, I think.... it needs to stand for the majority...
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when i started out i couldn't believe their was a professional body for windy's - and i was proved right the FWC are so
outdated i'm not sure that they even know ww2 has been and gone...
thats sad really - window cleaning has moved on the Fed has not - i was sent a couple of 'free' issues a while ago and i was asleep by the end of page 1 - i know WFP is still very much in the minority but to ignore completely is utterly stupid.
a proper organisation should protect ALL forms of the industry and as a recognised body it should gathre and collate all large tenders and pass these onto members for them to bid on - the Fed dhould also have an open forum for all and closed forum for members only. real discounts for accountants, insureance, equipment etc...
oh yes - and a mag that does not bore the reader to death banging on about the same 2 companies ( such great details as the latest office bod has passed NVQ level 2 ! - woo hoo well worth a page and a half ) and the latest region commitee vote where (yet) another non wfp experienced chappie is voted in as chairman
FWC - no thanks i can spend £100 notes on something more worthwhile !
and by the by - no custy has ever asked or stopped using me because i'm not a member !
Darran
If Fed didn't change, do we need a new MODERN, PROACTIVE window cleaning association that puts members first, providing marketing webimars, marketing forms, business templates, an active business generation for members, discounted goods etc etc?? Something that means something... what sort of an association do you feel will gain the most street fred amongst window cleaners?
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Lee
Why don't you do a interview with the FSB, I can arrange someone to give you a really good interview, not only on what the FSB is about but also what it does for its members.
William
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when i started out i couldn't believe their was a professional body for windy's - and i was proved right the FWC are so
outdated i'm not sure that they even know ww2 has been and gone...
thats sad really - window cleaning has moved on the Fed has not - i was sent a couple of 'free' issues a while ago and i was asleep by the end of page 1 - i know WFP is still very much in the minority but to ignore completely is utterly stupid.
a proper organisation should protect ALL forms of the industry and as a recognised body it should gathre and collate all large tenders and pass these onto members for them to bid on - the Fed dhould also have an open forum for all and closed forum for members only. real discounts for accountants, insureance, equipment etc...
oh yes - and a mag that does not bore the reader to death banging on about the same 2 companies ( such great details as the latest office bod has passed NVQ level 2 ! - woo hoo well worth a page and a half ) and the latest region commitee vote where (yet) another non wfp experienced chappie is voted in as chairman
FWC - no thanks i can spend £100 notes on something more worthwhile !
and by the by - no custy has ever asked or stopped using me because i'm not a member !
Darran
If Fed didn't change, do we need a new MODERN, PROACTIVE window cleaning association that puts members first, providing marketing webimars, marketing forms, business templates, an active business generation for members, discounted goods etc etc?? Something that means something... what sort of an association do you feel will gain the most street fred amongst window cleaners?
that's exactly what we need
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>William - he's already doing an interview with them ...
How many on here are in the Fed? What would you change about it?
I am due to interview the FWC shortly..... Is there any serious questions you would like me to ask or is there anything you wished the Fed would do for members?
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>William - he's already doing an interview with them ...
How many on here are in the Fed? What would you change about it?
I am due to interview the FWC shortly..... Is there any serious questions you would like me to ask or is there anything you wished the Fed would do for members?
he is interviewing the federation of window cleaners, I am on about the federation of small businesses
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>William
Ah, sorry my mistake.