Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Gerald Ash on March 08, 2013, 11:38:58 pm
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I started trading monday & yes guys it is harder than I expected. Close to my old trade if I`m honest but I hope the aching will stop by the end of the year. Anyone wishes to check out the article in my local paper the link below should work.
Thanks to all those who have advised me & to those thought I didn`t exist well you now you know you were wrong.
I`ve hit on a rather good way of marketing my company which only costs me money when I`ve been paid. By all means feel free to check out my website which is not finished yet but is getting there.
Did my first commercial today, cleaned two large panes, stood back to check them out & was very pleased with my efforts. Then noticed the really filthy small panes above them. Lesson one learned the hard way.
If anyone wishes to copy my marketing technique you are more than welcome as more charities that can be helped the better. Make no mistake I`m not just doing it to help charities but to build my business, USP is charities can earn monies so it`s win win. If it doesn`t work quick enough I still have door knocking to fall back on.
No doubt someone will take the p--- but I don`t care, I`ve gained free publicity from my local paper & believe it or not had a national press agency take a report & do a photo shoot this afternoon.
Ive not felt this alive for many years.
This time next year I could have paid off my overdraft,,,,,,,,a little.
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Gerald-Ash-used-weigh-50-stone-started-window/story-18353462-detail/story.html#axzz2Msaw6s89
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Well done Gerald,you can be proud of yourself :)
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good for you mate hope all goes well and the publicity exposure not as bad thing either
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well done gerald,good luck with your new business everyone here will help with any questions you have during your start up.
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Good on ye fella, but its the longevity that counts and I really hope it works out for you and the charities. Look forward to your updates on your progress.
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Wow, you made me cry, but it`s just between us Ok.
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Thats a great gesture to give a big percentage of your earnings to a worthy cause.
Just make sure you charge enough and don't underprice yourself.
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Hi Gerald, I've just read your post and lookd at your newspaper link. I'm normally on the carpet cleaning pages as that's my area of expertise. However, I have also cleaned windows as part of my work, so know how hard it is. You are a real inspiration to us all. I wish you all the best in your new career and will keep crossing over! to this side to see how your doing. Good luck and all the best for the future Phil Pettican.
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Blimey.
I take my hat off to you and it's great you feel really alive. To me, that's means you're making all the right decisions.
Funny to read about the small panes of glass above the ones you'd just cleaned. Been there and done that as well. Yup, it's a learning curve but a worthwhile one that gives a good feeling.
Good luck mate. That's a fantastic heart warming story to read both here on CIU and in the link you posted.
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Well done fella!! You should be very proud of yourself.
Looking forward to future posts and updates
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Well done Gerald - I was convinced you were winding us up too.
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Very well done mate, excellent achievement....
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Well done Gerald wishing all the best onwards and upwards from here m8.
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Look at the time stamp. Ache but feel good. Going out now to do more commercials but to be honest not sure of how much to charge. Have been straight with the owners who have been understanding.
Thought about BSing my way through but if a job isn`t perfect then I look a fool. This way they forgive the odd little blemish which I correct.
Looking forward to a far better future than I`ve forseen for over twenty years. Cheers guys for the words of encouragement.
Before I forget can someone look at my site & take a look at miss silver shop front. approx twenty foot, no more, frontage. Give me an idea of price to charge. I`m telling anyone the price I`ve been paid, it`s embarrising.
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Well done for taking the first step.
Now the best advice you can be given is to price your jobs sensibly from the start.
Don't fall into the trap of quoting too cheap to get the job as this is the road to nowhere.
And if you gain a decent customer base you will be a busy fool with little to show for it.
Because you are starting out you will be slower than an experienced window cleaner but you should still charge the same.
Speed will come with experience, but importantly focus on doing a good job and the customer will recommend you to others.
Best of luck.
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Well done, Gerald; physically it does get easier; promise. I felt like I'd been giving a kicking after my first day window cleaning; and I was 13 stone and 32 years old.
As you keep losing that weight (well done btw), and your technique improves, and your body adapts to the work; it'll get easier.
I hope you stick around here and keep us updated; it's a great place to ask questions, and they're a friendly lot here.
Regards
Tosh
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Fair play to you gerald if only the youth of today could do something like this .
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Top man.
I like your attitude Gerald.
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First rate achievement Gerald.
Good luck with the the business going up and the weight going down. One will directly effect the other so you cant lose. :)
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Well done Gerald.
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Respect to you Gerald, you are an inspiration. Stick with and all the very best for the future!
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Gerald better to get advice on prices from somebody local.
Ask around to see what other cleaners are charging and just do a better
job for the same price.
The price I charge might be o.k. for my area but could be too high or low
for yours.
Best of luck for the future.
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Try contacting Lee at the window cleaning mag, he would love your story mate, should be able to give you loads of advice as well, he knows much about window cleaning
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Try contacting Lee at the window cleaning mag, he would love your story mate, should be able to give you loads of advice as well, he knows much about window cleaning
Yes that's a good idea.
Could do a story on him as a start up, against all odds.
Might even get some freebies passed his way from suppliers.
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Well done Gerald, all the best to you and your new business.
Regards lal
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well done gerald.i hope you get a decent run of work but remember YOUR NOT A CHARITY!it seems very noble of you to donate money to charity but you need to make money first for yourself and family.
best of luck with it
dazmond
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Good stuff - wishing you the very best in the biz
Darran and Carrie
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Hi i do all charities for nothing,but it is not something that i advertise. Only do the ones who approach me!
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Well done Gerald. You have proved all the doubters wrong.
Best wishes,
John
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Lee, please can you do an article for Gerald, this guy is worth it ;)
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Well done that man. Keep at it.
Gerald I presume you have checked out the video's from MyWagga on you tube. And on a pole they realy are a handy tool.
All the best.
Gray1
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Good on you Gerald.
Respect
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Just shared this on my facebook page: www.facebook.com/purefectwindowcleaning
Your be famous before you know it Gerald ;)
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well done gerry & bumble.
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What a day. Did a six bedroom house today. The guy paid me way over the price I quoted, £30. The upper windows looked strange. almost like water sheeting down them. The owner didn`t know what it was. Thought about using the scraper, Didn`t risk it just incase it was some kind of film.
Any ideas on what it could be? Going to have to get a mate up on a ladder as I`m not happy with the job but the owner was & that`s what counts.
Got no jobs for monday so might go out door knocking. Taking a copy of the paper & letting customers choose from one of the charities I already partner. James Hopkins Trust, Teckels Animal Sanctuary. The Family Haven, Winston`s Wish & soon Midland`s Air Ambulance. More coming onboard soon.
25% may seem large but as I`ve said I pay it after I get paid.
Cheers guys
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The upper windows looked strange. almost like water sheeting down them. The owner didn`t know what it was. Thought about using the scraper, Didn`t risk it just incase it was some kind of film.
There's two types of glass (for the purposes of this conversation). There's hydrophobic (doesn't like water) and hydrophilic (likes water).
The former, when you clean them 'sheets', and the latter kinda trickles; you see water trickles running down them. Both types of glass will clean perfectly.
I do have trouble with some sheeting types of glass on lower panes of wooden sash windows, particularly if the paintwork isn't great, but in general no problems.
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Cheers Tosh but when I said sheeting I meant that it looks like it but static, not moving. The only thing is to get up there with a ladder & have a butchers. By the way Tosh, I saw your referrence to your weight. It`s amazing they let anorexics do windows lol. :D
As to my weight I`ve dropped from 36st 2lb to 33st 12lb in just a week. A big drop you may think but at my size quite normal.
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well done mate i hope the guys on here say sorry to you back in jan you got a lot of bull&&&& about £7.50 a hour and good luck
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Hi Gerald, glad you had a good day. As for the glass you didn't say how old the house was, not all glass is flat. My dad worked for Pilkingtons after the second world war and we had all sorts of pains in the shed.
Just Google for a couple of searches you will see that not all glas is flat.
atb
Gray1
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Cheers Gray. Well the house is no older than thirty at the very most plus it`s wooden painted frames that have been retro fitted with double glazed units. I just thought it looks like badly fitted film but owner says not so I`m totally at a loss.
Also having trouble with detailing. My technique without doubt but have hit on an idea. First clean wash frames & glass, wipeoff then wash glass clearing edges by a few mill. Stop laughing at the back, the problem is upper floors, no probs on groundfloor.
Also comment on my prices would be welcome.
Window sets upto five panes £1, over five, within reason £1.50. Frames as well 50p extra & insides £1 extra. Conservtories 50p per vertical set. over four windows front or back door done free otherwise £1. Bare in mind I`m in Gloucester where men are men & their all careful with the money.
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hi gerry ,what a great turnaround in your life . i'm wishing you all the success you so deserve.. top story.
not liking the charity bit . next thing all windies will be epected to do it. perish the thought
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Hi Gerald. Have you looked at You Tube for MyWagga? He has done over 100 informative videos some useing the Unger Clamp for detailing with a pole, and some with his own device.
What pole are you using?
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so your giving 25% of your earnings away to charity on every job you do? ??? ???
gerald you seem like a well meaning kind man but seriously mate if you want to make a business out of window cleaning and make some money for you and your family your shooting yourself in the foot before your even established.
its hard enough to start out as it is without giving 25% of your earnings away to charity.
your also gonna be slow at completing work due to inexperience and your physical health but that will improve as you get fitter.
best wishes
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every windie in the land will be rooting for you to make it . go gerry go !!
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Is there any lead above the windows, that can make windows grey when it rains it leaves grey marks running down the window,i thought I was the fatest window cleaner at 24.5 now 20.5.
bumper :)
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Dazmond its 25% of first clean which if gerald prices right wont hit his pocket too much. Then his donation drops to 10% there may be tax breaks for this.. Not sure? I think he has hit upon a neiche and could gain customers eho are inclined towards his chosen charity.
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well done mate, best of luck for your future
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Cleancare is correct about my system & I hope it will bring me work plus customer loyalty will probably be better.
Let`s face it this world is bit crap at times so a little guy trying to do some good won`t go amiss. Notice the irony.
Does it EVER make your shoulders hurt using a pole, hope that goes quickly. Press interest is growing, I`m in the Sun tomorrow, they must know my social standing, plus the press agency is touting it to the women`s mags. Next thing you`ll know I`ll be on telly. That`s not happening. Thanks again guys for the kind words.
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Cleancare is correct about my system & I hope it will bring me work plus customer loyalty will probably be better.
Let`s face it this world is bit crap at times so a little guy trying to do some good won`t go amiss. Notice the irony.
Does it EVER make your shoulders hurt using a pole, hope that goes quickly. Press interest is growing, I`m in the Sun tomorrow, they must know my social standing, plus the press agency is touting it to the women`s mags. Next thing you`ll know I`ll be on telly. That`s not happening. Thanks again guys for the kind words.
the sun newspaper?
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Page 3 or centerfold? With your Wagtail in your hand. ;)
Don't forget to try and get some copy in the local and parrish mag's.
Well done Gerald
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Gerald if the oppertunity arises try and get some dosh from the womans mags to buy you a wfp system...or have you already got one?
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I`m going to get slated for this but if any payment is offered I want it to go to the James Hopkins Trust who work for life limited children & terminally ill children, a cause close to my heart.
Because I am marketing through charities I feel it would be contradictive to accept monies for my story. I could certainly use some money right now but I will not risk damaging my reputation just to gain a few quid.
If however any companies out there want to offer me a system at a special rate, even free, then you wpuld be helping me grow my company & I promise you this will get big.
Not me, the company, I`m already big.
Come on someone, partner me & lets do some good.
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Why not give a percentage to charities and spend the rest on wfp?
That way you will make more money for the charities long term.
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If you do get some dosh via any magazines then using some of that money to buy wfp equipment is, I would say, the right use of some of the money provided you're completely open about it (which I'm sure you would be anyway).
It would mean that you can do more work, different types of work and do a better job on upstairs windows. Anything that helps you earn more money also helps you earn more money for the charities.
Personally, I'd see buying a wfp system as a win win situation for all concerned.
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If they offered me enough to buy a system I`d go naked on the front cover, mind you, imagine how much I`d earn NOT to go naked.
Seriously though if they did offer that kind of money yes I would use all of it to purchase a wfp system as you have said it would grow my business quicker & be of greater benefit all round.
I`ve had no complaints as yet but do worry that it`s a negative because of the charity side, don`t wish to criticise. Hope they would say if they`re not happy as quality is what I strive for. Took me an hour to do eight windows with one being a regular bay & four upstairs but I was happy with the finish as was the customer which is what counts plus got paid ten pounds although the price was only 7.50. Wow we are back to 7.50 per hour. Should do it in half the time later as I am getting faster because of less mistakes.
Cheers again guys for the warm & encouraging comments. I really do appreciate them all.