Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Mr. S on October 27, 2006, 04:14:30 pm

Title: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Mr. S on October 27, 2006, 04:14:30 pm: THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN DONE BEFORE, BUT WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BECOMING A WINDOW CLEANER?

JUST WONDERING AS I PERSONALLY STARTED W/C P/T AT FIRST WHILST PAINTING AND DECORATING. I WAS PAINTING THE OLD METAL FRAMES THEN SCRAPING ANY SPLASHES OF PAINT OFF THE WINDOWS WHEN PEOPLE ASKED IF WHILE I WAS THERE IF I COULD CLEAN THEIR WINDOWS!

I THEN SOLD BOXING EQUIPMENT FOR A YEAR, THEN DECIDED TO BE MY OWN BOSS AND RESTART WINDOW CLEANING!

HOW ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE?
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: S.A.J on October 27, 2006, 04:32:59 pm: Window cleaning is my first job and will be my only job.

Stuart
SAJ Window Cleaners Ltd
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: garry on October 27, 2006, 04:47:39 pm: postman for 11 years hated it window cleaner now for 4 years ;D
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: mgba_78 on October 27, 2006, 06:19:36 pm: General Manager for an office supplies retailer, oh god how bad where them times!!!!!
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: macc on October 27, 2006, 07:13:41 pm: Builder, Had my own buisness building houses,
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Franky2020 on October 27, 2006, 07:36:12 pm: Financial Adviser for 18 years which was fine for 16 of them but the last few were not fun at all. Fortunatley got made redundant with a good package and started window cleaning business 14 months ago and really enjoy it. Not much paperwork and little hassle.
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: simon knight on October 27, 2006, 07:53:01 pm: Worked for a bank for years and years before they finally sussed that I was crap and slung me out (joking!)....got laid off.
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: mark dew on October 27, 2006, 08:24:13 pm: Agency work in factories for a fiver an hour.
Been wc just 2 years now.
Can remember how chuffed i was when i'd got a bit quicker with the squeegee and started earning a tenner an hour. ;D
Home for tea and sleep well at night. :)
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Neil Williams on October 27, 2006, 08:30:06 pm: 8 years Police.
That should make you behave ;D
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 27, 2006, 08:41:28 pm: Various sales related stuff, office equipment mainly and a bit of Private health Insurance sales. Was financial director of a small computer business along with three others. Then when we fired the sales director for ~~having his hand in the till~~ financial irregularities ;D I got lumbered with his job too!

Sold out my shares in 1996, window-cleaned part time and sold ink cartridges and toners for printers part-time too. Window cleaning grew so I sold the consumables business and w/c is all I've done since 2001.
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: D.Salkeld_Ltd on October 27, 2006, 11:08:41 pm: 20 years ago I was 25, single and shoveling Pig S**t on an intensive Piggery. Steady money, regular hours, bonuses and a cracking Christmas party!!!
One day I fell out with the maneger, not for the first time, all he would say is"If you don't like it you can leave"....this time I did.

At first I was only window cleaningto support my small business of rabbit breeding for meat but when I met Tracy, my wife, we decided we didn't want to be tied to animals 24/7 so I sold up the rabbits and went full time windows.
Looked back many a time!!! but wouldn't turn back!!

David
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Mr.G on October 28, 2006, 12:16:23 am: I've dabbled in loads of jobs, but the one I stuck at longest was engineering, 12 years stuck indoors. never again!
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: neil100 on October 28, 2006, 12:16:54 am: Qualified Baker and Confectioner.

Follwed by being a lorry Driver.

Then into van sales before a short career in Selling.

Its a long long time ago. I think I was born with a scrim in my hand , I have been at it that long.

Nel.
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: S.C.S on October 28, 2006, 12:44:30 am: Worked in a powder coating factory for 6 years then window cleaner for 4 years.

:)
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: supernova77 on October 28, 2006, 01:12:07 am: I worked in IT for 10 years.

I have now been working as a window cleaner for almost a year! 8)

Would never work in an office again... Unless its cleaning their inside windows of course ;)

Andy
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Mr. S on October 28, 2006, 01:34:02 am: Seeing as i started this topic, thought id add , this makes interesting reading!

I remember reading somewhere that an accountant gave up his business to become a window cleaner! WHY?

Probably he saw what some wcs were earning? Maybe he liked the look of being able to manage his time better? Maybe Just because we do have a great job and it is pleasing whether for the money, the freedom, or other reasons??!!

Anyway it seems we all come from different backgrounds and more than likely diff education. Maybe when everybody has finished their input i could start a new topic as to educational background ? ?

Nobody here an ex fireman? as i know of a few locally to me?
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on October 28, 2006, 02:00:11 am: Chairman of British Steel.

The wages weren't good enough though...
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Fast 1 * on October 28, 2006, 08:09:10 am: Builder
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: portland windows on October 28, 2006, 08:42:52 am: i had my own bakery then at 40 years old decided to get a life so here i am best move i ever made
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: macleod on October 28, 2006, 12:42:43 pm: apprentice electrician
technician
project manager
tele sales
sales manager
sales and marketing manager
commercial manager
business manager
regional director
facilitator
freelance trainer

then wanted to spend more time at home, so gave up the corporate life and
debt collector
office cleaner
window cleaner - ladders
window cleaner - wfp

so like the rest of you I am an entrepreneur
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: borg on October 28, 2006, 02:14:53 pm: army
white van man lol
printer
w c for 4 years now
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: window pain on October 28, 2006, 04:21:58 pm: slating and tiling, flat roofs ect.
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: LSB on October 29, 2006, 12:19:20 pm: I had a small printing business , was doing ok , but nothing spectacular so i started window cleaning part time to make sure i had a turnover that helped gaurantee i could pay all my bills !! i sold of pr / bus years ago as the window cleaning took off in a massive way! it wasnt my origional plan , but things couldnt have worked out better !
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: russ_clark on October 29, 2006, 12:39:53 pm: done loads of stuff
from accountancy to working for a small airline
as a traffic officer for 5 years from there joined the old bill for 13 years
before escaping !!
had a few small businesses that I have had a go at
but now been shining for coming up 5 years
and it pays the bills.
Just putting my first wfp van set up together so hoping
to get bigger !!
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: S_RICHARDSON on October 29, 2006, 03:48:54 pm: Just a shop assistant. BORING!!!!! !!!!!! !!!!!!
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: P®oPole™ on October 29, 2006, 05:30:04 pm: Civil Egineer, Asbestos Removal, Steel Erecting and a skilled Roofer.
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: ok cleaning on October 29, 2006, 05:44:26 pm: i worked for afew different hotel chains and had well enough best thing i have ever done is becoming awindow cleaner
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Chris Cottrell on October 29, 2006, 07:35:36 pm: Carpenters mate
builders mate
sparkys mate
tractor driver (not to be confussed with tractor boy)
glassfibre laminator
lotus Cars test pilot (SINCLAIR C5) ha ha
last 15 years class 1 HGV, 15 hr days, Out mon - fri missed the kids growing up

Window cleaner now since May 05

I'm lovin it

Chris
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Sarah Sarill on October 29, 2006, 08:24:19 pm: Quote from: Neil Williams on October 27, 2006, 08:30:06 pm
8 years Police.
That should make you behave ;D

Welcome Neil.

Nice to see you here.

Sarah
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Neil Williams on October 29, 2006, 08:38:35 pm: Thank you Sarah.
Perhaps I can pass on some knowledge on here too.
Down your way in 2 weeks for the big game ;D
Bring on the Swans :P
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Sarah Sarill on October 29, 2006, 09:03:38 pm: Im sure you can Neil.

Look forward to reading your posts and dont forget to visit us in the 'chat' section :D

Sarah
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: windows_chepstow on October 29, 2006, 09:09:44 pm: Quote from: Neil Williams on October 29, 2006, 08:38:35 pm
Perhaps I can pass on some knowledge on here too.

I've worked with coppers; so I doubt that's possible, but anyway, welcome to the forum and I'm guessing from your avatar that from SE Wales.

There's quite a few of us here from there (although I'm not Welsh myself mind you).

Regards,

Tosh
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: Neil Williams on October 29, 2006, 09:15:59 pm: Are you ready for this Tosh.
Born in Newport, brought up in Blackwood, parents lived in Fair View Chepstow now in Caerwent, Brother lives in Bulwark.
Me, I'm living it up in super rich Hampshire.
Title: Re: WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE BEING A WINDOW CLEANER?
Post by: windows_chepstow on October 30, 2006, 12:26:41 pm: Quote from: Neil Williams on October 29, 2006, 09:15:59 pm
Are you ready for this Tosh.
Born in Newport, brought up in Blackwood, parents lived in Fair View Chepstow now in Caerwent, Brother lives in Bulwark.
Me, I'm living it up in super rich Hampshire.

I clean a lot of houses in Bulwark, I've probably about a weeks work here. Am I your brothers window cleaner? I also live in Bulwark!

I used to do a few houses in Fairview, but their window cleaner is about 70 years old, charges very little and does a top job; really really OTT. That's the only street he does and he honestly spends about an hour a house.

It's a small world!