Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Majestic on July 07, 2007, 08:40:40 pm
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With some of the posts we have had , how much do you think is just forum talk
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You need to put an option for 100% John ;D ;D
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the basic fact is that many people these days lie...........especialy about what they earn
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And how meany customers they have,
and how meany they can do in a DAY!!
Gazza
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people can easily make themselves look succesful on the internet, for example I trust Jeff Brimble cause Ive met him in person!!
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Hourly rate is another good one
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I earn around 400 quid an hour.... honest
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I'm honest! :'(
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I reckon there's a fair bit of "embroidery" but think on the whole people are honest (ish) ;D
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I'm not sure if whats said on this forum is lies or boasting, but I know that a lot of it is not good for us window cleaners as it encourages more and more people into this business which will eventually lead to lower prices and less earnings for all of us!! >:(
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I have to admit that I have leared a lot from forums , I wish they had been about when I first started out
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I've done my share of bragging , boasting, romancing but basicaly i'm honest, and can laugh at myself. The time the guy posted a pic of a big water tank on his van you humourless bunch went mad about H&S. The u tube video where the wc was going through peoples drawers and getting crank calls about windows 98, again outrage on here.
The suppliers that we've caught out posing as newbies looking for advice about their own marvelous products has seen a few classics.There is one at the moment about biulding rounds.
Best of all though are the contradictions. One minute they are earning £500 a day, the next they can't RO because they live in a flat and they've only just started.
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I have to admit that I have leared a lot from forums , I wish they had been about when I first started out
It's definately true of this one. It's given me a lot more confidence in moving over to wfp.
That said, I shall probably go out now and lose all my custies. ;D ;D
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The new wfp'ers make me laugh, set up & running a week & suddenly they are experts in science! PURE WATER TECHNOLOGY.
The best one i've heard is the glass is sterile when cleaned wfp ::)
As for an answer, i think we all have posters who we trust & one's we take with a pinch of salt. ;) but it always suprises me when you get a supposed experienced wfp'er asking such an obvious question, this leads to doubt in my mind. :-\
tony
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One minute they are earning £500 a day, the next they can't RO because they live in a flat and they've only just started.
Whoohooo! I resemble half of that remark, I wish it was the other half :D
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I take everything i see on here with a pinch of salt.
Although i have picked up a lot from the forums.
Paul
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£500 a day??
I've got that much done by lunch!
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I have always been uneasy about the earnings issue. It does create the wrong impression and often it doesn't reflect the industry that I know and love. In window cleaning if you work hard you will make a living but it isn't a get rich quick scheme, and you freeze in the winter and bake in the summer. No holiday pay, sick pay or pension and until recently the very real prospect of a serious or even fatal fall.
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Self deception is not limited to inventions about earnings. Just as bad as the £100 while I sat at the traffic lights brigade are the I only work four hours a day max I'm stress free and when i've got the bill money I jack. Life's too short I'm coolest person on the planet and I have the best life. I spend loads of time with the kids.
What they don't mention is the wife's job is the main earner, she'd have them on toast if she knew they were skiving, and she leaves them a list everyday which includes the ironing. ;D ;D ;D
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There is a great deal of good advice on this forum if you sift through the bull ****.
It helped me when adding WFP to my business but you still get people who throw a comment into a thread just to get peoples backs up, unfortunatley I sometimes take the bait. :-\
Regards
Adam :)
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Just posted this on another thread but it is relevant here:
why does anyone have a problem with peoples salary...the only reason we do this is the money...surely!!!
The other advantages of being self employed can be found in many other ways which are not weather dependant, not as physically tiring, not as many overheads, not as boring etc etc....
If I was working in ANY job and I heard a friend say they were earning 50% less than me with another employee for doing the same job, then the first thing I would say is:
"you need to have a word mate, I`m earning double that with Bloggs Engineering"
There is no difference here. If I read about someone earning £10 an hour, I will try and offer advice to try and motivate that person to aim a lot higher...
Why not shout it from the rooftops...be proud...declare your income to the authorities and you can tell the world if you want to.
If it motivates a "wannabee" (that is exactly what you were when you "wanted to be" to be a window cleaner) to change their job and earn more for their family then great...that`s what it did for me.
If you do not believe the figures on here about earnings I can only assume you are earning below that.
You shouldn`t knock the people who have looked at what they do, decided to earn what they feel they are worth and got out there and found the high paying customers...it can be done.
No-one needs to be worried in our lifetimes about people saturating the market...you will never escape the stigma attached to most peoples conception of a window cleaner...low paid, low skilled menial job done by ex.cons, unemployables anywhere else, beer money etc etc.
There are millions of uncleaned windows out there and nowhere near enough window cleaners.
If you work long days in window cleaning, you should be RICH because your hourly rate (including travel) should be and CAN BE £20 plus an hour...every hour.
window cleaning is a boring task
window cleaning is looked down upon by many people including our friends and family
window cleaning is EASY to learn...even trad...it is low skilled
window cleaning can be cold, you can be wet.
window cleaning can be dangerous
The other benefits about being self employed and working outdoors can be found in many other easier ways if you are happy with low wages.
so why on earth would we do this if we could only earn a normal wage...why not go and work in your spare bedroom buying and selling on ebay, stuffing envelopes or get a normal, indoor, safe job with paid holidays, pension, regular income.
The only reason is the HIGH earnings achievable in this game.
It is about having the confidence to change YOUR opinion about what you should be earning.
Its about raising your self esteem and walking away from anything or anyone that trys to lower it...including customers with THEIR opinion about what you are worth.
I don`t think anyone lies about their earnings on here...what could they possibly gain?
What I still cannot believe is why there is such negativity about peoples success...this is really such a "British" thing...the British love the struggling underdog and for some reason begrudge people who get up and do something to improve their lot.
Why is there ANYTHING wrong with dropping kids off at school and picking them up, working between 9am and 3pm...bringing home £150 plus a day and having a lot of spare time to enjoy other hobbies or spend that time with your family...TELL ME!!
It is normal life :P :P It is nothing special so why is it not believed ???
If the wife is earning and enjoying her lot in life as well, then sounds great to me...how can it not sound great to anyone else???
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There are some brilliant threads on here especially when you search through the old posts of the person. It dosen't take long to suss them out. ::)
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Steve...in the past I have not agreed with some of your statements but this time...I fully agree with you....great post.
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I agree with most of Steves post, but people do lie about their earnings. I'm a strong believer that the ones with money tend to keep it to themselves and would have no need to tell the world. I also agree that most peoples perception of the trade are exactly how he descibes it, which in some ways is fine by me because at the end of the day I'm having the laugh on many customers by taking their money for such a menial job that they could do themselves if they could be bothered. When I was in the print trade I was the laughing stock of my workmates when I told them what I intended to do. When their jobs come to an end (soon I believe) and they sign for the dole the tables could be turned.
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There may be millions of uncleaned windows out there, but there are also thousands of unskilled Eastern Europeans coming over here everyday who would think they were rich if they could earn £10 an hour!!
People look down on window cleaners because they think they are low paid unskilled workers, I for one am quite happy for them to continue to believe that! because it means less competition for us and our prices can remain high, if there is a sudden influx of workers eg Eastern Europeans taking up this business then ultimately we will become unskilled low paid workers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This forum should be used for advice on the practicalities of the job and generall running of the business, not boasting about high earnings!! >:( It does none of us any good whatsoever :(
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There may be millions of uncleaned windows out there, but there are also thousands of unskilled Eastern Europeans coming over here everyday who would think they were rich if they could earn £10 an hour!!
People look down on window cleaners because they think they are low paid unskilled workers, I for one am quite happy for them to continue to believe that! because it means less competition for us and our prices can remain high, if there is a sudden influx of workers eg Eastern Europeans taking up this business then ultimately we will become unskilled low paid workers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This forum should be used for advice on the practicalities of the job and generall running of the business, not boasting about high earnings!! >:( It does none of us any good whatsoever :(
Very true, we don't even need to look as far afield as Europeans, there are plenty of people in this country who jump on the band wagon as this industry is seen as an easy money target.
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OK so there is some bull on here but most of it seems true enough. I went for 75% as that is probably the closest.
As for the earnings stuff I reckon around a grand a week turnover most weeks is very achievable for a WFPer who is a sole trader. I don't do that myself but I reckon that spending some quality time building my business up more could see me there eventually. I think the mistake some make is that they see numbers like that and think they can go straight to that sort of figure. It can take a few years of sifting and filtering the work to achieve that. A few might get to high earnings relatively quickly but I suspect they are the ones who would achieve that whatever they turned their hands to.
Also I think my general condition works against me sometimes and being 50 and unfit. When I've stepped up the pace for a sustained period I can suffer physically so I prefer to plod.
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and they do not last...they cannot price correctly, they get tired from many long and boring hours for a low wage in the cold...they find easier ways to earn money.
If it was so easy to jump on the bandwagon, why do we have any unemployment whatsoever?
No worries at all about saturation and lower earnings...it will not be a problem.
This forum cannot be just about how to do the job technically or it would be 1 page long...pricing is PARAMOUNT in ANY BUSINESS or we would all be working for nothing as volunteers...
DaveW...not sure if you are referring to my past posts??? if you are, then read them all if you wish...you will not find anything to suss out about me
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How can you be so sure that saturation and low earnings are not going to be a problem? If enough people come into this business who think that £5 - £10 is good money then of course prices are going to go down, its common sense!! Its happening already, just last week there was a job ad in my local paper looking for window cleaners to work a 45hour week for 15k a year, it doesn't take a genius to work out he is looking at employing Eastern Europeans!
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75%
I think the advice and support given by others on this site ( and others ) is invaluable.
Without these sites I am sure many of us would still be floundering about in their buckets of GG3/Fairey Liquid and I am extremely grateful for all the lessons learnt on here.
The information re materials and equipment is also an invaluable area of the advice posted and shared here and I can see no other area where this info' is available nationwide.
Regarding the times taken to do a job and the prices . . . HAH! . . The Prices HAH! . . What a laugh some of those are! :)
- and with regards to prices I really do wish people would stop and think before posting because it not only influences some in the wrong direction but could be a cause of some packing up if they think they are underachieving because the main reason for setting the correct price and using the correct equipment for a job for each the individual is ALL DOWN TO THE AREA YOU WORK IN! I am not advocating cheap prices, I am advocating the correct price for the patch you work in. Get that right and you are into a successful business.
Thanks for all those who make this ( and other sites ) a great place to visit!
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You don't have to look as far as the Eastern Europeans. Look at all the good workers being thrown out of work in this country for a multiple number of reasons. Mostly to do with traditional industries being sourced abroad.
My friend Phil drives a lorry for a stock holding company. He delivers raw materials to big and small engineering companies all over the South of England. So many of these engineering companies have closed down in the past couple of years that Phil's job is now looking dodgy.
Its happening all over, The employment market is going to change out of all proportion in the next ten years and its the skilled jobs that are going. I don't blame people for looking at starting up window cleaning but they should understand clearly what they are getting into. Shiner is right, it takes time to build up a good solid business.
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SteveK no havn't looked at yours! I think you know the ones I mean. ;)
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I'm very much a newbie here and although I can make a living I'm a long way from making a good living. My pricing is ok but my customer base is not there yet. The only way to make good money for me would be with a more compact round with some high paying commercial work thrown in and a full round at that. The guys that are established and can do a whole street at a time are the lucky ones with good earning potential. As for the fact and fiction question - who knows?
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How can you be so sure that saturation and low earnings are not going to be a problem? If enough people come into this business who think that £5 - £10 is good money then of course prices are going to go down, its common sense!! Its happening already, just last week there was a job ad in my local paper looking for window cleaners to work a 45hour week for 15k a year, it doesn't take a genius to work out he is looking at employing Eastern Europeans!
that sounds like a commercial vacancy...and many English would jump at £15k per annum...
if you have an established round of loyal customers who you do a good job for...then 99% would not dump you just because a stranger with broken english knocked on their door and offered to clean their windows for £5.00...if you think your whole round would dump you...start canvassing a new area...but they wont :)
I bet you are still working the same in 12 months
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75%
I think the advice and support given by others on this site ( and others ) is invaluable.
Without these sites I am sure many of us would still be floundering about in their buckets of GG3/Fairey Liquid and I am extremely grateful for all the lessons learnt on here.
OMG.
That is so judgemental.
Although I like to think I don't 'flounder' I am one of those who uses a bucket, a squeegee and a mop.
For your information, theres nothing wrong with that, although you obviously think those that do still live in the dark ages.
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75%
I think the advice and support given by others on this site ( and others ) is invaluable.
Without these sites I am sure many of us would still be floundering about in their buckets of GG3/Fairey Liquid and I am extremely grateful for all the lessons learnt on here.
OMG.
That is so judgemental.
Although I like to think I don't 'flounder' I am one of those who uses a bucket, a squeegee and a mop.
For your information, theres nothing wrong with that, although you obviously think those that do still live in the dark ages.
Their is sometimes a snobbery and a general looking down the noses attitude by some but not all wfp w/cs towards trad
most of us started trad and although i am wfp i also still do a bit of trad as on some jobs it is quicker and on others i just prefer it
they are all tools to help make the job easier
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I know of a bloke who only employes euorpeans to do his work and pays them min wage.... Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks... It's a bit like the building game, you got a lots of europeans working in the game for less money and soon they could build you a wall or a house for less money when they start on their own. It's already started in this game, I just hope that it wont be to long that you need to have a licence to be a window cleaner....
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xxmattyxx and Aspects . . . sorry but you have the wrong end of the point.
My post was not intended to upset the wfp trad situation in any way - so my apologies if it did.
I use trad as well as wfp so I am NOT downgrading the trad system, I am trying to explain that without the use of these sites many of us would be unaware of alternative materials and working practices and methods.
There is a wealth of knowledge and materials to help and improve the lot of window cleaners and without these sites I would have been unaware of them. Take for instance the Procurve system. I saw it here, bought it and use it a lot and without this site I would still be totally unaware of it.
That is typical of the value of these sites.
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How can you be so sure that saturation and low earnings are not going to be a problem? If enough people come into this business who think that £5 - £10 is good money then of course prices are going to go down, its common sense!! Its happening already, just last week there was a job ad in my local paper looking for window cleaners to work a 45hour week for 15k a year, it doesn't take a genius to work out he is looking at employing Eastern Europeans!
if you have an established round of loyal customers who you do a good job for...then 99% would not dump you just because a stranger with broken english knocked on their door and offered to clean their windows for £5.00...if you think your whole round would dump you...start canvassing a new area...but they wont :)
I bet you are still working the same in 12 months
Steve i normally agree with most of your posts
BUt the above qoute i disagree with, the Eastern europeans will come and work for 7 quid a hour and think its great, look at the building game, brits dont get a look in these days, i know 3 chippies in my area, they were living the high life only 2 years ago, now they struggle to fill a full week, i clean the windows for a "general builder" he's a nice bloke if he is at home, i allways get a cuppa, he qouted 400 quid to lay a patio for 1 of my customers, she then phoned a advert in the local paper ( no job too small etc etc ) she got the work done for 150 quid, he was polish and spent 3 days doing it, did a ok job aswell, not 100 % great, but acceptable ( for the record she supplied the materials )
i also think a fair few lie on here just to make themselves look big, we have guys who start up and in a few months have enough work to earn 250 a day
we have youngsters on here who talk the talk and think they are biusinessmen of the year, yea i drive a new van, have a BMW , live in a 5 bed house and own a yacht in the south of france, oh they have been cleaning for 18 months and earn 3 K a week
in reality they live at home with mummy and daddy and drive a clapped out escort van and earn enough for a few shandies at the weekend
sure some are earning good money, but the forums are a strange place, the people who come on here nad brag that they earn the silly money figures and just on here to make themselves feel specail
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I read every post as though they were true.
I don't see the point of lying about things. The truth is much more interesting anyway.
Regarding prices, i'm not convinced that many non cleaners read the forums and go out and buy a ladder on the strength of it. (Unless they are serious).
Do you really think this is of any interest to someone outside the trade who is looking for a good read??
C'mon, cleaning is as dull a subject as you can get if you ain't involved in it. ::)
There's very good money in everything, for the person prepared to put the effort in.
Window cleaning is hard work.
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I know the sort you mean Matt, all mouth and no substance.The one you're on about the truant officer wants a word with.
You never brag about a rich tax, revile another cleaner, or drone on endlessly about how to save three quid by using an old broom handle.
There have been a lot of posts on this thread. So far I am only the only on who has admitted to embroidering the truth. The only sinners seem to be other people.
You can't all be telling the truth.
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Actualy I could do with a bit of help. I want a pressure washer and a flat surface cleaner.
I undertand I need 200bar, but they are all so expensive any ideas?
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I got mine from here
http://www.merrillfoxenterprises.com/
really
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Thanks. You're confirming what everyone else says (Merrill)
Express, tech clean, northern seem the english ones. Any hints on what I should get?
I wondered if anyone would help me after i had been spitefull, sort of an experiment.
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11-13hp , 3800-4000psi
Of course I could be lying ;D
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And radius and type of surface cleaner? And 30m of non marking hose?
Do you do this type of work pat?
Is it big over there?(DOMESTIC)
Here (UK)many have electric diy machines, but I hoping it's going to catch on.
We are still on topic because everything American is bigger and better.
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my pressure washer is 37000 psi
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And radius and type of surface cleaner? And 30m of non marking hose?
Do you do this type of work pat?
Is it big over there?(DOMESTIC)
Here (UK)many have electric diy machines, but I hoping it's going to catch on.
We are still on topic because everything American is bigger and better.
Not anymore, never really did much of it othere than truck washing and a few vinyl sided house washes
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my pressure washer is 37000 psi
Is that the one they use to launch the space shuttle ;D
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Pat...went to Cork City for the week and there are absolutely thousands of dirty windows in the city centre above ground floor...doesnt appear to be any WFP going on there...could be no-one marketing it or they have tried and got nowhere.
Seen 2 cleaners in the city centre doing shop windows with "sponges"!! and flimsy step ladders and taking AGES per window...I hardly seen a clean domestic window on the 2 mile route from my hotel (The Kingsley) into the centre...certainly seen no domestic cleaners.
It is also very expensive there. ;)
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Yeah I watched a few "window cleaners" in action myself last time I was there, It wasn't so much that they weren't trying hard , it was more the fact that they had absolutely no idea what they were doing
My brother in law works in the city and he has seen some wfp being used but said it resembled the Keystone Cops with a lot of stumbling and staggering and near misses with traffic etc, so i think there may be an opening but time will tell
Your correct its shockingly expensive, with no real reason for it other than just charging as much as they can get away with for everything with no thought to customer service or politeness(except for the foreign workers who while they have little english are polite to a fault) or any of the things one would associate wuth high prices
I hope you enjoyed yourself anyway, it can be a great town to party in and the scenery outside of the city is breathtaking
Im sure theres some very good window cleaners around there but theres a lot of glass and Im guessing that like everywhere else there will be the cheap and cheerful charleys and these may have been the ones Iv seen
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was surprised at the lack of customer service actually...got out of the city as much as possible...Kinsale and Cobn (Cove)...superb
The city is so like Amsterdam with the canal and bridges.
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Window shopping isn;t nearly as much fun though ;D
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I don't beleive I'm posting here at 1:30am, I've got to get up at 6am :'(
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I think most people tell the truth, but there is a fair bit of embellishment too I think, often with time taken to do jobs and of course income.
I certainly don't fear the eastern Europeans and the £7.00 an hour brigade.
As has already been said, some swarthy east European with a thick accent going around knocking on doors is going to find it an awful lot harder to pick up business than a Brit.
It also takes a long time to build a business, yes, you most certainly can earn very good money in this game, but as Shiner has said, it won't happen overnight, to be in the position of earning a grand a week is going to take years not months.
over time I've done a great many time and motion studies, and some of the times quoted on here to trad clean certain windows are complete cobblers, I've watched some of those that have a go at the speed cleaning competition at the various trade shows, you do see some skilled cleaners in action, but compared to Terry it's the difference between a Hare and a snail ::)
You will get lots of great advice on here, there is so much collective experience on hand, but there are those that try to big themselves up by exaggerating their exploits somewhat.
Ian
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You are probably right that people will be a bit wary of an Eastern European knocking on their door and asking in broken English if they can clean their windows, but things are starting to change already and they are getting a reputation for being hard working trustworthy people, it would only take one or two people to take them on, and then tell their neighboors that they are getting their windows cleaned for a fraction of what other people are paying, and then before you know it more and more people will take them on.
But the most worrying thing is the new businesses which are appearing, they are run by business men who employ slick sales teams to phone and call on an area offering discounted window cleaning to anyone who also uses their bin cleaning service, they employ teams of Eastern Europeans who work for less than £10 per hour! Its all ready started in my area, and many of my customers have been approached, none have left yet, but I will have to think very carefully about putting my prices up in the future! And if this business is successful it is inevitable that I will lose customers if they are offering window cleaning at half of what I would charge :(
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Interesting Groundhog. I didn't know about this.
I have found them more aggressive or pushy than we are (i'm not talking about the eastern europeans) wanting me to sign a direct debit on the door step- gabble gabble- £3- gabble gabble- diect debit £9.Snatch the leaflet back off me on to the next house.
One of the things with a Traditional window cleaning round is compactness, I'd have thought this other thing is the same with numptys on. It's possible that what we are seeing is people trying to biuld something up to sell as a franchise.
I certainly see a lot of signed up vans driving around. They stop at one house then drive off. I've had two ask me how much my equipment cost.
Most ordinary people, maybe not you groundhog, or me, or most on this forum, would chuck the 20k in and then after six months have to get a job with holes in their shoes. So what you describe is scarry if you take it at face value but it might be scarier for the people buying in.
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Guy's,
My advice, for what its worth, is I wouldnt worry about the what might happen, concentrate on your own business and make sure your work is reliable, professional and thorough.
This way, it really doesn't matter who knock's on your customers door, as long as you are doing all the right things its very unlikely they stop your services.
Lets face it, were talking about Eastern Europeans and alike when we are more probably at the will of the "here today, gone tomorrow" brigade who have been around for many, many years.
Don't worry about too much about the what if's, thats not to say ingnore them either, just keep your eye on things and concentrate on building a successful and strong window cleaning business.
regards,
Trevor
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Good advice Trevor, but I think this topic was started so that issues could be aired and not ignored. I like debate, the more robust the better. This forum is also a good place for strong opinions unusual ideas and differing points of view.
Sometimes this is best expressed via bold statements, attention getting exagerations, and even outright lies, which basically is the topic of this thread.
What if's? Love 'em. APWC should try some.
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What if's? Love 'em. APWC should try some.
Give me an example, I am always open to suggestions?
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Okay.
Free membership.
National window cleaners week. (to promote and appreciate window cleaners)
A magazine.
An MP or MP's to lobby and give guidance.
A strategic direction( led not by the majority but the best thinking)
Best practice advice on water usage recycling etc
How long have you got?
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Rainwater have you tried your local gypsies?
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Okay.
Free membership.
National window cleaners week. (to promote and appreciate window cleaners)
A magazine.
An MP or MP's to lobby and give guidance.
A strategic direction( led not by the majority but the best thinking)
Best practice advice on water usage recycling etc
How long have you got?
Free membership - hmmm, well that is a definate no go, membership contributes to providing an income which in turn helps us finance projects and all other aspects of running the APWC
National Window Cleaners Week - Ok, what do you have in mind, what would you like to be made available, send me your proposal along with the structure/financing/advertising - I am more than happy to listen to your suggestions.
A Magazine - try www.professionalwindowcleaner.co.uk this magazine is very useful.
MP's - again a valid point and something we are looking to work towards.
A strategic Direction - As we speak we are putting together our 5 year plan which will show you all exactly what as an Association we are looking to achieve. These strategic plans are very time consuming and complicated and cannot be put together in 5 minutes. A lot has to be considered and this is what takes the time.
Best practice advice - The APWC has just linked with a very informative and well respected authority on water, we will be revealing more as soon as it is finalised but you are looking at days rather than weeks before you know what we are doing - as with everything, it takes time.
How long have I got - Well, like all the other committee members doing this, I do this is my spare time and mostly in the evenings after being at work all day. I earn absolutely NO MONEY from the APWC, in fact it costs me money as everything I do is for FREE, the same as all the other committee members. I am fortunate that as I am office based I have slightly more access to the PC hence why I respond during normal working hours. However, I sacrifice my family time to try to make a difference, to try and help the window cleaning industry gain the respect it deserves, to try and help window cleaners as much as I can. you can see for yourself how many postings I make, each one as a whole is generally advice and not banter!
Its all well and good demanding we do this and we do that, but for us to do all this we need support, can I ask when you will be joing the APWC?
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I didn't mention commercial tie ins- van and public liability insurance.
You make a valid point in that you do post seriously and not banter or froth as with me.But this isn't a one way street, the skills and responsibilties that you are acquireing feed back into your own life and business.As in what goes around comes around.
I will probably join in the new year.
I would probably want to know when your AGM was, how often you hold meetings and how members put their views and ideas forward.
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I didn't mention commercial tie ins- van and public liability insurance.
You make a valid point in that you do post seriously and not banter or froth as with me.But this isn't a one way street, the skills and responsibilties that you are acquireing feed back into your own life and business.As in what goes around comes around.
I will probably join in the new year.
I would probably want to know when your AGM was, how often you hold meetings and how members put their views and ideas forward.
Lets be honest with each other, I give far far more than I will ever receive, the skills I am acquiring?? responsibilities??
Skills - as in what exactly? I run a very successful business that was successful way before I joined CIU, the whole reason I was asked to give up more of my free time and to be a moderator was based on the fact that I gave good solid information to the forum based on many years experience, 16 to date, was helpful to the cause and people appreciated my honesty and advice.
I have attended more courses over the years I care to remember based on business management, marketing and sales and whilst I appreciate I still have a lot more to learn I would still like to think I have a very sound and balanced knowledge of both business and window cleaning.
Responsibilities? Well you got me there, what are the responsibilities I am gaining? Apart from being an employer, the Chairman of the APWC, CIU Moderator, a family man of 3 children and in my spare time a football league referee I think I have enough responsibilities as it is don't you??
Anyway, whatever you choose to believe is your choice, I respect that.
Onto the APWC, yes it would be great to see you join, if you have such strong and passionate views why don't you not only join but become more involved and help us to help the industry?
Can I ask why your waiting until the new year out of interest?
We are holding our AGM in the near future. We meet 3/4 times a year and communication is daily for the committee along with any member who wants to suggest or request any help or advice. We send out monthly newsletters and have a constantly updated website, the new design is being launched this week in fact.
I hope you have a better understanding of me since our last few posts, you will see I am serious and have devoted considerable time and money into the APWC amongst others.
If at the end I know I have made a difference and the Window Cleaning as a whole has benefited then that is my way of repaying an industry that has given me financial rewards I would never have been able to come close to in other professions.
Looking forward to meeting with you in the near future.
Trevor
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Well Trevor, although I post quite frivolously at times, I do take on board a lot of what is posted on here and you are one of the posters I watch out for. Although my current goal is to maximise my earnings potential as a sole trader, I do realise that I may decide to change that one day. I've treated myself to a lot of time off over the last year but now I am starting to do more about getting some better work in. Apart from that, I need to start earning more. I've set myself the target of doubling my turnover level in the space of two years. I reckon that with what you and others have posted on here I can do that.
I agree with you that you give a lot more than you take from this forum and I just wish to express my appreciation of that.
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Well said Trevor
Three cheers to Trevor.
I just whish there was more people like you on this forum Trevor.
Regards
Bosh
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Well what you've said is a bit humbling and in some ways you've made me look a bit of a prat. I didn't say that about acquiring skills and responsibilties to wind you up; what is it they say if you want something done ask a busy person.
Apart from one post when you launched, and another asking about DEFRA consulation on drought, I think the APWC has shown admirable restraint in banging it's own drum on this forum.
I've just had a proper look at your website and I was impressed, and think I will join, for a year at least. It mentions an Andrew Mullen as chairman?
If I also do pressure washing will this body still be representative?
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Hi Rainwater,
The APWC has undergone certain changes, one of which was my appointment as Chairman. Look at our website on Monday when the new, refreshed version will be up and running.
I have always maintained a low profile when it comes to the APWC, the Defra posting was certainly not to highlight the APWC but more for those people who are not represented by any organisation to have an opportunity to have a say in matters.
I am delighted that you are thinking about joining, I really am, and please only join if it something you want to do and not as a result of our conversation on here. You are more than welcome to contact me anytime 07786921202 to have a more informative chat.
Best wishes,
Trevor