Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: windowwashers on October 13, 2007, 05:53:05 pm
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Can some of you on here that have commercial work let us know how you go about it, what to do etc ect this is a market I will be going into as from thursday and need a few pointers as never tried before ???
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Maje sure you've got a serious boring swirly logo on your van.
You'll get nothing with a bright cheerful logo. ;)
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Get a website ;D
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Rog
How do you know ?
How much commercial work have you got ?
Dave
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Rog
How do you know ?
How much commercial work have you got ?
Dave
Dave as you have your head screwed on the right way, do you have any tips please
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Ian
i will reply later.
Dave
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that info seems to be very tight lipped around here Ian, i have asked this question a few times but people don't seem very willing to share it.
I have found a combination of telesales, sending out info, advertsing with yellow pages, cold calling door to door all to be effective, i haven't found one solid direction but a combination of all the above seem to have worked well for me.
I have had some good recomendations as well from one branch to another and different companys in the same groups
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windowwashers its more a case of chasing round after it for a while rather than using one method that fills your round quickly. You have to keep trying and trying. Using as many different methods as possible. I put a Friday to one side and just chase new work on that day and seem to get around 1-2 good jobs a week from doing this. I don't have one method I use quite a few. Even then sometimes its more luck than skill.
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The easiest way to get lots of commercial work quickly is to contact office cleaning contractors and ask to subcontract there window cleaning.
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windowwashers its more a case of chasing round after it for a while rather than using one method that fills your round quickly. You have to keep trying and trying. Using as many different methods as possible. I put a Friday to one side and just chase new work on that day and seem to get around 1-2 good jobs a week from doing this. I don't have one method I use quite a few. Even then sometimes its more luck than skill.
Hi colley and thanks for the reply, but i was hoping people would post methods to get work what do you do on a friday? and what sort of letters, this will help me and I guess any other that want to get commercial work.
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The easiest way to get lots of commercial work quickly is to contact office cleaning contractors and ask to subcontract there window cleaning.
thats a game in it's self, I have called a few and they already have one, I have one on board that give all domestic work to us, now I have (will thurs) pole will be able to do the commercial side aswell.
does any one have any letters they send to potential clients or leaflets targeted at just commercial ?
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This is entirely true.
Get yourself a good outfit , clean van, uniform, be punctual, reliable and above all be polite and courteous at all times.
Get a trade LOGO or 2 (not saying that because of my involvement with one) every big and successful firm wear there affiliations with pride.
Then the work will come to you, chances are some of your domestic customers are factory bosses , hotel owners, supermarket managers, letting agents.
If they see you looking pro instead of mickey mouse(which they will tolerate if you have always been there window cleaner) they will notice you and you will be seen as the man who could possibly be capable of cleaning there hotel windows etc.
How do i know ? i have been there, when i had my clapped out estate car people didnt mind me cleaning there houses , but didnt get asked for the other stuff until i changed my frontage.
From there it will snowball, slowly at first but if you nurture it right it will.
I have just quoted for my second M&S , i couldnt of done that without my first one could I.
There is no easy fix and it takes time, it took me about 6 years until i hit the right veins of work. just think and act like a pro and you will be treated like one.
Be patient, it is a waiting game, just be there ready to pounce when that window cleaning firm messes up or gets to greedy, most people are happy with there wc just the same as domestic. you have to put your presence out and just wait for those slips.
there are a few other ways of getting work , but good things come to those who wait , especially those who are waiting prepared.
Dave
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top post Dave
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What dave says is true i have cleaned a residential customers house for over ten years they also have a large factory and had a cleaning company doing the windows when the company messed up it came to me
commercial work takes a long time to gain but once gained can be very rewarding their is no one method of getting this work but a combination of all methods already mentioned
Dean
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Commercial work is ok while the payments are coming in regular. I am waiting for a very large cheque, and they are dragging there feet with it .
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This is entirely true.
Get yourself a good outfit , clean van, uniform, be punctual, reliable and above all be polite and courteous at all times.
Get a trade LOGO or 2 (not saying that because of my involvement with one) every big and successful firm wear there affiliations with pride.
Then the work will come to you, chances are some of your domestic customers are factory bosses , hotel owners, supermarket managers, letting agents.
If they see you looking pro instead of mickey mouse(which they will tolerate if you have always been there window cleaner) they will notice you and you will be seen as the man who could possibly be capable of cleaning there hotel windows etc.
How do i know ? i have been there, when i had my clapped out estate car people didnt mind me cleaning there houses , but didnt get asked for the other stuff until i changed my frontage.
From there it will snowball, slowly at first but if you nurture it right it will.
I have just quoted for my second M&S , i couldnt of done that without my first one could I.
There is no easy fix and it takes time, it took me about 6 years until i hit the right veins of work. just think and act like a pro and you will be treated like one.
Be patient, it is a waiting game, just be there ready to pounce when that window cleaning firm messes up or gets to greedy, most people are happy with there wc just the same as domestic. you have to put your presence out and just wait for those slips.
there are a few other ways of getting work , but good things come to those who wait , especially those who are waiting prepared.
Dave
Thank you for that Dave,
I have the uniform already, van outside sign writting being done weds if not sooner, do you think flyering my customer base that I now clean commercial would help?
I have a defo on the commercial side already from a customer that owns a very large firm, I clean the dad's house (nothing to do with the company) I now clean his girl's house that is married to the boss of big company, recommend from dad, and they said they will wait for me for upto 2 months as they know I do job correctly.
I know commercial is a hard nut to crack but I want it and will in the end crack it, just need a little help on the way to save a little wasted time trying the worng things.
I would like to thank everyone that posts here and Dave , no doubt at all I will post details on here in the future with a big thank you attached ;)
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Maje sure you've got a serious boring swirly logo on your van.
You'll get nothing with a bright cheerful logo. Wink
Well said Rog! I agree with you... Seems like you're coming round :)
Andy
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Maje sure you've got a serious boring swirly logo on your van.
You'll get nothing with a bright cheerful logo. Wink
Well said Rog! I agree with you... Seems like you're coming round :)
Andy
Andy you fancy adding anything that will help on this post???
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Yeah, sorry my lasy reply wasn't very helpful was it ::)
1. Hand pick 5 companies a week.
2. Find out the name of the facilities manager (or similar).
3. Write a letter addressed to the name you have just found out.
4. Wait 3 / 4 days and call them directly to ask if they had the letter and would they like a quote?
Andy
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hi windowwashers hope you got your van sorted having another go at ply lining tommorow the prob i have seen with commercial work is this i help a guy out now and again and he dose com work ie offices now he has to book in to these jobs a few days beforehand not a prob till you get to the job like today up at 3.00am out at 3.50 over to job security says you cannot come in your not booked in so big argument shows the security text message he recived confirming he was booked in then security said you will have to wait till 6.am till hea security comes eventuly gets in but what a lot of messing about and wasted 2 hours
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Yeah, sorry my lasy reply wasn't very helpful was it ::)
1. Hand pick 5 companies a week.
2. Find out the name of the facilities manager (or similar).
3. Write a letter addressed to the name you have just found out.
4. Wait 3 / 4 days and call them directly to ask if they had the letter and would they like a quote?
Andy
cheers for that Andy that was alot more help :P
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Yeah, sorry my lasy reply wasn't very helpful was it Roll Eyes
1. Hand pick 5 companies a week.
2. Find out the name of the facilities manager (or similar).
3. Write a letter addressed to the name you have just found out.
4. Wait 3 / 4 days and call them directly to ask if they had the letter and would they like a quote?
Andy
cheers for that Andym that was alot more help Tongue
It works because in essence its very similar to doorknocking... Its a very direct way.
Andy
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Yeah, sorry my lasy reply wasn't very helpful was it Roll Eyes
1. Hand pick 5 companies a week.
2. Find out the name of the facilities manager (or similar).
3. Write a letter addressed to the name you have just found out.
4. Wait 3 / 4 days and call them directly to ask if they had the letter and would they like a quote?
Andy
cheers for that Andym that was alot more help Tongue
It works because in essence its very similar to doorknocking... Its a very direct way.
Andy
how many new clients do you get a week/month from doing this?
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how many new clients do you get a week/month from doing this?
I've only used this method for about a month and I've picked up a very large school to clean (inside & out) in January and a couple of offices.
Andy
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how many new clients do you get a week/month from doing this?
I've only used this method for about a month and I've picked up a very large school to clean (inside & out) in January and a couple of offices.
Andy
hope you dont mind but could I ask why you only used this for a month????
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iv tried simalar(and still am) but with no were near that kind of turnover i guess its alot about luck being in the right place at the right time.
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I think Dave St Ives was spot on. I've started picking up schools and property management companies without trying, simply by cleaning peoples properties who are connected with these places. If you have a signwritten van there are certain places around that will attract a lot of passing interest. Some of my properties I will clean at rush hour to make sure more people see me cleaning, I still have several holes to fill in my month though.
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any more tips anyone, or is this a close guarded secret ???
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i think you have got a got enough responce WW, a far greater responce than i got, surely theres enough suggestions to go on there isn't there?
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Ian you have any e-mail on your info@windowwashers account.
Let me know you have it mate.
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i think you have got a got enough responce WW, a far greater responce than i got, surely theres enough suggestions to go on there isn't there?
the suggestions so far have all been of help, but there is nothing wrong with getting more ::)
Keith I have the email and have replied, many thanks ;)
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hope you dont mind but could I ask why you only used this for a month?Huh
I mean that I've only been trying to gain commercial work this way for the last month or so... I intend to carry on using the same method.
Andy
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hope you dont mind but could I ask why you only used this for a month?Huh
I mean that I've only been trying to gain commercial work this way for the last month or so... I intend to carry on using the same method.
Andy
got ya. anyone else have any tips>?