Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: maxcarpets on November 13, 2007, 07:19:52 am
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Has it started yet? this Xmas rush. No sign of it jere yet. Still busy but not a rush.
Cheers
Justin
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Same here Justin, No rush as of yet, Done 2000 Christmas letters to my customers over the last week. so we will see what happens with them.
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Been manic last few weeks but slowed up this last week, upto a week ago was getting about 5 enquiries a day, down to 1 or 2 of late. I keep checking my phones ok.
I'm putting it down to the miserable cold wet weather thats recently arrived.
Still nothing booked in for near xmas yet.
All the best,
Jason.
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I've just had a cancellation 2 hrs before job. But to be honest not that bothered.
This is the first week I can honestly say I've been stretched.
Although I do realise it's not that much compared to senior guys here, I'm just not used to it.
It's a very welcome problem to have though.
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May be it wil be like last year.
Overall very busy in xmas build up last year, but bookings only
came in 2 - 3 days in advance. It was worrying, but when looked back on
was as busy as usual.
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still waiting
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Im not as busy as this time last year, it will come :)
Dene
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As long as tomorrow is full, that's all that matters!
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Started here but why do they wait till the last minute want it done this or next week but nothing till second week in dec :'(
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Phone has started ringing but they all want tomorrow or the next day. Last minute jobs.
Better than nothing but very strange.
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I dont want to speak to soon, count chickens and all that, but at last it seems people are starting realize its nearly Xmas!
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BT have fixed my phone line, it's been ring all day today. Hope this is it.
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we have been flat out for three weeks and now are booked up for the next two weeks ;D even sundays ???
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we were slow in most of nov but is really manic now! booking about 5 jobs a day now, mostly regular customers but occasional new one, about 3 free days left before christmas day.
regards
steve
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Booked up now till xmas taking bookings for January now (Saturdays & Sundays :'()
Having this weekend off taking the youngest to Lapland 8)
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Still got nowt in for xmas week and only a couple of jobs for Jan.
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Is this the busiest time for everyone?
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Not many 'major' jobs on the board just several HSL types. I do believe the interest rate rises have started to take effect.
Luckily we have the other avenues that keep me out most of the day.
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High number of cancellations in Nov meant a 10% drop in turnover.
Dec is busy but still plenty of spaces.
Personally I think there is a loss of confidence in the economy and people are watching there money. Its not that they havent got it but are careful as to how they spent it due to economic uncertainty.
Mark
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Let's stop surmising and be realistic.
Has the " economic climate " had the slightest effect on the day to day decisions any of you are making on what you are buying, or planning ?
I have given no consideration what so ever and neither has my wife to this, in my purchasing, renovations, or plans.
Also!
What I recollect from my early marketing / sales training..................if there is a real recession, it provides opportunity for smart marketers.
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Hi,
Maybe they are feeling it more in the south carpetguy. After all we have just won the commonwealth games and are never as effected by the housing market.
Alas, it seems we are both busy which is good.
What company do you run btw?
Graeme
Access Cleaning Solutions
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Evening Graeme
My main business is Carlton Care Ltd and continue to trade in a very reduced and reducing capacity as Brighter Homes. My original cleaning business, traded as Caretakers and I am seriously considering resurrecting the latter, for family member.
Don't advertise these days, although still in the yp alphabetical listing.
PS
I honestly don't want to be busy and would love to stop wrecking my body, but need to complete a couple of deals to do so. Interesting reading Susan's post as that's how busy we were up to six years ago, when we diversified and had to reduce the cleaning business, by around 75%.
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Evening Graeme
My main business is Carlton Care Ltd and continue to trade in a very reduced and reducing capacity as Brighter Homes. My original cleaning business, traded as Caretakers and I am seriously considering resurrecting the latter, for family member.
Don't advertise these days, although still in the yp alphabetical listing.
PS
I honestly don't want to be busy and would love to stop wrecking my body, but need to complete a couple of deals to do so. Interesting reading Susan's post as that's how busy we were up to six years ago, when we diversified and had to reduce the cleaning business, by around 75%.
i will say that i have lost about 17 jobs so far this month due to me putting the prices up buy around 30% but most are paying the new priceses and were now going to a far better type of customer as well so my lads are not getting bogged down and spending 4 hours on a suite ;D so in trun im makeing alot more money
i now only have xmas week lefted and thats keeping all four vans flat out im trying not to do any cleaning myself this year but it looks like i will have too from next week :( :( which isnt good for me as theres alot of houses round here falling in prices and i need to keep my eye on them to buy for renting
and trust me people are feeling the pinch big time i was bidding on a house 9months ago for 105k and some clever git , offered more then me two days befour the comp. date so the seller took there offer
last week i got the very same house for 78k as he couldnt get the cash together and they needed to sell befour it got tooik off them buy the bank things are starting to hurt and i cant see it getting any better
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I take it all back, their is a god! and he has paid us in loads of work! FLAT OUT! in fact looking like the bext month on record ( in only 3 weeks ) Ho Ho Ho
Hope its the same for you guys.
Cheers!
Justin
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Hi Guys
Busy here but also socially, have four meals booked this week !
I suppose it's called work /life balance, do both to extreme ::)
Cheers
Doug
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I agree with carpet guy, I think people need to comfort themselves with excuses....... its the weather, its a recession, its full moon ::) ::)
Just realise sometimes the phone rings, sometimes it doesn't. As long as you've got work for today who care if you've got nothing for next week, when next week comes you'll have work.
Mike
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Another point worth mentioning...................If business is quiet, double your normal marketing effort and you will get more business.
In other words.............whatever you normally do................double it!
rob
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Some good points here. I am quieter than this time last year despite increased marketing. I was early in getting letters out and was fully booked until December - now have gaps!
I think the market is always used as an excuse, but there is always someone needing thair capets cleaned...it's just a matter of finding them.
So during my 'gaps' I have been leafleting, putting postcards in shop windows, advertising in local papers, talking to letting agents etc. I might have missed the pre-Xmas rush now, but I hope my marketing will pay off for the future.
I am constantly surprised at how many people hold on to leaflets and act on them months later.
For the more established CC's I would be interested to know how long you had to market yourselves before referrals became the main source of business?
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All change....24 hours later and I'm wondering how we are going to fit everything in.
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Betterclean
Referrals don't come as a right to people who've been around for a while !
I sought referrals from day one ( long before JP ) and Piranha Marketing, but they have to be earned and they have to be asked for, at least in the early days.
rob
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Im snowed under with work. Im so busy right now that all my vans are flat out ;). And not only that but this time next year I'll be a millionaire and you wont see head nor tail of me on this forum!!
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Well lots of self employed as well as businesses suffered badly during the two bad reccessions that have happened since I have been in this business (28 years) and I can only speak for myself, but as I saw it Carpet cleaners did very well during those times, as people werent bying new, but getting them cleaned instead.
Dave.
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Betterclean
Referrals don't come as a right to people who've been around for a while !
I sought referrals from day one ( long before JP ) and Piranha Marketing, but they have to be earned and they have to be asked for, at least in the early days.
rob
Rob,
I know that. I've been CC'ing for about 5 years but only as a bi-product of end-of-tenancy cleaning, therefore it wasn't every day.
Only started marketing stand alone CC business in the last couple of months. Got my marketing in place - Branding, letters to existing and past customers, leafleting programme, website, newspaper adverts, newsletter, newsagent ads, yell, YP, Google, visiting letting agents, & parish magazines
Got voucher system in operation for all CC jobs - discount further work & discount for referred customers. Customers are asked for referals. Customers have been very pleased with work so far and just starting to get referrals.
My question was really how long it took people to be operating vans (like they say they are on here) purely on the back of referrals, as this is what I am aiming for.
But I suppose it was a stupid question in hindsight though - like asking how long is a piece of string!
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Well lots of self employed as well as businesses suffered badly during the two bad reccessions that have happened since I have been in this business (28 years) and I can only speak for myself, but as I saw it Carpet cleaners did very well during those times, as people werent bying new, but getting them cleaned instead.
Dave.
yes yourbang on the money there , just had alook at my farthers books and when the intrest rate when too 16% in one day it was one of the best years he had !!!! NO MONEY MEANS NO NEW CARPETS which is good for us how ever im sure the dear boys will find it a little harded then us middle of the road peeps
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You'll most likely never reach a point where you dont need to advertise, we in this biz need far to high volume for that, i mean we need to be doing 10 jobs+ per week.
Dont worry about branding, lol, your not coke cola, and it wont make any diff how good your logo is in this game.
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I need 5-10 jobs a week and they come via website and referrals .................. stopped YP & TL ages ago ::)
Logo and 'green' approach are attracting attention ........................ next day i can book work is 9th January ;)
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im pretty busy here now / and thanks chris for the job in guildford you passed on today del :) :)
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9th of January :o
You'll have to start working mid mornings and afternoons next!
Shaun
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finally the rush has started for me
already got bookings and will take 25% up on last year and a full week to spare yet!
;D ;D ;D
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bennie 25, 10 jobs a week, if i only got that amount i would go and do something else for a living, aim a bit higher than that for lords sake,
colin
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Colin
Why does he need more than 10, if he averages out at £150 per Job thats £1500 per week, not a bads weeks pay really.
2 Jobs a day finnished by 3, is that not what we want from running our own businesses. Make the business work for you, not you for it.
Thats my aim, if I can get to it. good on him if thats what he gets.
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Totally agree with you Neil, far too many CCs on here who are killing themselves by the sounds of it.
I very rarely do more than 10 jobs a week myself, sometimes a few more, sometimes a few less. I am financially okay, earn enough and some extra on top. Work to live not live to work.
Nigel.
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I agree aim for 2 a day,
2 good uns! thats all you need.
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No problem on the job Del, would take me longer to get there than to do it !!!
Don't have time to travel so far out and back between jobs in SW London :o
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Make hay guys, the sun is shining. A poor crop on only 2 jobs a day at the moment.
Cheers
Justin
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justin
it take it that you are now very busy, phone is ring a lot and bookings are being made, its just that they all want it within a couple of days.
Cheers
Neil
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Very busy, 7 days! you can pass some on if you cant handle, there's three of us working all ours at the mo.
Regards
Justin
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They say hard work never killed anyone but why take the chance?
Trevor
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To give my kids everything they want for Xmas.
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Fully booked up now to Xmas, every day, now starting the waiting list. I usually work evenings as well at this time of year but have decided to try and avoid them this year. I do have to take three days off next week to collect my new Van & TM and deliver my present TM to Newcastle.
Dave.
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Still got half of Xmas week free :(
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Booking onwards from 9th Jan but could cut that back a bit if i did afternoons as well ::)
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Baldy Bas****d :D ;)
Just wish I was that busy :P
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Nearly full inc. saturdays n sundays ;D
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MR LEE you should'nt be working full days let alone evenings at your age!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I set up a cancellation list which works 2 ways, if anyone cancels I have a readt replacement also the customers on it can if they want have January, there's about £2k on there at the moment but not everyone has it done in January.
Shaun
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really very quite here got load of space tomorrow and nothing booked next week, going to go canoeing now
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Steady his week and only half next week filled.
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i like to be steady through the year, i usually turn the phone off about now, fed up with customers wanting last minute work before xmas, i don't need it, i work hard in the better weather and take a rest when it is cold and damp.
colin
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Colin that is the best idea but I like to be busy all year round it makes me depressed to think other people have got my money in their pockets.
Shaun
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i understand entirely shaun! i know that we all have different priorities, i don't have 2 or 3 kids to feed and a big mortgage to pay and i don't have employees who need paying whether there is work or not and i know that makes me one of the lucky ones, so i'm not running down anyone who does want to be busy - just that i don't want it.
colin
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We are now turning work down for next week unless it is close to somewhere we are going to be working anyway.
Done 5 jobs all in the same town today, which is unusual but nice. Tomorrow is basically the same, 4 jobs all within a mile of each other, then one job which is on the way back home.
If it was like this all the time it would be great, I could organise my diary so that on Monday I was here, Tuesday I was there, instead it's more like, Monday I am here, there and everywhere! :P