Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: markpowell on June 19, 2008, 09:53:16 am
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This is the first time in nearlly 8 years i have gone nearlly a week without a call, not even an enquiry.
I have been working a week in front all this year and have been keeping on top of my marketing.
I would love to hear how quiet or busy the rest of you are out there :( :(
Mark
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The way people are being squeezed this year it's not suprising.
No calls since Saturday here either.
Steven.
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I was busy in May but the last two weeks have been awful. 3 jobs last week, 2 this week. It really is very worrying :(
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Looks like news is putting country into doom and gloom.
My friends in Window Blinds Industry are saying same.
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Definatly quieter than previouse years. ::)
Still work out there but people are cutting back.
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I keep phoning my home number to make sure it is still working. Its as if the country has come to a halt. Tony Blair certainly knew when to walk away. >:(
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What do you think of this as a headlline?
Who else wants beautifully clean carpets that last longer?
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not bad, but not great.
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Hi, We had a great May, But June is very poor, sounds like much the same as everywhere. Just count yourself lucky you havent spent a fortune on flyers. Just sent 10,000 flyers out over last weekend at vast expense. NOT ONE SINGLE CALL BACK, and I know they went out properly!! Ouch :'(
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Ian is right what he says about the news. It is the media who is hyping up the credit crunch making it seem worst for people than what it is.
I can understand people not buying a new car but spending a little money on cleaning carpets rather than replacing them will hardly break the bank.
Best advertising will tell pople how to save money cleaning carpets rather than replacing.
Dave
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What started out as quiet earlier this month, has now the look of being my busiest and best this year, booked solid for next two weeks going into third one. This is unusual for me as apart from November/December am not usualy booked up more than one week ahead.
Dave.
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Hi Guys
Considering my internet presense May was a scratchy month but June has been good and I've had lots of calls in the last two weeks.
So it's not all doom and gloom, just keep plugging away at what you know works and cut out what doesn't.
Cheers
Doug
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Dead as a dodo :(
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Hey Mike, how about CREDIT CRUNCH SPECIAL
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Few calls just price shoppers ! quoted high £45 for hall stairs and land as miles from home didn`t call back,got quite a busy week next week,and once the end of the month comes i will get paid for my agy cleans wich is quite a bit !
More going out than coming in at the mo though and have got to find £900 for leccy end of feb to begining of june over 4500 units ! not good living in a listed house that is 0 % energy efficient and having all convector heaters apart from open fire :o
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Hey Mike, how about CREDIT CRUNCH SPECIAL
Sounds like an expensive cereal Derek :D
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Mark, is £45 high for h/s/l ???
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I'm trying to come up with something for the hi-end market and taps into the fact cleaning means your carpets will last longer.
I talk about dry soil removal, 'unique' extraction method etc but not many takers compared to my FREE hall clean and spotter tacky ad mono on 80gms white. Pulls about 5 times more. ::)
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Honestly i usually charge £25 for H/S/L in bog standard 2 bed house ! but upped price to £45 as it`s all she wanted doing and was miles from me ! i did a 2 bed last week that was £170 not very big one either.
Have thought about puting up prices for stairs as they can take ages ..The letting agy i work 4 wanted me to make a 20 mile round trip to clean 2 steps of a set of stairs i said £25 and they were moaning at me charging that !!
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You dont help the industry as a whole charging them prices! competing on price means no one makes money.
Whats a customer to think? one guy charges £25 for a HSL the next guy wants £85
why oh why do people rip them selfs off. do you not want to earn a good living ???
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For the bog standard new build thats what i charge av £120 to £140 for a 2 bed house , most of them have laminate in the hall ,people on here do more than that for less ! i am making a decent living mate ,better than when i was in full time employment ,and i like my time off to potter,in my studio ,fixing my track car , and growing my own veg ,it`s all about quality of life
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set your self a min order. vast majourity of people will pay easy double that for HSL, just try asking.
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Mike .......... all high end households i deal with, do not even read leaflets :o
I get work in nice areas by sticking a business card through doors of houses i am quoting at ........... they are prompted when i arrive a week or so later and start cleaning the neighbours ;)
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Chris I also hit on your idea to target neighbors with flyers/biz cards. I tried it yesterday in 10 houses in a street where I was working at. I attach a small card to my flyer explaining I am in the street and offer 10% off if you get me in for a free quote. No joy as of yet. Do you get much from that system? John
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In recessionary times (although governmental wise that is now rephrased as "global credit crunch" & nothing to do with them) , the rich get richer & the poor get poorer. That's not to say that the wealthy don't also live on credit as well. It's just at times like these they have the assets to hold the credit where the others don't.
It is wise to ensure that at least half your clientele belong to the wealthy brigade. That should see you through times as we are likely to have for at least the next 2 years.
Our government tells us our economy is sound to weather the global problems! So why are most of our clients feeling the pinch?
Yes sterling is holding up against the $, but they are in full recession. What about our main trade partner, where we do the bulk of our business with? Yes the European Union! And how has sterling held up to the Euro? It's dropped like a stone. That's why alot of our daily items have increased dramatically.
Is that meant to mean our economy is outdoing the reast of the EU? Who are they kidding.
We are in for an extended rough time. Cotton on to the top end of the market. They have the money - and even if they run tighter they may downgrade to having the carpets cleaned as opposed to replaced ;)
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Your too cheap Mark. By the time you drive and pay for diesel your making a lot less than you think.
Agencys try it on esp if their getting a cut. Just up your price but make sure your worth it. Maybe they dont think what you do is worth the extra money. Thats up to you to sell.
A lowballer quoted £60 for a job I did for £350. Customer only knew too well it would be a rubbish job at that price. (it was a large LR, HSL, B/R and 3 rugs) so they are out there.
However you wont win them all. I lost a suite 3x3 today where I quoted £130 for an accountant I know. I think Im too cheap for suites BTW.
MArk
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As far as I know I'm in 2nd place with the suite prices in my area CD being no1, even established firms like WE Franklin charge slightly less infact their carpet cleaning equates to 25p per sq ft.
I went to do a quote for a commercial account and they had Franklins in to quote 1000 sq ft of office and they quoted £190.00, and it was quite bad aswell, I was gobsmacked as I went in at a quite reasonable £285 (for its condition) as it was only 15 mins drive from me, I didn't get it don't know if they did or not.
Shaun
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Got to say we havent been affected as of yet. Our repeat clients and referrals have been extremely good for us the last few months though. So far we are doing better than last year (including June).
Kev
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Did a stairs and landing today - 28 stairs, 2 x landings - I charged £ 100. Would have charged more but that was all I had today, filthy cream carpet.
Sorry Mark, but I wouldn't get in the van for £ 25, but hey, we live in different areas and our personal circumstances are probably different too.
Steve
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Hi Guys
There seems to be more differential on HSL than anything else.
I charge 70- 80 for a bog standard and more if I have to travel.
Cheers
Doug
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You're right there Doug, I charge from £65-100, did the £100 last week have done bigger but this was in a more standard house.
3pc suites are around the £135 mark.
Shaun
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Last call received 11.10-today confirming job in August cant they read the small print quote valid for three months.
Got my gas bill yesterday £191 told wife she would have to wait for the upholstery to be cleaned, waiting for the electricity bill expect it tomorrow got three other bills this month road tax/mot and van insurance. >:( :'( :'(
Len
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i did a qoute on 8 rooms yesterday.
about 1300 square feet
I was gobsmacked when i was told they told me the Lanlord was getting the job done for £110 and they wanted to get the job for less.
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1300 sq ft
By my rates I calculate that would take me about 6 hours. No way would I do 6 hours for £110.
Yes it is very quiet on the carpet front but I believe we're going to have to wait for a recession to reach 12 months before people get sick of dirty carpets, can't afford ne so bite the bullet and get them cleaned instead. At present even getting them cleaned is not a neccessity, just got to play the long game.
Have tried the letters/cards etc through neighbours doors etc at quote or clean stage and that wasn't exactly a success either.
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I would charge around the £400 mark for 1300 square foot. £110 is just ludicrous!
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Hi
Crazy it may be, but at least he got paid instead of staying at home.
Although I like others don't want to work for peanuts, if I had too I would do it, pride doesn't pay the bills.
As much as I despise my former career, if I HAD to, I would go back to work. :'(
Regards
Martin 8)
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Neil Williams, I have to ask, why would it take 6 hours to clean 1300 sq feet of carpet?
If it took an hour to set up and an hour to set down, which I know it wouldnt, thats still 4 hours to clean at around 325 feet an hour.
If its less time to set up and down as it should be then the hourly figures are even worse.
Best, Dave.
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Just cleaned 2443.4 sq ft of carpet in a nursing home and charged £977.36, this took me a total of 5 hours to clean (7pm-12am)
They now want me to clean 75 wing chairs which I have priced at £12.50 per chair (£937.50)
35 dining chairs at £5.00 each. (£175)
13 resident bedrooms at £20 each. (£260)
Yesterday morning I delivered leaflets with a business card attached offering 25% discount. In the afternoon I was with Len working on a rug when i received a call from a potential custy who said she had received a leaflet and would like me to quote her on her 3 piece suite consisting of a 3 seater, 2 seater and an armchair. I told her that it would be £145.00 (Still cheap) and with the discount it would work out at £108.75 (very cheap) Her phone manner dropped by 10 levels and she then replied with that old nutshell "I will speak to my husband and get back to you" that confirmed that i would not be hearing from her again!
Len
Amazing job on that rug, the method of cleaning scared the living "Eartha Kitt" out of me but your custy will be over the moon with what you done, the end product looked spot on!
Wayne ;)
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Wayne
How do you approach nursing homes? (apart from having a dab of Vic under your nose)
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Was the rug saturated Wayne?
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Mike
With commercial I just make a phone call (sometimes start with a letter), explain about my service and then offer a free demo its all hit or miss.
To be honest I have done work for this home over the years but they decided to invest in a porty and do it themselves on a regular weekly basis (yeah right) Obviously there plans of maintaining there own carpets fell apart and I received a phone call asking for me to help them out as they were having an inspection and need my services asap! I went out that evening and completed the 2443.4 sq ft of carpet. The carpet was in a terrible condition, staff had told me that it hadn't seen cleaning in over 2 years which imo is a disgrace for a nursing home! I stressed my concern to the manager that they need regular maintenance cleaning every 3 months after my initial 1st clean, this has now been agreed.
Wayne ;)
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Dave
Hahahaha Len done a liahona special on it, but my god did it respond well!
I was amazed with the result!
Wayne ;)
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I distinctly remember the look on Len's face when he saw Dave putting the hose on a rug. :o
Len seemed very knowledgeable about rugs generally and seemed keen to give it a go.
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Wayne
What did you clean the nursing home with, a portable?
Mike
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Mike
No mate with my truckmount, but will use porty on the upholstery.
Wayne ;)
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I am puttin up my prices then ! i am in Cambridgeshire and have a lot of competition some of them extremly cheap,in 50% of calls it`s letters moving out wanting the cheapest possible price :(
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I tend to charge .28 p for polly and .32p p/s foot but i have not put up my prices in the 4 years i have been running ,time is now methinks
For upholstery 3 piece i am around £120 ish.My wife used to supply the same letting agy with a cleaner,the letting agy charged the customer more for the service than my wife charged them for the cleans,not good , i think they add an extra 25% ,the fli[p side is they keep me in work over the quiet winter months,and they also hand out my contact details to other people who tend to go with me as they know the agy reccomend me and they won`t get trouble with the carpet on checkout :)
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Neil Williams, I have to ask, why would it take 6 hours to clean 1300 sq feet of carpet?
Dave I think you know my views on some of the daft prices per sq ft that some on here claim to be charging but as you asked I'll break down my pricing structure based on the area mentioned.
1300 sq ft of carpet - we don't know what type but presume on the basis that this is a lettings situation that it's not going to be top wack £100 sq/ft pure wool but at best 80/20 so we don't need to charge more to clean it than what it is worth.
1300 sq ft is 144 sq yards - as this is in one location with only one set up/down we should be able to do it cheaper than 3 properties with a total of 144 sq yards
Again as it's a 'bulk purchase' clean (and again none of us know what condition it's in etc) I would aim at the £2/yard price - could be more could be less depending. This is £288
I like to try and get a reasonable £50/hour rate on jobs - to all intents and purposes this is close to 6 hours from time of arrival to time of departure.
Sorry but I'm not one of those who like to get this done in 2.5 hours. I work at a reasonable pace without losing 3 pints of sweat and customer satisfaction on both job and price guarenteed.
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charged £977.36, this took me a total of 5 hours to clean
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE POUNDS PER HOUR :o
These are nearly always the tightest bunch when it comes to paying out on anything so how did you get away with that. Granted it's not pleasent work but this must be close to the trauma cleaning rates.
I've just noticed your follow up post and I did suspect that they might be an impending inspection about to happen, so yes you can the rate in that situation.
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what about a headline SAVE THOUSANDS OF POUNDS RESTORE YOUR TIRED FURNISHINGS OR DON,T REPLACE BUT RESTORE AND SAVE THOUSANDS
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Neil, I wasnt making any comparison to any prices to clean the carpet. I was more concerned for you that such a small area would take so long. £50 an hour is most exceptable but that amount of carpet should be cleaned in 3 hours. Thus, £100 an hour at your prices, not mine or anyone elses.
Best, Dave.
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yes same here no calls all week :( :( :( :( :(
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Had a recommendation for a suite clean, it was a 3. 2 and a 1. straight forward poly/cotton cream/stripes. humming and haring so I offered to clean the dirtiest cushion and bring it back. Quoted £130.
Three weeks later she's say's "I've found someone who will do it with a bedroom for £80. ::) What do you do that's different to him!
Very frustrating isn't it. :-\
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Newclean put your details in your profile and an email address.
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Country fresh. Yes it is frustrating. :(
Did a quote other week, relative of a client that has put work my way.
Really mank 3 piece quoted £90 as a favour. Then they said what if we had through lounge and the bedrooms. I said £120 extra.
They said OK and my husband is going to clean the mattress while you do it. I said I can clean mattresses. Great, that will save him humping it around. £60 I said. OK they said so that's £270 for effectively the whole house. Yes I said
So we booked it in.
Next day got the call we've been thinking...... can't afford it. I said no probs let's just do the suite and you can have the carpets done another time at the same price. eerrrrr no thanks. Well just the suite then as you originally wanted. eerrrrr, no it's ok, sorry, bye.
That will teach me to be one of these greedy brassneckers eh.
By the way where is Carpetguy these days, he'll love this one.
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Mike
The look on every ones faces, (beats any classroom perhaps some should take note.) 8) Wayne nearly ran a mile. Would post pictures but every one nicks them and sticks there name to it. >:(
Commercial can be a hard nut to crack, what I have found it’s not what you know it’s who (friends, family, customers find out who they work for)sorry to much info :-X
Rob has jacked it in. :(
Wayne
You only got the job because last time I was there it took me longer as I spent more time turn on and off TV’s, and the call help me :-X, their phone no is on my phone. :)
Should have some feedback tonight on the home I took you too this will take two machines, by and by my rental rates porty £10ph cfr £15ph me as a bucket boy/guru £5ph. ::)
Len
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Rob has jacked it in? Probably retired to some tax haven. Oh I forgot, he already lives in one and the English pay for everything. ;D
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Mike
The forum but he is one of us. ;D
Len
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A week and half now still not a call, yes i have checked that phone is working. This has never happened before. Glad we arent just starting out in this game ??? ???
Mark
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Mark
What marketing are you doing right now and what do you plan on doing?
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Hi Mike,
I Did my last job on Friday was booked all last week as was working a week in front, i will be out leafleting 6 hours a day this week instead of the 2 hours each morning i usually do before i start the cleans. I have 200 letters to go in the post in morning to some of my best customers offering 3 for 2, or spend £100 and get £20 Off.
I am getting the letters ready for local schools as we speak and will be sending out on Friday, offering our services in the 6 week hols.
Im sure it will pick up this week mate.
I have cancelled Yell.com and 118247, i have halved van insurance, will be looking at some other cutting back of overheads. Might give local newspaper a go never tried it before ??? ???
Mark
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Mossy helped me out with ideas a few months ago when I was quiet and it made a big difference.
After a fiasco with posh postcards(quantity wise) I recently bashed out 1000's of A4 leaflets with offers on and it's picked up big style. So it's not the credit crunch hitting.
Don't forget your sun cream. 8)
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Mike,
would you mind me having a look at your leaflet please, you could send me private e-mail if you wish.
Mark
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Mike,
are you talking about lots of different offers on one leaflet?
And are you using both sides of the A4?
We just using A5 at the mo, as always thought A4 was a bit too big for a leaflet,
but would certainly be easier to print up & no cutting!
Just trying to put some more ideas together to get some more use out of the riso,
regards
steve
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I was very suprised myself. As I haven't had much time I just bashed one sided a4 out with a free hallway clean.
I was wondering if it's the size, it's pretty much as an a5 leaflet I did from DPPrint. The cost/1000 is fine with the riso and morrisons paper (they know me in there now)
Want to do both sides but paper is a bit thin.
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Wey Hey phone ringing again, 6 calls this morning, 3 booked. How can you go a week without a call then have 6 in 3 hours what makes people all ring at once, think we will never know.
Mark
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I reckon there's a conspiracy. ;)
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No calls today????????????????????
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Must admit with 15 years self emplyment I am always busy, but there's busy and busy, at the moment I'm busy busy.
Shaun
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Business is steady for 2 reasons 1) england not being at the euros (always has had an effect in the past) 2) started a second business that i can offer my customers that is resulting in referals getting me extra carpet cleaning jobs---have stopped advertising because of this
Dave
Well David do share.
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Business not so good. If only I could save money on my telephone and other utility bills whilst generating a second income and getting referrals for my carpet cleaning business. Hmmm ;D
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Good luck with it.
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I think there is plenty of business out there but it doesn't come from the usual sources like yp and thomson because people aren't looking for carpet cleaners as it is less of a priority, I think that is why leaflets and other direct forms of advertising may work better.
Simon
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You are right Simon and direct mail or leaflets can be very targeted, get people to act on impulse and you aren't usually competing with someone else. Whereas with YP they usually ring round the whole page.
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suddenly got really busy
a last
good jobs, good commercial,
THINK I'LL TAKE FRIDAY OFF!!!!!!!!!!
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Hi
Been quiet for months.
Have had to Improvise, Adapt & Overcome.
Stacked out now!
Regards
Martin 8)
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Well
How did you do it then
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Hi
Well, as most of you know most of my work is for LA's.
As with others on here, the lA's have been very quiet with the slowdown in the market, no one's moving so less work to be done.
How to overcome it...
I let my clients know that we can undertake Painting & decorating and property maintenance. One of my clients has buried me in broken loo seats, bath sealant replace and painting. I am not fantastic at DIY so I learn as I go.
I have a £2500 tax instalment to pay by the end of July, thanks to doing this it looks like I may make it.
Regards
Martin 8)
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Been going 20 yrs so generally rely on word of mouth /referals with minimal advertising , but on Sunday looking at my diary and the week ahead only had £120 job booked in monday am , rest of week nothing.
Drummed up some cc work ,commercial 6 mthly due , added 2 leather sofas to the job monday .
The rest of the week has filled up and is really busy ,but , its doing hard floors ! 100sq/m nightclub woodfloor clean and prep for polish /refresh coat & amtico clean and polish tommorrow.
Living in a smallish town (Whitby) and wanting to fill the needs of my area I have to diversify . I think you cant just be the carpet man you have to be the flooring man .
Mike
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Love Whitby ! used to live up north :) in my youth
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I've got no complaints living here , infact I count my blessings every day!
Mike
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Great place, just got to watch out for Vampires and Monsters :o
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Goths you mean !
Mike