Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Paul Davidson on July 12, 2008, 12:01:31 am
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Hi again guys,
Just about to make a big a effort to get things a busier.
Looking at different ways to do this, there are the usual ways eg, local papers, yellow pages and leaflet drops. All will work at various levels no doubt, but i fancied trying the more direct approach.
I have contracted an experienced and sucessfull sales person to go out for 20 hours a week for 8 weeks. They will be walking in to letting agents and estate agents, b&b's, guest houses, pubs and restaurants, also offices shops and factories etc
We will have a professional look and approach with decent literature etc ............
Do you think it will work? ???
Do you think it will be money well spent in comparrison to spending money leaflet drops? ???
cheers
Paul
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Are you paying him £6 an hour?
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On this occasion how much i am paying is unimportant as there is no question over the quality of the sales person.
I have worked with them for over 10 years and have a proven track record
regards
Paul
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Then why are you comparing it to £120/week on leaflets?!
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Jim,
I have slightly amended my original post.
The quality of the sales person is all that is important and not what financial arrangement i may have with them.
regards
Paul
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So now the whole thread makes no sense ::)
If you're that confident in your sales guy then asking the question in the first place was pretty pointless!
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Jim i dont agree with you but thanks for your input.
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If he's really good he won't mind taking a cut of the profits that come in as this will be far more than an hourly rate. If I was him I'd be more concered about whether you could deliver what was being sold.
From your perspective payment by results means you can't really lose.
Sales people (on the whole) need a strong performance related reward otherwise they lose motivation, quickly. There are exeptions, but if he was one of those he wouldn't be working for you.
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how many vans have got on the go? a decent salesmen working 20hrs a week will bring in more work than a single operator will be able to manage.
I would exspect a decent commision only sales rep to be earning Min £500 for 20hrs
mike
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Hope that's put that in perspective Harvey. All of the replies are from people who know the business, particularly Mike Halliday who runs a very successfull marketing strategy.
The're not out to burst your bubble, just giving their honest opinions.
Having been in sales my entire life ( being self employed, you have to be a salesman ) I agree with the replies.
best of luck, hope it works for you
rob m
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PS; my £500 figure comes from paying him 20% of the job price so he'll be bring in £2500.
mike
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I would think long and hard over this. I have done exactly what you are contemplating and both times it didn't really work out for a variety of reasons.
My advise to you is to make sure that this salesperson is on a commission basis and not a fixed rate and so has some incentive to do the business.
Also, what kind of equipment are you using. How many people do you have?
Simon
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Thanks for your replies.
The sales person is a family member who is taking some time out to travel the world, and has a few months spare before comitting themselseves to work full time again. So commission and commitment to the job are not issues as they are as keen as me to make things busier.
We now have 2 vans on the road shared by 3 of us (my father my daughters partner and me). Now if we end up too busy for 2 vans to keep up with then we will just slow down the marketing, so that wont be a issue.
Have to say that would be a fantastic problem to have!
I have been in slaes and running my own companies since 1990 (including business to business sales repping) so understand about sales and marketing. Having said that i have not done any direct sales for carpet cleaning so am interested to hear the results of those that have.
At the moment we have a cfr pro 400, which should be up to the job and an excell that my dad uses, but if things go well we will purchase some new equipment (possibly a TM) but lets see how things go and what might be best for the job.
Regards and thanks again for the input!
Paul
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Hi paul,
Direct sales will always beat leaflet dropping every time, its whether you will get a decent enough return on your investment.
I tried a similar approach a few years ago and while it did work, it had its problems as the guy was a good salesman but not a carpet cleaner, and when talking direct to customers you need to know the ins and outs of the business and not just sell them a package!
Sometimes they have difficult scenarios or want a demo there and then, only someone who actually carpet cleans can weigh up all the situations and give good advice
You might be better off doing the direct sales yourself, thats what i'm planning on doing, as its more than just selling but actually educating people, and you can only do that if you know what your talking about!
regards
steve
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well let me knowhow hes/shes done because i may do the same here good luck
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well let me knowhow hes/shes done because i may do the same here good luck
Will do, thanks!
Paul
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Paul it sounds like you have an ideal oppertunity :) :)
but i would get him to search out work which best suit the equipment you have available. The portable you have are good machines, but not ideal for the really big commercial jobs ( perhaps look into getting a bonnet system)
best of luck
mike
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Mike, i have just sent you an email but it has bounced back (the email address from your profile). Do you have another that works or is it just the the email system having a bad day?
regards
Paul
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Hi Paul
I did this years ago and it worked although I found it hard.
These days rely on the internet, consider building yourself an internet porfolio.
Cheers
Doug
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Hi Paul
I did this years ago and it worked although I found it hard.
These days rely on the internet, consider building yourself an internet porfolio.
Cheers
Doug
I agree, its all getting organised at the moment,it should be sorted for the end of the month.
I am in the middle of a complete rebranding exercise (same name and font style), but new logo, stationary, van signage and a new website as my Dad has never got round to completely organising the marketing and web side of things.
cheers
Paul
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If I was employing a Salesman and had a good track record in sales myself.
Before commiting i would work the stratergy myself.
The difficulty arrises if you are not a Salesperson because only 3% of the population have the natural ability
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If I was employing a Salesman and had a good track record in sales myself.
Before commiting i would work the stratergy myself.
The difficulty arrises if you are not a Salesperson because only 3% of the population have the natural ability
Ian i understand what you are saying about trying it out myself and i will be going out in the early days to help and get a feel for the response.
My track record (18 years in direct sales) would tend to suggest i am a more than capable sales person, but that does not have to mean that i particularly enjoy it!
Part of the reason i have got involved in Carpet Cleaning again is to get away from direct sales and more involved in the service industry. (wanted to work a bit more hands on)
Plus, If i spent 2 days a week out selling i would not have too much time left to clean the carpets! ;D