Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Doug Holloway on July 17, 2008, 09:09:05 pm
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Hi Guys
Last night was at a dinner and chatting to a couple of carpet retailers who said times were getting tough.
Today was speaking to a banker customer who was saying it's going to be as tough as the 1930's, not quite old enough to remember that myself. ;)
Personally I am busier than I have ever been and am getting lots of calls from all angles, not just the internet.
Do you think us CC's may be in a reasonably strong postion with cleaning taking over from replacement ?
Cheers
Doug
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Yes Doug i think us specialist cleaners will be some of the few winners in the future months. ;D ;D
mark
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Being on both sides of the fence Doug (supply and fit as well) I think that is definately going to be the case.
And quite frankly if I didnt believe that then I may as well jack it in now.
I certainly think we are going to have to work harder for it.
It's bad enough the tv and press trying to talk us into a recession without us all believing it and sitting back waiting for it to happen.
Steve
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Mr Holloway, do you do all your own sites ....
Just asking as am getting a few site names bought.....and looking subdomain names too ..no sure how that works tho...
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I am not busy now as I dont work this time of year. Apart from the exception to the rule I did my last job today untill maybe the end of September.
Having said that a lot of my clients are extremely busy as their clients are still spending.
If there is this so called credit crunch, might I suggest to market clients who arent affected by it.
There is so much work out "there" we just simply dont go after it or ask for it. I know this is a generalization but I am sure you get my point.
Best, Dave
Best, Dave.
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Yes Doug. I certainly think these COULD be good times.
Those who have been trading for a number of years SHOULD have been wise enough to put something away and have some "wool on their backs" for the tougher times. (Those of us of a certain age should also be able to remember how times were in the past; and that life carries on.)
Bad times WILL come to an end; it just doesn't seem like it at the time.
If you have looked after your customers, gained in knowledge and training and not over-extended yourself then you will come through the other side in a better state. You may have to work a little harder but your success will prove how good you have been in building a solid business during the good times.
Keep up the hard work (play hard as well) and see you on the other side (or at least at the next CCDO).
Roger
PS how well you have educated your customers will also shine through as one aspect of the level of business you will enjoy.
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I'm getting alot of commercial enquires at the moment, in the last 2 weeks it has gone mad. Domestic is also doing well.
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you only have to look at your ad words impressions to see more and more people every day are searching for carpet cleaners, this cred crunch is the beginning of good things, i really think ive started this business at the best time, may be wrong, lets wait nd see.
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The old saying is, that if you can start a business in a recession things can only get better ;)
Chris
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Get up in the morning, put a brew on and listen to the morning news. 10 mins later feel that I'm going to get stabbed as soon as I step out the front door, there's a pedo on every street corner and we are all financially doomed.
Only listen to music now, feel great, just hope nothing important happens. ;D
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HI Guys
Glad to hear things are reasonably good, I must admit I thought it would be worse by now.
James, yes I do all my own and optimise myself also.
Have loads of sites in top (1-3) Google
Cheers
Doug
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I stopped buying newspapers years ago. Just have to wean myself off tv and radio news and the world will be a happier place. Caught a glimpse of GMTV this morning, they show you a view of the weather in Spain then show you a crap weather forecast for the UK. I think they should be sent to the North Pole.
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Wow - a few days ago some newbies coming on here were being advised "wrong time mate, you'll find it tough".
Now its the complete reverse! Carpet cleaners are in a good position!
I too think carpet cleaners are in a good position.
People will put off buying new but invest in having their existing stuff cleaned.
"All" we have to do is be there to provide the service they want.
Some will be our existing clients but hopefully some will be new ones too.
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GMTV is like watching a red top newspaper anything for sensationalism, Sky are the same, it's getting like America. Now they have slow news days and invent rubbish.
I'd like to ween myself off this computer as me and the wife don't talk anymore ;D
Shaun
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If they got rid of the table I'd watch it with the sound down. ;)
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Joe, but look who was posting about it not being a good time.
Best, Dave.
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Yes I know Dave, different people but whilst the negatives were being posted I didnt see too many positives (and I include myself in that).
Too much news today. Years ago I used to come home from work and look forward to the 6 o'clock news. If I missed it I would have to wait till News at Ten.
Now its news 24 hours, and not much good news either (not only now but "normally")
One of the east euro countries (Bulgaria I think), the new rule there is newspapers must carry at least 50% good news, and the largest newspaper has objected.
Bad news sells papers.
The only time I buy a newspaper is on holiday, then I will have a walk in the morning to get a reasonable paper, something like the Telegraph or the Times. Majority of the others IMO are rubbish and only fit for the cat litter tray.
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I think the truth is none of us know whats around the corner, but it seems we are all busier than expected, but I also think we are waiting for it to get worse. I did a job for a lady who worked at the NATWEST the other day and I asked her how long she thought the credit crunch will last, her reply, IT HASNT EVEN STARTED!
Sorry to put a downer on things.
Cheers
Justin
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I believe if your marketing is right, you have a good customer base, a good ratio of domestic / commercial clients you will be ok. There are a number of companies "not getting work" of going out of business if you ont have the right business balance.
Gary
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Hi Guys
I have a theory that different recessions affect different sectors and that this one will primarily affect Banking and Building, there will of course be knock on effects.
Both Banking and Building have boomed recently ones ridiculous lending leading to the others massive inflation, afterall hosue prices rocketing is still inflation.
The market as it always does is correcting things.
As has been stated we live in a media world which craves something to fill it's space, look at Robert Murat, not a shred of evidence against him, guilty of maybe getting too involved but nothing else.
Down south we have most of the media and most of the banks, coincidence ?
Cheers
Doug
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Did a job the other day for a builder who was selling the show home. Top spec development swimming pool in club etc. Spoke to the Sales girl who I have worked for years at different sites had a general chit chat and was offered a cup of tea after I finished the job.
When I finished she said sorry cant do tea as the builder was in conference with top notch Estate agent in the office, moaning that they had just lost the sale on the last plot as the purchaser couldnt complete there sale and were now going to let it as they would never sell it in this market.
Estate agent said to them that in his opinion this current climate would last for 2 to 3 years !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just to make me feel better I went to networking meeting next morning to hear Mortgage Broker say he hadnt done a single one last month and an Estate Agent say he hadnt completed a single house either!!!!!!!!!!!!
Murky
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people just arent moving they are staying put and doing there houses up the amount of extensions i am seeing in my area has gone up so people do still have money to spend
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Estate Agents having a hard time - my heart bleeds >:(
They are responsible for the ridiculous hike in house prices over the last few years. Getting rich while people have to borrow more and more money for bigger mortgages on overvalued properties.
I don't care whether people are buying or renting - their carpets are still gonna get dirty. So I will either clean them or replace them.
Steve
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Steve
Do you operate from a shop or warehouse or are you Home Choose.?
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Spot on Steve.
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Estate agent's Clients (the people who pay the commission) want them to sell it for as much as possible, don't they? If anything agents over price to get the agent contract then persuade the client to lower it for a sale.
You think we get tossed about, try being an estate agent. Imagine a big carpet cleaning job dependant on 7 other cleans all having to take place on the same day.
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some are saying that if we enter a recession the general public will tighten their belts and rather than replace thier carpets they will get them cleaned, so we will benefit
but.....
if they are skint whats stopping them just buying cheaper carpets? we won't benefit then!
and what about the people who already get their carpets cleaned? what happens when they feel the pinch of the credit crunch? how do they save money? by either putting up with the dirty carpets or instead of having them cleaned yearly, the wait an extra 6mths. So again we lose out.
Another thing to worry about is all the men who might lose thier jobs, what will they do to earn a living? perhaps start a carpet & upholstery cleaning business :o :o and they might be in your town. taking away your loyal customers with the enticement of special offers :o :o
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Your probably right Mike, but there's no harm in trying to cheer ourselves up with a bit of kidology. ;D
Carpet cleaning for the masses is at the best of times event driven and the easiest job to procrastinate on. So what will people do NOTHING. How many people sign up to some direct debit based service then never use it AND can;t be arsed to cancel it.
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So then Mike, what you doing? lowering your prices? taking a leaf out of the non-existant carpet cleaner from Coventry?
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No Rob's approach has never appealed to me. ;D
Just got some leaflet stands from staples and printed off some cross promotion leaflets for a couple of retailers, mobility products, reclining chairs etc. Just had a chat with a quality car dealership but they didn't get it. ;D
Are you finding ways to get business you otherwise wouldn't have without the TM Joe?
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Ian
Home choose mate.
Had a shop 15 years ago - pain in the neck.
Had 2 industrial units - filled them full of rubbish I thought I needed and used the office as an excuse not to go home.
Now just work from home with a selection of sample books, dealing with the same suppliers I dealt with 15 years ago.
Steve
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Mike
You may be right, its certainly another way of looking at it.
However, as far as competition is concerned, I don't even think about it. I couldn't tell you who my local competitors are and quite frankly I don't care.
I know what I need to earn per hour/day/week/month - sometimes I hit it, sometimes miss it by a mile and sometimes earn 2 months money in one.
My prices are set accordingly and if Joe Bloggs is prepared to do it for less and Mrs Jones is prepared to take the risk and ignore my advice then thats her choice.
I think its always been that way, thats why I try and aim for clients who expect a certain standard and are prepared to pay for it.
Steve
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...yeah try and be an estate agent....i did.....had 6 houses on at1%...thought easy money at the start of the year ...was working from an office in the town i stay...with 3 other agents.......left there and back here...the houses i had on are still on the market......................
And one is a repo flat offers ovre 49950.00....yeah you read it rite under 50k...andits been on the market from feb this year.....www. kinlochproperties .co.uk.......its still there....
better the devil you no i say ....
anyways just in from the pub....with my mates and they have just been paid off from the site they worked for the past 3 years....houses arent selling .... :o :o
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And this is when those who saved cash and have no debts finally get payback. Half price houses, KERRCHING£££! ;)
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just sold my house, been on for 3 weeks, just had survey done tuesday no problems, there mortgage has been ok'd today so its not all doom and gloom,
chin up boys
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Hi Guys
There seems to be a general, 'things are looking quite good', is this a true reflection or are some finding it much tougher than usual.
Cheers
Doug
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56k equity, if it all goes through, so yeah, drinks are on me. asda lager 22p a can. orderly queue please.
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Im busier than ive ever been in 3 years. maybe its just because ive built up a good customer base now but either way im smiling ;D
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I never give a thought (or a worry) if I'm busy or not, I work every day, some days I finish at dinnertime some day I work till 4ish.
if I'm not busy I don't fret about it I just go to the local coffee shop have a latte and read the papers, a lovely chilled out afternoon.
If it was a Monday morning and I had no work for the full week I know by Friday I would have earned enough to pay the bills, so I never worry, the phone will ring, it always does.
let the credit crunch come, I'm not worried.
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got one clinton, just a cheapone, not doing well on the net though, needs optimising but dont know who to turn to, using ad words, getting loads of impressions but not many clicks, waiting til the house money comes through first,
www.affordablecleaners.co.uk
thats me on the left with the wife on the right, and the love of my life in the middle. lol
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got one clinton, just a cheapone, not doing well on the net though, needs optimising but dont know who to turn to, using ad words, getting loads of impressions but not many clicks, waiting til the house money comes through first,
www.affordablecleaners.co.uk
thats me on the left with the wife on the right, and the love of my life in the middle. lol
Derek
There is a CC on here that does SEO and web design, he is very good and done quite a few of our websites. You want his contact details?
Pete
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cheers clinton
pete, yeah i'll give him a try for my seo
derek@affordablecleaners.co.uk
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Personally, the last 3 weeks my phone has been the busiest it has been all year with new enquiries - cleaning and supply.
3 months ago I was in dire straits - phone not ringing, no new enquiries, no outstanding quotes awaiting decisions - nothing.
So if this is the credit crunch long may it continue.
Steve
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Clinton, I'll keep P.W until people stop asking for it, but it gets less busy end of september.
But.....All those OAP who are unsteady on there feet need thier paths cleaning, we don't want them slipping in winter and hurting themselves.
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Derek are there any photos of you laying down after vacuum cleaning?? Must be a heavy machine!
h ttp://www.affordablecleaners.co.uk/how_we_clean.htm
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i work out. lol
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Clinton
There is a well established retailer near me that offers free underlay, free gripper, free doorbars, free fitting.
Are they free - of course not they are built into the price of the carpet.
Do customers think they are free - of course they do, they are guillable, that is why they continue with this offer.
The same reason Carpet right offer 50% off, followed by a further 33% off - do people really believe that they are giving away all their mark-up - yes they do, thats why they keep going in there.
The buying public love an offer, whether it is genuine or not, it just depends on how it is worded and whether they perceive it to be of value.
Steve
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About 50/50 at the moment mate - the plan is to build up the cleaning side so that I personally am only doing that.
I will still sell carpets and flooring, but after 27 years I have had a gutfull of laying.
Trouble is I'm good and old custys expect me to install it still :-[
Steve
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a quote i read the other week tickled me,
'99% of estate agents give the rest a bad name'
i did laugh.
colin ;D
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Justin Perry Re. Nat West Banker (I think thats how you spell it .)
They would say that would,nt they ?
They are the ones that have caused it !
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She worked in the database side so her job was safe, but she said that NATWEST are laying off thousands, if all banks & building societies, estate agents, large building companies, small building companies, mortgage advisorsb etc do the same then at some point it will have a knock on affect, me thinks!