Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: suffolkclean on August 29, 2008, 05:41:54 pm

Title: Business NOT Good
Post by: suffolkclean on August 29, 2008, 05:41:54 pm
I'm reading all your comments on how busy you all are, we're not busy at all. I think we need some marketing advice from all you guys.

We currently do carpet & upholstery cleaning - which is what we want to get more of, its the most profitable side of what we do. Currently get a little bit of carpet cleaning from a letting agent, few big one off cleans including carpets. Generally have one day a week of carpet cleaning but want to increase this to at least 3 days!! Also do window cleaning a few days a week.

Please could you give us some advice on how to get some decent carpet cleaning work - got a Steampro +2000 Prochem & a smaller Karcher been on the prochem courses and do a GREAT Job!!
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Doug Holloway on August 29, 2008, 05:45:20 pm
Hi Suffolk

Where are you based?

I get enquiries for Suffolk from my website there, may be able to help.

Cheers

Doug
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: suffolkclean on August 29, 2008, 05:48:54 pm
Hi Doug,
Woodbridge, Felixtowe, Ipswich  - That'd be great,
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Doug Holloway on August 29, 2008, 05:51:58 pm
Hi Suffolk

Email me and I will give you details.

As a general recommendation I would go for internet, leaflets and YP, in that order.

Cheers

Doug
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: CARPET KNIGHTS on August 29, 2008, 05:59:46 pm
Don't get too down about it. The forums are not a good place to get an idea of how things are going for others.

You see the forums are full of big egos (sp) that definately won't say they are short of work and some who will lie about their earnings or workload to make them look good and so on.

We have been fairly busy for some time now but have suffered a recent (past couple of weeks) downturn in domestic business but have been bailed out by an influx of commercial work.

In my experience so far in this business (4 years) the best marketing tool you have is time i.e. the longer you have been in business the more work you will get!

Cheers Goron
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Robert Watson on August 29, 2008, 06:02:41 pm
Hi Barbara, I`ll try and give you a bell tomorrow.

Hi Doug, I`v got Barbara's site at the top for the search terms she gave me.
But the site could really do with a revamp that might help.

Whats a good time to call ?
Cheers
Rab
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Kev Loomes on August 29, 2008, 07:20:02 pm

You see the forums are full of big egos (sp) that definately won't say they are short of work and some who will lie about their earnings or workload to make them look good and so on...


Goron, hope your not referring to me? I know your a good bloke so presume not!

Kev

p.s. I wish I hadn't said anything now, but I didnt think. Someone posted and I responded without realising how it comes accross. I am proud to say that I have never lied on this forum and if anyone else wishes to view my accounts and speak to custy's concerned I would be more than willing to prove.
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on August 29, 2008, 07:21:58 pm
Prove it by sending me a £5 er, I'll believe what ever you say then!

Shaun
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Kev Loomes on August 29, 2008, 07:24:35 pm
Heard you'll do anything for 50p Shaun let alone a fiver ;D
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: suffolkclean on August 29, 2008, 07:26:07 pm
Hi Rabby - If you could call me around 10am that'd be great.
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: suffolkclean on August 29, 2008, 08:46:29 pm
Hi Rabby - Just to say I hope it dosn't mean me contacting my web designer guy - if you type in  master wong on google he specialises in Karate - teaching people king foo stuff!! Anytime I mention codes or S.O.E he goes mad and talks a bit loudly and makes me feel silly. He said he can give me the codes but the whole thing would have to be passed over to someone else including the hosting - which I've already paid for!!
Speak to you tomorrow - Barbara
 
PS How do I get to use the little faces .  .
                                                              .
                                                            ......
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Jim_77 on August 29, 2008, 09:02:10 pm
click on the reply button under each post, it will take you to the full version of the reply box where you can see the smilies.

Once you get a bit smart you can use the symbols for them without having to click the buttons, like : and ) together gives you :)
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on August 29, 2008, 09:07:42 pm
Kev not anything but EVERYTHING  ;)

Shaun
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: dan roberts on August 29, 2008, 09:24:07 pm
All businesses are suffering, its th ecredit crunching meltdown, we are all doomed, DOOOOOOMED!!!
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: suffolkclean on August 29, 2008, 09:46:02 pm
I'm obviously not as smart as you Jim!!
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: ollie on August 29, 2008, 09:47:33 pm
All businesses are suffering, its th ecredit crunching meltdown, we are all doomed, DOOOOOOMED!!!

This is the best year ive had so far, I booked two quotes today , both from couples who didnt want to splash out on new carpets and suites. I live in a relatively poor area so I think the credit crunch is working in my favour!!
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: suffolkclean on August 29, 2008, 09:48:30 pm
Hi Kev - don't feel guilty for letting us all know how sucessful you are !!
Got any tips on how to earn as much as you do in a day??
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Neil Williams on August 29, 2008, 09:51:35 pm
Don't get too down about it. The forums are not a good place to get an idea of how things are going for others.

Yes, forums are not a great place to judge yourself against others when you know your own situation but end up reading others who claim to be flat out constantly.
I'll admit that I like a bit of variety in my working life which is just as well as I couldn't live on carpet cleaning alone.
With the present climate there is so much price shopping going on it's unbelievable so the odds of getting the nicey nicey well priced jobs are gone.
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Mike Osbourne on August 29, 2008, 09:58:20 pm
When the spokesman for the Bank of England says things like- the next twelve months are going to be really tough and then says we are still in for some suprises, you have to think they  are preparing us for something they know that they haven't told us yet.

On a brighter note, I feel what the individual does is far more important than the general economy and if you let it get you down it surely will, drag you down.
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Kev Loomes on August 29, 2008, 10:06:06 pm
suffolkclean
Seriously I thank you, but I wish I never said anything, and I certainly dont consider myself or my family successful. It's a very nice comment from yourself, I just dont want any anomosity thrown my way as I am definately the last person to shout the loudest and want to be heard.

Neil
I'm sure your not refering to me? I dont claim to be flat out constantly becuase invariably it doesnt work like that. But, we do work to a standard, have ethics and all the attributes we feel necessary to run our business. Personally I think I am a perfectionist (some think this is a disease!), and this covers all forms of advertising/marketing etc, this works for us. Some people cant be arsed, but we are.

Mike
Well said.
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Neil Williams on August 29, 2008, 10:14:21 pm
Take a chill pill mate.
No I wasn't referring to you but the fact that this forum and numerous others are full of people claiming to be flat out 12 hours a day 7 days a week.....constantly.
It takes a brave person to come onto a forum like this asking for help whilst some really do play themselves up whilst hardly achieving 50% of what they say they are doing.
Just look at the timings of some of the postings proves they aren't out there carpet cleaning.

Neil
I'm sure your not refering to me, but just in case please get in touch and you can view my accounts and speak to relevent clients for confirmation. I dont claim to be flat out constantly becuase invariably it doesnt work like that.
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Kev Loomes on August 29, 2008, 10:24:35 pm
Take a chill pill mate.
No I wasn't referring to you but the fact that this forum and numerous others are full of people claiming to be flat out 12 hours a day 7 days a week.....constantly.
It takes a brave person to come onto a forum like this asking for help whilst some really do play themselves up whilst hardly achieving 50% of what they say they are doing.
Just look at the timings of some of the postings proves they aren't out there carpet cleaning.

Neil
I'm sure your not refering to me, but just in case please get in touch and you can view my accounts and speak to relevent clients for confirmation. I dont claim to be flat out constantly becuase invariably it doesnt work like that.

Sorry Neil, chill pill duly taken ;D think I'm getting paranoid - I need another drink!
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on August 29, 2008, 10:29:19 pm
I don't know how many times I'll type it but

Life's what you make it!!

I'm always full with work because I make it so, you can do the same, you're not relying on the economy to bail you out are you? it doesn't happen like that!

Shaun
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Jim_77 on August 29, 2008, 11:09:22 pm
"The Economy" is the sum total of all business activities.

My thinking is that there will be some who go belly up and some who prosper.  If the ones who are prospering can do it, why can't anyone else?  They have proved it is possible.

It all depends upon which part of the statistics we as business people are prepared to be.

that's deep enough for a Friday night, I'm off to the fridge for a cold one :D
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on August 29, 2008, 11:15:21 pm
Yes I'm having a cold one at the moment, she's sat in there and I'm sat in here and can hear her grumbling "never come to sit with me, boo hoo!" but I don't want to watch home front or what ever, never the twain shall meet!

Shaun
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Jim_77 on August 29, 2008, 11:21:40 pm
Hahaha don't suffer from that syndrome fortunately!

My wife is called Rhonda the Royal, she has an orange bag attached to her and sits on the passenger side of my van until I take her out to vacuum carpets :D
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: ollie on August 29, 2008, 11:23:08 pm
"The Economy" is the sum total of all business activities.

My thinking is that there will be some who go belly up and some who prosper.  If the ones who are prospering can do it, why can't anyone else?  They have proved it is possible.

It all depends upon which part of the statistics we as business people are prepared to be.

that's deep enough for a Friday night, I'm off to the fridge for a cold one :D




Thats exactly how i see life Jim. If someone else can do it ..... then so can I!!
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on August 29, 2008, 11:39:24 pm
You spoil her Jim.

You don't change her knickers do you? well not without closing your eyes first.

Shaun
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Jim_77 on August 30, 2008, 12:39:52 am
I have to change her knickers after a really filthy job, otherwise she makes funny smells in my other customers' houses :-\

I also give her knickers a spray of something smelly to make sure the wind coming out of her doesn't make people gag.
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: kinder clean on August 30, 2008, 02:19:00 am
Hi Rab

Had seen Craig P recommend you so I e mailed you at the end of last week re websites and optimising, did you get my mail?

Cheers

Paul
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Robert Watson on August 30, 2008, 10:31:05 am
Hi Suffolkclean, Sorry I got you confused with another Barbara in Suffolk.
Whats the chances of that, two Barbara's in Suffolk posting here.  ???

Hi Paul, no I didn`t get it. If you want to try again its info@capitalcarpetcare.co.uk
Cheers
Rab
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on August 30, 2008, 10:44:31 am
Jim that's a coincidence I often have to do that to my Missus now and again.

Shaun
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: suffolkclean on August 30, 2008, 11:02:33 am
Hi Rabby - I'd be suprised if there was - I have been talking about S.E.O too - I think I am your original Barbara!?
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: suffolkclean on August 30, 2008, 11:06:41 am
............Back to my original question - any ideas on good ways to get in more carpet cleaning work please
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: CARPET KNIGHTS on August 30, 2008, 11:16:35 am
Hi Kev

No definately not refering to you or anyone else specifically just a coincidence that you have posted what you have in the other post.

How's roxy by the way??

Cheers Goron
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: clinton on August 30, 2008, 01:34:02 pm
Suffolkclean how are you geting your work at the mo?

It does take time to build a buisness and get work.

The web and a leaflet campaign will give you a start at least.
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Robert Watson on August 30, 2008, 01:45:14 pm
"I think I am your original Barbara!?"
Na the other one trades as Clean East Cleaning,
Spoke to her this morning  ;)
Rab.
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: Kev Loomes on August 30, 2008, 02:06:22 pm
Hi Kev

No definately not refering to you or anyone else specifically just a coincidence that you have posted what you have in the other post.

How's roxy by the way??

Cheers Goron

I didnt think so Goron, no worries mate. Roxy is ok, getting a small op on her elbow in a few weeks (maybe then I can get her back out with me!) so she's looking forward to that.

Where were you and the Missus at HM day out by the way? thought you were going? dont tell me you had to work and miss a good event...
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: suffolkclean on August 30, 2008, 03:51:07 pm
Ok Sorry about that Rabby!

Hi Clinton - I know, we didn't have a great week then read stuff about how well everyone was doing and wondered where we're going wrong. Only been going for 18 months and we're learning as we go along this forum is a great source of info for me really encouraging.
Had a website done recently and taken out advertising today in local magazines which I know we get work from, also had a booking this morning for a one off clean. We will get there - not afraid of hard work and totally dedicated to doing a good job.

Thanks everyone for your kind words!
Title: Re: Business NOT Good
Post by: CARPET KNIGHTS on August 30, 2008, 08:01:29 pm
Kev we really wanted to go but sarah's mum was getting married at 2:00 so couldn't really make it although John did tell me i should slip away somehow and they would drop me back to the do later. It was at the penventon hotel so did get to see Steve Paulos there and ken and the lovely one! :-*

Cheers Goron