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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: j burton on October 14, 2008, 05:25:26 pm

Title: What credit crunch
Post by: j burton on October 14, 2008, 05:25:26 pm
i know its all over the tv, banks going under food prices rising, however i seem to be picking up more and more work every day, i picked up 5 new jobs today and two yesterday. i dont know if its just the east midlands that this is happening.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: jeff1 on October 14, 2008, 05:36:25 pm
i know its all over the tv, banks going under food prices rising, however i seem to be picking up more and more work every day, i picked up 5 new jobs today and two yesterday. i dont know if its just the east midlands that this is happening.

No, we picked up 2 large commercials and 8 new domestics last week
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: NBwcs on October 14, 2008, 05:38:10 pm
Whereabouts are you in the east midlands?
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: j burton on October 14, 2008, 05:39:25 pm
wellingborough, northants
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: cybersye on October 14, 2008, 05:45:54 pm
sick to death of turning on the news each morning and all you hear is recession recession !
talk about sending peole into a panic ! not seen its effect either.
Still, early January next year will be the proof maybe ?   :-\  xmas overspend and heating /fuel bills, we shall have to wait and see.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: j burton on October 14, 2008, 05:54:57 pm
sick to death of turning on the news each morning and all you hear is recession recession !
talk about sending peole into a panic ! not seen its effect either.
Still, early January next year will be the proof maybe ?   :-\  xmas overspend and heating /fuel bills, we shall have to wait and see.
i totally agree
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: LSB on October 14, 2008, 06:00:50 pm
we are picking up new customers on a dailly basis ,
i have a quite large private school to qoute next week .
ive had one customer , a s/e builder - own firm , cancel due to the credit crunch.
i also agree with previous posts that early next year could be interesting !

 
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: johnny_h on October 14, 2008, 06:03:40 pm
just picked up an £800 one off clean of an office building but they also want another quote for a deep clean in the offices and then it to be done twice a week plus pest control and carpet cleaning  :) happy days  
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Tosh on October 14, 2008, 06:06:53 pm
I've lost a few small accounts; one was from a couple who owns three other residences other than the one they live in.

Two they rent, the third they bought (probably at a good price at the time) at the peak of the housing market and it took them about 8 months to renovate the place.

Well they can't sell it, and the male part of the couple is a mortgage advisor, and I can only make an educated guess; but I bet he's struggling to make a living out of it.

It was in the news today that some estate agents are only making one-sale-per-week.

I also have a small hotel that's in the balance; and has been for many months; the previous owners have been made bankrupt and a management company has been appointed by the courts to 'baby-sit' the property and keep it ticking over till someone buys it.

So I don't think it's all 'nice 'n' shiny' out there; particularly for businesses that will struggle and low-end residential.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Chris Galloway on October 14, 2008, 06:10:20 pm
Well. i wont be having such a lavish xmas myself this year, cutting back on all the usual things like alcohol, mince pies over the xmas period. (trying to not put on weight this xmas the main reason, but the other is i cant afford it).

I just hope custies are more likely to cut back on food than they are on me :P
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Londoner on October 14, 2008, 06:49:18 pm
I've had two customers that have lost their jobs and a few that have cancelled or said leave it for a while but this whole thing hasn't really kicked off yet.

It will be a long time washing through, years probably. Nothings going to happen immediately.

Lloyd, if you are still on - did you ever follow up on that private hospital?

Vince

Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: JSMC on October 14, 2008, 06:53:13 pm
i know its all over the tv, banks going under food prices rising, however i seem to be picking up more and more work every day, i picked up 5 new jobs today and two yesterday. i dont know if its just the east midlands that this is happening.

don't get too cocky. i keep telling myself this.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Sir Squeaky on October 14, 2008, 06:59:50 pm
I've had one customer go to 8-weekly, that's it so far.

Lets face it, it's the flashy cocky gits with the big commercial work and large domestic that will lose more. ;D

What can I lose?
A few domestics worth £10-20 or so? ???
Just replace them with better priced work.

Some people may lose £200+ offices.
Shouldn't laugh... ;D :-X
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: j burton on October 14, 2008, 07:06:53 pm
a mate of mine started his w/c business in the last recession and is now very successfull, lets just hope not to many people start up and under cut us to earn a living.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: dai on October 14, 2008, 07:09:38 pm
Had one today that cancelled until April, A nice lady that lives alone and admits she's struggling.
I'm glad I still have my little insurance policy of too many customers, I would have to lose 20%of my round before it would affect me financially, I hung on to them just in case.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Slash on October 14, 2008, 08:10:54 pm
Yeah,I seem to be picking up loads and I am not advertising.........eh!.................it's gone the other way with me since it started ;D
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Chris Galloway on October 14, 2008, 08:19:51 pm
a mate of mine started his w/c business in the last recession and is now very successfull, lets just hope not to many people start up and under cut us to earn a living.

These guys that start up and undercut dont last long. If they do, then they drop the customer they took from you, as they realise they priced too cheaply. Its that point when they ask you back, you increase the price.

any customer worth their salt, wont drop you for another on price alone. They will at very least try to reduce your rates.

You get for what you pay these days. You want a service with no quibble 100% satisfaction guarantees and a fully insured and professional w/c  you pay more for it, you want a monkey you pay peanuts.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: dave0123 on October 14, 2008, 08:22:54 pm
I have not had any loses YET! due to money, 1 or 2 moving house but thats it.

Picked up about 5 houses last week not huge but still good prices and one this week so far.


carnt complain.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: seandyer2003 on October 14, 2008, 09:26:07 pm
I have not had any loses YET! due to money, 1 or 2 moving house but thats it.

Picked up about 5 houses last week not huge but still good prices and one this week so far.


carnt complain.

Ive got about 4 decent customers moving out at the minute, hope the new ones are as good!! And accept the huge increase im gonna stick on !! :)
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Dean Taberner on October 14, 2008, 09:56:07 pm
Picked up a £350 church today ill be amazed if it takes 2 of us longer than 3 hrs wfp.   8) 8)
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: windowwashers on October 14, 2008, 10:52:26 pm
Have lost a few due to people tighening there belts, I respect them fro being honest and welkcome them back anytime at 2008 prices.

I seem to as normal (touch wood) be picking up far more than I am losing.
Commercial has slowed right down, but did get a call for a few blocks, they wanted silly money and they are not happy with there window cleaner I am a little higher priced but clean everything, If I get it all good if not plenty of more places out there to clean I am sure as the clouds will be here tomorrow I will not lowering the price to get it.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 15, 2008, 06:01:30 am
I've had one customer go to 8-weekly, that's it so far.

Lets face it, it's the flashy cocky gits with the big commercial work and large domestic that will lose more. ;D

What can I lose?
A few domestics worth £10-20 or so? ???
Just replace them with better priced work.

Some people may lose £200+ offices.
Shouldn't laugh... ;D :-X

Here, in a nutshell is Squeaky's attitude to life....
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Ian Rochester on October 15, 2008, 06:25:17 am
We've lost a few low priced domestic work over the past couple of weeks but also picked up a good bit of commercial work and high priced domestic work over the same period.

Where we have seen a massive downturn is in the building trade and post build cleans, did one yesterday which was the first one in probably 2 months.

Our carpet cleaning is ticking over but I've heard that others on this forum are very quiet.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Paul Coleman on October 15, 2008, 07:24:23 am
a mate of mine started his w/c business in the last recession and is now very successfull, lets just hope not to many people start up and under cut us to earn a living.

The last recession was what got me started.  I only did it at first until I got my next job.  The next job never came and, by the time the economy picked up, I'd got the window cleaning bug so stuck with it.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: gary evans on October 15, 2008, 07:35:23 am
We are noticing alot of changes about 1k a month down
 & lost another commercial yesterday bi-monthly £200+.

Out today to look at new work, this is where people tread on each others toes. I know we are not expensive compared to some prices banded on here. One problem big job to sort out worth a lot each month.

Gary
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Sir Squeaky on October 15, 2008, 08:29:50 am
I've had one customer go to 8-weekly, that's it so far.

Lets face it, it's the flashy cocky gits with the big commercial work and large domestic that will lose more. ;D

What can I lose?
A few domestics worth £10-20 or so? ???
Just replace them with better priced work.

Some people may lose £200+ offices.
Shouldn't laugh... ;D :-X

Here, in a nutshell is Squeaky's attitude to life....
It's obviously affecting you then? ;)
What goes around comes around...
Don't be so bitter.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: jaykie on October 15, 2008, 08:35:03 am
Got a yes yesterday to a hotel i priced up, got 2 x £12 jobs 4weekly,   1x £16   4 weekly, and 1 £18 8 weekly job all yesterday and got a call from a big hotel which im pricing at 9.30 this morning.

Chris
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Tosh on October 15, 2008, 08:43:59 am
I've just picked up a nice commercial job; as detailed in my other post, and this morning (since it's raining here), I'm off out into the 'sticks' (Llansoy and Llangum) to price up what sound like two posh domestic houses (both of which we were recommended by a lady who lives in a big old farm house; who we charge well).

So work wise, I've plenty of new jobs comming in and I've only lost about 4 small domestic due to the credit crunch.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Oakley Windows on October 15, 2008, 08:47:05 am
Got a yes yesterday to a hotel i priced up, got 2 x £12 jobs 4weekly,   1x £16   4 weekly, and 1 £18 8 weekly job all yesterday and got a call from a big hotel which im pricing at 9.30 this morning.

Chris

You got mail
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: jaykie on October 15, 2008, 08:58:39 am
Got a yes yesterday to a hotel i priced up, got 2 x £12 jobs 4weekly,   1x £16   4 weekly, and 1 £18 8 weekly job all yesterday and got a call from a big hotel which im pricing at 9.30 this morning.

Chris

You got mail

replied
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: seandyer2003 on October 15, 2008, 11:38:23 am
Got a yes yesterday to a hotel i priced up, got 2 x £12 jobs 4weekly,   1x £16   4 weekly, and 1 £18 8 weekly job all yesterday and got a call from a big hotel which im pricing at 9.30 this morning.

Chris

You must be doing something right then mate!! you been canvassing or dropping leaflets?? or something else? have they told you where they got your number?
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: jaykie on October 15, 2008, 11:45:11 am
I dropped my business card to all seafront hotels got 2 responses, one was a yes and the other i looked at today which is going to be about £700 every 3 months but got to do a break down on the building front, back, internal, external, just ground floor so got to get this right, i also got contacted for them other 3 buildings that i recently put on here via my yell.com add and quite a bit via google search. So its all working,

Chris
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Chris Galloway on October 15, 2008, 01:50:11 pm
I stayed at home today as im working on saturday, so thought id spend the time doing my books  :o

Ive had 3 calls already for quotes! Ive had non in the last 2 weeks, while ive been out working.. i should stay at home more often.  ::)

Oh and i found £30 in an accounts book too  ;D Must be my lucky day!

edit make that 3 calls and 2 website enquiries :P
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: baldeagle on October 15, 2008, 05:41:07 pm
One of my sons in law works for the C*****ys  chocolate people.

He tells me that choccy sales shoot up, when times are bad.

I wonder if the same thing applies to window cleaning - people having to stay at home, and spending what bit they have, to improve their immediate surroundings instead?

Baldeagle
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: mistersqueegee on October 15, 2008, 06:11:50 pm
New marketing idea- window cleaning as chicken soup for the soul! ;)
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: davids3511 on October 15, 2008, 08:50:19 pm
I've had one customer go to 8-weekly, that's it so far.

Lets face it, it's the flashy cocky gits with the big commercial work and large domestic that will lose more. ;D

What can I lose?
A few domestics worth £10-20 or so? ???
Just replace them with better priced work.

Some people may lose £200+ offices.
Shouldn't laugh... ;D :-X
Squeaky, I have lost a few in the range of what you said,  £10- £20. I hope to do what you said, get out there and replace them.
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: ftp on October 15, 2008, 09:30:20 pm
Work just keeps coming in at the moment, people wanting their soffitts cleaned and paintwork washed. Several of my jobs i whip over the porch guttering and under the soffit - makes the rest of the house look crap.  ;)
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: peter holley on October 15, 2008, 09:52:21 pm
Had one today that cancelled until April, A nice lady that lives alone and admits she's struggling.
I'm glad I still have my little insurance policy of too many customers, I would have to lose 20%of my round before it would affect me financially, I hung on to them just in case.

thats been my forecast ...losing 20%  , so i have been pushing buisness more by advertising etc....
so far iv just been increasing my round, but i have prepared to lose 20% if things get worse!

i am also taking on work out of my areas, this normally leads to more work, it just means maybe an extra half an our travelling one day in a month ::)
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: windowwashers on October 15, 2008, 09:58:07 pm
I stayed at home today as im working on saturday, so thought id spend the time doing my books  :o

Ive had 3 calls already for quotes! Ive had non in the last 2 weeks, while ive been out working.. i should stay at home more often.  ::)

Oh and i found £30 in an accounts book too  ;D Must be my lucky day!

edit make that 3 calls and 2 website enquiries :P
Maybe you should have your landline diverted to mobile  :-\
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Chris Galloway on October 15, 2008, 10:04:18 pm
I stayed at home today as im working on saturday, so thought id spend the time doing my books  :o

Ive had 3 calls already for quotes! Ive had non in the last 2 weeks, while ive been out working.. i should stay at home more often.  ::)

Oh and i found £30 in an accounts book too  ;D Must be my lucky day!

edit make that 3 calls and 2 website enquiries :P
Maybe you should have your landline diverted to mobile  :-\

No i mean i dont get any calls..  :-\
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 15, 2008, 10:30:15 pm
Ah Squeaky - there you are, I wondered how long it would take you to respond.  ;D
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: Sir Squeaky on October 15, 2008, 10:44:12 pm
Ah Squeaky - there you are, I wondered how long it would take you to respond.  ;D
It took me 2 hours, yet you didn't notice for 14 hours. ;) ;D
Title: Re: What credit crunch
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 16, 2008, 02:15:45 pm
Ah Squeaky - there you are, I wondered how long it would take you to respond.  ;D
It took me 2 hours, yet you didn't notice for 14 hours. ;) ;D

Sorry if I'm not paying you enough attention Roger I'll try harder. Unfortunately I'm losing so much over-priced business that I spend all my time worrying about that!
 ::)