Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: geefree on October 24, 2008, 07:46:00 pm

Title: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 24, 2008, 07:46:00 pm
Lets be positive, with all this doom and gloom lately.

How many customers did you gain this week?.....

 :D ;)

Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you g
Post by: Kevin R on October 24, 2008, 07:47:18 pm
7 commercial

Boom and bust there's always dust
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 24, 2008, 07:49:23 pm
excellent  ;)... 11 residential here.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: ftp on October 24, 2008, 08:19:34 pm
Picked up a gutter clean, conservatory and house "we used to have a windowcleaner but he doesn't turn up any more  :'( " found out why when he said see you again in three months! Another customer i drove five miles to clean just hers, she opens the door and says "i'm so glad you came - can you not clean them today and come back next year please"  :o
Did pick up five gutter suckers this week and could have had seven without trying had they not been someone elses work. Got an interested party for commercial gutters too which can't be bad.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: drakestar! on October 24, 2008, 08:21:45 pm
urm? Sorry but i just recieved my 1st cancelation via email.  :'(
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you g
Post by: Chris Galloway on October 24, 2008, 08:26:16 pm
10 quotes to be done over the weekend.. hopefully at least 5 turn out to be won :D
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Central Window Cleaners on October 24, 2008, 08:27:50 pm
picked up 6 new domestics and 3 gutter cleaning jobs.

Still waiting to hear about a tender I put in in September. This is my first tender, how soon do you normally hear back?  Do they tell you if you didn't get it?
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 24, 2008, 08:29:56 pm
urm? Sorry but i just recieved my 1st cancelation via email. :'(

your in the wrong topic.... this is a positive one :)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: pjulk on October 24, 2008, 08:32:10 pm
one
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you g
Post by: paulscotney on October 24, 2008, 08:32:56 pm
3 New monthly houses gained.  1 monthly house changed to 6 weekly.
So a good result.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: R.V.A Window Cleaning Services on October 24, 2008, 08:33:32 pm
1 com, 3 res ;D
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: peter holley on October 24, 2008, 08:37:12 pm
only 1 this week, but 3 last week, ::)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Sir Squeaky on October 24, 2008, 08:38:57 pm
2, which is unusual.

Probably only had a couple more in the last few months.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: trike on October 24, 2008, 08:51:50 pm
6 new cusies this week
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: MJH on October 24, 2008, 09:04:35 pm
excellent  ;)... 11 residential here.

3 commercial last month ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Dean Aspects on October 24, 2008, 09:04:40 pm
One this week £30 every 8 weeks and £75 in and out twice per year
Only problem is its in the arsehole of nowhere
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 24, 2008, 09:06:55 pm
excellent  ;)... 11 residential here.

3 commercial last month ;)

:)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: MJH on October 24, 2008, 09:09:38 pm
excellent  ;)... 11 residential here.

3 commercial last month ;)

:)

What was the partnership buisness name again MJH lol ;D
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 24, 2008, 09:11:27 pm
GlOSS & MATT  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you g
Post by: Captain Scarlet on October 24, 2008, 09:12:52 pm
2 residential i think
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 24, 2008, 09:17:21 pm
see its not all.... " lost a customer today"....

im happier already.

keep em coming. :D ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: ps outthere on October 24, 2008, 09:27:28 pm
2 new resi today, and turned one down-I would have had to use ladders to climb onto a couple of huge balconies.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you g
Post by: gary999 on October 24, 2008, 10:08:54 pm
3 last week 1 this week
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Richy L on October 24, 2008, 10:12:01 pm
13 residential,
1 pub
and 2 big commercial one offs
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 24, 2008, 10:19:02 pm
2 new resi today, and turned one down-I would have had to use ladders to climb onto a couple of huge balconies.

i am the same, getting where i cant bear ladders.:)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Martin-Swinscoe on October 24, 2008, 10:22:37 pm
just 2 this week, a £13er and a £5er, but its better than nothing
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: dave0123 on October 24, 2008, 10:25:08 pm
3 or 4 domestic last week, 2 this week. and £9,500 per year contract today :)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 24, 2008, 10:28:17 pm
3 or 4 domestic last week, 2 this week. and £9,500 per year contract today :)

wow thats a wage.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: peter holley on October 24, 2008, 10:50:24 pm
oh dear... im off to work in a shop for the minimum wage ::) its all about the job title ::)
shop supervisor.... or window cleaner :o... i know it means a paycut of about xx,ooo, but i need  bit of selfrespect ;D
i can downsize and cut back ::)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: d s windowcleaning on October 24, 2008, 11:06:34 pm
3 or 4 domestic last week, 2 this week. and £9,500 per year contract today :)

wow thats a wage.
gazza do you want more domestic work ?
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: mark dew on October 24, 2008, 11:55:28 pm
A one off job cleaning a tunnel roof for an existing customer. One of those growing tunnel things.


2, which is unusual.

Probably only had a couple more in the last few months.

Squeaky, you are on a roll.  :)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 25, 2008, 12:03:19 pm
3 or 4 domestic last week, 2 this week. and £9,500 per year contract today :)

wow thats a wage.
gazza do you want more domestic work ?

yes please :)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: d s windowcleaning on October 25, 2008, 01:20:20 pm
get yourself round south heindley mate the lad who was doing them as packed in . he was wfp aswell .
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: dmlservices on October 25, 2008, 02:11:52 pm
1 conserv roof clean, asked for cards for friends,also quoted for windows, she has a cleaner but he only cleans every 2 mths, wants mthly, my price was the same as him( i asked how it compaired to existing window cleaner as i do not want to undercut).

daz
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: prestigeclean on October 25, 2008, 04:56:51 pm
18 new residential all well priced happy days regards alan
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: ants on October 25, 2008, 05:30:24 pm
14 new residential
   lost 1
+ 2 fascia cleans to be done on tues
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: stoneleech on October 25, 2008, 06:34:58 pm
im gaining 13 new residential custies per month at the moment.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you g
Post by: Chris Galloway on October 25, 2008, 07:05:22 pm
2 new resi today, and turned one down-I would have had to use ladders to climb onto a couple of huge balconies.

i am the same, getting where i cant bear ladders.:)

haha, i charge extra when i have to get the ladder off do to balconies.

Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Ian Lancaster on October 26, 2008, 07:00:22 pm
It's definitely getting harder, this weekend I've knocked about 150 doors and gained 5 new custies - total £55/month.  Enquiries (phone/internet/recommendation etc) account for another 8 leads, probably get 4 or 5 of them, total about £70/month.

The trick is to keep at it.  The more you knock, the more you'll gain.

If you don't make the effort, your business will only go one way - down.

Since February I've generated work worth £6000/month, so it's still out there :)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: dave0123 on October 26, 2008, 07:07:56 pm
When do you get the time to do all that Ian?

most of my time is taken up by ether opening letters and entering cheques and doing invoices etc by the time thats done and had my tea its about 8pm
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 27, 2008, 05:27:14 pm
get yourself round south heindley mate the lad who was doing them as packed in . he was wfp aswell .

hi, just been to look around... has he told them he has left...as all gleaming , worth a leaflet drop, but may be months before they realise he has gone.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: DASERVICES on October 27, 2008, 05:58:04 pm
I've had seven calls today, 2 I have taken on and the rest passed on to other window cleaners. Looks like the summer brigade have gone early.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: d s windowcleaning on October 27, 2008, 06:14:59 pm
get yourself round south heindley mate the lad who was doing them as packed in . he was wfp aswell .

hi, just been to look around... has he told them he has left...as all gleaming , worth a leaflet drop, but may be months before they realise he has gone.
yes mate hes told them all he wont be going back .
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 27, 2008, 06:17:47 pm
cheers dave, will go again... i take it you are too busy  ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: d s windowcleaning on October 27, 2008, 06:27:27 pm
cheers dave, will go again... i take it you are too busy  ;)
yes mate ive got enough work good luck anyway with the flyers .
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 27, 2008, 06:31:21 pm
Thank you. and thanks for the info, will let you know.  ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Paul Coleman on October 27, 2008, 06:46:26 pm
Just one regular domestic gained this week and a one off end of tenancy window clean for tomorrow.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Oakley Windows on October 27, 2008, 06:48:03 pm
A 6 weeker at £17.00

An end of tenancy clean at £30.00

Another end of tenancy clean at £100.00
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 27, 2008, 06:52:30 pm
cheers dave, will go again... i take it you are too busy  ;)
yes mate ive got enough work good luck anyway with the flyers .

dave, you dont have any street names where he worked do you, would save me loads of time, yjust off the top of your head.....you could email me.

Gazzasp8@aol.com
Thanks.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: d s windowcleaning on October 28, 2008, 09:00:14 am
gazza youve got mail .
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 28, 2008, 09:12:06 am
Hi, nothing come thru...

try

gazasp8@aol.com

was capital g. before

 :D
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: d s windowcleaning on October 28, 2008, 09:33:42 am
sent again
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Dean Aspects on October 28, 2008, 05:03:01 pm
Dumped one today and took another one on at the same price so still the same
I dont seem to pick up so many now
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 28, 2008, 05:28:21 pm
Picked up a £25 monthly today and lost a £10 monthly by post.

I checked how things have gone since April and with no active canvassing on my part on the
domestic side.

On a monthly basis:-

Domestic side I've gained £255 and lost £54 = net gain £201.
Commercial I've gained £32 and lost £125 - net loss £ 93.

So over all pretty good I think. A gain of £108 per month.

Domestic gains are either recommends or people coming up to me in the street.
Commercial gain from knocking on doors for half an hour between jobs.

The Commercial loss was one property developer account (no surprise there!)
The Commercial gain was a haulage firm (a bit surprising there)

Domestic loss breakdown:-

£21 monthly  - stated as "credit crunch"
£10 monthly -  reason not specified but suspect "credit crunch"
£5.50 monthly -       as above "will do them himself"
£17.50 monthly - dropped by me (poor payer and dog issues)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 28, 2008, 07:24:27 pm
Thanks dave, managed to get out and find a few, as it was just getting dark, dropped about 60 around the  area... will have another go another day, thanks for that  ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: www.mrgutters.co.uk on October 28, 2008, 07:42:06 pm
gained 42.00 house a 30.00 house a 30.00 art centre in the past 3 weeks

shawn
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: seandyer2003 on October 28, 2008, 08:00:01 pm
A 6 weeker at £17.00

An end of tenancy clean at £30.00

Another end of tenancy clean at £100.00
The end of tenancy cleans...are they inside or cleaning windows??
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: davidpitts on October 28, 2008, 08:54:45 pm
In the past week I got 4 houses and one restaurant
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Davo on October 29, 2008, 10:02:09 am
Interesting post from another part of this forum.





There was this elderly man who had a profitable little business selling hot dogs on a busy street corner in a major city. He wasn’t particularly well educated, but he sold great hot dogs and his customers loved him.

During the early morning rush hour, he’d wheel his mobile hot dog stand to position it near the exit of the central railway station in town. A year ago he’d added a bacon and egg roll to his range and sold scores of them to this breakfast crowd every day. At lunchtime, he’d move his stand to a popular park where he had lines of regulars.

In the afternoon he’d be back at the station entrance and then later most nights he knew a great spot near a nightclub where young patrons rushed him off his feet. He had even installed special lighting and a flashing neon sign. Even people driving by would stop.

He’d worked hard for years and done well enough to put his only son through university who later became an accountant with a large accounting firm.

One day his son warned him that a recession was on the way. The old man asked his son what this meant. Being an educated man his son gave a very detailed explanation of how the recession would severely impact everyone in the community, particularly small business people like his father. There would be enormous unemployment; people would not be able to afford to spend money as they did now. He painted a gloomy picture of the future and warned his father that it would be wise to cut back on his expenses and “tighten his belt” financially and prepare for the worst. The old man didn’t know much about the economy or interest rates, but he trusted his son. After all, he was an educated man. Recession mentality kicked in...

The old man began to cut back on the quantity of sausages and bread rolls he bought. He didn’t want to get caught with stale rolls as business began to drop off. But it was hard to judge and some days he actually ran out of sausages and rolls earlier than he normally would. So he went home early and spent more time worrying about this recession that was coming.

   Soon he knew that what his son had said was right. He noticed that his takings were indeed falling. This depressed him more and so he tended to get out of bed later each day. After all, why get to the station so early when obviously more people would be eating at home rather than spending money on breakfast in the city. He decided that his bacon
and egg rolls were too expensive for most people now. After all, they were twice the price of a hot dog, so he cut them from his menu and his sales continued to plummet.

Wow, his son was right, this recession was hitting hard!

He decided to save more money and not replace the batteries that powered his neon sign and lights at night. Now because he was in the dark, fewer people bought from him and soon he decided that it wasn’t even worth his time setting up at night. Eventually he decided to sell off his equipment and his trolley. He was in luck though because the young woman who bought his trolley didn’t seem to know how bad business was, or how severe the recession was going to be. He managed to unload the trolley for more than he thought he would get. Now day after day he stayed at home, depressed, and occasionally his son would visit him and they would discuss how bad the recession was, and how lucky the old man had been to have an educated son who had warned him in advance about this terrible recession.

So what’s the moral of this story?

Recession mentality starts in one’s own head. If you believe that a recession is coming and that times will soon be tough, then they will be for you. Like the old man in the story, you’ll start to change your successful behaviour patterns and replace them with less resourceful habits. You’ll sleep in later. You’ll take longer lunch breaks, make less phone calls and go home earlier.

But it needn’t be that way...

Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Oakley Windows on October 29, 2008, 11:09:16 am
A 6 weeker at £17.00

An end of tenancy clean at £30.00

Another end of tenancy clean at £100.00
The end of tenancy cleans...are they inside or cleaning windows??

One is windows outside, the other windows inside and out, NOT hoovering/dusting and all that malarky!
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: windowwashers on October 29, 2008, 12:10:27 pm
Just had a call and got a house I have been after for ages we now do 4 out of the 5 which is a result  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 29, 2008, 06:24:35 pm
Interesting post from another part of this forum.





There was this elderly man who had a profitable little business selling hot dogs on a busy street corner in a major city. He wasn’t particularly well educated, but he sold great hot dogs and his customers loved him.

During the early morning rush hour, he’d wheel his mobile hot dog stand to position it near the exit of the central railway station in town. A year ago he’d added a bacon and egg roll to his range and sold scores of them to this breakfast crowd every day. At lunchtime, he’d move his stand to a popular park where he had lines of regulars.

In the afternoon he’d be back at the station entrance and then later most nights he knew a great spot near a nightclub where young patrons rushed him off his feet. He had even installed special lighting and a flashing neon sign. Even people driving by would stop.

He’d worked hard for years and done well enough to put his only son through university who later became an accountant with a large accounting firm.

One day his son warned him that a recession was on the way. The old man asked his son what this meant. Being an educated man his son gave a very detailed explanation of how the recession would severely impact everyone in the community, particularly small business people like his father. There would be enormous unemployment; people would not be able to afford to spend money as they did now. He painted a gloomy picture of the future and warned his father that it would be wise to cut back on his expenses and “tighten his belt” financially and prepare for the worst. The old man didn’t know much about the economy or interest rates, but he trusted his son. After all, he was an educated man. Recession mentality kicked in...

The old man began to cut back on the quantity of sausages and bread rolls he bought. He didn’t want to get caught with stale rolls as business began to drop off. But it was hard to judge and some days he actually ran out of sausages and rolls earlier than he normally would. So he went home early and spent more time worrying about this recession that was coming.

   Soon he knew that what his son had said was right. He noticed that his takings were indeed falling. This depressed him more and so he tended to get out of bed later each day. After all, why get to the station so early when obviously more people would be eating at home rather than spending money on breakfast in the city. He decided that his bacon
and egg rolls were too expensive for most people now. After all, they were twice the price of a hot dog, so he cut them from his menu and his sales continued to plummet.

Wow, his son was right, this recession was hitting hard!

He decided to save more money and not replace the batteries that powered his neon sign and lights at night. Now because he was in the dark, fewer people bought from him and soon he decided that it wasn’t even worth his time setting up at night. Eventually he decided to sell off his equipment and his trolley. He was in luck though because the young woman who bought his trolley didn’t seem to know how bad business was, or how severe the recession was going to be. He managed to unload the trolley for more than he thought he would get. Now day after day he stayed at home, depressed, and occasionally his son would visit him and they would discuss how bad the recession was, and how lucky the old man had been to have an educated son who had warned him in advance about this terrible recession.

So what’s the moral of this story?

Recession mentality starts in one’s own head. If you believe that a recession is coming and that times will soon be tough, then they will be for you. Like the old man in the story, you’ll start to change your successful behaviour patterns and replace them with less resourceful habits. You’ll sleep in later. You’ll take longer lunch breaks, make less phone calls and go home earlier.

But it needn’t be that way...



excellent post,

I was fed up of hearing about people losing customers, it was starting to paint a picture of doom and gloom,... so i started this post , basically , to end that... and concentrate on how WELL people are actually doing,.

I do believe the recession will affect people, but , that is spurring me on to try and gain more and more business,... if you get into the mindset that all is lost .... it will be.


New customers are still coming in,  and the old customers are still here.... i also believe... as with the old man.... quality counts.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: prestigeclean on October 29, 2008, 07:37:51 pm
picked up £50.00 and a£20.00 domestic today regards alan
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on October 29, 2008, 07:43:04 pm
picked up 2 at £12 this week.... :-\
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: steven ainger on October 29, 2008, 07:50:10 pm
in the last 2wks ive picked up
2 x £10  4wk
1 x £15  4wk
1 x £20  4wk
1 X £60  4wk   all domestic
1 x £240 6mth  commercial

and lost 0
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: trike on October 29, 2008, 10:50:59 pm
first street this morn 3 new custies in half a hour :o :o :o
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: mark dew on October 30, 2008, 12:40:39 am
a plastic tunnel greenhouse  for £70. A domestic today for £18.  ;D
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Oakley Windows on November 01, 2008, 09:24:17 pm
£28.00 today, had a guy ALSO bring his kids round Trick or Treat last night, I said I hope you're not going to 'egg' the windows as Im a window cleaner, he said oh you better come up to number 29 and give us a price!  ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you g
Post by: paulscotney on November 01, 2008, 10:52:40 pm
This week picked up 1 X 4 weekly @ £14,   1X 8 weekly @ £14,  1 X 8 weekly @ £13.

Nothing lost.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: windowwashers on November 01, 2008, 11:16:57 pm
Interesting post from another part of this forum.





There was this elderly man who had a profitable little business selling hot dogs on a busy street corner in a major city. He wasn’t particularly well educated, but he sold great hot dogs and his customers loved him.

During the early morning rush hour, he’d wheel his mobile hot dog stand to position it near the exit of the central railway station in town. A year ago he’d added a bacon and egg roll to his range and sold scores of them to this breakfast crowd every day. At lunchtime, he’d move his stand to a popular park where he had lines of regulars.

In the afternoon he’d be back at the station entrance and then later most nights he knew a great spot near a nightclub where young patrons rushed him off his feet. He had even installed special lighting and a flashing neon sign. Even people driving by would stop.

He’d worked hard for years and done well enough to put his only son through university who later became an accountant with a large accounting firm.

One day his son warned him that a recession was on the way. The old man asked his son what this meant. Being an educated man his son gave a very detailed explanation of how the recession would severely impact everyone in the community, particularly small business people like his father. There would be enormous unemployment; people would not be able to afford to spend money as they did now. He painted a gloomy picture of the future and warned his father that it would be wise to cut back on his expenses and “tighten his belt” financially and prepare for the worst. The old man didn’t know much about the economy or interest rates, but he trusted his son. After all, he was an educated man. Recession mentality kicked in...

The old man began to cut back on the quantity of sausages and bread rolls he bought. He didn’t want to get caught with stale rolls as business began to drop off. But it was hard to judge and some days he actually ran out of sausages and rolls earlier than he normally would. So he went home early and spent more time worrying about this recession that was coming.

   Soon he knew that what his son had said was right. He noticed that his takings were indeed falling. This depressed him more and so he tended to get out of bed later each day. After all, why get to the station so early when obviously more people would be eating at home rather than spending money on breakfast in the city. He decided that his bacon
and egg rolls were too expensive for most people now. After all, they were twice the price of a hot dog, so he cut them from his menu and his sales continued to plummet.

Wow, his son was right, this recession was hitting hard!

He decided to save more money and not replace the batteries that powered his neon sign and lights at night. Now because he was in the dark, fewer people bought from him and soon he decided that it wasn’t even worth his time setting up at night. Eventually he decided to sell off his equipment and his trolley. He was in luck though because the young woman who bought his trolley didn’t seem to know how bad business was, or how severe the recession was going to be. He managed to unload the trolley for more than he thought he would get. Now day after day he stayed at home, depressed, and occasionally his son would visit him and they would discuss how bad the recession was, and how lucky the old man had been to have an educated son who had warned him in advance about this terrible recession.

So what’s the moral of this story?

Recession mentality starts in one’s own head. If you believe that a recession is coming and that times will soon be tough, then they will be for you. Like the old man in the story, you’ll start to change your successful behaviour patterns and replace them with less resourceful habits. You’ll sleep in later. You’ll take longer lunch breaks, make less phone calls and go home earlier.

But it needn’t be that way...



excellent post,

I was fed up of hearing about people losing customers, it was starting to paint a picture of doom and gloom,... so i started this post , basically , to end that... and concentrate on how WELL people are actually doing,.

I do believe the recession will affect people, but , that is spurring me on to try and gain more and more business,... if you get into the mindset that all is lost .... it will be.


New customers are still coming in,  and the old customers are still here.... i also believe... as with the old man.... quality counts.
Good on you for starting this post, I dont come on here as much as I used to for this very reason, I do not like be surrounded by people that look on every negative that can come there way, I get enough bad luck which I see as a challenge, the post you replied to is so true..


My point to replying to this post again is for all to read "if listen to negative people THEY will drag you down to there Negative level and thinking it is like poison to your mind.

Times are getting harder but there is still loads of work out there to be got.

There is a saying for people that look on the down side of everything and anyone that sold what I did many many years ago will relate and they are called (negators) please do not listen to people that will drag you down into a negative thought patten it is not good for you or for your business, listen to people that are doing and are positive, if you have not tried this before please do then come back and post after 2 weeks and see ytour improvements.


I am stopping reading the paper for the next 2 weeks and also not watching the news as both make me feel bad and I have to pay for that... ::) I will post the results of this in 2 weeks good or not so good
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Glyn H on November 02, 2008, 12:05:09 am
New work!!!!
Priced two new jobs this week
1) block of 125 flats by the side of the Thames (nice working location)
2) block of 25 flats

+ carried out gutter cleans to two blocks of flats and  three houses average £200 per hour

Next week cleaning gutters for 12 houses in a row for housing association
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Dave Turley on November 02, 2008, 07:14:36 pm
this week I gained 6 residential, which equate to an increase of£100 per month.

and i've lost none this week and no-one has asked me to come less regularly.

top week!

re upkeepers & gutter cleaning, is it really that profitable in comparison to a well priced round with hot wfp?
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Dave Turley on November 02, 2008, 07:46:48 pm
sorry folks, I can't delete that duplicate post
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on November 03, 2008, 09:38:55 pm
6 new ones ... around 50 quid today.... and put out 200 flyers as well, so lets hope  ;D :D ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Oakley Windows on November 03, 2008, 09:44:29 pm
£28.00 today, had a guy ALSO bring his kids round Trick or Treat last night, I said I hope you're not going to 'egg' the windows as Im a window cleaner, he said oh you better come up to number 29 and give us a price!  ;)

That Trick or Treat geezer was converted into another £28.00 account.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you g
Post by: gary999 on November 03, 2008, 10:38:26 pm
one £25 monthly picked up to day old cleaner was charging a tenner ;D
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: groundhog on November 03, 2008, 10:45:12 pm
Picked up a nice block of flats £215 about 4hrs work every 8 weeks  ;D Also gained two houses next to each other at £30 each every 4 weeks  ;D  Lost None!!  ;D ;D  Things are looking good!!!!!!
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on November 03, 2008, 10:57:48 pm
love it  ;D :D ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Paul Coleman on November 10, 2008, 06:42:00 pm
Thought I would resurrect this one as I think it's good to be positive.
Three new jobs in the past week.  1 @ 18.  1 @ £13.  1 @ £23.  At 8 cleans a year that's £432 on my turnover.
No losses.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: groundhog on November 10, 2008, 07:55:23 pm
Thought I would resurrect this one as I think it's good to be positive.
Three new jobs in the past week.  1 @ 18.  1 @ £13.  1 @ £23.  At 8 cleans a year that's £432 on my turnover.
No losses.

Hey Shiner take my advice and start rounding your prices up ie £20 instead of £18, I bet that you would have still got those jobs, and do the maths to see what a big difference it would make to your bottom line at the end of the year!!!  ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: seandyer2003 on November 10, 2008, 08:10:54 pm
Thought I would resurrect this one as I think it's good to be positive.
Three new jobs in the past week.  1 @ 18.  1 @ £13.  1 @ £23.  At 8 cleans a year that's £432 on my turnover.
No losses.

Hey Shiner take my advice and start rounding your prices up ie £20 instead of £18, I bet that you would have still got those jobs, and do the maths to see what a big difference it would make to your bottom line at the end of the year!!!  ;)

How do you know it wasnt a job worth 15 that he bumped to 18, i wish i knew where these people lived that would rather you just rounded there price up a few quid like it doesnt matter ????

And i have gained in the last week, 8 @ £10, one @ 13 (sorry i didnt round it upto 25 now), picked up £13 today , and another call today for house, gutter and pvc clean 6 monthly and windows monthly , and a couple of one offs :)
So its out there still :)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: groundhog on November 10, 2008, 08:22:30 pm
Last week I picked up a £90 every other month, and another 3 £30 monthly jobs + a £100 builders clean which will hopefully lead to a regular clean when the house is sold!!  ;D
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: seandyer2003 on November 10, 2008, 08:26:40 pm
Where do you live groundhog mate, your prices sound good man. i didnt think i was cheap in my area, but what size houses are them £30, i have a £32 house and i got it from a round i bought and it is a mansion takes just under an hr, prob you guys would be quoting 100 for it haha, will have to take some pics on the sly to see what you would quote...
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: groundhog on November 10, 2008, 08:29:37 pm
I live in Hampshire Sean, the £30 jobs above are 4 bedroom houses.  :)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: seandyer2003 on November 10, 2008, 08:31:49 pm
Thats not that big though eh really prob a 25 min job max, and im thinking trad times :) i need to move...they say the cost of libing is dearer but what is that much more expensive bar the house, tax etc is all same, my car insurance is dearest in the country because of sharing a postcode with what used to be a really bad area, even though its regenerated now, and is 2 miles from me!!!
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: groundhog on November 10, 2008, 08:40:34 pm
Thats not that big though eh really prob a 25 min job max, and im thinking trad times :) i need to move...they say the cost of libing is dearer but what is that much more expensive bar the house, tax etc is all same, my car insurance is dearest in the country because of sharing a postcode with what used to be a really bad area, even though its regenerated now, and is 2 miles from me!!!

I don't know what a house costs in your area mate, but I live in a 3 bed semi that is worth about £320,000. Most of the houses I target these days are worth in excess of £1million, and some £5million+  :)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: seandyer2003 on November 10, 2008, 08:45:08 pm
I live in a 3 bed semi that is worth around 100, 000 in current climate, but i bet there aint alot of difference in size ! I have a drive out front that takes 4 cars, and a garden at back with a huge outhouse/shed that i built a few yr back with stepdad, and about 4m x 4m of decking and still a  reasonable size lawn, however it is ex council and is oooop noorth, so its not worth a stupidly overrated price :) for 320, 000 up here i could have a stately home lol

there aint many million pound houses knocking about and the ones that are, are few, and usually inaccesible as many are owned by big businessman and footballers etc so all you can do is post in the little post box at end of drive and hope for a call :(
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: groundhog on November 10, 2008, 08:49:27 pm
Well that explains why I am able to charge much higher prices in Hampshire than you are up North! Your house sounds like it is probably bigger than mine also!! So as you can see I need to charge more than you to pay the bloody mortgage!!!  ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: seandyer2003 on November 10, 2008, 08:58:17 pm
Well that explains why I am able to charge much higher prices in Hampshire than you are up North! Your house sounds like it is probably bigger than mine also!! So as you can see I need to charge more than you to pay the bloody mortgage!!!  ;)

Im surprised they have £30 knocking about after paying them mortgages lol
Another factor here is that most WC's have this working class ethos of believing themselves to be lowest of the low, so they charge low and resort to cheating to make more, so when i come along as a professional outfit they are happy but when i quote they soon stop smiling whereas it seems from the forum here that many down your way are alot more savvy in business than the jokers around here, so if you canvass an area they used to operate in, it takes alot of hard work to get prices up !!
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: geefree on November 10, 2008, 09:00:14 pm
Anyway... how many new cutomers are you gaining  ::) ;)
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 10, 2008, 09:41:43 pm
Another £20 job today.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: seandyer2003 on November 10, 2008, 09:44:27 pm
Anyway... how many new cutomers are you gaining  ::) ;)

i have gained in the last week, 8 @ £10, one @ 13, picked up £13 today , and another call today for house, gutter and pvc clean 6 monthly and windows monthly , and a couple of one offs :)
So its out there still
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Oakley Windows on November 10, 2008, 11:03:51 pm
Since I last posted on this thread Ive picked up a £12.00,  got in with a property management company, first job being a £60.00 every 3 months, a £140.00 gutter a £75.00 gutter.
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: *frank cannon on November 10, 2008, 11:17:16 pm
Anyway... how many new cutomers are you gaining  ::) ;)

i have gained in the last week, 8 @ £10, one @ 13, picked up £13 today , and another call today for house, gutter and pvc clean 6 monthly and windows monthly , and a couple of one offs :)
So its out there still

decent website u have there sean...was it expensive??
Title: Re: Doom and gloom topics....lets be positive...How many new customers did you gain
Post by: Paul Coleman on November 11, 2008, 05:09:46 am
Thought I would resurrect this one as I think it's good to be positive.
Three new jobs in the past week.  1 @ 18.  1 @ £13.  1 @ £23.  At 8 cleans a year that's £432 on my turnover.
No losses.

Hey Shiner take my advice and start rounding your prices up ie £20 instead of £18, I bet that you would have still got those jobs, and do the maths to see what a big difference it would make to your bottom line at the end of the year!!!  ;)

The rates are good ones.  Just trust me on that  :)  .  One is a builders clean first time out so charging a lot more for that but another made contact via Windowwasher's website so will be getting a discount on first clean.  Would still earn reasonably OK even if they only want one clean.