Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: clinton on December 07, 2008, 06:07:59 pm

Title: Christmas trade
Post by: clinton on December 07, 2008, 06:07:59 pm
Just wondered if anyone has picked up yet for next week and the week after ???

I know on the last post about christmas bookings some of you were slow ???
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: derek west on December 07, 2008, 06:24:19 pm
ive picked up.
12 crates of stella
11 cans of strongbow
10 bots of newquay (brown ale)
9 kronenbergs chilling
8 fosters super chilled
7 mcewans export
6 grolch a laying
fiiiiveeeee coooollllddddddd beers
4 guiness bottles
3 french lagers
2 turtle neck jumpers, (hey!! they were in the same isle and on offer)
and a crate of vikings finest
, thank you, thank you very much.
goodnight
derek
god i'm bored, bring back i'm a celebrity.
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: suffolkclean on December 07, 2008, 07:56:32 pm
Ahhh ...just have to say there's a lot of derek & clinton together at the moment.
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on December 07, 2008, 08:51:38 pm
 :(

Shaun
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Jim_77 on December 07, 2008, 09:37:47 pm
I'm saving my last full free day before xmas eve for an old regular who I'm phoning in the morning.  Still got a few odd hours spare on other days but no blank pages.

BUT

Flicking through and mentally tallying up the job tickets, it's definitely not a big-spending December for many - quite a few one-room jobs and lower value stuff.

Only got 2 jobs booked for Jan though, not big-money ones either.

I was sat on my bum for quite a few days from Sept - Oct though, whereas I know some of you guys were quite busy then.  Strange how it differs!
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Paul Simpson on December 07, 2008, 09:52:40 pm
Funny Derek, like it  ;D

Was fairly busy upto 2nd/3rd week November then quiet last couple weeks, but picked up and diary starting to fill up now thankfully as I was getting worried.
Quite a few of which I quoted weeks ago in some cases are now just ringing to book. Whether they're getting the presents out of the way before finding out how much spare cash they got left....I don't know?
Definately quieter than last December already.
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on December 07, 2008, 10:11:38 pm
I write little notes in my diary and when I had a look last year I'd say that it's about par takings wise, booking wise I tend to get my December booked up because I get some good clients to rebook for 1 year later.Like you Jim the phone for 1 week went dead in October but luckily for me I was booked for that week and rode the storm.

January I have 2 bookings which add up to £235.00 so I should be OK until June then ;D

Shaun
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on December 07, 2008, 10:25:38 pm
Only two days with nothing booked in till 23rd not including sat & sun
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on December 07, 2008, 11:35:58 pm
Phone is quieter but job tickets bigger compared to last year so overall only a little bit down; nothing particularly significant. (early October was dead but I put this down to the news being nothing but the credit crunch which put people off booking. Once this was no longer flavour of the month on the news the phone started to ring again.)


Last day working will be Monday 22nd and not planning to go back until at least the 12th January, and possibly not till 19th as there will be little significant work around. I usually wait until there is enough to make it worth my while loading the ambulance up for a day's work, not just one job each day during early January. (I'll just explain to customers that I'm on holiday and can I book them in for later in the month.)
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: ianharper on December 08, 2008, 11:34:49 am
Guys

its really interesting to read you post when people say they don't have much book in they never say what they are doing about it. For me it gets me thinking about marketing and new ideas.

For example this month we had a few days where we did not have much booked in so I have some A boards with those card dispensers on them in my garage. So we used them outside some infant schools and have had a good response.

It a quick response marketing idea. as leaflets take time to get sorted. You know what its like you get to the weekend and you have a few gaps in the next two week work and it would be nice to have them filled. this is a great way to do that.

We are also going to do some testing outside vets at night. as pet owners with sick dogs and cats will have those accidents to be cleared up.

I think that over a year its this type of marketing idea that will add up and make the differance between a good year and a really good one.

Respect

Ian Harper

Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: russell james on December 08, 2008, 04:27:13 pm
whats the weather like on mars this time of year Ian, is xmas a big thing there like it is here?

 :o
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: ianharper on December 08, 2008, 05:09:43 pm
Hi Russell

Where abouts in east anglia are you?

Respect

Ian Harper
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: russell james on December 08, 2008, 05:34:06 pm
March (the town, not the month), cambridgeshire (well someones got to live there) :)
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: mark_roberts on December 08, 2008, 06:05:33 pm
I havent checked the figures but Id say its much the same as last year only more people have left it late.  Lost two today as couldnt fit them when they wanted.

However, I will be cleaning more suites this month than in the past four months combined which Im not happy about.  A few say they decided to clean as opposed to replace. 

Cant wait to get off for two weeks though.  Need a break.  Havent had a week day off since early October.

Mark
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: russell james on December 08, 2008, 06:08:50 pm
id be happy to clean suites all the time, much prefer them to carpets if i had the choice, more money in them too!
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: mitch2810 on December 08, 2008, 06:15:55 pm
Russell, why are you having a pop at Ian for making a good marketing suggestion? these forums are here to help other cleaners by sharing our ideas. Don`t knock it. By the way I am fully booked up now until Xmas Eve, when I will be putting my feet up until 5 Jan. I hope you all have a good Xmas and get lots of work in between now and then. Good luck
Phil
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: russell james on December 08, 2008, 06:23:20 pm
what you on about mitch, i was reffering to hes location on his profile, check you facts before you open that mouth of yours!!!

this is even followed by the fact that he asked where i am from and the fact that he said respect!!!

do your homework next time mate!!
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: colin thomas on December 08, 2008, 06:37:56 pm
you do seem a bit tetchy russell, calm down a bit, don't snap so much,

colin    :o
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: russell james on December 08, 2008, 06:39:13 pm
im sorry, and you are?
i WILL not accept a character assasination of any sort,
are you one of mitches mates?
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: russell james on December 08, 2008, 06:42:04 pm
im not happy that mitch is telling me that this site is not for wasters like me, but for informative advice, im sure if you ask many people on here, or have a read through my previous posts, you will see that alsmost all of my posts are offering people advice!!!!
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Jim_77 on December 08, 2008, 06:42:09 pm
c'mon chaps play nice :)
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on December 08, 2008, 06:59:15 pm
Ian has been on these forums for years, I've sold him things and spoke to him quite a few times over the years, he's offering free advice and a different point of view. Ian has always done his marketing in a different way I think asking where you lived was a tag and the next question would have been "give me your email and I'll send you some stuff!" but I guess you missed out on that one.

Shaun
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Neil Grainger on December 08, 2008, 07:52:05 pm
Ian

good to see you back on here. ignore the idiots that dont take advice or free help.

As shaun has said, russell you should read what people are saying before gettig on at them.

Cheers

Neil or free
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Paul_Ashworth on December 08, 2008, 08:27:11 pm
Ian,
I thought your Ideas where different but its usually those that work and in business you allways have to think out of the Box and its usually those mad ideas that work and they were low cost so have nothing to lose.

Paul
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: ianharper on December 09, 2008, 12:39:30 am
Thanks guys
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr123/ianharper11/carpet-cleaning-sign-1.jpg)
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr123/ianharper11/carpet-cleaning-sign-2.jpg)
(http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr123/ianharper11/a_sign.jpg)
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Ricky M on December 09, 2008, 08:13:15 am
Ian looking at that has give me an idea towards some thing else slightly diff but along the same lines
 
Thanks for sharing

Ricky
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: ianharper on December 09, 2008, 08:41:09 am
Hi Clinton

they are much more than that. you chain them to any post like i said outside schools, vets etc. anywhere your target market is.

Tina my PA can cover 8 schools in two days with two of these.

BTW the offer is one free area with any paid area. the sign gets them to the card dispenser and on the card it tells them that really its a buy get one free offer.

respect

Ian Harper

Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: mitch2810 on December 09, 2008, 09:00:45 am
what you on about mitch, i was reffering to hes location on his profile, check you facts before you open that mouth of yours!!!

this is even followed by the fact that he asked where i am from and the fact that he said respect!!!

do your homework next time mate!!
I dont remember opening my mouth and its time you grew up and stopped being offended by remarks like this. Chill out fella
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: russell james on December 09, 2008, 09:28:03 am
Ian has been on these forums for years, I've sold him things and spoke to him quite a few times over the years, he's offering free advice and a different point of view. Ian has always done his marketing in a different way I think asking where you lived was a tag and the next question would have been "give me your email and I'll send you some stuff!" but I guess you missed out on that one.

Shaun




sorry shaun your wrong, i asked about where he lived, then he asked me the same question,
you people on here automatically think you have an idea as to whats going on, but you need to read between the lines
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Ian Gourlay on December 09, 2008, 10:47:16 am
Ian

Doyou ever clean Carpets/

PA wish I had one.

A board looks a looks idea

what price  do you charge for Paid  Room .  £5 a  metre.

Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: Tony Gill Carpet Smart on December 09, 2008, 06:50:22 pm
Where can i get some card holders Ian
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: David_Annable on December 09, 2008, 07:17:59 pm
Hi

I have seen those cardholders on fleabay.

Dave
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: sherco on December 09, 2008, 07:28:25 pm
A mate of mine used these boards, and he got a letter from the council telling him he would be prosecuted if he kept putting them on pavements or public areas. The council nicked two of them even when he chained them up  ??? Said he needed permission from them, probably wanted loads of money for doing nothing.....lol
Title: Re: Christmas trade
Post by: carlton care on December 09, 2008, 08:45:48 pm
Better known as paranoia !!