Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: laddermonkee on January 16, 2009, 01:40:20 pm
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How has your business been affected by the credit crunch, i am from london and things seem a bit quiet at the moment, or is it my imagination.
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am about £60 a week down on 6 months ago :( quite a few shops closing, staff being laid off so i cant moan. i didn't think i'd be immune to the recession but will work harder and get through it ;)
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I have lost a few customers due to the credit crunch... But have gained some new ones too, which has balanced it out.
One of my customers said an interesting thing the other day... She said:
"Window Cleaning is probably a good business to be in as people might not be moving or spending a lot of money on their homes at the moment - But, the majority still want to keep their current home looking nice".
Andy
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Pubs aren't a good bet at them moment; I've just lost another (not that I had many in the first place); I've lost a class hotel too due to bancruptcy, also a few lower-end residential; but other than that I haven't felt the credit crunch; business wise.
It's always quiet this time of year; things start getting busy about March.
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i havnt lost any as yet but have noticed all the nice new ladders on cars! every customer i have spoken to so far have said they are happy with the level of service i provide and with the price i charge and i guess im lucky as i bought the round of a guy who was doing it for spare cash so they apreciate a regular guy now and this credit crunch wont last for ever
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68 new jobs since last march..... lost 5 and a few gone to every 8 weeks....
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Lost two this week as a result of loosing their jobs. This will get worse I fear so loose ten , go get ten more, or shrink.
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lost about £600 worth of work,and have had a fair few swap 2 bio monthly,phone hasnt been ring much either,
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The manager of a 100 bed hotel asked us to miss while next time he says hardly anyone is booked into the hotel over the next few months....things can only get better ??? ???
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i was talking to a certain window cleaner in lydney
who reckoned he had lost £19000, recently ::)
guess who
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There's no question that things are slowing down.
Lost another 2 today because the old man had lost his job. And a 3rd customer who usually is bi-monthly said "Cheers Simon see you in a few months".
Haven't gained any new customers since before Christmas.
Might have to brush up on my canvassing skills at this rate >:(
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I'm just glad I'm not 100% commercial. I know a w/c'er who is & he's in trouble!
Tony
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I'm just glad I'm not 100% commercial.
Tony
Yeah me too.
The other thing that's coming across to me is even people who are still in work and to all intents and purposes fairly secure with the media constantly banging on about a long and painful recession people are becoming mindful of where their money is being spent.
A few personal examples: I used to get my car cleaned while I shopped in Asda...cost £12 in and out. Do it myself now.
Used to buy a couple of sandwiches for lunch. Now I make 'em myself.
Used to go out every friday night for a few bevvies and a ruby with my brother. Sitting here tapping away on my keyboard waiting for Mrs K to serve tea.
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Yeah it`s easy to get parked at weekends when going shopping lol. ;D
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hi,,m baker,,,don,t let it get you down to much,i think i,ve lost about 46 customers and like you, where i used to get about 6-8 enquires a week and out or that 3-4 convertions ,now i,m luckey if i get 1 enquirey every few months ,i just find it hard to take in when people say they havent lost any,,,grrrrrrrrrrr,,kev
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lost quite a few in december and a couple in jan, a few changed to 8 weekly, always lose a few this time of year, but seems there are a few more than last year. I want the cold weather to stay
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read my topic "IDEAL CUSTOMERS" its the way forward
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Haven't lost any yet. But I'm sure I will. If I get a cancellation I'm going to be flexible and ask if they want a price reduction for a year so I can keep them on the books.
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lydney window cleaner loses 19k
whats happened has raymonds gone twice weekly instead of three times a week?? ;D
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lydney window cleaner loses 19k
whats happened has raymonds gone twice weekly instead of three times a week?? ;D
reckons woolies owe him a shedload as well ;) ;D
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None for me yet
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I work the London commuter belt suburbs so quite a lot of my customers are city slickers. Lost a few to the credit crunch and whats going on. Nothing desperate but a constant erosion of the jobs market is taking its toll.
The thing to do if you want to be safe is spread yourself about so you have a broad customer base.
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Ive done that Vince.
Before Xmas I got a little worried.
Picked up 6 jobs in the last few weeks and taken a suspended job back on.
Decided some time ago not to be to picky.
I have benifited.
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Hi
Since Xmas I have lost 11 and replaced only 5 of them.
Seems to be tough times.
Tony
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our target customers should be retired ,semi retired, no mrtgage.....
i have piched up 28 new ones this year. :) lost 2 >:(
canvassing in the day usually finds this sort ....... although you will find more canvassing in the evening!.... but i am targeting the type of custie as above! and they are usually at home in the day. ;D
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I am almost all commercial & we have been hit. Lost large contract on tues £500+ per month.
Frequency is the main area of cutbacks we are down a lot from apr 08, by the end of this year mar 09 could be as high as 30k in total, had large summer job cancelled 2 weeks for min 4 blokes
Adding up all the time so hopefully can cope with it all as it happens.
Gary
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I am almost all commercial & we have been hit. Lost large contract on tues £500+ per month.
Frequency is the main area of cutbacks we are down a lot from apr 08, by the end of this year mar 09 could be as high as 30k in total, had large summer job cancelled 2 weeks for min 4 blokes
Adding up all the time so hopefully can cope with it all as it happens.
Gary
have you started targeting cash rich domestics? i started planning for this mess last march! :(
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Thought originally to just downsize, lose van & employees etc, always done commerial withemployees,but, looking tochange to domestics now if van doent go sunday.
Gary
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i;v got a scudo too 1.9d on a 06 plate....paid 8,500 + vat from new.... have a diy system.
its still only got 15 k on the clock , but i dread to think of how much its devalued.... still i plan to keep it a few years yet :)
just go for good domestics m8... you can still make a good living... and domestics are loyal.
i do medium to large domestics... my lad does the backs with a backpack, and i do the fronts with van mount... i collect or put a bill through , and do the paperwork while he puts it all away. its a good method that works well. ;D
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Never reduce price, increase the time instead.
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our target customers should be retired ,semi retired, no mrtgage.....
i have piched up 28 new ones this year. :) lost 2 >:(
canvassing in the day usually finds this sort ....... although you will find more canvassing in the evening!.... but i am targeting the type of custie as above! and they are usually at home in the day. ;D
The retired are excellent customers and form a good solid base to build a round on. Once you have been a few times they stick with you through thick and thin. They come from a generation where having a window cleaner was the norm and take it for granted as one of life's necessities.
Also, as you say they are normally in during the day and haven't usually built massive extensions that restricts your access. Also they don't usually have three cars in the front garden.
Only draw back - rose bushes, they love their rose bushes. I hate rose bushes.
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and you cant do them to quickly :o
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and you cant do them to quickly :o
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Only draw back - rose bushes, they love their rose bushes. I hate rose bushes.
And pyracantha.