Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: paul@scc on April 15, 2005, 09:36:48 am
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I was thinking of going up the carboot sales only cost a fiver
Get a old armchair and a few carpet off cuts dirty them and then clean one side leaving the other dirty putting them on a stall with some leaflets and ballons maybe even a few pics of jobs ive done with over 1000 people passing your stall i think it could attact interest. Would look even better if i had a truck mount could even give a demo then
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Paul
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
What about erecting a gazebbo in case it rains, rent a high power generator and run your porty off it, maybe even leave it in your van for the demo purpose. Demonstrations are much more powerful than photo's and examples.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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i think your right ken i know its a bit tv style but as you say they love to see the old demos and works out cheaper and less work then leaflets
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If you can do it, it will work. I've seen similar and the crowd around the stall is usually big.
You have to talk the demo through, be able to answer questions and work fast.
Have a varied mix of things that people can squirt onto your fabric or upholstery and then you remove it. Only use things that you know that you can remove without fail!!
May be worth having someone else with you to take bookings. You can fill a month in the diary in a morning if you are at the right venue and have the right chat to go along with the demo.
It's not something I could do but if you can, go for it and good luck.
Nicky
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Have sent you a PM
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Hi Paul
I've done this and it really works... Just get some old rugs and clean them as a demo.
What we done also was get some clipboards and get people to enter a prize draw say the winner gets a free clean for their house. But you must put in writing that you will be contacting everybody who does not win to give them a quote for cleaning their carpets. It work a treat.
Loads of work.
Good luck
Regards Kevin
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Paul ,
Let me tell you from a very experinced person who worked the markets for a
a very long number of years now, and still does on sundays , yes myself
You would be what the market guys call "demos" and believe me if your good
at speeling and working a crowd you can work wonders selling your service,
but if you just stand and clean little interst will be shown.
ive seen men sell carpet cleaning products at a tenner a time simply by having the gift of the gab, a simple demo on a polyprop carpet, removing shoe polish ,ink etc,etc,etc, all from a bottle , agitated and wiped up ;D ;D ;D
yes it really works :'( :'( " well the punters seem to think so" ::)
so yes a great idea if you got the bottle " no pun intended" and the ability
to pitch your wares to a public gallery
geoff
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Well ive got the bottle to do it love the fact of charming the public so im off shopping tomorrow to get a few cheap offcut and got a old chair that could do with a really good meesing up gonna try for this sunday and ill let you all know the out come
i got the gift of the gab how do you think i snared my wife
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If I'd got the gift of the gab I'd be single now :'(
Shaun
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Shaun
If you hadnt got money youd be single now
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I say go for it Paul have you a truckmount if not how are you going to power those machines.
I miss the buzz of retail,
Although I have always fancied pitching on a Market I do not think i would be any good on those cold dark damp winter days
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I would'nt do this kind of marketing myself, but yes if you feel like giving it a try what have you got to loose. Present yourself well and keep it simple, you should certainly pick up some work.
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I know alot of people havent got the bottle to do this but i belive that by just delivering leaflets and cold calling is not the answer
I do get a very good work rate from my leaflet but these are only a drop and hope prospect. especially when there is a lot of customers out there but you have to attract them in very different ways
Like the diy freaks who spent millions on vanish and 1001 hoping to remove it themselves never works so im having a load of stickers made up saying cant shift it ring and sticking them on the bottom of these products in shops. I may get caught but i wanna see the results
Im also listed with a few plumbers in the area who recomend us if there is flood damage every job they get a small fee
so anyone else addvertise in any other ways apart from the usual
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Paul (scc),
That stickers thing is realllllllly cheeky!! :o :o
''Hello dear, want anything from Tesco's? I've got to get some Petrol''
Right then, .....................................what Aisle was the 1001 in?!........hmmmmmmm.
;D ;D
Martin
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Paul
Its the old story "one picture is worth a thousand words", anyone can survive as a CC, but to succeed,you need enterprise.
gud on yu
Barry
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Hi Paul
Good Luck for Sunday....... :D
Regards Kevin
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Well i managed to blag a generator and i got my carpet and chair also got some 1001 and vanish to compare and did manage 10 stickers in asda so im all set let you know how it goes
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Paul,
As Barry says, with enterprising ideas like that (however cheeky ;) ) you will do well.
Good luck for Sunday also. Let everyone know how you get on.
Anyway, must go, as i said earlier, got to get some Petrol. ;)
Martin
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why not sell a spotter as well, tell them if it does'nt get the stain out to call you out and you'll deduct the price of the spotter off the final bill.
Mike
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Mike,
As Barry said, enterprise. ;)
I'm learning all the time (from you guys)
Martin
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I was going to chat with Paul on the phone but he's not called :'( ;D...so as there is a lot of interest on this, I'll share what I know:
Boot sale advertising & demo will attract punters from the council house end of the domestic market. They are mainly price sensitive, will expect low prices and want something for nothing. make sure you anchor everything down so it doesn't walk and have someone with you.
To work at advertising & marketing through demo's at the middle to upper end of the domestic market needs a little forward planning.
Look for village fairs that are taking bookings for stallholders. Book at stall (usually 1 or 2 days). Put a poster up in the local shop with your name and photograph and basic list of services. When the local people see you at the fair, they will think,"I know that name/ face from somewhere", and you are already familiar and therefore half way there! This type of venue will attract local people who will be able to offer referal and recommendation over a period of time.
One step up from this is the Country Fair. Usually a county event and they last about three days. Prices for stalls here are expensive but the geographical location of the visitors will be big and they will be from all domestic markets and incomes.
It is possible with the correct demo etc. to fill a month in the diary in a morning.
To be successful in any of these areas but especially the last two, you will need to be smart, have enough material to last the duration of the fair, have answers to questions, confidence and a charming personality.
If you can do it...GO FOR IT. I wish you all the luck.
Nicky
PS I've never done this kind of marketing personally...much to scary!!
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Nicky
"Nothing ventured nothing gained" but a three day event, Phew, once the adrenoline has gone it will take you a week to recover, no, two hours on a Sunday morning, in, out, and see.
Barry
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well ill let you all know and if it goes allright then ill let you all know what other crazy marketing ideas i have. Got 1 in the pipeline but gotta find out a little more before i put it to the forum. Could benefit us all though
Oh and thanks for the good luck messages much appreciated
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Well i must say what a day 27 quotes to do over 300 leaflets taken and im shattered but a very worth while day you should all try it
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Paul,
Well done :)
Cheers,
Doug ;
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Congratulations Paul
I seen a company advertised in a Prochem magazine doing a demo at some similar event. Valetek I think they were called. They had 2 truckmounts on the go. Put it like this you would not get this sort of response from any of the other medians in such a short space of time.
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well if it ends up with only half the quotes turning into work then im happy for the price of a tenner going back in 2 weeks
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Hi Paul,
That was a good response.
What kind of domestic customers were they?
It would be interesting if, in time you could let us know average statistics and job values please.
Well Done,
Regards,
Nicky
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How did you power your machine. Ordo you have a truckmount?
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Right the results are in the first thing is the 27 quotes 5 of which turned out to be dead ender no work the other 22 have confirm the bookings and done my first 3 total of £270 most are 2-3 rooms so a basic income of £90-£120 the best 1 happens to be a letting agency that is sick of his cleaner letting them down so got a full house clean into the deal at £250
Have had 12 quotes from the leaflets aswell 4 which have confirmed booking at around the £100 mark so in all for £5 pitch and £3 in petrol for genny should estimate a turn over of over £2500 within the next 4 weeks
so if i was you lot go and try it as it works and it is more viable then a few leaflets
im off at another on sunday and monday
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Fair play to you Paul!
Sounds like a great way to drum up business. I'm impressed!
Regards
Mike