[Tom White]

I think friendly and non-threatening is definitely required, but proper work wear and a clean image is helpful too.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'professional'?

i percieve professional as fully insured,provide invoices,and reciepts etc run it like a business not a job etc

That sounds good, Richy, but regarding some of the posts here, does it really matter what others perceive us to be like?  Really?

The only perception I really care about is my own perception of myself, all others shouldn't really matter if my intentions are honest.

There's an old saying that goes, "It doesn't matter what others do or don't do, it only matters what I do or don't do!"  I think we could include 'think' instead of 'do' in that.

[dave0123]

just following the shops thread i posted and the boom of wfp window cleaners and everyone moving to look more professional with uniforms and signwritten vans and explaining health and safety laws to customers etc window cleaners now using warning signs etc and using risk assessment and method statements etc etc

do the general public really give a damn??

4-5 years ago when i started i made a difference in my area i was the first from what i believe to offer a professional looking company who did things a bit different i.e cleaning frames and cills bk in them days the stamped addressed envelope was the in thing!!!

i found it quite easy picking up work just from my image but now more and more have followed suit and its the general norm now for window cleaner to be sign written and wearing uniforms

is wfp now considered the most used tool for window cleaning dometics??

when canvassing i find it hard even getting the chance to put the health and safety benefits even across and how much better wfp is than traditional methods.

should health and safety being doing more for our industry and maybe making adverts  for tv explaining how ladders are restricted and wfp SHOULD be used

I was doing all that before you started window cleaning, sign written van, uniforms, self addressed envlopes, cheques.. provinding a better service etc etc.

wen i started doing this in my area i think there was 2 commercial companies with sign written vans maybe 1 or 2 residential sigin written vans.. since then everyone has followed suit.. with websites/sign written vans/ sending payment in or backs/ etc .

thing is richy i remember u saying when u started .. u started because the wfp you wouldn.t like to climb ladders that stuck in my mind for some reason.. because i new this whats happening all over now anyone with less than a 1k now can get a wfp and away they go.. the more and more people who use it the easier it will be to start.. again when i first started 10 years ago there was 1 company widely known round here that used wfp..

 the end result its getting harder to become different form others apart from saying ur reliable u do better job reality of it all is they want regular/but cheap as they can get that service for these days..alot of new ones i picking up lately want 8 weekly 90% all used to be monthly.. this trade is changing ALOT  over the last year or two

[CLEANCARE WC]

Heres another Toshism...

If you always do what you've always done, you will get what youve always got.

[Nathanael Jones]

I think the general public can be very fickle,.. when they see you in person they're not too bothered about the stubble & ripped jeans, so long as you clean their windows, nothing else matters.

In the unreal world of the interweb, ppl are as fussy as hell. I've been shopping for a product online today & found at least 20 websites that offer what I want - many I clicked off the site straight away simply because it looked a bit dated & their competition looked like they put more effort into their business!

So,.. marketing/advertising etc I try to be as pro as possible - - but in person I try to be the average Joe, one step above the  the "dole scrounging, summer working, odd jobbing" type that many of my customers might have perceived window cleaners to be previously.

[dazmond]

also customers are paying for YOU!!

.....not just the service you provide!

lets face it window cleaners are everywhere!!if customers like you then you get the job!!

i know im a hard working, honest,straightforward guy and i reckon it shows when im out and about cleaning.i never lose my temper with customers and im fair minded but firm.

if a customer is taking the pee i just drop them and move on.sometimes with a matter of fact frank conversation from me,sometimes not.

i make a living with very little stress/hassle.im happy with that!!


dazmond

[LT carpet cleaning]

We cover North Ipswich, as well as East, South and West.

 

[james peters]

heres my 2 cents

if you are targeting commercial....then image is important.....
if like me you prefer the domestic market, all the customer wants is trust, reliability, and a cleaner that is polite and does a good job....

ok...insurance is common sense... wfp is common sense as its much faster....
am I unprofesional because I dont have a uniform? well... only the customer can answer that...?
but seeing as I get good referals and feedback, I dont believe its an issue.

I have had window cleaners canvass my work and try to undercut....but it rarely works...my customers are loyal, as they know me.....the ones that I never see are happy because I am reliable, ....

if I was targeting commercial however, I would smarten myself up....

[CLEANCARE WC]

We cover North Ipswich, as well as East, South and West.

 

i noticed that lol

[richywilts]

just following the shops thread i posted and the boom of wfp window cleaners and everyone moving to look more professional with uniforms and signwritten vans and explaining health and safety laws to customers etc window cleaners now using warning signs etc and using risk assessment and method statements etc etc

do the general public really give a damn??

4-5 years ago when i started i made a difference in my area i was the first from what i believe to offer a professional looking company who did things a bit different i.e cleaning frames and cills bk in them days the stamped addressed envelope was the in thing!!!

i found it quite easy picking up work just from my image but now more and more have followed suit and its the general norm now for window cleaner to be sign written and wearing uniforms

is wfp now considered the most used tool for window cleaning dometics??

when canvassing i find it hard even getting the chance to put the health and safety benefits even across and how much better wfp is than traditional methods.

should health and safety being doing more for our industry and maybe making adverts  for tv explaining how ladders are restricted and wfp SHOULD be used

I was doing all that before you started window cleaning, sign written van, uniforms, self addressed envlopes, cheques.. provinding a better service etc etc.

I MEANT IN ELLESMERE PORT DAVE!!!
wen i started doing this in my area i think there was 2 commercial companies with sign written vans maybe 1 or 2 residential sigin written vans.. since then everyone has followed suit.. with websites/sign written vans/ sending payment in or backs/ etc .

thing is richy i remember u saying when u started .. u started because the wfp you wouldn.t like to climb ladders that stuck in my mind for some reason.. because i new this whats happening all over now anyone with less than a 1k now can get a wfp and away they go.. the more and more people who use it the easier it will be to start.. again when i first started 10 years ago there was 1 company widely known round here that used wfp..

I CANT REMEMBER SAYING THAT BUT WHAT I PROB MEANT WAS I JIBBED OFF FITTING UPVC FASCIA AND SOFFIT AND GUTTERS DUE TO ALL THE LEGISLATION COMING IN REGARING WORKING AT HEIGHT ALSO I DIDNT FEEL SAFE CONSTANTLY WANGLING OLD WOODEN BOARDS OFF HOUSES AND WALKING ALONG WALKWAYS WITH NO HANDLES

 the end result its getting harder to become different form others apart from saying ur reliable u do better job reality of it all is they want regular/but cheap as they can get that service for these days..alot of new ones i picking up lately want 8 weekly 90% all used to be monthly.. this trade is changing ALOT  over the last year or two

[home6442]

I agree fully with James Peters except with wfp being common sense
because its faster.
Its common sense because its safer nothing else.

[dazmond]

its common sense john because it IS FASTER overall and you can take bigger,awkward jobs on that would be too dangerous to clean on your own with ladders.

obviously its much safer but most of us change over to earn more money as the main reason.not because its safer!!

it just happens to be safer AS WELL AS MAKING MORE MONEY!!


dazmond

[home6442]

Yes I find it quicker for me but then I am slow at trad cleaning.
Can I then boast that wfp is quicker NO.

[telfordwindowclnr]

I think quite strongly that most people on council estates couldn't give a monkeys who you are what you or your van looks like, nor about your health and safety. Commercial care most about your price, then your h & s, then your image, then your van, in that order. If you have high end clients, they care about your image, your price, your van, then your h & s. residential clients as a whole do not realise there are any h & s implications for you or them. Businesses do.

I think the original question of do they give a dam, depends on who 'they' are. You must present yourself as your target market expects you to present yourself, IMHO of course...