Thanks for all the nice words; maybe not the dog on heat bit though Shaun! But I know where you’re coming from, I think.!
I'm sorry I have don’t have any secrets to impart,
but if it helps
Just try and be nice to everyone.
Never get technical without asking first, Mr & Mrs Jones just want to know will the dog poo clean off and the smell go away, Let face it till we are done and dusted I’m not 100% sure. Just be able to say “If I can’t do it no one can” and be telling the truth, if you’re not they can tell.
Never ever get a chip on your shoulder that your just a cleaner, sorry but you are! Ok your specialise in carpet and upholstery. But hopefully you are such a blooming good C&U cleaner, that people will want to use you again and again, even ask you to do other things. For instance a company asked me 4 years ago can you clean our “generic thermoplastic flooring” as the regular guy is being a pain in the bum. Now 10% of our business is just that and we always pick up the carpet and upholstery cleaning as well.
Never say NO, why would anyone ring you to hear you say no?
I’ll find out, the man you need is… here’s his number, can I just check that out and get back to you at 2,4,5 o’clock are all acceptable. NO is the same as *&%@ off
Wash your van a lot (that’s just common sense)
Never speed in a town, in a sign written van you might as well shout obscenities out the window,I don’t think anyone cares about speed on motorways. At least I hope not!
Always wear clean shoes (never trainers) women notice, and most of the customers are female; well I don’t like to brag but mine are!
If you’re going to be late ring ahead; better still get someone else to do it then it sounds much better.
Tell them your name, “Hi Mrs smith I’m Paul”, simple & usually gets you a brew made - do it right and you might get biscuits.
Always call men Sir, been handy on five occasions I didn’t know because they were a SIR (knighthoods) every time they said call me…
Never slag off the competition, if they are really good give in gracefully for example “GUNNS, well I’ll never get you as a customer now, he’s just too d**n handsome,” raises a smile
Pet the dog/cat. I’m personally not a dog fan unless it’s a border collie; a dog ate my shoes last week when I was retufting the carpet. Teach me to take my shoes of at the door!
Take your shoes off at the door. statistics show that once every 23 year they get eaten!
That’s about it, been doing this since 13 years old, now 36. I’ve had 23 years experience and the man that trained me had 36 years on that. A Good guy David Storey - he gave me a trade, I bought his business.
And the most important thing to remember when the going gets tough,
“Better their money in your pocket than theirs”
Oh! most importantly don’t believe anything you read in the papers, didn’t you know 95 % of all statistics are made up on the spot!
Except we really do have three TM vans, it's bloody nightmare!