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Re: Popular career
« Reply #20 on: September 10, 2009, 06:15:33 pm »
Numerous times in the past


Oh really?

Like when?







Re: Popular career
« Reply #21 on: September 10, 2009, 06:17:53 pm »
Your missing the point


Oh really?

I beg to differ.


Re: Popular career
« Reply #22 on: September 10, 2009, 06:21:54 pm »
If you think you have competition now, you’re in for a shock.

Oh really?

 ;D  ;D  ;D

Ewan, you are a comedian, coming out with your 'better than though' opinions; spouting away like some reformed smoker. Theyre the worst you know.

Anyway, competition, IM the competition where I operate. And I KNOW that to be the case. But you dont.

ftp

  • Posts: 4694
Re: Popular career
« Reply #23 on: September 10, 2009, 06:26:25 pm »
I think you might get a surge of redundant workers giving it a go but I don't think many will make a success out of it. Too many are suckered into parting with thousands of pounds thinking they will hoover up street after street of work. It doesn't happen.

Re: Popular career
« Reply #24 on: September 11, 2009, 07:13:38 pm »

I put out 150 Leaflets yesterday, and have had 6 phone calls. With for comfirmed jobs.  Which is  above average for my leaflets. I normally get 2 calls from 100 leaflets.
Even with the extra window cleaners about now. I am still pulling a good rate of customers in.
Ewan, has a valid point.  WFP, has changed the face of window cleaning.  It is more appealing to new comers. Time will tell.

cybersye

Re: Popular career
« Reply #25 on: September 11, 2009, 07:25:40 pm »
Why only those who have been made redundant
exactly, I never ever thought of becoming a window cleaner
I just answered a job ad 6 years ago when i returned from travelling overseas because i was skint, worked for a firm for a couple of years and realised at the very least I could earn the same wage for half the hours setting up on my own. Never had so much free time and control over my life, i'm a happy bunny  ;D

cozy

Re: Popular career
« Reply #26 on: September 11, 2009, 07:46:06 pm »
Well, I just got my calculator out and it appears, that in 7.38 years, half the population of Britain will be WFP window cleaners. Scotland will achieve full independence from the w/c licensing fees alone.
People at parties will be embarrassed to be surgeons and doctors.

Look out boys, it's coming to a town near you soon ;D

ian1972

  • Posts: 840
Re: Popular career
« Reply #27 on: September 12, 2009, 03:54:07 pm »
b aware windy cleaners are taking over

Totus

  • Posts: 80
Re: Popular career
« Reply #28 on: September 12, 2009, 07:17:07 pm »
I believe most newbies starting from scratch will disappear as we enter Nove/Dec/Jan period as it isn't as appealing getting out of a warm bed and going into the freezing cold evey morning when you a'int got much on. :-[

If they're trad i wonder if they've got over the aches and pains of humping that bloody ladder about all day....and then there's still winter and high winds :'(

Seen a lot of newbies round my way.....all's fair in love and war.....and if they jack it i'll hoover it up like a dyson ;D

cozy

Re: Popular career
« Reply #29 on: September 13, 2009, 08:37:10 am »
Yes, next year, yellow pages will be half full of window cleaners, well, where Ewan lives anyway. We're all doomed! Goverments will topple. War in the streets. Anarchy will follow. BEWARE!!


cozy

Re: Popular career
« Reply #30 on: September 13, 2009, 12:18:07 pm »
Yes, terrified, all these newbies will find no more work in UK, and will rush to the ferries to get over to Germany. All my custies will want their windows cleaned from the outside only.All the trad guys will lose all their custies, and be forced to become doctors etc.

UK will be over run with pole carrying gangs, squirting water at people who don't have a WC.You will become the OVERLORD of all window cleaners, and expand your empire to new lands.

Get a grip Ewan, you will never be prime minister. Sorry, but that's just the way it is.

Reminds me again of "Mistic Meg". Your predictions are great.

TonyD

  • Posts: 331
Re: Popular career
« Reply #31 on: September 13, 2009, 12:44:36 pm »
I'm someone else new to this popular career, and it's just like any other self employed career that is seen to require no or little skill.   Car valeting is the same in the summer, as is gardening and the handyman trade, and probably a few other types of work too.  
Plenty of people "having a go" at it, but as we know it takes persistence and determination to make any of the above a quality "proper" business bringing in a permanent full time wage.  All you can do is try and make yours the best business around.

I for one won't be going away, and after adding the window cleaning to my handyman business name/website I already have cards/uniform/website that sets me above the unprofessional type of newbie.  I'm finding I'm even doing ok canvassing in area's that already have cleaners (as most have) - after knocking you soon get a feeling with enough "we already have someone" that there's a cleaner in the street.  I'd never deliberately underprice and turn away when I find out they have a cleaner.  BUT I ask " sorry to disturb you, do you have a reliable window cleaner at the moment ? "    A lot say actually we have someone that comes round but he's very irregular or hit and miss.  In that instance I'll sell myself and try and take the customer.  I'll also deliberately charge more usually (cleaning is VERY underpriced in my area) , as I value my work as very good and high quality, and more importantly want to build my reputation as someone who's not cheap but runs a quality business that's there when they're supposed to be and insured and to be relied upon.  

I think you can still do well in a saturated market by aiming to be the best at what you do.   And by no way is the current market saturated by cleaners at the minute. I'm doing well in my canvassing and will get anything from 2 to 10 customers from 2 hours maximum canvassing in the evening.  I'm on my target to fund wfp set up in another month, (just filters and trolley first) and then launch the window cleaning as a completely new separate business from the handyman/building maintenance and start towards building commercial contracts.  

There'll still be the rubbish cleaners out there that'll just aim to take domestic work by concentrating on being the cheapest - they can have the customers that want the cheapest, and if I see them around I'll happily pass on details of any potential custys that I think want this.  They'll never grow as they're busy running around doing all their £3 a clean
houses to do anything else.  



ian1972

  • Posts: 840
Re: Popular career
« Reply #32 on: September 13, 2009, 02:33:58 pm »
i dont see the problem there are enough hoses buildings for gods sake even garden sheds with windows tha is not the problem the problem is only that some people are a lot cheaper than others work comes and goes its no big deal,and all is fair in love war and business

cozy

Re: Popular career
« Reply #33 on: September 13, 2009, 05:07:03 pm »
Ewan, you are right. Window cleaning is changing. Soon we will all be able to charge 35 quid for scraping egg off a window like you do. That's a big change. Maybe if enough join this forum, you could give seminars on business acumen. Help them all become  huge and successfull like you.

Perhaps we could have seminars and you could produce CD's on business sense and how to build really fast and charge people huge prices for small jobs. Or "When to employ" . Or, what about "Have 3 vans, when you can only drive 1 at a time".

I think the best advice you could give though, would be,"How to pretend you know what you're talking about by guesswork".

When all's said and done, you are always good for a laugh.