[Ian Gourlay]

It appears there is a slow down on the high street,

Carpet Sales are slow due to the slow down.

Do people have a tendancy to  have their old carpet cleaned or do they just leave it when the economy is slowing down?

What promted me to make this post, is that I was talking to my Cousin a Carpet Retailer and he says Carpets are slow at the momment.

Not good news he has just bought a very expensive house.

[baztech]

Hi Ian,
Your "question" is interesting but what you should really be asking is;
1. From a carpet owner standpoint , is carpet cleaning a luxury in an economic sense? If so, then economic theory will predict that "luxuries" will suffer at the expense of inferior products/services during an economic slowdown.
2. How do carpet owners interpret carpet cleaning in the first place? You have implied that carpet owners will clean their"old" carpets rather than purchase new carpets. Therefore using an inferior service!!

I would have assumed that, of course, if an economic downturn/slump was to take place carpet owners would be reluctant to replace their carpets as often.But this would apply to most products not just carpet.

However does the drop in carpet sales increase or decrease carpet cleaning turnover? I would think not because;
a. those that are particular about their carpets will continue to have them cleaned but will not replace their carpet as often,
b.those that usually replaced them rather than clean them are forced to have them cleaned.
c. those that view carpet cleaning as a luxury item will suspend the service until their prosperity will continue.....but the most important outcome? Carpet Cleaning will always be in demand no matter what the cycle...

[ianharper]

Hi Guys

Spot On Baztech,

I have always run my maid service and now my carpet business on my terms, I watch what is happening around but it does not affect my marketing as responsibility on how much profit I make is down to me.

never let what others think about "things" affect how you run your life. you can earn as much money as you make the effort to make. One of the benifits of leaving in the UK. Thats why some many people want to move here, opportunity.

You dont have to be well educated, or come from money to be well off these days. I believe you just have to "street wise" (smart) .

Its seeing these trends coming, not reacting to them. If you listern to what is being said at the moment the money is going from the high street to petrol. So what will this mean it might mean that the price of carpets will go up because of the cost of making them.

Now how can you benifit from this? by entering in to the conversation that is going on in peoples mind. They know that peotrol is going up anf that it will affect the price they pay for things, so how about using it in your marking write somthing that uses this against haveing maintenance plans or their carpet cleaned more regulary.

This is no differant than using xmas in your marketing or any other event.

Using a head line like "how is the high price of petrol going to effect your carpets" then go on to explane what I have just said.

Respect

Ian Harper

[Dave_Lee]

Two big reccesions since starting my CC business 26 years ago. Though there were big problems for carpet retailers during these times, my CC remained busy.
Dave.

[ianharper]

Hi Dave

What type of experances did you see and go thought? Did you listern to the media and their negative talk?

Respect

Ian Harper

[Chris Bailey]

My experiences...... customers who want their carpets cleaned without being prompted.... go to yellow pages.  Those who are prompted to have their carpets cleaned have their conscience prick..... by our leaflets or advertising.

Yes we may be affected by fluctuations in the market but keep it simple...... peoples income, in the main, does not increase....  if there is an increase on the high street or at the pump then the belt is tightened and the luxuries are gone.  Question is are we a luxury??

Chris

[ianharper]

Hi Guys

Good marketing and financial control will also sort the men from the boys when thing get hard for prospects.

Respect

Ian Harper