[mark_roberts]

Just wondering has anyone experienced what I'm experiencing at the moment.

General decline in the amount of people seeking cleaning (I'm not saying business isnt growing but that the total number of new customers seeking cleaning has dropped).

People are only getting one or two carpets cleaned at a time due to more hardfloors.  Fewer jobs equalling 5-6 carpets at a time.

Increased amount of jobs involving just the stairs and landing to be cleaned.

Big increase in people wanting rugs cleaned.

Landlords putting down laminate in the lounge, hall, dining areas instead of carpet.

Older customers who traditionally covered everything in carpet are now trying wood and tile.

More customers (even 'highend') are buying cheaper polypropolene carpets and replacing more often.

More commercial premises putting down laminate including offices and even my hairdresser.

My business is growing but I'm finding new residential customers are not coming in their droves from yellow pages and flyers like they once did.  Just my observations.

thanks
Mark

PS. any thoughts or am I in the middle of laminate city.

[easi-kleen]

its definately harder to recruit new customers these days. i have systematically increased my advertising in thompson and yellow pages just to acheive same number ( or less ) of new customers.

However customer base, repeat business and referrals is on the increase.

Phil

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Sometimes it feels like this but it will turn around, have you tried going to carpet shops etc and offering your services it's a great way of finding GOOD business.

Shaun

[Mike Halliday]

I have'nt noticed a slow down in bussiness or an increase in laminate.

but I think 60% of my customers are OAPs and the would never dream of putting down laminate


is laminate a lower-class floor covering? I don't see it much in the better houses

the market will be changing in the next 20 years, because for the first time there will be more over 55s than under 30s so catering for the needs of the elderly will be big bussiness

My tip, buy shares in SAGA

Mike  

[Big_Fish]

Exactly the same as MIke. Sometimes see laminate but not many higher end domestic properties have it. Traditional wooden floors have always been about.

Not noticing a decline in people wanting cleaning. The Christmas rush is well under way. Lots of repeat business and recommendation.

What we are starting to notice is the complete opposite. People who have had laminate for 3 - 5 years + are now changing back to carpet because it starts to look shabby and cannot be maintained in the same way as traditional flooring. Laminate is a fashion at the moment but will have it's day and disappear. Who can remember squidgy cushion flooring and the plain sanded floorboards of a few years ago? Hardly ever seen now.

BF Nicky

[ashplays]

for me mark is spot on  .  i hav had big drop in leaflet responce in the last 3 years and big drop in size of job booked i can only put it down to wood floors i used to ave 4-6 jobs a day now its 1-2 a day for same amount of leaflets i hav allways done
p.s this is a intresting fact i was watching sky bizz news couple days ago and the biggest two sellers for the last six months were no1 mobiles no2 new carpets !  is the end in sight for hard floors ?