[Mark@Eco-Powerclean]

I know Mark has invested a Hell of a lot in his marketing, I hope he is know getting a return.

It's starting to pay off Ian. The leaflet campaign is ongoing (or so the distribution company tells me, and how can you ever check) but so far I've recovered about 50% of the total outlay. I was only ever looking to cover costs, as my aim for the initial campaign was to get my name familiar to people in the area. If it ends up making a profit, then it's a bonus. From a long term perspective, I'm hoping that the work I'm getting will lead to repeat business and recommendations.

Things seem to be going pretty well so far, and I'm very pleased, particularly as my YP ads won't appear until the new editions in July. Setting up your own business is very tough, and can never be a 9 to 5 operation, as I'm sure everyone on here can vouch.  Which is why I'm still up at gone 2am working on publicity/presentation documents when I'm supposed to be starting a job 30 miles away at 9am!

That's me finished for today (or should that be yesterday?) so goodnight to anyone who's suffering from insomnia, and I'll be back bright as a button in 5 hours time. Yeah, right!

[Ian Gourlay]

Mark,

As someone who has spent considerable sums on non profitable marketing, I think you are wrong. Although I beleive Feb is not a good month to start so hard to judge results I beleive your Market cost should be no higher than 25% of sales.  Perhaps 50% as its early days, but that would mean something is not right.


In my opinion (is that what imo stands for? ) you should be getting a return on your leaflets.  I beleive they have cost you 3k.
so is your leaflet right? or your distribution plan correct

How many times have they been dropped to same house? Or are you trying to cover too large a terriority in one hit  What is going to be your repeat frequency.


So are you going to spend another 3k doing it again because that is what you need to do to get your name established. This is now your big delemour.

Its like betting on a horse race and recovering half your money.

Interested to read Derecks post about Chem Dry it appears he knows more about marketing than he let on in the past.

Although he has been there bought the tea shirt etc he must have done somthing all those years ago .

[Mike Halliday]

Ians right, you need big pockets for your marketing not to pay for its self, just using it to get your name in the customer mind is a bad ploy.

My wife has a hard time understanding that I have a 9-5 job she thinks if I finish at 3oclock I've got time to cut the grass or start cooking tea   but I do believe that if I'm not working I should be doing some thing to within the bussiness, either marketing or machine maintanance.

Mike

[Barry Pearce]

JM. What you dont give us is the responce, how many replies have you had?

[paul@scc]

Well you think youve got doom and gloom me i started out in september had a month of peace and quiet so delivered a few leaflets work started comming in slowly. I am fully booked now but know have had some bad news my back has gone which means no lifting or anything to cause it pain even lifting the wand gives me pain so i gotta sell up and do something else so im in the process of cancelling my jobs and put the old prochem on ebay.
All i can say is you gotta want it to work go out and hassle people if you want the work knowing your name means nothing in this game

[Musicman]

Paul, sorry to hear about your back problems.

A while ago you claimed you were getting a phenomenal response from leaflets you were using.

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6391.0#msg47290

You said that you would post the leaflet on here but I'm sure you haven't.

Why don't you really help JM Select out (and the rest of us) and let us see the leaflet you have used as promised?

Isn't selling up a bit drastic when an osteopath or similar could solve your problems?

[paul@scc]

unfortunatly i cant get help for my back its something to do with the bones in my back not being strong enough but i aint leaving the cleaning buisness alltogether im gonna invest in the staffing market being as most of you on here say you have problems finding staff on a perm and temporary basis so keep watching and i will let you all know when its up and running
as for leaflets i will post it up here when i get the copy back from the printers
It really worked for me and dont mind helping those who need it so will notify you all when its posted

[Ian Gourlay]

JM select service you probably feel hard done by.

After all all you did was ask for help.

Maybe some of the wording was a bit harsh. But if you watch The Aprentice you will find Alan Sugar does not beat about the bush either.

What you are meant to do is defend yourself.

We all need  a kick now and then, Mikews words have inspired me to clear my Diary tommorow  and get out there and market.

Plus there is someone out there prentending to be me giving away a free room by Tele canvas. Think they forgot the Audit though. But have had two complaints today.

Ian

[Matt Read]

I think you've got a really good chance jm...you have regular sub contract work, are already trained presumably by servicemaster , all you need now is a better advertising campaign and to build it up bit by bit until u can stop subbing.
You have a head start on most because of the training and working for a major franchise....i would imagine most cc start without a clue other than perhaps a 1 or 2 day course. I'm sure you will have seen a few ups and downs at servicemaster ,already tackled a few problems etc etc. i think this forum is a bit negative sometimes it often seems like a "who has the biggest wand " competition.