[suds window service]

been reading some of your back posts since you are in the same neck of the woods ,didn't realise you were a major player in the commercial sector....whats the secret in getting a foot in the door.
                                     cheers dave.

[idealrob]

No secret, just work safely, do a good job, have good employees, the type that dont look like they are from Holme house like most w/c.
There are plenty of firms from Newcastle way, allways trying to get more & more work on Teesside, but usually let themselves down by poor service, poor staff and shocking safety record.
We have good paperwork eg job method statements, risk assesments etc.
But as for getting a foot in the door, my father who is now 85 started all that 50 years ago, and the rules still apply today, make a personal approach face to face, as people buy people, he employed a lot of deaf & dumb window cleaners over the years which worked well in the community. We alllways paid good wages
I think its just getting a foot in the door and more jobs will follow.
My son now runs all the contracts sides, is a very likeable lad, can sell himself and again people buy people

idealrob

[Roy Harding]

No secret, just work safely, do a good job, have good employees, the type that dont look like they are from Holme house like most w/c.
There are plenty of firms from Newcastle way, allways trying to get more & more work on Teesside, but usually let themselves down by poor service, poor staff and shocking safety record.
We have good paperwork eg job method statements, risk assesments etc.
But as for getting a foot in the door, my father who is now 85 started all that 50 years ago, and the rules still apply today, make a personal approach face to face, as people buy people, he employed a lot of deaf & dumb window cleaners over the years which worked well in the community. We alllways paid good wages
I think its just getting a foot in the door and more jobs will follow.
My son now runs all the contracts sides, is a very likeable lad, can sell himself and again people buy people

idealrob

Hi Rob

Is your fathers name Doug?

Roy

[idealrob]

Hi Roy, Doug is my uncle, hes my dads younger brother, hes 78, and mostly did office cleaning, 8 thousand staff working for him. Yes 8000
As i have said before my dad Bob got into window cleaning after the war, as he couldnt get a job as he remained neutral, but it worked out just great, with every school on Teesside, all the chemical industry office & window cleaning etc. Still going strong at 85, and can still wash leather & scrim.
he did have a go on the WFP about a month ago at his own house.

How do you know Doug ?

idealrob

[suds window service]

whats your business name rob

[idealrob]

Ideal Cleaning Services

idealrob

[Roy Harding]

Hi Roy, Doug is my uncle, hes my dads younger brother, hes 78, and mostly did office cleaning, 8 thousand staff working for him. Yes 8000
As i have said before my dad Bob got into window cleaning after the war, as he couldnt get a job as he remained neutral, but it worked out just great, with every school on Teesside, all the chemical industry office & window cleaning etc. Still going strong at 85, and can still wash leather & scrim.
he did have a go on the WFP about a month ago at his own house.

How do you know Doug ?

idealrob

Hi Rob

I dont know Doug only through the grape vine, I have been told about the large cleaning company's you run.

A friend of mine was doing a H&S course and went for evening meal in a pub and while waiting took out a magazine and Doug and his wife spotted it an introduced themselves. Its a small world

Regards Roy

[idealrob]

Ok, thanks, bet I know the magazine

idealrob

[suds window service]

sorry to be naive rob but do ideal services monopolise the cleaning on teesside i know of a firm from Newcastle who do a lot of work for sbc...badly imo as they do the nippers school city clean or am i wrong.

[suds window service]

my local council seems to be a tough nut to crack i have spoken to people sent emails joined the business forum .....but could not get a look in.
i have done the business parks in the area same result nothing not even got to trying to sell the commercial side of my business face to face..very frustrating.
so our business stands at about 90% domestic which bugs me as i see it as a personal failure on my part.

[idealrob]

To suds, no dont do the all the schools now, as for SBC, I used to know Steve Bailey, we were mates as kids, I went to his funeral. I did not know why he was subbing it out to a newcastle firm ?

The council usually stick to who they know, and are not bothered about price as the cant go bust.

idealrob

[gr cleaning solutions]

hi suds Ive seen a few city clean vans in and around darlington i am also looking to break into the commercial side but not sure where to start

[idealrob]

Chanell 5 this week, The Business Inspector, I think wednesday 8 pm, she is multi millionare, helps businesses each week, no rocket science, make a personal approach & presentation, try to build a relationship, tell them what you will do, and your getting the boss, not some ex convict looking dole type and ask for the business

its that simple, most school run their own budget, tell them about new law changes, corporate manslaughter , now new one on competance etc. Was going to mention ladders, but I will try to keep the thread to the point.

idealrob

[suds window service]

rob do you do carpet cleaning by any chance?

[idealrob]

Yes, we do do carpet cleaning, why ? the business premises we have been in for 40 years, was originally bought just for carpet cleaning, as we used to uplift, clean, dry and re-fit hundred of carpets a year

idealrob

[suds window service]

Rob, need a favour can you help me out, need a carpet cleaning tomorow afternoon, sorry about short notice. Dave.      07949995475