[carbon]

Hi Has anyone tried door knocking as a way to introduce their service? i have been doing leftlets but for all the effort the returns are small and spread out.

so i thought I might try knocking the door then try and promote my service in a 10 second burst.

any one had any luck this way?
Cheers

 

[derek west]

if your thick skinned then go for. personally i don't do unto others what i would not have doneth to meoth.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Why not leaflet 100 homes then door knock them and ask if they have recieved the leaflet and strike up a conversation.

Shaun

[jasonl]

I was recently talking to the first ever ChemDry franchissee in the uk ,, he started out by knocking doors.

[Mike Halliday]

if you are going to door knock then you need a reason to be knocking.

I used to 'check' my leaflet had been delivered by the local paper

eg.....

"sorry for bothering you but I've been paying the Hull Daily mail  to deliver some leaflets for me, could I ask, have you had this leaflet delivered to your home in the last few days" ( show them your leaflet)

then strike up a conversation about how hard you find it to let local people know about your services so thought you try using leaflets.

you can make up any little story.

PS: Jason 25yrs ago I went for  Job in hull canvassing for  a carpet cleaning company, I think it was Chemdry

[jasonl]

Mike , Chem dry did not start in the UK  untill 1987, 23 years ago,the head office for the master franchise was near Birmingham.

The first franchissee was John Minton,of  ChemDRY kALLISTE in Bournemouth he is still trading today.

[Fintan_Coll]

 I did a lot of door knocking when I started my carpet cleaning business.
I found it a very good way of getting bookings when I needed it most.
If you have time on your hands, then why not give it a try.

[Tre Allen]

I have found going door to door is very successful if you have just cleaned a neighbors house and make a statement like "Hi my name is * and we just cleaned your neighbor's house, we are offering a free room up to 100sqf etc etc"

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

I have found going door to door is very successful if you have just cleaned a neighbors house and make a statement like "Hi my name is * and we just cleaned your neighbor's house, we are offering a free room up to 100sqf etc etc"

Hi Tre

I'm sure it is but you'll have to agree it's not exactly subtle.

Ron Tilley from Prochem had a much more subtle approach which always appealed to me but I never had to use.
The trick was when arriving you often cannot park outside the house you are going to; (often in terrace roads or cul-de-sacs). then you would knock on the door of the house you had actually parked outside, and the ones opposite, and say something like." sorry to disturb you but I've had to park my van there. If it's in the way come and get me as I'm cleaning the carpets for Mrs X at "number 14""

You can bet your bottom euro that if that person is thinking of having their carpets cleaned they'll suss out Mrs X. And of course if Mrs X is pleased she'll be your best advocate.

Roger

[Shaun_Ashmore]

There was a CD in Rotherham around 1988 I can remember them at a gala or something I went to, they aren't trading, they did have a man in a suite dressed as a pump up spray and he was called Chemdry Charlie.

Shaun

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

I think door knocking will be banned in the near future anyway.There are loads of no cold calling area's round my way now.

[Simon@arenaclean]

Not door knocking but a local hotel called me with a few rooms to clean but only left a first name but did seem keen as i'd been recommended. The only way I could find them was to call local hotels looking for 'Russell' to clean the carpeting in 8 rooms. I booked 5 quotes got 3 jobs 2 of which are still good customers. Never found Russell though

Simon

[peter maybury]

I have cold sold a lot of things but have never done it with domestic carpet cleaning you would probably find it more rewarding  canvassing for commercial work, estate/ letting agents hotels etc.
If you are going to try it though you really do have to have a little understanding of it and would suggest you read some instuctions on the subject as it will reduce the rejection etc. You do need to be quite thick skinned as some people will be down right rude to you. If is a difficult job and you need to knock a lot of doors to make it work.

Peter

[Ian Gourlay]

Peter

In your reply you say you should have read some instructions as this would help.
I just wondered if you had a source.
I myself was trained by Fit The Best Fit Everest and their script did not change very much.
I think it was somthing like we are in the area giving qoutes for replacement Wimdows Barge Boards etc so that when you are ready to have your windows replaced you will know how much its going to cost.
However the people who suceeded apeared o have some sort of Magnetic personality. Another company said only about 3% of the population had this method.
The Founder of Ashcombe in his book that is still available through Extractor
said a smart woman in her fifties worked best for carpet cleaning.

[Fintan_Coll]

That was Lloyd Owens was'nt it Ian, if my memory serves me right.
Have not heard of him in years. Is he still around?

[peter maybury]

there are a lot of books on salesman ship and the leaders in the industry were the double glazing or insurance industry. the books that I read many years ago were by people like Frank Betger (how I raised myself from failure to success in selling.)  Other sources were books by Dale Carnegie and the like. Although dated they explain the difference between open and closed questions and mainly how to deal with rejection and creating motivation. The most successful people in direct sales were always the people who do not look for better ways of doing things, and did things as programmed by the organisation they worked for.
Even armed with these it is still a hard job requiring a thick skin.

Good luck

Peter Maybury
www.carpetcleanercardiff.com