[allergease]

Ian,
Three years for a mattress, what sort of bedroom olympics do you get up to  .
Many mattresses now have a seven year guarantee but people tend to keep them even longer.

Mark,
I have written to about 130 guest houses and residential homes offering a free demonstration and will phone them all next week to arrange a date for a free demonstration   ... watch this space.

Conrad

[Comfort Sector]

Conrad,

Target your marketing Asthma clinics are a good start. Contact your local Asthma clinic nurse, explain to her that you wish to do independent tests on dust mite removal with your new equipment and that these tests will be conducted free of charge.

An important point to remember. At this point explain that you are not looking for an endorsement of your product or services (nurses and doctors as professionals will not endorse any one product or service don’t ask).

I usually ask for three tests if all goes well you will get the endorsements from these clients. But the benefits will come via word of mouth to others who suffer from Dust Mite Allergy. You will find that an unofficial recommendation from the nurse usually takes place.

Don’t have scary photographs of Dust Mites on your advertising this puts a large number of people off, concentrate on the benefits of a dust free environment it’s all about Indoor Air Quality.

Ian,

Thank you for your endorsement

Martin,

Home run it’s the ladies who control the purse strings and take care of  the family’s health.

Regards Richard.

[allergease]

Thanks for the tips Richard. I've been trying to think of a way to speak to an asthma nurse but am not sure how to go about it. Obviously most medical people are very busy (curing the ill, handing out sick notes etc) and I don't want to appear to be wasting anyones time by booking an appointment when I'm not ill myself so I'll have to find a way around that.
I was thinking of advertising for people with a dust mite allergy to phone my number for a free clean but obviously would prefer an asthma nurse to be involved somewhere along the line.

Many thanks,
Conrad

[Martin S]

Home run it’s the ladies who control the purse strings and take care of  the family’s health.

Absolutely Richard, couldn't agree more.

[Adrian Makel]

hello mate,i think as has been said before you could also carpets as a sindle parent,it is fairly easy to work around your commitments,i have for a long time now.It may be worth looking for a secondhand machine.Then at least you have a chance to promote your mattress cleaning whilst earning some money doing carpets and upholstery.

[allergease]

Problems I have with carpet cleaning are
a) I've never done it before,
b) Reading all that's written here kind of frightens me. What's a microsplitter for instance?
c) I need to hold as tight as I can to what little money I have as even though I have zero income the bills still need to be paid. I can't really afford to spend much money on something which I don't understand, I will need to start making money from day one if I was to dip into my rapidly depleting emergency fund.
. Also I don't own a van (have a Picasso though).
I like to think that I do my best at whatever I do and wouldn't like to leave unhappy customers which might jeopardise my mattress cleaning so where would I start .. a dry system perhaps ? what would I need to spend to offer a decent service £1,000 ? £2,000 ? how would I learn to use the equipment (apart from on my own carpet) ?
Sorry but I've got too many questions to ask and can't give anything back to the forum.

Conrad

[des]

Conrad take a week off and go with a carpet cleaner and learn what to do des

[Ian Gourlay]

Conrad,

That is what Forums are for.

Re Carper Cleaning,

If you are short of cash could be a gamble to far, however if you were good at promotion leaflets door knocking you would generate cash flow.

I could suggests ways of doing it on a small budget but as I do not know your circumstances, ( I am not asking for them) It would not be wise to suggest  this aproach.

Techniques therory Microsplitters etc basics quite simple and could easily be leaNT BUT AGAIN would cost you about £300 to £400 to do a course 

There are some good manuals available which would teach you the basics but they are about £59 each.

[clive]

Hi Conrad,
Have you got the Allerx system or the hygienitec?

Clive

[nick.solution]

Hi All

The difficulty with mattress cleaning is that most customers do not understand that there is any problem with the mattress in the first place, those that do, do not know that the problem can be treated successfully.

There is the added issue of the condition of the mattress to start with in terms of soiling. So the apporach to this type of work has to be very professional.

Best regards Nick

[ianharper]

Hi Guys

What I am doing with one of my intro offers is giving free mattress cleaning them charging for treatment. after I have sold them on the idea. You only need to do this once and they will see the benifits.

Respect

Ian Harper

[allergease]

Clive,
I use the Hygienitec system (or would if I had any work). I also have a "dry steam" system which can be used on curtains etc.
Nick
I agree that not many people are aware of the problems associated with their mattresses. Hopefully my flyers will educate people to this problem but no uptake yet. (had 1,000 delivered Tues - Wed so the phone may ring soon).
Ian,
I offer a free Mattress allergen test (takes me about 15 mins and costs me a couple of pounds) which shows the level of toxins (if any) in the mattress. I've only had 4 people take me up on the offer however none went ahead with the mattress clean. I believe that I had set my original prices too high so have now reduced them to a more realistic level, not sure whether I should phone the 4 prospects up and inform them of my new pricing structure as I don't want to appear desperate (even though I am).

Conrad

[Martin S]

Conrad,

What sort of prices are you asking for this service?

[paul bruce]

I think that people tend to treat thier mattress as a rather personal thing and do not want people inspecting it etc.I agree with some of the previous posts that this service needs to be offered along with something else,you mention your equipment is able to clean curtains,why not offer this service foremost and the mattress clean as part of your service not your main selling point.I am quite sure the mattress cleaning market has a future but you definitly need something with it until its kicks in. Also dont be to dismayed if your leaflet response is low,not everyone rushs to the phone soon as it drops through the door a percentage keep it with the intention of using it one day. Out of interest where are you based ?
Paul
 

[allergease]

Martin,
Original price was £35 for a single, £50 for a double

Now £25 for a single, (add one duvet and two pillows for an extra £5) and £35 for a double (add one duvet and four pillows for an extra £5).

Paul,

Based in Coventry. The Dry steam would remove dust mites from curtains but not sure if it would clean them satisfactory to offer it as a cleaning service, I'll have a go on my own at the weekend.

Conrad

[Martin S]

Conrad,

I wouldn't say that your original prices are outrageously expensive. 

Remember though, for someone that's only paid say £100 for a cheap Mattress/Bed, they may think it expensive.  For someone that's paid a lot more though, they may think it's good value and want to look after their investment.

Bit like Carpets and Upholstery really.

Horses for courses.

Regards

[mark_lane]

Hi Allergease,bit concerned why you would clean curtains but not carpets as they could be more probmatic,i think you are going to need more strings to your bow if you are going to survive,as  so many cc's already offer these services and more from a customers point of view.Give Nick a ring at solutions it won't do you any harm and i am sure he will be a great help to you .
                                            cheers mark 

[allergease]

At last, I feel like a millionaire 
Just returned from a job, double mattress clean for £35 I also cleaned three pillows and the duvet free of charge (this months special offer). I spent almost two hours with the client but as I had nothing pressing to do after the job I was more than happy to stay and offer advice as their three year old son has very bad eczema triggered by dust mites.
They had picked up one of my leaflets from their doctors surgery so I will now try to cover even more GPs knowing that that method of marketting has worked once it might well work again.
To top things off I received a phone call whilst at the clients house from someone I gave a quote to three weeks ago, they want two singles and a double cleaning on Wednesday with pillows and mattresses (£100).

I know it's only a small start but I feel like celebrating with half a shandy tonight. I log onto the forum most days so I'll keep you informed how things go. Thank you all for the advice offered so far, I suddenly don't feel so alone any more.

Conrad

[Doug Holloway]

Conrad,

Well done , 10/10 for persistence.

Bear in mind the CC ,  because as you become more confident and hopefully wealthier , it's a good business to be in.

Cheers,

Doug

[cleaning co]

yes well done mate, things can only get better now u hav first job under u belt
p.s agree with doug  cc could go hand in hand with what u are doing
cheers gary