[Steve Sed]

We havent had that big an increase, but have only lost 4 customers this past 3 years directly down to recession tightening cut backs.  And thats with me regularly offering to stop going or decrease frequency!!    Would never make a salesman, me!

On the other hand in that time we have picked up probably well over 25/30 new, more profitable customers.

Our main causes are for loosing customers are in descending order:

Death                  50%
Moving                 40%
Other excuse          3% *

But as has been said, do a good job, be friendly, and wont do too bad, for some reason having clean windows seems to be high up on their list of priorities still!



*2% margin for error

Why do you lose the remaining 7%?

[Dave Mills]

Never, ever, read the newspapers or watch the news on TV.

You will find that you are a lot happier and you will notice that your life still goes on but without the misery.

[AS Window Cleaning]

thanks Steve, my accuracy was out by even more than the 2% I thought lol. whoops. I suppose there's 1% that you drop as they start messing you about, etc too.

in our 'patch' I know of at least 5 people personally who have started up in past 2 years, but so far there's plenty of work to go round. tho I'm fortunate I do couple days lorry driving to break things up. that industry has been struggling, compared to them we are rolling in well paid, bountiful work.

[Londoner]

The biggest reason for losing customers for me by far is people moving house, the silver lining to the economic crisis is that people ar'nt moving,

People moving is a big one for me too. Living in an expensive area means a lot of people seem to be moving to places where the houses are cheaper. Either for retirement or just to get more for their money.

The new people never seem to want their windows cleaned. Very rare for me to get the new people when a customer moves out.

But things are getting tighter, people are feeling the pinch a lot more, you would have to be mad to think otherwise, and it is going to get worse. Big things are happening in Europe and we will be very lucky not to get dragged into it.

[Mike #1]

things were bad 3 years ago when the recession first started , despite all the doom and gloom in the news things are not that bad for most never lost a custy or asked to change frequency for over 2 yrs now and i cant see me losing many custys ,

The new housings estates round my way are being built pretty fast with people moving in all the time . MIKE

[Steve Sed]

I've lost 4 in the last two weeks. Two are not in the winter, one is on maternity leave and can't afford it and one was a messer. Annoying, as I hadn't lost any for 3 or 4 months.

Back to th OP. We are at 2.5 million unemployed. I'd be interested to know how much worse he thinks it will get??

[Ian101]

just take a look at the recycling bottle tubs - usually full of empty wine bottles / vodka/ etc etc .

if they can still afford the "treats" then they can still afford the windie

unless of course things are that bad they getted p issed to blot the reality out 

[Steve CM]

I have added about 33% to my turnover this year.

If you want it go and get it, its all out there!

[dazmond]

it helps to have lots of cheap compact work.they are less likely to cancel you if the windows are only £6-£10!!

im not sure thats right actually!the ones ive lost recently due to them losing jobs/skint have been low priced crappy jobs!!

the constant bombardment of doom and gloom on the news/radio does change some customers attitude though.its the fear factor even if they ve still got a job!

in the general scheme of things if the customers cant afford £10 a month or £15 every 2 months then things must be  bad.

[sven]

Ive got just the thing to lift all this doom and gloom and thats a good old sing song to shake off our worries,  feel free to boogie on down while singing along

all together now

http://youtu.be/bbUQUut_xgw

[Steve CM]

Ive got just the thing to lift all this doom and gloom and thats a good old sing song to shake off our worries,  feel free to boogie on down while singing along

all together now

http://youtu.be/bbUQUut_xgw

that has made me smile   reminds me of Ladbrokes Caravan Park in Great Yarmouth when i was about 6 years old

[Blue Frog Systems]

From 1st Jan 11 to date i have increased my round by £8876 a year with all this doom and gloom.

[Pure Glass]

Let's lift the mood.......

Next summer is coming

[g.brookes]

a recession isnt created on the whole by politicians, or the stock market or the banks etc.  its created by people getting scared and deciding to tighten their belts and spend less.  If the news reports all the time about the economic downturn then the people reading the news spend less because they're worried about the future.  Its this tightening that actually causes the recession, so keep calm and carry on.  Don't start trying to panic everyone by writing these posts

[weetot]

a recession isnt created on the whole by politicians, or the stock market or the banks etc.  its created by people getting scared and deciding to tighten their belts and spend less.  If the news reports all the time about the economic downturn then the people reading the news spend less because they're worried about the future.  Its this tightening that actually causes the recession, so keep calm and carry on.  Don't start trying to panic everyone by writing these posts

Here Here..

[Matt - aquatec]

Hey Guys and Gals...

£75m extra cash just been ordered from the Royal Mint by David and his cronies so some of that should find its way into our pockets... happy days...

I have recently started after many months research etc, only managed to drop 200 leaflets as I have been getting so much work, cocked a couple of quotes up and worked for less than my target hourly rate but thats the learning curve... I suppose what I am saying is there is plenty of work out there to be had if as many on here have always said... "if one is prepared to get off ones arse and go find it..." 5,000 leaflets ready in a box to be hand delivered by me... not going to use a delivery company as I want my custies to meet me, cus they might not need me now but hopefully one day....

Lovin it and yes I know winter is coming... but not one of my new people have said not in the winter ta... 4/5 weeks for all...

Cheers

Matt

[StockClean]

Yes your right, things aren't too great right now, but this is a result of peoples greed, stupidity and risk taking.

The bottom line is this, if someone hates having dirty windows, and they want to keep them looking clean, without risking their own safety by doing it themselves, there will always be a requirement for a window cleaner.

Plus more and more people are having solar panels installed as a direct result of people wanting to reduce fuel costs.

Just last week, i have been pushing forward some fresh canvassing, and have picked up 14 customers so far and these are all between 30 and 40 quid each.

A lot of window cleaners are selling out, due to the doom and gloom, thats fine too as we have also been buying up work on top of the canvassing, getting us ever nearer to the six figure turnover we aspire to.

Its just a mindset, window cleaning is such little outlay for household expenses, you'd have to have customers who really are hard up to give up paying 20 quid or so every couple of months, just in child support credits window cleaning doesnt even touch the yearly outlay.

[Matt - aquatec]

Yes your right, things aren't too great right now, but this is a result of peoples greed, stupidity and risk taking.

The bottom line is this, if someone hates having dirty windows, and they want to keep them looking clean, without risking their own safety by doing it themselves, there will always be a requirement for a window cleaner.

Plus more and more people are having solar panels installed as a direct result of people wanting to reduce fuel costs.

Just last week, i have been pushing forward some fresh canvassing, and have picked up 14 customers so far and these are all between 30 and 40 quid each.

A lot of window cleaners are selling out, due to the doom and gloom, thats fine too as we have also been buying up work on top of the canvassing, getting us ever nearer to the six figure turnover we aspire to.

Its just a mindset, window cleaning is such little outlay for household expenses, you'd have to have customers who really are hard up to give up paying 20 quid or so every couple of months, just in child support credits window cleaning doesnt even touch the yearly outlay.

Bang right and well said.....

[sven]

good times or bad times I know one thing,  I'll sleep well tonight 

[BORBRYCE]

The thing is, most people do not realize how bad the global finances really are. We (every one of us alive) are in deep deep trouble. People can ignore the facts that are mounting but that will not make them go away. It's way too deep and boring for most to grasp, but all our lives are going to change for the worse sooner rather than later. Most just do not realize it just yet.
People believe that some bugger is in charge and know's what to do, they don't and it will not get better, ever.
Which ever way you look at it, the sum's simply don't add up.