[Richard Basey-Fisher]

Must admit first half of the year has been very stop start with me but when you average it out over the period its been ok.  this last few weeks has gone mad loads of good quality work hopefully it will continue .  most work has been repeats and recom

[Alan falconer]

Fully booked till Xmas, but only few jobs booked in for Jan

You have got to be kidding me !!! Whats your secret?

are people actually phoning you saying i want my carpets cleaned in september or october november whatever thats some long sighted customers u have !

[Neil Williams]

Fully booked till Xmas, but only few jobs booked in for Jan

You have got to be kidding me !!! Whats your secret?

are people actually phoning you saying i want my carpets cleaned in september or october november whatever thats some long sighted customers u have !

Think you're being had. Yes you can have the odd booking 3,4,5 months in advance but most people aren't willing to wait more than 3 possibly 4 weeks for a routine clean.

[Mike Halliday]

I find most people won't wait longer than 2 weeks, if they wanted it in 3-4 weeks the would ring in 2 weeks time, very rarely will they have the hindsight to book weeks in advance unless they have a special occasion or the decorator booked in.

people are spontaneous, one little spot will push them over the edge....... then they will call wanting it done asap.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Mark may be pulling your leg but I have many regulars already booked in for nov and dec they book the next years appointment.

Shaun

[*Hector*]

Mark may be pulling your leg but I have many regulars already booked in for nov and dec they book the next years appointment.

Shaun

Your customers book so far in advance Shaun so that they can get it cleaned at an agreed price.... before you raise the prices yet again 

[Neil Williams]

Your customers book so far in advance Shaun so that they can get it cleaned at an agreed price.... before you raise the prices yet again 

 

BTW those docs you sent me went missing into cyberspace after I viewed them via a 3rd party server..... virginmedia.....super fast at losing things

Could you send it again please

[*Hector*]

no problem mate.

[Neil Williams]

Cheers Mr H 

And back to the debate. Various areas have highs and lows at different times around the country. At the moment I'm booking just short of 3 weeks in advance, a month ago I was taking bookings for the same afternoon
I trick is not to measure your 'busy-ness' on a week by week basis but by months or even quarters. You'd be surprised when you compare the same 3 months with the same 3 months 12 or 24 months ago.

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Fewer phone calls, same percentage conversion, but bigger ticket items.

I've also found I've been booking serious amounts of commercial work to compensate for a reduction in domestic. Because you can often complete commercial in less time (more £ per hour) and therefore working less hours I'm feeling as if I'm cheating myself. Same money, less hours. The rational side of me says "hooray" the consciencious side of me says I'm skiving as I should be filling in the spare time cleaning even more carpets rather than enjoying the fruits of my labour.

Rog

[COLIN BRIGHT]

When people say business is slow, it depends on what their  average weekly takings are, for some a slow month can be a really busy month for others, personally this first 6 months have been my best in 11 years, however this last couple of weeks I have come across a Hugh amount of price shoppers,i have been wasting a lot of my time, but I always stick to my guns and usually things pick up, looking back over the years i have found that when the kids break up the phone and jobs slacken off a bit for a couple of weeks, just gives me a chance to catch up on all the paper work and start planning what to do for the rest of this year and the beginning  of next, I now have stuff ready to send like Xmas clean reminders, January offers etc

[M.Acorn]

I have found it quite hard, as now I am on my own my household expenses have doubled, as I used to split everything with the wife, but luckily the work is coming in and my savings have kept me out of my over draft, which in fact is probably better since she went,v as I always seemed to be in my o/d , by going to stupidly expensive restaurants and hotels and stuff.

[Mark Slaney]

When people say business is slow, it depends on what their  average weekly takings are, for some a slow month can be a really busy month for others, personally this first 6 months have been my best in 11 years, however this last couple of weeks I have come across a Hugh amount of price shoppers,i have been wasting a lot of my time, but I always stick to my guns and usually things pick up, looking back over the years i have found that when the kids break up the phone and jobs slacken off a bit for a couple of weeks, just gives me a chance to catch up on all the paper work and start planning what to do for the rest of this year and the beginning  of next, I now have stuff ready to send like Xmas clean reminders, January offers etc

Same as Colin, don't really worry now till September as commercial work is really good through summer holiday's.  Now have 8 school's (one is biggest in south of England. 1200 pupils  ). 1 castle and 1 holiday to get through. Now is the chance to market and plan for remaining months of the year.

Cheers Mark.

[wynne jones]

Business is down a bit but it's nothing to do with me.

It's caused by things outside of my control so I'm just going to have to hope things pick up whilst I sit around in a helpless hopeless state of despondency.

[*Hector*]

You too??

What can we do??

WE are ALL doomed to go bust... and it is NOT OUR fault....

 

[wynne jones]

Yep, chap down the road is doing well but I think he got lucky with a few big contracts.

Another guy got a nice new van but I know for a fact his wife has a highly paid job.

A few years ago an honest guy like me could make a decent living but now it's impossible.

I'm glad to hear other are struggling too because of the weather etc I can rest easy now.

 What's your favourite excuse?

[*Hector*]

NOT an excuse Wynne...
It is a REASON....

it is because people don't like their carpets cleaned when it is raining coz mud and grime gets trod back in straight away....

BUT it will all come good now coz the sun is out... Once they get back off their holidays and the kids are back at school out of the way again, but wait ...... they will have to save up for Xmas then....


Maybe I should just be thankful that I can work between Easter and June without any of the nasty reasons for them not wanting my service After all I do have a TM to pay for..... 

[wynne jones]

Sorry Hector, I do this a lot and get in trouble.

When I say 'you' /'your' I mean everybody I wasn't responding to your post specifically.   

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Hector I never mention price the customers just book in for year after my prices I think aren't that different to many on here perhaps a little higher I am however planning to go on a little spending spree with some advertising and dependant on uptake try raising my prices considerably we'll see if I can rise to the challenge of selling at a higher than comfort zone price.

Shaun

[COLIN BRIGHT]

I'm sure you'll do ok Shaun, with that Yorkshire charm