[jamesjames]

Hi all, I have not long started and I want to do the better areas where the customer would have bought a good quality carpet and I would give them a top quality service in exchange for a top price! I am about to design my leaflet the printers that I will be useing have said that I don't need to use top quality paper as the customer don't really take this in to consideration and have said thet 80gsm is ok, just wondered what your oppinion is? and any other tips please

Regards
James

[fibresafe]

The most important thing is the content of the leaflet - it's the message, not the paper it's printed on. Why not have half printed on 80gsm and half on 130gsm then compare the response?

[chemoclean]

The most important thing is the content of the leaflet - it's the message, not the paper it's printed on.

I strongly disagree with this statement. To obtain quality work you must have both the correct information on the leaflets AND good quality 130gsm (pref.glossy) paper. Quality customers want quality products, all the time and everytime!

Put a scruffy cheap crimpled 80gsm one colour flyer through their box and you'll see where it ends up! They immediatly think your cheap and no good.

[stains-away]

I've tried different designs on different grades and thicknesses of paper, from single colour 80 gsm through to my latest A6 full colour on 350gsm card, if a leaflet looks cheap and nasty then its no good putting it into quality areas, I know, I've suffered the blisters to prove it, 5k of 80gsm full colour went out into nice areas with 2 calls, you live and learn, Andy

[John Kelly]

A leaflet campaign needs to be done over a long period of time. They reckon a customer has to see your leaflet 7 times for them to register your name.
Also remember that better quality customers generally buy on recomendations. So if you do catch a couple when you leaflet these areas make sure you have a good referal scheme in place to maximise your impact.

[the red carpet]

Sorry dont agree, my leaflet gets a immediate response of 15 jobs per 5000 leaflets within 2days of posting and another few over the next couple weeks, even with new areas were iv never posted before.

I belive its all about whats in your leaflets, put the right things in and your phone will ring
Saying that my leaflets are full colour, glossy, 300gsm i dont see the point of cheap leaflets they only cheapen your image and make it harder to get the prices you want.

[John Kelly]

You are very lucky, Some of us have to do business in a more financially challenged area 

[jamesjames]

Hi Red Carpet, would you be kind enough send me one of your leaflets please??
Regards
James

[the red carpet]

John, i do belive your right in some ways i am lucky in that i live close to some very nice areas however every know and then i venture into the not so affluent areas and my enquiry response is the same, i may not book as many jobs but i get the same amount of calls. I belive a well thought out leaflet should create interest anywere, wether you sell or not is down to your prices and how good a salesman you are.

JamesJames Have a read of this link http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=21503.0

Ps, anyone reading this what response is my leaflet getting please?, i keep seeing people on about 0.5% and 1% ect. And is that measured by calls or jobs?

[jamesjames]

Hi Red Carpet, yes I've read the link and I do appreciate your what you say but I can't afford that at the moment! could you tell me how much you pay for your leaflets in full colour 300gsm, I have had a look at that quality paper in my local art shop and I think it looks and feels great.
Regards
James

[craigp]

i measure response buy jobs.,

2 jobs per thousond = 0.2%    (probally average)

4 jobs per thousand = 0.4%     (very good)

these response rates can vary alot ! imo

[the red carpet]

James, £80 for 5000 www.flyertogether.co.uk

[Matt Lindus]

Surly you guys cant be serious, we have always found 10.000 good quality leaflets generates about 7 calls about 5 convert to jobs.
Bare in mind that a grown adult can only deliver 700 leaflets per day, any more and you and your business can be liable for repetitive strains, injuys ect.

I've got a better idea for you carpet cleaning guys ------- Go and buy a local job paper, search for a modest job with a company that's been established since dinosaurs roamed the earth, get the job and work hard and be dedicated. You will earn a guaranteed wage every week or month, have new friends, have 25 days paid holiday including Christmas and bank holidays, chance of promotion, have a pension, have security.

Why risk your own life's and health pushing at an impossible trade that can only rely on franchises in order to expand, theirs no money in this trade - never has been never will be, your all wasting you time.
See the light and get a job!!

[fibresafe]

I'm not surprised you don't think there's any money in carpet cleaning if you're only getting 5 jobs from 10,000 leaflets.

You either need to look at your leaflet or your delivery staff - one or the other needs changing.

[carpetclean]

i think the thing about leaflets is that no area can be compared in different parts of the country so what works in one town may not work in another.

[craigp]

matt, so why you in this line of work?

sounds like you got a chip, could you not make it?

[angela carlton]

James

Reading your previous post, makes me wonder if you are ready for these higher value jobs. If you are not experienced enough to offer a high quality of service, you are surely not, justified in charging high prices.
This business is not picked up in a few weeks, there is much to learn, before claiming to be capable of offering a high quality service.
When you achieve a high standard, you will get loads of referrals, but it takes time.

Angie 

[craigp]

i agree with angie, you got a start off low, no offence but thats all your worth, cant charge top price untill you can get exellent results, which will take time.

you just had browning on wool carpet. lucky it aint a top wilton or simular. remember high end custys have high end carpets, dont practice on them, they'll know.

[craigp]

best will be to do high volume of work at low ish prices, you'll learn alot quickly that way, and build confidence.

 

[the red carpet]

Last few posts make a lot of sense, but heres another way of looking at it

The higher end jobs are usually less soiled making them easier to clean
The higher end jobs are usually better quality carpet wich is in my experience is a lot harder to damage

Low end jobs are usually dirtier so harder to clean
Low end jobs = a lot of crappy foam backs ect wich are prone to damage

A untrained person would be a lot less likely to have a problem working at the higher end of the market
It takes a lot more skill to get a decent clean on a fragile carpet covered in blacktop than it does to give a lightly soiled carpet a quick going over

My advice
Blag it, cross your fingers, and learn as you go along, just make sure you do actually learn and dont get to complacent because you will regrett it when you damage something