[the red carpet]

Craig, hows the new t/m?
does it really feel like you have retired? or is that a myth?

[Buster Ingram]

In twenty odd years in the business I have never been booked more than 2 weeks ahead.
like Mark I would be very worried if I was booked too far in front,

1, because you can be taken ill at any time and

2, Like this week I had a funeral to attend.

Clients will only wait so long before they ask someone else to clean their carpets.

I have found that when I'm asked to clean a carpet the client means this week and at a push they'll go for next week.
3 weeks time is really pushing it up here by then they have gone off the idea.

So Paul if you would like to give me a call I'll fit you in next week!

[the red carpet]

Dont get me wrong i dont wanna be booked up this far ahead it makes life hard, but as i say getting t/m and staff and just wanna make sure the work is there so have upped the advertising.

Hopefully things will settle down soon, all im saying is its there if you want it, your marketing should be a tap you can turn on and of at your own convenience, you shouldnt be chasing jobs. not after the first couple months or year.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

If I am 3 weeks infront I put my prices up PERIOD, WHAT EVER, LOOK AT THE HAND, MINGER etc etc etc

Shaun

[Buster Ingram]

Shaun you've lost me
Don't worry Red when you get your new machine you'll be glad of the slow times so you can polish it

[the red carpet]

My problem is im to nice, i know i could do it, but i start to feel im ripping people off.
After all its the same job i was doing last month for £50, why does it now cost £100? with new customers its fine i just worry about repeats, thats why i feel better doing it when i get the t/m that way i have a excuse.

[Buster Ingram]

Why raise your prices Red, when you get your new machine you'll do the work much faster so you'll get through more jobs in a day.
Thus having more time for your family 

[Neil Grainger]

red you dont need repeats if you are getting so much new business.

Price is in your mind not the customers. If you do a good job they wont mind paying.

[the red carpet]

call me gready

I want more work
I want repeats
I want new customers
I want easier work
I want more money
I want more time to myself

And i wanna spend less on advertising
All of this is achievable, and i will achieve at least some of it

[clive]

Hi Damian,
I have a few ads, y.p. is very good at the moment, b.t book-same ad 1 phone call, total crap, ncca ad in thompsons, get a lot of work from checkatrade but I have been going for 20 years now so lots of reccomendations and repeat businessetc.

Mark, I know what you mean. I am starting at 8.30 am, and starting my last jobs 5.30-6.00 p.m. every day for the next 3 weeks and I simply can not fit my regulars in at the moment. I hate letting people down which is why I work such long hours.

Clive

[Buster Ingram]

Red change the word want to need and you will achieve all of these things in time

[mark_roberts]

BTW you should all take a rain check.

On Monday I started at 7.30am and had made £230 by 10am but at 10.15am I slipped a disc in my back.  Had to cancel all this week.  Lost a £150 job but the rest have rebooked so next week (if my back is better) will be a hectic week.

Moral is get a helper before you burn out.

I have had a lot of time looking at my bedroom ceiling to contemplate where my business is taking me because at the minute I'm not taking it anywhere.

Mark

[Phil Marlor]

I have over £3K booked in for Sept at the moment, but I can still accomodate people and will expect to book in a lot more throughout the month.

I dont spend nothing like £800.00 pm on advertising and I dont normally work more than about 5/6 hours a day.

Once you are established in this business you can't fail, I must admit red your turnover is good considering you have only been going less than a year, do you have a big commercial contract in there.

Clive, the answer to your problem is in your last word, you need some help, get another van on the road and put your prices up!


Phil

[craigp]

red, no it does not feel like im retired, must be a myth

its still hard work but faster! so your at custys less time.

i do work fast anyway i do HSL and throu. lounge in an hour with TM, and yes to good standard.

its great not messing with buckets, it does cost more to run though, i got guzzling 2.8TD van plus TM takes £35 to fill up, so to fill both from empty can mean spending £75 at station, so you got to charge more really.

[The Great One]

Hi

Well, I have gone quiet like most, if those of you that say youbare busy really are, then sweet well done.

Mark, if you back injury is genuine then you are looking at a minimum of 6 weeks on the floor, never mind the bed (far to painful to go there) plus another year of treatment and pain!

7 years ago, prolapsed L5

Regards

Martin