[ianharper]

Guys

this idea works two ways first it will off-set your carbon for each job, and second its a great way to thank your customer for doing business with you.

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/shop2.html

Respect

Ian Harper

[woodman]

Hi Ian

I have already been in contact with them over this, I will let you know how I get on. 

[john smith]

a firend of mine does this for his heating and plumbing business, every boiler installed he pays for a tree. its a good idea

with his profit margin, its a good ploy, for our 50 quid job, or 120 quid job, its not really worth it, not for £12 anyway!

Also Ian, my customers  thank me when i have done the job for them in the first place, the only time i'll reward them is if they recomend me to a friend. why shoulfd i thank them,  :-\i work dam hard, and run my business on honest morals

it would be interesting though to see whether they would rather go
for a tree, or ten quid cash in their hand for reccomending a friend!

john

[ianharper]

John

with respect your minimum needs to go up to £75 for 1 1/2 hrs work.

by the time you setup and get started no job will less that an hour.

if you work hard and lots of hours this is a sign that you need to put up your prices. the measure of how much you can get from a prospect is if you get every job you quote then your to cheap.

please don't take this the wrong way.

respect

ian harper

[FibreTech]

What a load of Bull what I want to know is did cavemen plant a tree when a volcano erupted or when they invented fire. carbon emissions have been around since time began. this green thing is getting out of hand and is just another way for us to pay more taxes.

[ianharper]

fibretech,

your may be right, but there is an old saying

"enter into the conversation going on in peoples minds"

respect

Ian Harper

[Mike Halliday]

I prefer the old saying;

'bullshiit baffles brains' 

[ianharper]

that's what the scientists are doing to the governments?! or what some product produces do to us, it about time we found out the truth about some of the claims, where has the independent view gone. most people in the know in this service are link to business that sell to us?

[FibreTech]

Ian "enter into the conversation going on in peoples minds" I first heard that from one of joe's tape of the month club interviews I think Robert Chaldini talking about influence. Now don't get me wrong but this is how I see things, I turn up at customers house ("Client") wearing uniform clean sign written van on time etc, all that's in customers mind now is "he Looks professional, talks professional and cares about the quality of work he doe's. How much will this clean cost me" We can go on about pricing but i'm not going to get into that game of price per sq ft topic.
Not once have I been told you can only clean my carpets if you use GREEN cleaning agents. 19 years in business mate not once. All these people who tell you about emissions like the politicians etc who leviy taxes on us are paid big money most have 2 homes drive big cars and travel all over the world. Don't get fooled mate they use more carbon emissions than you or I and you won't see Bill Oddie round at there house planting any firkin Trees either.

[ianharper]

your right my friend, its fashion and cool to think you are green. people say one thing and do another. it just something different when they tell their friend how they had their carpets clean and it was carbon neutral. that's life.

If you do an audit you can build these question in to it, for example when i audit for my maid service i don't want to be judged on price alone, so i go though my cleaning audit asking all types of question that they know relate to cleaning but don't want to think its anything other that easy, because easy is cheap.

not one prospect that has had cleaners before knows if they used the same cloths in the bathrooms and kitchens. I have seen cleaners come in and out of homes all their kit in one bucket and the cloths all mixed.

it about giving value to the service that you provide. if you don't, they will expect cheap. for them it just soap and water. they don't know how much time and money you invest in yourself.

I for one don't want to be judged as the same as someone that has not put any effort in to education or experience like i have. my staff are a direct refection of my knowledge and the level of service is higher than someone that thinks they can clean.

I am sure that when you quote against someone that has just bought a van and machine and not even done the basic course gets the same money as you. how can you be sure that you are being judged differently if you don't put the questions in prospects minds first?

self interest and showing what one has is all some people are interested in, its a shame but we have to deal with these people its the reverse of a chave.

the green issue is not about whats right or wrong its about good business practices. just like littering we all have a responsibility to the environment we live in.

Choice is what people want, they just like to be different. nothing wrong with that. its what people brag about how theirs is different.

did you read about David Cameron rubbish bag and all the no so green stuff he had in it. this is the world we live in. you do what i tell you and I'll do what i want. we need to question claims put to us and not believe everything. trust is earned.

respect

Ian Harper

[woodman]

Fibretech,

Every week I am asked about my green products. two quotes today solely as a result of the products and systems I use.

I think we all share the scepticism over the impending disaster they all keep talking about, however its out of our hands and the government has more money than you and me so they can keep advertising and talking on the issues for as long as they like until Mr & Mrs Homeowner are convinced (as many are now) and start to ask specific questions about whats being put into their furniture and carpets when cleaned as many do now
Also I have noticed a rise in pregnant and new mums requesting 'safer' cleans.

The kind of potential new client that I target would ,i believe, rather like the idea of having a tree planted in their name. 

[FibreTech]

Woodman, I use safe cleaning agents I also offer "cleaning for health" have gone down the road before with all the companies who have a better product etc. they are all fizz and no Bang. they say we will promote this it never happens.
I clean for mums too offer my healthy home package, but nobody says are they green chemicals they want to know if they are safe but never asked if they are  green. How can you be sure they will plant a tree for you. When my grandad past away we were offered  to plant a tree for him as a remembarance at a stately home with a plaque. Paid for it, guess what IT NEVER HAPPENED

Ian, I have been a piranha member since 1997 I am also an Gold member of Dan Kennedy Inner Circle I know how to get the "best bang for the buck" from all my clients I don't price cheap they are all left with why I'm different from other cleaners message. I do provide an abundance of information and "Message to Market Match"
What I'm saying is that when you get a call most people ask "How much do's it cost to clean...? not "If you clean for me will you plant a tree"

[ianharper]

Fibretech

so what is your USP. i have just dropped my 10 great offers for this green approach as one of mine. with the Internet you can can many USP's that will message to market match, all for free. why limit your message?

Did you go to Joe's boot camp in 1999 in the USA?

you will also know that pre selling cuts out the how much do you charge question.

respect

Ian Harper

[carpetguy]

I'm afraid I have to side with Fibretech on this.........I have offered Healthy Homes cleaning and advertised the Safe and Biodegradable aspect over the past 15 or so years and have only ever been asked about the safety " for kids / pets "never asked about the Green aspects.

When we get professionals to run the country, rather than pontificating amateurs, who waste millions annually, I'll find it very difficult to change.

rob

[Mike Osbourne]

I have a theory that it is a human need to have something to worry about that may harm us or our family. In the absence of anything real we create it and put energy into solving it.

I think whether you believe in global warming etc or not, never underestimate  the marketing potential of it. If someone can shamelessly take more money out of your pocket for green' taxes or put it in a manefesto and people still vote for them with a smile on their faces, that's powerful.  

[ianharper]

just think about all those science projects that have new funding now!

[Mike Osbourne]

exactly, like there's no such thing as self promoting scientists.

Intelligence is nothing compared to 'creativeness'

The earth will spit us out one way or another.

Have a great weekend.

[FibreTech]

Ian, Yes I have a U.S.P thakyou and it works well for me, I was at the extravaganza with joe in the u.k yes i know all about pre selling I have  spent fortunes with joe and Dan kennedy  but guess what people dont always read all of your ad.
I have the consumer message line, & guides and umpteen cleaning for health reasons,  i offer a Prepondarance of prove but what I'M SAYING TO YOU IS Is planting TREES going to make you a wealthy Carpet Cleaner! By the way this is not a personal attack on you just becareful who you listen too, "The world is full of Kings & Queens, Who BLIND YOUR EYES & STEAL YOUR DREAMS"

[Mike Osbourne]

Have your carpets cleaned and save your children's future.



 PS! Free do gooder ribbon with every tree planted so people give you the recognition you deserve as a enviro do gooder- the world will still thank you even after are long gone. Comes with a handy ribbon clip for all your other ribbons!

[woodman]

At risk of repeating myself,

Every week for at least the past year I have had at least one enquiry for 'green'
cleaning, if their not asking you doesn't mean their not finding out elswhere.


The point that goes with this seems to be completely lost with some people Mike for example, see past your negative attitude and you might just see an opportunity looming. :