[paulchambers]

Do carpet cleaners experience the same quiet periods through out the year and do you need to increase advertising certain months of the year    Paul

[Dynafoam]

Paul,

I can only speak for myself, but my bookings are pretty constant throughout the year, except for the Christmas rush, when the waiting list is normaly about 10 weeks.

John.

[Mike Halliday]

So John your Xmas rush begins in July :

pretty constant april to mid oct then it goes mad up to xmas. jan, feb & march slower but  still OK.

Mike

[Dynafoam]

Mike,

Sorry pardon, miss-typed - now corrected.

[martin19842]

havent much experience in this particuar field, but what about a bit of pre xmas marketing, or straight after xmas and new year.  

offering say an offer on the early spring cleaning, 'to get rid of the post festivities blues'

only an idea

regards

martin

[Fintan_Coll]

......but a very good idea Martin.

[martin19842]

perhaps i should set up marketing ideas.

but i actually like being out their and doing it.

regards

martin

[declanb]

Does anyone send out christmas cards to their clients?

Dec

[John_McGavin]

Declan, I was planning on doing that this year. Was also going to enclose a £10 off voucher.

Just a wee idea to maybe give me a few extra jobs in January when its a bit quieter.

John

[Ed Valentine]

"Slow times" seem to be a common hurdle especially in new establishing businesses.

Here in the States, I remember going through this myself when I was starting in the Carpet Cleaning business too. And, being inexperienced back then, I, like many , tryed to rely on (paying) advertising for more work.

However, that was alittle expensive and draining on my very limited funds. The absolute best way I found to get new business was to go out and start shaking hands; selling on location. telling those what I could do and how I could help them.

I think that this old style of selling can't be beat. When one pounds the pavement, he shows his sincereity and desire to the potential customer (s). He offers immediate pricing and normally gets an immediate answer. And, he leaves with his signature on someones desk.

That worked for me & I hope that this old way that your Grandfathers and greatGrandfathers used to build their businesses will someday be re-discovered. Can't beat the Personal touch.

The very best gentlemen

& Good Fortune to all;
Ed Valentine
cross-american corp.

[Big_Fish]

Yes Ed, it works here too.
No point in being indoors miserable and waiting for the 'phone to ring. Get up, get out and do something about it!

Our bookings are constant with a pre-Christmas rush that spills over into the New Year.

BFN

[paulchambers]

I tried door knocking i explained that i just moved to the area and that i was a carpet cleaner gave leaflets a business cards to people i spoke to, unfortunetly though some were very intererested and asked question still no immediate response hoping they kept business card and info for later.   Paul

[Martin S]

Paul,

It is difficult to go out and 'Sell' to strangers (and selling is what it is)  I don't know what your approach is, but it's no good saying to people 'hi, i'm a Carpet cleaner, do you want your Carpets cleaning'?

You have to show people why they need their Carpets cleaning.  Even if you don't get in the door on that occasion, at least, if, after you've gone, you have sown a seed in their minds which gets them to ask the question of themselves that they need a clean (the Carpets, not them) it will probably be you that they call first.  

Lots of people are reluctant to respond to door to door callers, but if they can go away in their own time and consider what you have said, they just might pick up the phone.  You have to appear confident, but not overbearing.  It takes guts to do this and nobody likes constant knock backs, but I bet you, that the first time you successfully convert a cold call into a sale it will boost your confidence no end.  This will also give you a more positive attitude and will be reflected in how the customer perceives you.

I give this advice as someone who is not a CC (yet) but I have experience in sales (many moons ago) and selling is selling, whatever the product.

Regards.

Martin S

[paulchambers]

I agree selling is hard but once i spoke to a few people and some were very interested in what i had to say i found myself enjoying doing door to door would of enjoyed it more if i ended up with  a job i dont (hoping) it wasnt a waste of time and hopefully the phone will ring. If it doesnt i'll just do it again until it does.

I am quietly confident that things will pick up for neil 47 and myself (it must be the cornish very laid back and not in a rush)    paul

[Len Gribble]

Declanb

Good idea was think down the same line of using it this year that way it will remind to send the wife one!

Len

[Ivar_Haglund]

when we get 2 meters of snow on the ground things kind of slow down.



IVAR

[neil 47]

Good time to sell fire wood
Ivar

[carpetmas5]

If any one us having a quiet time please let me know I will swop! Tuesday I started 5.30 got home 20.00hrs its high time I had staff. Martin

[paulchambers]

carpetmas5

Your that busy because i moved from shaftesbury    Paul

[Len Gribble]

Ivar

Get a Volvo

Len