[Alan Rowley]

With our first Christmas as a business coming up, I wondered what to expect. Does business increase? Do customers not bother with cleans over the holiday? Do you get many after party cleans? What days do you work? How do you fit everyone in?

How do you handle the holiday? I need to start thinking about planning ours. Any comments welcomed - thanks!

[The Great One]

Hi

Just take it as it comes and work around it, take the days off you want and work if you want or need.

Drops quiet for me for about a two week period, but jan & feb can be quieter.

Depends also on what kind of cleaning you do.

Regards

Martin

[Alan Rowley]

We do domestic and office cleans.

[Karl Wheeler]

Hi Alan
I find most of my offices operate with a skeleton staff over the Christmas period and  therefore don't require any cleaning. My staff and I usually to this as an opportunity to take a well deserved break as the 3 months beforehand has been manic with EOT cleans.

Thanks
Karl

[Bertie Boo]

late November/december i work flat out as every man and his dog wants more cleaning doing in preperation for xmas. Also when the trees go up and the cards put out everyone says 'oh dont worry about dusting until its all gone' which means i get throught the work quicker 

Then i have to take a few days off around xmas and new year, then with people being away for xmas its a bit quieter for a week or two, like Martin said.

I also get masses of presents and money in my xmas cards from my luvverly clients    if only i drank alcohol i'd be as pished ash a farrrrt with all the bottles of wine people given me. I havent the heart to tell them i'm 95% teetotal. Bless.

Stephen

[*Chris Browne]

I am the same Bertie, so i re wrap them......and give them to our cleaners.....recycling or what?



ChrisI

[Mrs Nicholls]

Hi

We have a shut down period over xmas, for 2 weeks, and encourage our staff to save up 2 weeks of their hol entitlement for this.

offices are usually shut, and domestics have family around or gone to see family and done want cleans, this will be our 3rd xmas in business, its lovely to actually have a proper break, come september this though of 2 week break is constantly on our minds    aug sept and oct are our busiest times for ones off cleans, but march - april- may busiest for office contracts to start and regular domestics, with a steady flow through the year then. The quiet months are jan and feb.

thanks
Lisa

[Kwackers]

Why don't you wrap up a box, in a box, in a box, containing a note saying:

'Voucher for X amount of cleaning services at your home' and give it out to your family.

That way you don't spend owt, and you fill your diary a bit!

[Bertie Boo]

Nice idea Kwackers, but i wouldnt work for any of MY family....

Stephen

[homecare]

november+december very busy domestic,quite elsewhere,you;ll be glad of the rest in early january

[homecare]

november+december very busy domestic,quite elsewhere,you;ll be glad of the rest in early january

[The Great One]

Is there an echo on the forum?

[Bertie Boo]

Is there an echo on the forum?


 

[diamond-domestics]

Hi,
We work up to Xmas Eve and then take a week off. Last year we did have a few customers asking if we could work in-between xmas and New Year but like everyone has said, you do need the time off as the run up to xmas is madness.  At the beginning of November we give out details of how to book extra cleaning sessions in the run up to xmas and usually get a good response which makes up for the lack of money while we're off.

[garyj]

I work flat out over Xmas, then take the resst of the year off.

[Alan Rowley]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Still not too sure what to expect. Maybe I'll just take the days off between Christmas and New Year. Depends on what the demand is. Will just have to wait and see ...

[Art]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Still not too sure what to expect. Maybe I'll just take the days off between Christmas and New Year. Depends on what the demand is. Will just have to wait and see ...

Alan, if your not bothered about working over xmas, offer after party cleans. These can be charged at premium rates at that time of year.

Arthur

[Bertie Boo]

Art

do people actually use cleaners at that time? I've often wondered. If so, how should i or anyone else advertise that we'll do this? whats the best way?

Cheers in advance mister,

Stephen

[Art]

Art

do people actually use cleaners at that time? I've often wondered. If so, how should i or anyone else advertise that we'll do this? whats the best way?

Cheers in advance mister,

Stephen

Hi Stephen

If you do leaflets in the run up to xmas put it on there. Parish mags go to people who can afford this luxury( well the parish mags in this area do) If you've got a website put it on there. Then there's your existing customers

Arthur

[Bertie Boo]

Hi art

Thanks for that. Sadly my existing customers either go away for the xmas break or they try to make up for the all the things they haven't done during the year, visiting people, entertaining etc. so for that week i'm not really needed as they are either not there or in a complete contrast have EVERYONE there so they all muck in with the cleaning 

I may well try the local rags, like you said. Probably easier these days as my business is more established than it was when i first ever advertised. I never bothered with a website as (luckily) i've always had consistantly enough work just by reccomendation.

Is there a real demand for 'after party' cleaning?

Thanks again

Stephen