[eddie d]

even though im picking up a regular amount of domestics .ive lost a few good commercial custys in the last 2 months .
one a shopfitter employing 150 people
one a whlosale bakery .24 hour buisness.
one a prestiege car dealer .bmw s and the like .

so none of these  were startups all established for 10 + years .is a recession on the way .

[AuRavelling79]

Have you lost them to other w/c'rs or have they stopped completely?

I think tougher times are coming because people will think a bit more before they spend due to uncertainty in the housing market and higher interest rates.

However, older people with savings are possibly better off so it's not all doom and gloom.

[windowwashers]

i didnt say ,"these firms have gone  bust " or have recievers in .

they probably got someone cheaper  :

[eddie d]

no they have gone bust .

[NWH]

Those types of businesses need there windows cleaned,there`s no way a BMW dealership would stand for filthy window`s.As said they most probobly got someone cheaper.

[cvdewsbury]

probably someone has canvassed yr customers and offered them a cheaper price?

[Spursboy1972]

Unfortunately I can assure you tougher times are ahead. My best mate works in a specialist department of a high street bank that looks after accoiunts of businesses that are in serious difficulties and also closely with receivers and liquidators.

In his word they are flat out!!!! The banks are trying to hold off making a lot of these companies go to the wall as word spreads and people panic. Case in point Northern Rock! 

However they cant "stockpile these accounts" indefinitely.

Costs will be cut and inevitably those that are a direct cost or those that dont make money will be the first to go. Cleaning is always first!!

[windowwashers]

who started this post? it is drepressing, look on the bright side of life, at the mo there is plenty of work, plenty of money around. People will still have their windows cleaned, yes a few may stop but most will not. So for today the future looks ok in my eyes

[eddie d]

windowwashers/ that makes sense good idea.
lets close our eyes and everything will be fine .
or open them and prepare for the future.

nwh/as i said they have closed .stopped trading,they havent got a cheaper wc.read the posts.

[Paul Coleman]

Oh yes.  We are definitely heading into a slowdown and probably a recession.  The only question is how bad will it get?  If managed well, it needn't be financial meltdown.
Although my own little business is slowly expanding, a few years ago, it expanded a lot more quickly and with less effort from me.  Now I need to work a bit more at it for a slower build-up.

[matt]

many have had it too good for too long, they have reaped the rewards and will find it hard

[Helen]

You can't ignore or hide away from the obvious cutbacks/close downs that are happening, have happened over the past few months and will happen in the future, thinking that it will not effect you own business, it probably will in some respect. If businesses are closing down or making cutbacks, that affects their staff too , who we clean for, so you have the knock on effect.............BUT, you also cannot run a business if you think the worst is going to happen all the time. Yes, "good" customers are harder to find now than say 3 years ago...why? because there are more WC around and interest rates etc have a big affect on the "luxury" service we provide. Over the last 2 months we have seen customers go and we have been lucky enough to replace (and more) them. We are now planning for the next six months and putting those plans into action from this weekend. This still doesn't mean that we will get it right, but hopefully should a recession hit, then we will scrape through........On a brighter note, Xmas is fast approaching, get talking to the custies about getting insides done (as well as out) in time for it, more earnngs on one place = less overheads

[windowwashers]

windowwashers/ that makes sense good idea.
lets close our eyes and everything will be fine .
or open them and prepare for the future.

nwh/as i said they have closed .stopped trading,they havent got a cheaper wc.read the posts.

never did i say close your eyes and everything will be fine, I am just not worried about it, I will carry on building business regardless. thinking negative thoughts is not good for the mind and bad for business, I prefer to good positive mindset, this way I grow.

If tough times come it is the strong that get past it 

[lee_dewing]

I have been made redundant twice in my working life.
i use to work in the print.

I have about 250 domestic customers.

working for someone else all my eggs were in one basket.
now there in 250 baskets.
yes i could lose 20-30% of my work.

I think the most work w/c's will lose is commercial as lets face it most want this as it's the most profitable but every dog fighting over the same bone!

I like domestic not as profitable but customers are loyal
do a good job, be polite, turn up as regular as  weather permits.
Winner!

I'd rather be a window cleaner in a reccession than working for a boss!

I try to clean in affluent areas people with money always seem to sail through

[Neil271052]

windowwashers/ that makes sense good idea.
lets close our eyes and everything will be fine .
or open them and prepare for the future.

nwh/as i said they have closed .stopped trading,they havent got a cheaper wc.read the posts.

never did i say close your eyes and everything will be fine, I am just not worried about it, I will carry on building business regardless. thinking negative thoughts is not good for the mind and bad for business, I prefer to good positive mindset, this way I grow.

If tough times come it is the strong that get past it 

Try building business in a recession.

We have been living in  a low interest economy for too long now and people who know about economics  realise it is a cyclical thing.

It doesn't matter how "strong" you are, or how much positive thinking you do,  if a business closes,  a customers mortgage goes up considerably or worse still they are put out of work the window cleaning will be the first non essential knocked on the head.

The best customers in this likelihood are pensioners who are not greatly affected by a recession.

[xxmattyxx]

The best customers in this likelihood are pensioners who are not greatly affected by a recession.

Absolutely !!








And window-cleaners whos customer base is mostly pensioners 

[trevor perry]

pensioners are ok but they have a tendancy to die 

[windowwashers]

pensioners are ok but they have a tendancy to die 

very true, I think that is plain thought less

[xxmattyxx]

And younger customers have tendency to become pensioners 

[Paul Coleman]

windowwashers/ that makes sense good idea.
lets close our eyes and everything will be fine .
or open them and prepare for the future.

nwh/as i said they have closed .stopped trading,they havent got a cheaper wc.read the posts.

never did i say close your eyes and everything will be fine, I am just not worried about it, I will carry on building business regardless. thinking negative thoughts is not good for the mind and bad for business, I prefer to good positive mindset, this way I grow.

If tough times come it is the strong that get past it 

Well I started W/Cing in October 1991.  It seemed like the whole country was going into financial meltdown.  Fortunately, my personal outgoings were minimal back then so building the business slowly was acceptable (plus I had a driving job for one week in four).  If I managed to start and sustain my business in the worst recession in living memory (for most people) then I'm sure I can take what the economy throws at me this time.  It may mean I have to work harder at it but I will just adapt.