[derek west]

jand s
couldn't give advice on fabric presprays, as ive said, that was my first today, used fabric restorer and was happy with the result, extracted with clearwater rinse.
carpets i use,
prespray gold on wool
multi pro 1 to 8 on normal soiled man mades, + wool if a bit soled
multi pro 1 to 4 on dirty man made soiled + traffic lane wool
powerburst on mingers
and citrus boost added to powerburst for "not fit for human habitation" ones
still a newcomer and learning all the time but when it comes to sales and marketing i can hold my own, still willing to learn more though, thats why i'm on here a lot. theres a lot of knowledgable guys on here, theres some d heads as well but ya filter out the bowlocks. unless ive had a few then i join in.
practice your sales pitch and yur prices will follow, only started 5 months ago and my prices have gone up by a good 40%. my wage is good but i need a lot more work. if my prices were low i'd be earning the same but with no hours left to earn more. all i need now is to get the next stage of my marketing up and running and then wait for my repeat customers next year. roll on the good times.
god i love this job, can't beat a bit of rug munchin, i mean cleaning ahhh hem.
derek

[JandS]

Cheers for that Derek.
Got the advertising nailed I think but any tips on sales and marketing  appreciated.
Only been full time at this myself for 9 months.

Regards
           John

[derek west]

jand s
do you quote over the phone?
derek

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Derek do you inhouse quote most jobs?

What forms of advertising have you out at the moment? I ask because in relitively a short space of time you are up and running.

Shaun

[derek west]

in house all my quotes, very rarely get turned down to do this, allthough got turned down today funnily enough, he'd rang 6 before me so just price shopping, i don't compete on price, only on quality Vs price.

advertising.

free local
paid local
some leaflets in free paper, scrapped
leaflets posted by us
yellow pages, wont be going there again
google adwords
yell.com, got money back in 6 weeks so well happy with that
van livery obviously
business update magazine

adds pending

a free adds mag
a posh free adds mag
thompson internet
10k of pink cheesy leaflets allthough john gotts says there not cheesy so there not. coming friday

future adds pending

SEO
direct marketing (business)
brochure posting with chaser call (business)

well into the future adds

database marketing

thats about it really, but i'm open to other suggestions,

derek

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Great ethics that is why you are succeeding.

Like to see John Gotts leaflet any chance?

How big is your normal service area?

Shaun

[derek west]

shaun
thats a bit personal isn't it, oooooh you mean! riiiight.
ahh hem
not sure really, if the jobs big enough i'll travel to sheffield.

furthest ive travelled to do a job is 35 miles, did an emergency extraction in a blockbuster store for a maintenance company, 40 mins work, £100 but an hour travelling so not too bad.

its my leaflet not jay gees, i thought it was cheesy. emailed it to john and he said otherwise, its the pink one,
show ya
cheeeesy or what?
derek
files tooo big, won't let me uplaod it
nevermind

[Shaun_Ashmore]

No problem

In a few months time there will be an event that I'll be going to in the Midlands and I'd advise you to go but it wouldn't be right to advertise it on here, I'll contact you nearer teh time or someone may tell you about it.

Shaun

PS Mods I'm not pushing this event just mentioning in passing

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Hi Jim

Is this a record? We're upto page 4 of comments and you seem to be the only regular not to have chipped in yet?

(I suppose you'll now have to respond? )

[Jim_77]

[JandS]

Hi Derek.

Yes, I do about 85% of my domestic quotes over the phone.
Get a lot of people saying give me a rough estimate over the phone and we'll fine tune it on the day if you think it's going to be more.
Most of the time I've got it right 'cos the customers measured up right, where I've underestimated it'nearly always there bad measurements
and they have had no problem with the revised price.
Saying that the most I've had to add on is £40.
Most of my problems come from working for Asian families of which we have a lot round here.
You quote for say L Room and D Room and when you have done it they will say can you just zip up the hallway and stairs while you've got your gear out it won't take you a minute. Of course they expect this for free.
Having said that on the run up and wind down to Ramadan I was kept busy by them and they were willing to pay top dollar to get me there.

John

[JandS]

Hi Derek.

Yes, I do about 85% of my domestic quotes over the phone.
Get a lot of people saying give me a rough estimate over the phone and we'll fine tune it on the day if you think it's going to be more.
Most of the time I've got it right 'cos the customers measured up right, where I've underestimated it'nearly always there bad measurements
and they have had no problem with the revised price.
Saying that the most I've had to add on is £40.
Most of my problems come from working for Asian families of which we have a lot round here.
You quote for say L Room and D Room and when you have done it they will say can you just zip up the hallway and stairs while you've got your gear out it won't take you a minute. Of course they expect this for free.
Having said that on the run up and wind down to Ramadan I was kept busy by them and they were willing to pay top dollar to get me there.

John

[Ricky M]

rammadam eh  , had a few my self , found they tried to knock me down on price !

  Then i was asked by some older chap (ASIAN) to look at 5 diff houses and give them all a price .

 1st one was ok no probs then the 2nd tried knock me down so i said sorry thats the price and started to leave she then came up closer to my quote and i just left to go next house, on the way I phoned
old chap to tell him what happened , He said add some to the next quotes so they cud knock me down a
bit .
 said its something to do with there culture and they always like to think they have had a bargin!!

 It worked well and in Dec now going to price a Mosque , Turns out old chap is high ranking in the praying depatment.

                     R.T

[Shaun_Ashmore]

laundery engineer that comes in our shop says that when he has completed a job for Asian businessmen he takes the money and has to give them some (ha ha) of it back as it's traditional.

Shaun

[JandS]

Yes Derek, was told that about putting a bit on so they could knock you down a bit by an Asian businessman who's carpets I was cleaning.
His job? He owned a wholesale carpet shop, sold carpets by the dozen.
Strange life is sometimes.

John

[clinton]

Jands

Is it leeds area you live mate

Why not try just an extra 5 or ten pounds on your next few jobs and see how it goes

[clinton]

Hi roger

Any more thoughts of geting a meet up for us local  c cleaning guys in our area.

 cheers clinton

[John Kelly]

It is their culture to try and drive a bargain. If they can get something knocked off then they have satisfied their need. Always over quote and come down to your normal price. Nothing immoral in that as they are still getting the job at the normal rate.

[JandS]

Clinton

Going to put suites up to £60 in line with a couple more cleaners in the area.
It's alright these people on here saying they charge £125 for suites but I'd never touch one again at those prices.
Think some others on here don't charge as much as they say they do.
I average 2-3 a week at £55 a throw which I don't personally think is a bad price.
For the carpets however I can get really good prices.

John

[Ricky M]

Hi JandS,
              Think you said you in Hull ?
   
               I cover stoke-on-trent and thats a poo pit as well !!

               You every thought bout pricing suite by the seat ie 1x3 £15 per seat= £45

                                         so sell the procedure to them then say its £__ per seat

                   Lesson shown to me b4 : Build it up to be out of there price range, let them know your not cheap and reasons why, Then hit them with price they can afford . this has worked for me


                        Find out the area they live in then you know Quality of the custy and price accordingly

                         I cud be very wrong but its working for me at the min

                          R.T