[Mike Halliday]

I spent the last half of the year really pushing the leather cleaning.

I added it onto my leaflet, put it on the front of the van and mentioned it too every customer who had a leather suite but i can't say its really taken off. maybe 2 jobs a month........... but I expected more.

anyone else disappointed with the amount of leather work they get?

[Joe H]

Getting less leather work then I used to - but I cannot say it was all that great.

I have heared owners say "I got a leather suite then I wouldnt have to clean it".
Dont know where they expect the body grease on hands and heads etc to go.

Pity really, cause leather cleaning is so much nicer to do then fabric.

[clinton]

Same here joe and never had that many enquireys

If you look now at the new leather suites and i know they aint top quality but the store in stockport is doing them for 299 new

[Steve Chapman]

same story for us, have really pushed the leather cleaning and restoration since the ccdo this year but have done two recolouring jobs and two cleans since then, so largley dissapointing

even on those jobs i had to spend time educating the customer about the benefits etc, but i think on the whole most think leather doesnt need to be cleaned and when it comes to restoration its just not cost effective for them, maybe the new year will change that mentality with every body tightnening thier belts etc and trying to save a few pennies


regards
steve

[derek west]

did a quote on a filthy leather suite, women said she cant do it herself as she has hurt her back, did a test patch to show her exactly how much i could get out using ltt maxi.
she said "thats not very good, i got it cleaner than that using fairy liquid and a nail brush"
i tried eduacating her but she was way past that.
some people eh!
derek

[clinton]

Derek

Its much harder to sell leather cleaning as in the above posts say the customer does not see leather cleaning in  the same leauge as cloth upholstery and seem tp think thy can do it themselves

I know a lady that i clean for and she uses bleach to clean hers

Your right they also use fairy liquid

[LTT Leathercare]

As leather is still between 60 - 70% of the furniture market there is definitely potential out there.  But as has already been said many people buy leather because they think they can clean it themselves.  It is our job as cleaners to educate them otherwise, this had to be done with carpet and fabric cleaning at some stage.

If you are an upholstery cleaner, leather should always be a part of your services as without it you are instantly cutting out a section of your work.  If they still want to clean it themselves then make sure you are selling them product that is effective and will not do any long term damage (bleach and washing up liquid will both be very harmful in the long run).  Selling product to your customers will make some money for you.

Unfortunately most customers who ask for their leather to be cleaned have reached a stage when they should be asking for restoration so cleaning only often seems fairly ineffective.  Restoration is a different skill and a different cost scale which can only be sold on good quality furniture.

Judging by the increase of consumer enquiries to us there really is a market out there but it needs to be defined within your present market and you need to learn how to sell it effectively. 

[Mike Osbourne]

I think Judy/Andy is right, it's restoration time before they call you in.

Leather adverts goes out with pretty much everything I do. In fact I never advertise for fabric upholstery, yet I get tons of that and hardly any leather.

If it wasn't for Mossy telling me it's an earner I'd of stopped bothering yonks ago.

The bottom line is most people are cheapskates and if they 'think' they can clean it with baby wipes they will and won't take a blind bit of notice of you until it goes all sticky and clammy which is how I advertise it now.

[mike townsend]

i dont get much leather really, i think people think they can clean it themselves, whereas a fabric suite needs a machine,
most new suites come with a cleaning kit nowadays, but how many fabric suites come with one?

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I have definitely seen a drop off in the last six months, when times are tough people will clean themselves.

Cheers

doug

[carlton care]

I think Doug's probably close to the truth..................it looks easy to clean................they do so for a year and call you when it's damaged, but you'll make more from a damaged suite than one that just needs cleaning!

Every time I clean carpets and see a leather suite, I tell the client about our leather cleaning service and ask how they maintain it. The discussion that follows, often results in a job, directly, or by referral.

I reckon you could get near enough full time leather work if you had premises and high visibility.

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

Even when they try to clean it themselves theres nothing to touch getting it professionally cleaned! Do a demo for them and clean the dirtiest seat cushion so they can see the difference. One trick I sometimes do is make a square on a seat cushion with some masking tape and clean inside it. I then take the masking tape off and the result is usually quite dramatic...enough for me to get the job to do it!

[carlton care]

VERY weak tape I hope !

[Jim_77]

Use gaffa, then you can go for a re-finish too

[clinton]

Jim

 

[PaulKing]

I find less than 1% of work is leather so advertise likewise

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Like the bus service I get none and then 3 arrive at once, only ones I do tend to get to clean are the cream ones because the brown and blacks just don't show dirt also cream leather IMO is going out of fashion, but I am generalising.

Shaun

[Ian Gourlay]

I agree with Judy , Did a suite the other day took 5 hours, I realise Im slower but that wa   ridicolous.

[clinton]

Ian

I did a gream upholstery suite few weeks ago and that took me a fair amount of time :

[carlton care]

What were you using Ian, a Rug Doctor ?

Only time I spent that long on a suite was about 20 years ago.............it was thick with sticky tobacco residues and I only had a little portable with me, don't remember what I was using, but it was nothing like todays products and it taught me a lesson.

robert m