[kinder clean]

I'm trying to make up my mind, I want to get trained up and increase marketing for either leather repair & re-finish or professional rug cleaning.

Those of you who have learnt all the leather repairs and re-finishing, have you had much work from the motor trade repairing leather seats?

The bottom line is which one if marketed correctly would create more income ?

I already clean both, (cautiously) but have never had any real training for either.

I now have access to a double garage, so space is not a problem. I'm leaning towards rug cleaning, because I think I can turn more around, plus I would have thought the demand to be greater than leather rerpairs.

Paul

[Shaun_Ashmore]

If sold properly then each make good profit, I find it is easier to sell rug cleaning take away service, alot of leather IMO needs to be done off site, Ian Rochester has a FC franchise and he has a workshop but you would need a decent sized van to take a suite away.

Shaun

PS Sometime ago I spoke to Paul Moss about dyeing onsite and although he does loads he did say that to be done properly dye needs to cure properly before you should apply top coat and also there could be an issue with dust in the atmoshere and also you have 1 try at it and that's why I would prefer to take items away.BTW I don't do many redyes I find alot of customers won't pay or expect a brand new suite with a repair that will last a life time.

[Ian Rochester]

Paul,

We do both and have done for several years, as Shaun says we took out a Furniture Clinic franchaise at the beginning of 2009, I now employ one person full time and one part time running the leather restoration business.

Franchaising is not for everyone, however I found the terms offered and the service support were good enough to warrant the investment.  We are now close to having to go VAT registered after our first year trading.

We do have a bespoke unit with includes a 3.3m spray booth, compressors, kettle, microwave, radio, wifi, etc, etc  !!!!, however you don't need this, often the majority of work, a lot can be done on site.

We also do off site rug cleaning, personnally I find it a pain in the proverbial and often not worth the time and effort, though we still do it as there is a demand out there for it, we've got two in the workshop at the moment and I'm picking up an 12 x 8 Chinese style rug tomorrow for cleaning.

If you would like to discuss it more give me a call

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Hi Paul

I'm very much along the same lines as Shaun. Both will serve you well if properly marketed.

Apart from my YP advert I don't really market either. (There again apart from YP I don't really market cc or suite cleaning either.)

Having said that I get far more enquiries about rugs than I do about leather. Probably because there are more rugs than leather. Equally more people think they can clean a leather suite themselves than cleaning a rug themselves. (Baby wipes v rug doctor. No competition-baby wipes are cheaper )

I'll take leather cleaning when it comes my way and I use my von Schrader machine to clean it. At least using a bells nad whistles machine makes the client think that at least they are getting something for their money which they couldn't do themselves.

I offer on and off-site cleaning for rugs, giving different prices for each. Sometimes you can't justify cleaning on site and it has to be taken away so in other words whilst I will try and accommodate clients wishes I will sometimes have to "pull rank" and state my professional opinion as to which will be best for the rugs cleaning.

Roger

[Mike Halliday]

how about offering a take-up clean & store service for people decorating, moving or having building work done.

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Yep Mike

Done that occasionally for people with rugs.

You sometimes get people wanting upholstery cleaned BEFORE they move. If moving far away I will certainly comply If moving locally i always suggest it's cleaned AFTER the move.

Roger

[robert meldrum]

There's profit in terms of " money in your pocket " and there's profit in terms of " job satisfaction " which still gives you money in your pocket, but also gives you a feeling of achievement and pride.

That will sound totally naff to most, but some will understand what I'm saying.

If you want maximum ROI of your time and cash outlay ................stick to cleaning carpets and fabric suites. That will be the most profitable use of your time but can be physically demanding and occasionally, boring.

Rugs will often return little or no true profit if you take away / return unless, of course you have a steady and reasonable volume, possibly through Dry Cleaners. Johnsons have done this for years, I think with Franklins.

[Phild]

Great point Robert - job satisfaction - the satisfaction of doing an interesting job well. All that stuff can sound *touchy-feely* but I think you are 100% spot on.

It always amazes me when you have staff who refuse further training opportunities and seem to think that all you are trying to do is get more out of them instead of thinking - wow the company wants to invest in me and this is a portable qualification i.e. mine, not the company's and it's an extra skill I will have for life.

I suppose it's the difference between wheat and chaff, milk and cream, self-employed or wage slave ;-)

[Tarmbo]

Hi guys
I have a "specialised rug cleaning service" and take rugs away for cleaning and drying. Works for me.

I also clean leather by hand, cleaning and reconditioning and this is on site and in front of the client. A 5 seat set works out about £150.00 plus.

I don't restore rugs but liaise with a specialist restorer who works magic. Likewise if the suite is damaged most people have insurance so want it replaced. If you try and restore and dont get it perfect the original problem becomes yours!