[Clean2Day]

Hi, was just sitting here & wondering if it was just me, or is it this slow for everybody else ?

For those of you who have no idea what i'm going on about, what are you doing to ensure a good flow of work this time of year? We are keen believers in our existing customers, who we look after very well with regards to follow up & quarterly communications etc. But how do you reach quality new customers who aren't just looking for a quick fix/cheap clean?

We are obviously all working within reduced budgets at the moment, but we don't want to loose out on our competitors, so even if it means that it's me delivering leaflets/postcards, they still go out in all the right areas, 1000per week on average.

So to sum up, On top of leaflets/postcards, efficient e-mail communications, a good & decently performing interactive website-with (ppc), existing custy newsletters & promotions, how do you reach decent new clients within a budget? what do you guys feel works best for you?

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[cleanability]

Hi mate. Really really slow for me too.  Had my busiest December in 12years and now January was the worst in 8 years. Same as you but havent done leaflets for a few years which I should do really. Starting to get more and more work from the internet. I can google a carpet cleaner for my town and I'm right at the top with lots of entries. Had a few calls today which is promising.

Chris

[Simon@arenaclean]

Small job today quiet this week but in reality it always is for me this time of year, especially if my commercials are tightening their belts. Have a full end of tenancy clean for a couple of day next week and some regular commercial work but I still seem to have more time to answer posts on here It has been a quiet start so far and domestics are very slow. We need some good dry weather, Not the best time of year for us in these conditions,  but the tax man is paid Last year was one of my best for 5 years and it all started like this so...

Simon

[Clean2Day]

Small job today quiet this week but in reality it always is for me this time of year, especially if my commercials are tightening their belts. Have a full end of tenancy clean for a couple of day next week and some regular commercial work but I still seem to have more time to answer posts on here It has been a quiet start so far and domestics are very slow. We need some good dry weather, Not the best time of year for us in these conditions,  but the tax man is paid Last year was one of my best for 5 years and it all started like this so...

Simon

Encouraging post simon, got the tax man on a 6 week payment plan with only £4.60 interest so all is not lost ...yet!!!

Cheers for your replies guys, keep them comming!

[Simon@arenaclean]

Just keep doing what you're doing. If you have not done so already try local private hotels/guest houses, the ones I work for had a bumper year. Pop in and and have a look at the traffic area and then find out who the head of house keeping is, this may require charming the receptionist , and write directly to them. Same with the duty manager. Sell the service to them with the benefits for their customers, never put in a price, and don't offer one over the phone you want your foot in the door. These can be four star and they love to be seen using local companies. When you write assume they already have them cleaned and ask if they are happy with the service. This works for restaurants and pubs too.

Keep smiling

[clinton]

Am finding its just steady at the mo but not that many new clients,so thankfully my regulars keep me going.

Be good to know how the newish guys are doing

[Hilton]

Dont usually get involved in who's busier than who but it might be of encouragement to know that we operate in a very competitive area and on like for like sales 2008 -2009  we are:

Oct 09 up 28%
Nov 09 up 30%
Dec 09 up 28%
Jan 10 up 14%

Every body and every business has quiet weeks/months even in the 'good' times its a case of keep looking at your marketing mix , I have read people comment that they might be going 'back' to leafleting. This is not going backwards its part of the business cycle, perhaps on reflection those that stopped shouldn't have done and they would not be quiet now.

Its very important/vital  to keep your regular clients on board with lots of contact via offers, letters , newsletters etc, as aquisitions will always slow in a down turn figures for the next quarter (GDP) will almost certainly show a drop back into recession as the xmas blip comes to an end. 

Its not all doom and gloom out there just challenging, if what you are currently doing isn't working, change it, don't throw good money after bad, try different angles and if that means leafleting then do it, but do it properly. If need be work part time and get another job to support you, anything to keep you going through this 1st quarter of the year, until Spring when it will pick up.

Just my opinion hope it helps. 
 

[steven_k]

Dont if any of use do it but leave a good few cards at reception of womens hairdressers the may times i have aske where u get a number from and they said hairdressers is amazing

[Paul Redden Countryfresh]

Very queit at the mo, but tax paid...phew and some old invoices finally got paid, so hanging in there, now me vacs gone.
Roll on summer! 

Paul

[chrisjohn]

Ive been working nearly everyday (Mon-Fri) since New Year.But to be honest,most of these jobs are re-arranged ones,because of the bad weather we had.

Chris.

[Matt Lindus]

My carpet fella's up ladders. 

[Neil Williams]

Busy.......No......as near as damit dead
Even had another carpet cleaner around last night for a couple of hours who went through my marketing leaflets and website in order to get us a boost.
Even customers searching carpet cleaning for this area are down going by the various stats I can access.

[Colin Day]

I'm fairly busy, but the oven cleaning's keeping my work van off the drive a lot at the moment too!

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

Very steady here great isn't it 

Cheers Tony

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Getting alot of leather work atm but I can't complain on the carpets, lot of calls for end of tennancy work but that work isn't really for me or the price I give them.

Shaun

[richy27]

Like mr ashmore getting lots of leather work at the moment dec was pants january was ok apart from the weather but seem to be getting busier and busier averaging 3-4 new enquiries a day.

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Pretty much as expected. Jan and Feb are my quietest months (all things being relative) but does give me plenty of time for planning and having operations.

As I'm not so busy I can have a bit of a lie-in in the morning.

I like Februarys

Roger

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I think Roger has it, I'd love a lay in but the kids have to go to school and they need Sgt Major Dad to get them up as well as bringing the general back to life with a cup of coffee.

Compared to Nov and December January always seems a let down and then there's the taxman, telephone bill etc to contend with, I try and get on a few training courses or at least expand my knowledge or technique at this time of year ready for the busier or more profitable months but there's either no courses I want to go on or I can't get the right days off.

Shaun

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

3-4 AVERAGE a day  thats bloody fantastic i wish good for you. You must be doing some good advertising

Cheers Tony

[M.Acorn]

Rubbish here ! One job this week,3 decent sized jobs next week.Tax man will be breathing down my neck very soon,wanting the other 2 and a half grand i o him  .
Still have spent the week trawling all the vw forums,collecting the parts to install my new bigger engine in my roc,so it`s not all bad