Doing Upholstery
Printed From: Carpet Cleaning Forum
Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Upholstery & Fine Fabrics Cleaning
Forum Description: Discuss anything relating to Upholstery Cleaning
URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3417
Printed Date: 28/April/2024 at 8:05am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Doing Upholstery
Posted By: G&M Cleaning
Subject: Doing Upholstery
Date Posted: 25/January/2007 at 11:30pm
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Question, Does anyone use the carpet detergent to also do the Upholstery.? Is there any difference in the upholstery detergent and the regular carpet upholstery detergent.? What PH should be used in doing the Upholstery Cleaning.? Thanks for any help in this matter.
Greg
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Replies:
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 26/January/2007 at 12:22am
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what kind of carpet solution are you using????I wouldn't put attack on furniture...or traffic lane.....
best to play it safe with chemspecs upholstery cleaner..or .haitain cotton for light cotton .....
its best to stay neutral if you can ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: cleanex
Date Posted: 26/January/2007 at 8:45am
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You can use carpet detergent on some upholstery, however, I would advise you to get a properly formulated product for upholstery, ph should be as close to neutral as possible and I would run a textile rinse through my machine to leave the fabric on the acid side. You should take time to attend an upholstery cleaning school. you can end up buying a sofa or two that you don't really need, education is a must when cleaning upholstery. ------------- DON ELDRED YOU CAN "STAND" ON OUR REPUTATION |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 26/January/2007 at 12:31pm
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No way. Better take a course, like cleanex said your going to end up owning some furniture. Make sure you spot check your solutions and acid rinse.
Doing upholstery without any formal training is very risky. Let me give you an example. Look at this couch I recently cleaned and it was cleaned previously by a "coupon company". This is a 4 year old couch that has NOT been recovered purchased at Sears and if you don't understand the implications of this picture then GO TAKE A COURSE. 
By the way, I checked for these conditions and discovered this before I cleaned. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 26/January/2007 at 2:20pm
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custom furniture. name stiched in. Kool
But on the other hand is there's golden band? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 26/January/2007 at 9:31pm
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That was a couch ordered from Sears and I don't think it was custom. It had bleed through on the underside of the cushions and she had to hide them by flipping them under. There was also a transfer from the material label on to the cushion as well. 3 rooms for $79 and a couch for $59 kind of guy. He has been in business for 20 years too.
------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 26/January/2007 at 10:44pm
Sometimes even the experienced get caught  ------------- 
The STD Meter |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 26/January/2007 at 10:53pm
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Don't let steamer know just how much people can make cleaning? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 26/January/2007 at 11:45pm
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why doug...is it because you come up short? ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 27/January/2007 at 2:06am
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Needs a ladder to get on to the couch ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 27/January/2007 at 11:06am
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Steamer as short as I maybe I would never work for the peanuts you work for? People who pay peanuts you get monkeys? But that's the market you want to fight for? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 27/January/2007 at 12:22pm
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I won't work for cheap. Near the end of the month the renters start to call and I rarely get them. Don't want them either because they often screw up their schedules at move out. Truck won't roll for under $100. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 27/January/2007 at 1:51pm
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Doug you don't have much competition in your market...maybe 5 companys total???? there are thousand here in the GTA...and we are all fighting for market share...customers that are willing to pay are far and few.Douguy I trying to teach you but I don't think you can see the chalk board way in the back of the class...move to the front
I would love to charge more 40 to 50 dollars a room, but those days are done in the GTA
Cleaning Giants like Cleanol are no more and are facing bankurpcy because their prices are way to high.
Getting the good jobs comes down to who you know...eating lunch with captains of industry....being a member of a country club.
I know a guy in toronto that cleans a 50,000 sq ft gentlemens club, why?? because he and the director play hockey together.
we can BLINDLY say to charge more, but you have to look at your individual market to determine that.
Cleanol $40
sears $28 per room
bay $19 per room
canadian steam $20 per room
Can Steam$20
Mr Steamer $25
Dougay you can post your stupid comments all you want, but the truth is if you weren't in Goderich you'd most likely be out of business.
I hate to hear the bull about high end customer......they are just as cheap
I clean from 25,000 sq ft homes to 1,00 sq ft...and to tell you the truth I make more off the so called poor.
You can't dictate the market unless you have a monopoly
Yes I'm RANTING!!!!!!!!!!!
------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 27/January/2007 at 2:22pm
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mr. Steamer alot of companies with your city mentality of working cheap to try a trick people into hireing them so they can rip them off as soon as they get in the door just don't work here. We charge a fair price for services rendered. I don't recall anywhere ever posting what I make or attempt to make. I just don't know why people have to low ball just to scam hard working people out of their hard earned money? You and I both know the room price is a lost leader. Just be up front and honest that may help? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 27/January/2007 at 7:17pm
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Thats where I think you are wrong Douguy...a lot of cleaners out here do good work...and it all depends on the need for money. I know a guy with a portable machine...his goal is to make $500 a week
I've seen his work I know he does a good job...
he'll do 5 rooms hall and steps for $75 why???? because he doesn't need to make more.
he's not low balling he is just priced way less....upstealing isn't a part of his program it's just good honest cleaning..
Doug now that you have move to the front of the class...let me ask you this.....
How many cleaners from the GTA do you actually know???
there only a few on this board...I think I only know of Lee...would you call Lee a crook????
I think someone along the way has done you some wrong douguy we are not all rip off artist.
My room rate is not a loss leader...that is the chunck of the money I make.....I charge 12.50 per room for gard and 5 dollar per room for deo..
I ask I don't push.
and don't think the customers don't push back...they are always looking for deals even to last last minute..
WAKE UP! ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 27/January/2007 at 7:51pm
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Steamer a couple of things come to mind
Why not develop some higher end clients by buying the sales manager or owner of a furniture store or carpet store lunch. You build the relationship and also should get higher end customers. People in these situations are not comodity driven they are quality driven. The other thing is that you could work closer to some of the better realtors. I think most of them are flakes but all you need is a few good ones. No doubt you are in a tough market. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 27/January/2007 at 11:14pm
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PD GTA is a place built on deals...like it or not thats just the way it is ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 27/January/2007 at 11:17pm
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That's what I mean - go make some deals. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 28/January/2007 at 9:55am
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Mr. Steamer I guess we all have to do things that work where we operate. The thing that really bothers me is how you can offer a premium service well above the room chasers and still compete with them. when most of them hardly know if the water comes before the cleaner? I wish you luck as only you will know what is going to work in your service area? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 28/January/2007 at 10:24am
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Really and trully it isn't as bad as it seems here in the GTA its not like the states where 5.99 a room is the going rate. The problem here is you have big companies like Sears and The Bay and Home Depot that charge too cheap for their service. I've tried to charge .35 cents a sq ft...but it doesn't work...people have the mentality that "why should I pay you that SEARS doesn't even charge that much"
In the States Sears might be a joke...but in the GTA they are the ones that are getting most of the calls..
I don't think any company in the GTA can say they are booking 90 to 100 calls a day.
if you think of their job average of around $150....which I think now is a bit higher... thats 13 to 15 thousand dollars a day np. Just booked no upsells
think of a small area like Oakville Burlington...they make a min of 10 000 a week no matter how slow it is...
10,000 a week WOW for only 110 thousand homes..and 2 trucks
how many of us can do that???
------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 28/January/2007 at 11:02am
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Mr. Steamer: At least we are consistant we have this debate at least twice a year. Low and behold we both seem to be around each time it comes up? In an 8 hr day 6 jobe @ $150.00 ea. That is about 3/4 of an hr from drive in drive out not including travel? If that is quality work I guess I am just tooo slow? I am not looking for an argument here I just can't seem to get this into my head the speed at which these jobs are done with 2 trucks? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 28/January/2007 at 11:50pm
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actually doug...most times the drive is no more than 15 maybe 20 mins max...
If you have a good booker it can make all of the difference...
most of my calls are 5 mins away..
when busy I start at 8am....
8-9
9-11
11-1
12-2
1-3
3-5...
thats your six calls
or
8-9
9-11
10-12
1-3
2-4
3-5
if you do the 7th call4-6 ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 29/January/2007 at 7:39am
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Too full of a day for me?? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 29/January/2007 at 8:40am
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I thought you could do 20 drive bys in a day -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: G&M Cleaning
Date Posted: 29/January/2007 at 5:51pm
| Enough already with the back and forth nonesence |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 29/January/2007 at 8:33pm
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Where we going back to? ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 29/January/2007 at 8:41pm
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The future? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 29/January/2007 at 9:21pm
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How come if we keep going back and forth we still get lost? ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 29/January/2007 at 10:49pm
 ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
G&M Cleaning wrote:Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 29/January/2007 at 10:54pm
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Yeah Steamer, what do you want to do? ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 31/January/2007 at 2:43am
Wow !
And I thought I was really going low by
dropping from .34 sq. ft. too .25 sq. ft.
But now I feel a lot better seeing you guys
just about work 4 free!
 Smoken!
 AL------------- http://qcsliders.com - http://qcsliders.com !!!Check this out!!! Put a Slide Not a Glide on your Wand, and do a better job! |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 31/January/2007 at 7:22pm
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On some jobs like open and empty houses two bits is ok it they are not trashed. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 14/February/2007 at 4:44am
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O.K. .25 cents sq.ft. sucks!
Going up to .27 cents sq.ft. Thats as low as i go!!!!!
All that heat, All that power!
got to make at least $75.00 HR.!!!
Smoken!!!!!! ------------- http://qcsliders.com - http://qcsliders.com !!!Check this out!!! Put a Slide Not a Glide on your Wand, and do a better job! |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 14/February/2007 at 10:45am
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I think that'a a good idea. I think I will too. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 14/February/2007 at 1:03pm
Kind of low prices for upholstery cleaning? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: Hammy
Date Posted: 14/February/2007 at 2:08pm
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Couch @ chair $9.95? ------------- Could somebody just clean my carpets! |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 14/February/2007 at 2:15pm
I'll sub all my work to you, stay at home, and get rich  -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 15/February/2007 at 4:20am
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I don't do Upholstery! No time ! Just Carpet & Tile
Right Then! ------------- http://qcsliders.com - http://qcsliders.com !!!Check this out!!! Put a Slide Not a Glide on your Wand, and do a better job! |
Posted By: bryan
Date Posted: 15/February/2007 at 2:50pm
| To bad all the cleaners can't just communicate and set there prices. Kind of like the gas companies that don't under cut each other and all get rich. I'm dreaming again. WAKE UP WAKE UP. The way I look at it is you don't want to price you self out of business (works both ways to high or low). I also look at it like this. If you sit at home what do you make. If you go out and clean for lets say 2 rooms for $50, thats still $25 and hour including drive time. Think its hard to have a set price, sometimes its better to price your self to get the job and still make sense. Just my opinion. |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 15/February/2007 at 8:47pm
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Bryan, you can't get three companies to agree so how do we do it? ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 15/February/2007 at 10:36pm
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Cleaning carpet & Tile just a part time hobby!
All that power!
All that heat !
And very little time to clean up
the crap that wipe's off fido's feet!
------------- http://qcsliders.com - http://qcsliders.com !!!Check this out!!! Put a Slide Not a Glide on your Wand, and do a better job! |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 15/February/2007 at 10:39pm
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Computers is my hobby. I could probably make more money servicing them than I do carpet cleaning, but then it wouldn't be fun anymore -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: bryan
Date Posted: 15/February/2007 at 10:39pm
| Well I guess every one has there price what they will work for. After all one company's finance is not going to be the same as another. What will be profitable to me may cost you money to do. I think a lot of company's don't know there cost of doing business, so hard to know what you need to make. This is why I see so many truck mount repos after the fist year at my supplier. For example I spend on average of 3k a month on advertising, so if I only made a 100 a day I would be in trouble. |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 15/February/2007 at 11:32pm
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I spend $30.00 a month on advertising !
One job and I'm way ahead!
But still, I'm thinking about going to $60.00 a month
I'm happy with 8 jobs a month!
Still Smoken!!!!!!!!!!!!!------------- http://qcsliders.com - http://qcsliders.com !!!Check this out!!! Put a Slide Not a Glide on your Wand, and do a better job! |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 15/February/2007 at 11:42pm
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Right on Kane its not what you make its what you keep. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 15/February/2007 at 11:43pm
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Paul do you buy your components from TigerDirect.ca? ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 12:00am
Some I buy from TD, some from NCIX or ATIC(both out your way), some from a local guy whose prices are slightly higher, but he is a friend of mine. I usually find the brand and model that I want and shop for the best price. ATIC has some very competitive prices and NCIX has some very reasonable shipping rates  -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 12:03am
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Some of the deal on Tiger aren't bad. I used to deal a few years ago with Supercom too. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 12:11am
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NCIX is usually cheaper than TD on most things. Isn't Supercom a supplier to retailers only? I thought my friend said he bought stuff from them. -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 12:26am
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Yes Supercom is for resellers only. You may not know that I used to work for IBM and Group Telecom as a Sales Engineer. I used to have a reseller number and I can wrench that stuff no problem. These days it doesn't seem worthwhile to open boxes because of the speed of change and cheap prices.
I got out of the industry a few years after I sustained my brain injury from a serious accident in 1998. A drunk driver t-boned me in an intesection right on the drivers door. I used to design data and voice networks for large corporations that interfaced telecom networks. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 12:49am
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You've had quite the life with some very interesting jobs and some tough breaks
I hope you do well in this business 
I love building and repairing systems. I'm strong on hardware and not so strong on software -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 1:02am
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I'm more the other way and prefer software. Life gives you lemons - you make lemonade. I live a great life and try and make the most of it. Like many people they will switch professions a few times during their working career. I love challenge and get bored easy unless I am constantly challenging myself. When I finished university I went to work in the medical equipment industry and worked my way up to be a brand manager for a national medical company. I got tired of all the travel and went back to school in my early 40's and became a network engineer. Then 2 years out of school - Wack! Hit by a drunk driver at 11 in the morning no less. I tried staying in the industry for a few years but my short term memory got screwed in the accident. The rest of the story you know. Oh yeah, I grew up in a family of 6 kids 4 or which are professional musicians or teaching musicians at universities. I could have been a professional myself but chose the business route instead. I played trumpet in everything from a jazz quintet to a symphony. Mother was a piano teacher and my father owned jewelry stores which were taken over by my brother the only other member of the family who does have music as a career. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 1:20am
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Wow. Sounds like you can adapt to just about anything. A great quality.
My life has been monotonous in comparison. Started cleaning part time in high school. Quit school in grade 11, started working full time, worked my way to general manager, bought the cleaning company. Added truck mount carpet cleaning in 1995, started changing the focus from janitorial to cc'ing(one of the smartest moves I ever made). I have no siblings, so no one to fight with. My parents owned a corner grocery store/butcher shop. They wanted me to take it over when they retired, but of course kids don't want to do what their parents did. So here I am -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 1:39am
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I took up diving when I was 40 and became a PADI Master Instructor.
Last night I saw an HD program on the National Geographic channel on Paragliding and I was absolutely fascinated with what I saw. I will be trying that in the next month for sure. I just found my next recreational - learning challenge. I'm stoked! 53years old - my A$$! In the last 5 years the technology in parasailing has changed the glide ratio from 4 feet of glide to 1 foot of drop to and incredible 9 feet of glide to 1 foot of drop. They can now stay up almost indefinitely if you are in the right spots and they are soaring to thousands of feet. There are even new powered parasail’s that have more in common with ultra lights. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 1:42am
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Paul it sounds by what you've been telling me that you have a pretty good lifestyle. Don't kid yourself I'm very much struggling financially now but I think I know where I'm heading and why.
You on the other hand are very obviously over the hump and don't have any big risks or worries on the plate. I envy you - that is what I am working towards. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 16/February/2007 at 2:04am
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I am still trying to grow this business. I would like to see my sales double over the next 3 years. I've been where you are, and it's tough. Doing quality work and getting referrals are what got me where I am today. You wiil succeed. You just need to fast track it -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: bryan
Date Posted: 19/February/2007 at 2:18am
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There are many ways to grow the business but advertising is key. Kane 8 jobs a month hope they are big jobs, or you got something else going. I look at it like this when you start you don't have sh*t, as far as customers or equipment. So your first three years are going to be though. Most don't make it. They get the loans for the equipment, and have little money for advertising. Or they start with portables out of there cars with advertising but no one wants them. I have always had the philosophy that if you are going to make, you have to do it right. To me its not hard to find out what's right for your market. Start off by calling you competition to see what they offer and for what price. If they offer TM cleaning for prices that you would offer with a portable good luck. People will also usually only turn a few pages in the YP so you will need to be up front or do something else if you cant be. With all this you should know know what your cost of advertising will be, how much you can charge, and what your customer will be. You then should be able to calculate if this will be profitable, and if you can assume your loans. If not wait save thats what I did. I when in to carpet cleaning owning the equipment, and spend heavily on advertising. The key is not as much the advertising that will keep you in business but you repeat customers. So they should be your big focus not as much getting new one's. In the US most the big company's have small adds ie COIT, Stanly Steamers because they are at the point they don't have to let people know who they are, but they market heavily to there existing customers. |
Posted By: davey1980
Date Posted: 19/August/2009 at 1:25am
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Ok, back to the thread topic! What is some of the best equipment to use on upholstery?
What are some of the best chemicals?
Finally, what are some good techniques once you have the best equipment and chemicals?
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Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 09/June/2010 at 11:19am
| Because some carpet pre-sprays have different surfactants in them than their upholstery counterparts some carpet prespray will can soak through upholstery and into backing and padding. |