Getting nervus
Printed From: Carpet Cleaning Forum
Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Carpet Cleaners Hangout
Forum Description: General discussion on anything related to carpet cleaning
URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2606
Printed Date: 26/August/2025 at 3:45am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Getting nervus
Posted By: easy1dave
Subject: Getting nervus
Date Posted: 25/May/2006 at 6:42pm
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Well jumped in head first. Bought van and truck mount. Thought it was going to be easy to get bussiness. Wrong. Letter my van,got shirts,bussinness cards, put 400 flyers on windshield.One call out of 400 flyers. Just made 2200 flyers to stick in small papper $200.00 If that dont get me some calls dont no what i am going to do?Any trick up yall old timers sleaves need help? ------------- david |
Replies:
Posted By: carpetologist
Date Posted: 25/May/2006 at 9:53pm
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Easy1Dave Lettered Van, Shirts, Business Cards, you are already looking better than many in our industry.
Do Free Demo Evaluations. It is the same as an estimate but an estimate sounds like they have to spend money.
Knock on Doors & Shake the bushes. Good Luck
PS..........Also push the Enviro products and make sure they have seals of approval to back you up.
------------- Kleen Kuip Supply Mart Inc. http://www.kleenkuip.com - New & Used Professional Carpet Cleaning Machines, Restoration Equipment, Training, Service and Supplies |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 25/May/2006 at 9:55pm
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If you had posted what you where going to do before...everyone would of told you it wouldn't work as easy as you thought... I put out 250 thousand flyers every month and I'm lucky to pick up 100 calls out of that...lol
you have two options...
1) Sub Contract ( thats a bad word around here but it will pay the bills)
2) Go Door to Door.... do an actual meet and greet... go in uniform offer to take out a few spots, and give free in home estimates...
I've done it a few times, and if I go to 50 houses I'll book at least 3 calls...
It's a lot of leg work but it works...and the only thing it cost you is a little time.
good luck in what ever you do choose to do, owning your own business is a lot more work than working for someone else.. ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: Scott Rogers
Date Posted: 25/May/2006 at 10:05pm
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Looks like you spent a fair amount of cash on nice equipment and uniforms. I hope you spent some on education and liability insurance.
I agree that you might want to look into subcontracting while you get things going. I hope all works out. Keep putting out those fliers, they have a habit of coming back long after you have forgotten about them.
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Posted By: jtuseo
Date Posted: 25/May/2006 at 10:37pm
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take out some ads in newspapers for one year then try to build off of that for next year ------------- WWW.PREFERREDCARPETCLEANING.COM |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 25/May/2006 at 11:51pm
i hear door hangers work at a appx. 15% return
i think they might work better then flyers
don,t give up! keep trying------------- 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: 25/May/2006 at 11:59pm
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I would suggest you spend as much possilbe time you can meeting people and just telling them what you have done. You are no doubt enthusiastic and eager to prove to anyone who uses your services just how good a job you can do. This enthusiasm and confidence shows and most people would recieve you very positively because of this. Talk to everyone you know, go to businesses you deal with and tell them what you are up to.
If you can join a business networking group they work quite well. If you are in Canada look for what is called a BNI group.
I wish I could have taken almost every dime back I spent on advertising and kept it and spent more initial effort just talking to everyone I know. I have had a huge success with this. Unfortunately, I only started to see the results of my "networking" after I spent a bunch of money on advertising. It has not paid off nearly as well as just talking to everyone I meet. Wear you company uniform and drive your company van (even if it is a pig on gas) everywhere you go and park it in visible locations. Clean for a non profit orgainization as a donation. You will be rewarded with paid work from people who saw you and your work on this job.
Find a good realtor and do some promo work for them, they will refer you to paying jobs. Stay away from resturants and low end rental properties.
Just my opinions. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: thermedix
Date Posted: 26/May/2006 at 10:18am
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Piledriver, do you really find the BNI`s effective, they seem a bit pricey compared to a "chamber of Commerce", either way, networking is definately the way to go, I just completed an expensive radio promo, don`t waste your $$. IMO.
Good Luck!
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Posted By: pilediver
Date Posted: 26/May/2006 at 11:05am
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Regarding BNI in Canada and the United States yes I most definitely do think it is worthwhile. In my first 3 weeks I paid for my membership in profits off jobs for my membership off referals from the group. In addition I have secured a commercial account from a firm that does higher end janitorial work where I am setting the price for my services and not the otherway around. This "recurring revenue" customer is worth between $10,000 to $15,000 per year in gross profit. I have been a member for under 2 months.
Check out their website: http://www.bni.com/ - http://www.bni.com/ . My advice is to contact your local chapter and if they do not have a carpet cleaning company associated with them you would be most welcome as a guest. One of the criterea for being a member of a chapter is that they do not allow two businesses of the same type that would compete. There are usually several chapters in larger trade areas and likely you will find one or more with an opening.
I have to point out that BNI is not a club or a social group; it is a serious business committement to each other. Once you are inducted into a chapter, if you do not attend and miss meetings, your gone. If you do not regularly contribute at each meeting by providing your weekly committment either a guest or a business referal, your out too.
Along with the weekly meeting(usually a breakfast meeting) comes educational speakers and other business building topics.
The Chamber of Commerce is focused on the business community in general and is a very good place to build relationships howerver BNI is focused on each other for the purpose of refering each other business. Is it worth the price of a few cases of juice - YOU BET!. ------------- http://www.expertcarpetcare.ca>Carpet Cleaning in Victoria BC |
Posted By: thermedix
Date Posted: 26/May/2006 at 2:18pm
| Thanks for the info Piledriver, I will try them. |
Posted By: Revee
Date Posted: 26/May/2006 at 2:40pm
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Easy1Dave, I second the motion for joining a local BNI. I have been
getting good work from the group the past several months and forming
relationships with some businesses which can help me grow for the long
term. Perhaps your biz also needs more cowbell? Check out this site and the accompanying video link. http://www.startupnation.com/blog/entry.asp?ENTRY_ID=306 |
Posted By: easy1dave
Date Posted: 26/May/2006 at 6:22pm
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Thank every one I am not givingh up I am in to deep. I am going to give my best and see what happens. Thanks ------------- david |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 26/May/2006 at 6:41pm
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BNI's are great... BUT!
you must convey that you do excellent work.....because you dont want to be known as the cheap guy...
once you get known as the cheap guy in a network... you're done for
it's happened to me... do one person a favor and it comes back to haunt you in all the referals to come ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |