Carpet and Floor Cleaning Industry Chat Forum : The Floorcovering Institute https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:14:36 +0000 Tue, 24 Aug 2004 18:58:12 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.06 360 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=495 <![CDATA[Carpet and Floor Cleaning Industry Chat Forum]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/ <![CDATA[The Floorcovering Institute : good ]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5474&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5474 Author: MR. STEAMER
Subject: 495
Posted: 24/August/2004 at 6:58pm

good]]> Tue, 24 Aug 2004 18:58:12 +0000 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5474&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5474 <![CDATA[The Floorcovering Institute : Mr.Steamer: I brought this post...]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5458&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5458 Author: doug
Subject: 495
Posted: 24/August/2004 at 8:12am

Mr.Steamer:  I brought this post back just to inform readers that the Woolsafe seminar was of some interest.  But as usual you try to discredit anyone who attempts to better themselves through education.  I have nothing else to say on this subject here.Guitar]]> Tue, 24 Aug 2004 08:12:21 +0000 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5458&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5458 <![CDATA[The Floorcovering Institute : I guess words can&#039;t explain..... there...]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5457&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5457 Author: MR. STEAMER
Subject: 495
Posted: 24/August/2004 at 7:30am

I guess words can't explain.....

there are no stains that soap and water can't take out.....

paint....no  so thats an extra charge... gum no thats a extra charge... ink may be... but maybe no...so thats an extra charge....

dirt..np... most food stains np..... grease np... these are 90 of all stains found in carpet...

so don't waste your time trying to get out 5 year old paint spill...get my drift....

interpetation is a hard thing isn't it...

doug... if you where doing the advertising... had an office with staff.. it would probally run you the money I don't get as a sub...sit down and figure it out..

 

]]> Tue, 24 Aug 2004 07:30:04 +0000 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5457&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5457 <![CDATA[The Floorcovering Institute : I don&#039;t get it... on one...]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5456&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5456 Author: surroundings
Subject: 495
Posted: 24/August/2004 at 12:09am

I don't get it... on one hand you say that you'll leave stains & aroom takes you 15 minutes.... on the other hand you say that you'vegotta never go cheap....

Wich is it?  From the sounds of it... and correct me if I'm wronghere... you are advocating giving a cheap service at a cheap pricewhile using expensive advertising.

 Yes?


]]> Tue, 24 Aug 2004 00:09:57 +0000 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5456&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5456 <![CDATA[The Floorcovering Institute : Mr. Steamer: Who the hell are...]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5454&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5454 Author: doug
Subject: 495
Posted: 23/August/2004 at 6:08pm

Mr. Steamer:  Who the hell are you trying to kid? Big companies don't go cheap.  They have you as a sub don't they. If they had to pay even half of what the work was actually worth they would do it them selves.  But as long as they got the likes of you who they can pay nothig why do it yourself? You can make more off the all the wanabes.  Lets face it you are there becaues they sell you as a package of what I don't know.  But you are there because you can't sell yourself.  Unlike all the so called small owner operators do on a daily bases.Guitar]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:08:45 +0000 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5454&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5454 <![CDATA[The Floorcovering Institute : no... allen I comming from the...]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5452&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5452 Author: MR. STEAMER
Subject: 495
Posted: 23/August/2004 at 3:56pm

no... allen I comming from the point of think big..... never go cheap.... service service service... 

we all complain... (doug) about Sears killing the market...but let me tell you they make MONEY.... even I make money off their jobs...

why because they spend money too....

the little guy like doug... cries everytime he has to do a little advertising..

for the first 5 years advertising should be 60% of your total operating cost... then you relax with all the customers that you have given good service to... you can scale back the advertising because your name is built.. you can go for referals..  etc etc etc

but you have to drop the bucks....

think small...you'll stay small... you'll get small calls... your bank account will get smaller and smaller

]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2004 15:56:42 +0000 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5452&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5452 <![CDATA[The Floorcovering Institute : Allen: As I have stated all small...]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5447&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5447 Author: doug
Subject: 495
Posted: 23/August/2004 at 7:37am

Allen:  As I have stated all small companies do is pay the big comapnies Pay Pay.  You continue to pay and be part of the problem or stop and become part of the solution.  This type of skimming off the top should be illegal because I think it is a crime.  the harder you work the richer they get. Guitar]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2004 07:37:53 +0000 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5447&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5447 <![CDATA[The Floorcovering Institute : Steamer, I&#039;m not quite...]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5444&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5444 Author: surroundings
Subject: 495
Posted: 23/August/2004 at 5:40am

Steamer,

I'm not quite understanding you...  you are not provided theseitems like signing, telemarketing, and advertising?  Or are youwriting that from the point of view of a one-man operation? Get cheapcustomers?  Not for me, baby... and I hope not for you. 

Do you have to send out your own advertising?  And you work for aname brand company? If you do, then I'm a bit concerned over thecontract you're on.  I'm not being sarcastic.

Dunno what half page ads cost for you.  Get away from the maincities to the nearest rural area.  Cheaper ads, less competition,more money. A telemarketer around here will work a week for about $800through an agency.  That's telemarketing, and putting info to asimple database for later reference.  For $800 and phone costs,they don't even need an office of yours to work from.  You get anExcel spreadsheet with names called, addresses, phone numbers, lasttime carpets were cleaned, and next contact date.  It's brilliant,and gives you information to reuse.

Bump up the response... send one colour A4 mailers with a special offerto an area, THEN have the telemarketer call, "We've recently sent yousome information about our service, along with a coupon for one freeroom clean with every 3 rooms paid for? Do you remember gettingthat?  We'd like to give you another reason to try our servicenow: we'll also give (insert special offer here: $10 to your favoratecharity, half off carpet protection, a $20 voucher for one of yourfriends...) if you book your carpets to be cleaned. The best thingabout this is... you can book up to 6 months inadvance...     <get the point?>

Van signage for me was $600.  That's an expense that'll last 6 or 8 years, so the cost is negligeable in the long run.

Don't think big... think niche.  Guerrilla Marketing.  Check out Jay Conrad Levinson in your search engine of choice.

Or don't.  I've been in it for 6 months and I'm not rolling in ityet.  I didn't expect to be at this stage though. BUT...winter's finishing.  We've had about 4 days of good weather,and I've already got a full week.  I think we'll be ok. 




]]> Mon, 23 Aug 2004 05:40:02 +0000 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5444&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5444 <![CDATA[The Floorcovering Institute : lack of money to compete is the...]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5442&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5442 Author: MR. STEAMER
Subject: 495
Posted: 22/August/2004 at 11:18pm

lack of money to compete is the small mans problem... I just sent out over 4000 dollars in advertising... it really should be 20,000

I should have half a page in the yellow pages......I don't

I should have advertising on the side of my van.... I don't

I should have someone telemarketing my services....I don't

Why because the money isn't there to compete....  Sears spends thousands a month... just the yellow page bill in the area I work cost 2 grand a month..... flyers are flyin...telemarketers are Tellin....

us small guys have to start to think big... BIG BIG I tell you...

go cheap get cheap customers...

 

I know business marketing  and I know service ...if you have both money will never be your problem...

it doesn't take a fleet of 50 trucks to make money... it takes one guy... the right advertising...and a great smile even if your missing teeth

]]> Sun, 22 Aug 2004 23:18:57 +0000 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5442&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5442 <![CDATA[The Floorcovering Institute : Allen: What some don&#039;t realize...]]> https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5436&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5436 Author: doug
Subject: 495
Posted: 22/August/2004 at 8:22pm

Allen:  What some don't realize is in this business big companies don't help small companies they use and dispose of them.Guitar]]> Sun, 22 Aug 2004 20:22:52 +0000 https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=495&PID=5436&title=the-floorcovering-institute#5436