I'm new doing direct mailers...
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Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Business Marketing Advertising and Promotion Discussion
Forum Description: How do you successfully promote your business? Offer and receive advertising tips
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Topic: I'm new doing direct mailers...
Posted By: aaa cleaner
Subject: I'm new doing direct mailers...
Date Posted: 18/June/2007 at 2:33pm
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I managed a carpet cleaning company for 2 years here in oklahoma now I'm 3 months deep with my own business and we advertise with a company called valpak ....we do 50,000 mailers a month 10,000 per zip code. It keeps me busy as hell 4 jobs a day usually.....costs 1,300 a month well worth it. We advertise 9.99 per room 3 room minimum, and i average $200 - $300 per job, i'm a very strong salesman so do u guys have any more suggestions for me to get more jobs! i wanna grow and add more vans to the fleet...in july we're adding air duct cleaning to our mailers as well. How about a tellemarketing room? Anyone currently use a tellemarketing room? I've been reading a bunch of good info on this site.....but i have a very good theory guys! Do as much marketing as u can afford, referrals are great but they don't come overnight... Use good equipment and chemicals i use a 15 hp panther truck mount with a rotovac power wand.....charge double ,20 per room , to use rotovac Be a professional get a uniform get a hair cut and shave tuck ur shirt in have some class EVERY DAY have a sales meeting!! Train all your techs to be salesman.....my happiest customers are the ones who pay the most! Just think of all the money you guys are leaving on the table! When i need more techs i'm going to hire salesman and train them to clean.....Call it bait and switch or whatever u want but the sh*t is strong like bull! I'm gonna f**k around and get rich.... It's all about sales, people wanna be sold they want the song and dance....period. ------------- www.myspace.com/etedder |
Replies:
Posted By: nightrider
Date Posted: 19/June/2007 at 12:54am
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Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 30/September/2007 at 12:18am
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I am starting a telemarketing campaign. Coupons do great, flyers not so great, forget radio, TV, newspaper and yellow pages. And yes, low price gets you in the door, salesmanship gets you the right money. I agree, I can teach a salesman how to clean, but sales is not a trainable skill. Still need to hire those who can't sell so they can do most of the hard work though. They make great helpers. Not saying that to offend, just stating the obvious. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: newbie
Date Posted: 11/October/2007 at 7:28pm
| How do you turn $9.99 per room into $200-$300 per job??? |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 11/October/2007 at 9:30pm
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I would guess he upsells. Salesmanship separates those who excel from those who say business is hell. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: newbie
Date Posted: 11/October/2007 at 10:30pm
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Thats what I figured, but that is a hell of an upsell...
I dont see those $9.99 rooms where i'm at in SoCal, I don't think they go for them anymore... Pennysaver ad I see states 3 areas for $99 complete cleaning. Thats not a bad sale, but leaves no room for upsell, clients all seem to want a "complete" clean. No extras, no gimmicks. Guess I could ad scottsguard, but Im paranoid after reading that stuff stays in your system, yuck.... |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 11/October/2007 at 10:49pm
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I charge more for green cleaning, stains are based on type and size, Rotovac over wand. Some guys charge more for vacuuming and deodorizing. Then there are floors and furniture (I gather they have some). You know, carpet repairs and power stretching is big business. $9.99 might get you in the door, but your eyes will get you more if you look around and recommend a complete solution rather than a quick surface clean which usually is the $9.99. It meets the IICRC 5 steps cleaning process, but I would not do my own carpet that way. You do charge more for berber, right? What is Miller charging down there these days? ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: newbie
Date Posted: 11/October/2007 at 10:57pm
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I haven't followed Miller, although I know they're huge. I stick to Santa Clarita probably 5X5 miles, I havent seen their ads yet. I did read somewhere Miller is like the king of the upsell, to put it lightly lol.
I went online and priced out at Stanley Steamer, it's like $60 per small room!! I'd like to have all my appointments setup like that at $400-$500 per job before they even talk to me, jeez!!... |
Posted By: newbie
Date Posted: 11/October/2007 at 10:59pm
| Does IICRC have classes on carpet stretching? |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 12/October/2007 at 12:01am
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Be a professional.........bait and switch is not welcome in our industry.
9.99 per room is definitely bait and switch. and highly unethical. |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 12/October/2007 at 12:45am
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I worked for Miller in 1974 which is where I learned about extractors. They were on Devonshire near Balboa at the time. Yes, they are the kings. $9.99 is not bait and switch unless you are not prepared to do the job for that price anymore than low price computers and other electronics are. These loss leaders get the customer to come in or call and it is then that a professional can best determine if the deal is good for that customer. A signature on a piece of paper stating why the professional recommends against the special and signed by the customer acknowledging receipt of the evaluation negates any guarantee and is a smart way of making sure you win your court case should that become necessary. If you can't convince the customer of a best solution for their situation, you deserve $9.99 of course. You can be a starving artist or a successful businessman. My special this month is whole house for $89. I can do jobs like that all day, make money and enjoy the tips. Customers ask me about their furniture and if I might have time to do a couch or two. They pay full pop for those gladly. Scotchgard and stain removal are NOT part of the 5 steps, so if they want them those are in addition to the special. I moved to Oregon from Palmdale in 2005 and drove past you everyday to work in Universal City. Nice area out there. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 12/October/2007 at 1:00am
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I do want to add that the $9.99 solution must work for some people and produce for them the satisfactory results they are looking for. And it must follow the IICRC recommended steps which start with dry extraction (vacuuming by the cleaning company).
------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 12/October/2007 at 1:19am
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IICRC has a carpet repair class that I believe includes stretching.
------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: newbie
Date Posted: 15/October/2007 at 10:22pm
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duckcountry, yeah it is nice but still expensive. I had a good salary as a loan officer and hoping to catch up to it as a carpet tech. We are in a massive pool home, rv parking, tons of sqft. just everything, but can't afford it right now.
That gives me an idea for a thread: "Please show me how to make $300k a year cleaning caprets" I know its possible just need the short cuts. That and a new back lol!! I would imagine many of your neighbors are ex-californians as well. My brother wants to move his family up to Oregon, I wouldnt mind taking the family up there as well. Are you getting used to the weather? I hear thats the only major change. Well, besides the good stuff, cheaper home prices, more rural in most areas, less California bullsh*t lol. |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 16/October/2007 at 2:33pm
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Oregon is nice, wet and cooler than SoCal. Longer days in summer as we are 850 north of you. We have no sales taxes but a higher property tax. Friendly folks, nothing like SoCal. This is not easy work and it is not easy to get work in the beginning. Takes time, effort and lots of persistence to build a clientele. I was in RE loans for an S&L back in the early 80s. Yes, when the market was great I would make $20K /month. You need something special to make it in the lean times. Right now, we are heading toward the slow times which means it is not the most ideal time to start this business. If you are up to the challenge and are willing to give it 110% you might do well. There are NO get rich schemes that work in this business. Referrals and repeat business are key. Just like P&L insurance. Ask any insurance agent with a company like State Farm or Farmers. Planting the seeds is the first (and mandatory) step to having a good harvest. You do the same thing is loans. Visiting the same offices, seeing the same agents, getting out to open houses. Doing the same thing, day in and day out, is the only formula I know that works. But, that is just what I have experienced over the years. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |