I'm new doing direct mailers...

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. 


Edited by aaa cleaner - 18/June/2007 at 10:47pm

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.

I would guess he upsells.  Salesmanship separates those who excel from those who say business is hell.

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?

Does IICRC have classes on carpet stretching?

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.

IICRC has a carpet repair class that I believe includes stretching.