|
where did you start? |
Post Reply 
|
| Author | |
Searsguy 
Newbie 
Joined: 13/December/2006 Status: Offline Points: 29 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Topic: where did you start?Posted: 23/July/2008 at 2:05pm |
|
afternoon all. just wondering where you guys atarted cleaning and how long it took to venture out on your own? are there any ex sears guys here? any sears owners? do you find it hard to keep up with the sears name for competition? many old people always say we have used sears for so long!!!!! our fridge and stove are from sears!!!! its so hard not to say SO!!!!! anyways sears has a great name here in canada lke stanley steemer in the U.S. wondering in a stanley steemer would work here in canada. finally where are all the canadians from in this room. have a great day guys and gals.
|
|
 |
|
| Sponsored Links | |
|
|
|
duckcountry
Master Carpet Cleaner 
Joined: 29/October/2005 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1082 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23/July/2008 at 2:26pm |
|
Started in 1971 working for a guy cleaning houses including stripping floors, shampooing carpets and doing upholstery which we would pick up and clean in his garage. Then I worked for Miller's Carpet Care in Granada Hills CA where I learned about steam cleaning.
Went back to be a partner with the guy I started with. We sold off the house cleaning in pieces to some of the loyal workers, bought a storefont on San Fernando Rd in Sylmar CA and added retail carpet sales to our operations. We would dumpster dive at night behind the big carpet retailers and get the used carpet which we took back home and cleaned, cut to size and sold as inexpensive carpet rolls both in swap meets and standing up in front of the store. I left the partnership and started up my own business cleaning carpets and upholstery. About Sears, they have usually put there label on everything they actually contract out. However I did grow up with Craftsman tools and Silvertone TVs. Nobody I know would trust Sears to clean their carpets but I trust them to come up with good marketing plans of attack. Prochem has special arrangements with them regarding the Axiom line of green cleaning chemicals which I heard from two Prochem guys. |
|
|
Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity?
|
|
|
|
|
medicman
Newbie
Joined: 27/December/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 33 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23/July/2008 at 3:24pm |
|
I started in 1998 for Service Master. I worked there for 5 years, they put me through my IICRC courses, then I quit, and within 2 months I was open for business for myself.
Sears isnt really big where Im at, I would say Serv-Pro is probably my biggest competition. Think'n bout venturing out for your self???
|
|
|
|
|
John L
Carpet Cleaning Guru 
Joined: 29/November/2004 Location: I'm Right Here! Status: Offline Points: 4013 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23/July/2008 at 3:32pm |
|
Isn't it time to retire duck? 1971!!! Hooooooolly Moooooolly!!
|
|
|
|
|
Ken_Is_OK
Carpet Cleaning Specialist 
Joined: 13/February/2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 523 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23/July/2008 at 4:22pm |
|
started on my own with a 5 gallon machine from GH Wood :)
100 psi x 1 vac
|
|
|
|
|
John L
Carpet Cleaning Guru
Joined: 29/November/2004 Location: I'm Right Here! Status: Offline Points: 4013 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23/July/2008 at 4:25pm |
|
2x2 100psi Timbucktoo 10gal portable....
|
|
|
|
|
Ed Valentine
Carpet Cleaning Specialist
Joined: 14/September/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 770 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23/July/2008 at 5:28pm |
|
1971................Karpet Steem machine......................on my own....................................still on my own............................been on my own...............................will stay on my own.
made only a few mistakes.............learned from them....................and have made the right ones ever since.
The very best; Ed Valentine |
|
|
|
|
cleanex
Carpet Cleaning Specialist
Joined: 17/October/2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 705 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23/July/2008 at 9:40pm |
|
1971 Was Purchasing Agent for local school board, and someone came to sell us a new steam cleaning machine, saw it, liked it, bought it for myself and went into business, oh yeh the schoolboard never did buy one until many many years later.
|
|
|
DON ELDRED
YOU CAN "STAND" ON OUR REPUTATION |
|
|
|
|
cmaster
IICRC Instigator 
Joined: 29/January/2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 29693 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23/July/2008 at 9:45pm |
|
Started working for a janitorial company in '78. Switched to a restoration/cleaning/janitorial company in '80......bought it in '89. Bought my first TM in '95. Wish I would have bought it sooner
|
|
The STD Meter |
|
|
|
|
Ken_Is_OK
Carpet Cleaning Specialist
Joined: 13/February/2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 523 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23/July/2008 at 10:03pm |
|
Ted started when carpet was invented.
|
|
|
|
|
doug
King of the One Liners 
Just My opinion Joined: 31/January/2004 Status: Offline Points: 32711 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 24/July/2008 at 7:47am |
|
I'am still waiting to get started???
|
|
|
Just My opinion
|
|
|
|
|
cmaster
IICRC Instigator
Joined: 29/January/2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 29693 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 24/July/2008 at 7:55am |
|
Better late than never
|
|
|
The STD Meter |
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
| Tweet |
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Topic Options
Welcome to KleenKuip.com's Professional Carpet Cleaners Discussion Forum!