Spring Season is HERE!!!
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=1208
Printed Date: 24/February/2025 at 1:42pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Spring Season is HERE!!!
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Subject: Spring Season is HERE!!!
Date Posted: 11/March/2005 at 6:34pm
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It must be Spring cuz no one is posting ..... doug is going to feel so good, no post while he was gone.... to keep you updated... the flyer is running well... I've booked 45 jobs to date, and the calls are coming in one by one.. The two room and a hall package has opened a lot of doors to Mr. Steamer and in most cases has gotten us more cleaning, both in the house and referrals. I like to call it my taste tester...lol the furniture package seems to be the most booked... figures I hate furniture... to top it off they are most white pieces... I'm happy to say I quite easily broke even in the first seven days that the ad went out... that was 2 grand well spent.. Thank to everyone for there support and their input Thanks again ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
positive and negativeReplies:
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 11/March/2005 at 7:40pm
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Steamer , at what point do you consider breaking even ? I'm just
wondering. I usually think that I need at least Double what I paid for the ad to be at a point where I can say I'm making any money. Consider on that first 1000.00 or 2000.00 that you brought in, you not only need to pay for the ad you have to fill the $2.25 Gas guzzler drive to each job, and use chemicals and labor ( if you hire) and wear and tare on the equipment. Plus all the other fixed expenses, need to come out before you show a profit. Once you get on your own as an independent, I think you will do just fine. Is that the route you are working toward??? I ran ads in a coupon envelope several times when I started and I still have some of those ORIGINAL customers 23 years later. So I guess a person should put some value on that too. !!!! keep trucking !! |
Posted By: Zero KELVIN
Date Posted: 11/March/2005 at 7:45pm
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dont help him HE KNOWS EVERY THING THERE IS TO KNOW! I tried and got bitch slapped for helping
Z
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Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 11/March/2005 at 8:04pm
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Actually the ad only cost me 800 bucks for 100,000 flyers.. I broke way even on that.... I've so far only spent maybe 100 on gas so far todate on gas.... but.... I did buy some uniforms 750 bucks worth.... I did put in the extra line... 225 install... and I did buy some laptops which I haven't installed yet...I don't really count those... if I only spent the money on the flyers ...I know that I made that and more.. see it will always work out if you target your OWN AREA.... no more than 15 mins drive in any direction... 10 by the way I drive... I have a diesel truck which is great on gas... plus I have a slide-in .....I call it pennies a clean... but I guess you guys are right... maybe I didn't make any money?? but I guess I have no idea ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 11/March/2005 at 8:27pm
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Steamer
Are you starting to work independent also along with subbing?? I wish you sincere luck!!! you will never turn back once you are truly your own boss and can make enough to pay the bills and have enough left to feel comfortable. This summer I plan on knocking off at Noon on Friday and if I can work it take once in awhile on Monday off and enjoy our trailer at the lake. It sounds like you are doing real well at getting some add on business. without bait and switch tactics. To me it is not Bait and Switch to mention to a customer" I don't know if you are aware , but we also do upholstery cleaning?" that to me is normal selling. To tell a customer you have a slower afternoon booked today and ask., " If there is any other area you may wish to add for cleaning as long as we have time today, is just good business. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. Ask yourself are the customers you received so far the type of customer you would want to clean again next year. If so keep on trucking. If you're getting nothing but cat urine infested trailer houses and 3rd floor apts. Raise the rate next time. Glad to hear you are off to a good start. |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 11/March/2005 at 9:29pm
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It seems anywhere but here I make friends easy...lol Most of the time the customers and I are laughing and joking.... It's never that cold sterile atmosphere that I see with some cleaners.... People are people for me... and carpet is carpet... I smile they smile I do my thing before you know it it's all over no matter how bad it was.. I think it's good to be very interactive with the customer... involve them if you can in the cleaning..... so what if the carpets trashed, if you explain and show them your doing your very best, they'll understand. In all these years I think I've only had two crap customers, and still for me it was service with a smile:) Hi my Name is Mr. STEAMER and I want to clean your carpet ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 12/March/2005 at 12:17am
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I have a business degree from a private college in International
Business..... and have been cleaning carpets for over 23 years. GO FIGURE!?? I enjoy, setting my own hours, meeting a lot of good people and feel like I have actually made a difference in their day and improved their surroundings. I also like the fact the in an average of less than 2-3 hours you can get a feeling of accomplishment . You are taking , sometimes a trashed carpet and making it look good. That is very rewarding. Where else can you get a rewarding experience every couple hours of the day??? I keep my degree in the drawer ,maybe when my back wears out I'll use it!! Steamer, with a good attitude and workmanship you will always have referrals. Inch your prices up on things like steps, carpet protector and specialty services like red dye removal and the like and it helps raise the end ticket with out appearing bait and switch. I raised my steps prices from 1.25 to 2.00 this year . at first I thought I was extreme but found out some of my competitors were there several years ago already. I have yet to have a customer notice or mention the price. anyway . I need to quit writing a book here !! Later, good night |
Posted By: greg
Date Posted: 12/March/2005 at 8:28am
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after 15 years working for the same company my coworker and i are buy it. i have 15 years experience he has 7. we are buying an existing company with a strong client base so we don't have to worry about building one, just growing it. you have your work cut out for you steamer but i'm sure you will rise to the challenge and succeed..... goodluck. ------------- nothing is impossable. it just hasn't been done yet. |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 12/March/2005 at 2:14pm
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Actually greg... I wanted to go that route... but everyone keeps promising... no one wants to let go of anything good. or I found the dollars ridiculous. What I realize when you have employees you should always promise them the pie when your going to put it up for sale. It makes them work harder if they know that they might become the next owners... I've been waiting for my chance, it's not coming... so I decided to build my own... O well ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: greg
Date Posted: 12/March/2005 at 8:00pm
well steamer i've known for about 6 years now that this was going to happen. my boss is just now ready to retire.  ------------- nothing is impossable. it just hasn't been done yet. |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 12/March/2005 at 11:26pm
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The best thing about this greg is you have already serviced these customers personally, really nothing has changed. ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: greg
Date Posted: 13/March/2005 at 8:37am
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i know and my customers have known for years it was coming. i've been telling them that i'm taking over or starting my very own company, and they would always say if you go on your own call us. did you tell your repeats this change was coming steamer? ------------- nothing is impossable. it just hasn't been done yet. |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 13/March/2005 at 9:06am
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Actually I didn't... I really don't want any conflict... The companies I work for really worry about the stealing of customers. I'm kind of hoping they will find me on their own. some have managed to find me privately over the years.... When I'm kicking some corporate butt I don't want to hear the crying ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: greg
Date Posted: 13/March/2005 at 8:38pm
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all the people that call and ask for you steamer they don't want anyone else, those are your clients. if i was you i would make sure a letter was delivered to all your old repeats.. can't hurt. ------------- nothing is impossable. it just hasn't been done yet. |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 13/March/2005 at 11:14pm
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Actually greg thats a great Idea, why loose that business.... you are right.. I'm going to dip into my forbidden data base.....lol I'm just to damn honest for my own good ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: Cleaner1
Date Posted: 14/March/2005 at 6:16am
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Mr. Steamer. I don't really think that you calling on this list is a big problem. I have had people leave my company to work for the competition and this was the results. some of the loyal customers that really wanted that cleaner in their home called the other firm which they were now working for. Some were impressed with the job....but some were not so impressed. They ended up back with us. As a businees owner I was not prepared to let my customers go just because the other cleaner was calling on them.....so I set out on a mssion. I found out who these customers were and I paid them a visit....myself.....Booked them in with my firm and guess what?...got them back. If the companies you were subbing for are concerened about how many customers of their's you are going to take...they have alot more problems to worry about. I'm sure you are a good cleaner and maybe they should have done things different to hang on to you? Anyway, my point is the cleaner is only as good as the equipment he is operating...take a cleaner on a portable Ninja for instance....send him out to a greasy restaurant with poor quality pre-spray and see what happens....take that same cleaner and send him with a GOOD Tm and good quality pre-spray and see the difference. Get the drift? Just my opinion for what it's worth ------------- Cleaner1 |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 14/March/2005 at 2:49pm
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I always believed it's never the song it's the singer.... you have to learn it sing the song and sing it well ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: carpetologist
Date Posted: 23/March/2005 at 4:28pm
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Steamer, Maybe along with your new attitude towards doing more for yourself and less subbing you also need a new image. And the http://www.kleenkuip.com/portables/kk_bullet.htm - KK Bullet will do that for you. So trade in that old dusty 500 PSI Ninja and save your back, you're not getting any younger. And remember 50% of this business is show business. I notice tht the guys with the show business flair drive newer and nicer vehicles. If that has anything to do with it. Talking about saving your back Kenny will sell you a glide. That's if he hasn't sold out in California at ASCR. And while your at it you might as well buy the http://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1207&PN=1 - Ninja Duct Cleaner . Kenny will sell you a teflon spray for the brush tips and make it a breeze for you. ------------- Kleen Kuip Supply Mart Inc. http://www.kleenkuip.com - New & Used Professional Carpet Cleaning Machines, Restoration Equipment, Training, Service and Supplies |
Posted By: Superglide Ken
Date Posted: 23/March/2005 at 4:51pm
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Good idea Ted. lol ------------- Inventor of the Teflon Wand Glide and the Turboteck Rotary Air Duct Cleaners for TMs. |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 23/March/2005 at 4:55pm
Mr. Steamer: Just retire? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: rmarkham
Date Posted: 23/March/2005 at 5:12pm
| I applaud your decision Mr. steamer.They have made their money off of your skills ,now it is time for you to realize the full benefits of your hard work.I believe you will do fine and will probably have more cash-flow in your pocket!! |
Posted By: MR. STEAMER
Date Posted: 23/March/2005 at 6:53pm
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I can tell you the truth that has already happened..... I did better than I thought I would this month...rmarkham which is quite refreshing.. I've already had a repeat customer... loved what I did with the first floor and had me back to do the second floor. With referals I booked 55 calls in the month of march, WOW Hey Ted they have a new thing called plastic paint.... my old 500 psi Ninja looks like brand new.... You'd love to get your hands on it now...lol ------------- www.mr-steamer.com |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 23/March/2005 at 9:35pm
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Spring is here??? it sure as hell dont look like it here we got a couple of inches of snow tonight. ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 23/March/2005 at 10:34pm
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Made a ton of calls the other day to custys I've done and booked a couple, the rest wanted to wait till spring. I said spring started a few days ago, acording to the calender. They said "when the snow's all melted". just keep pluggin away for the jobs. |
Posted By: danmarck82
Date Posted: 24/March/2005 at 12:32am
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Keep trucking Steamer, wishing you the best spring ever, hope you are
able to establish enough on your own that you can break away.! |