where did you start?
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=5201
Printed Date: 24/February/2025 at 7:27am
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Topic: where did you start?
Posted By: Searsguy
Subject: where did you start?
Date 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.
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Replies:
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 23/July/2008 at 2:26pm
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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? |
Posted By: medicman
Date Posted: 23/July/2008 at 3:24pm
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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???
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Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 23/July/2008 at 3:32pm
Isn't it time to retire duck? 1971!!! Hooooooolly Moooooolly!! 
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Posted By: Ken_Is_OK
Date Posted: 23/July/2008 at 4:22pm
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started on my own with a 5 gallon machine from GH Wood :)
100 psi x 1 vac
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Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 23/July/2008 at 4:25pm
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2x2 100psi Timbucktoo 10gal portable....
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Posted By: Ed Valentine
Date Posted: 23/July/2008 at 5:28pm
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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 http://www.member3.boardhost.com/johnmmerritt/ - www.member3.boardhost.com/johnmmerritt/ |
Posted By: cleanex
Date Posted: 23/July/2008 at 9:40pm
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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 |
Posted By: cmaster
Date 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 |
Posted By: Ken_Is_OK
Date Posted: 23/July/2008 at 10:03pm
| Ted started when carpet was invented. |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 24/July/2008 at 7:47am
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I'am still waiting to get started??? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 24/July/2008 at 7:55am
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Better late than never -------------
The STD Meter |