[Colin Day]

The sad thing Simon, is that I started of with £21k cash, kindly donated to me by the Royal Navy for my knee injury....

If only I knew at that time that less than 12 miles away, sat HM, if only I had the knowledge that carpet cleaning forums existed and if only I stopped for one second, rang around for a good carpet cleaner in our area (Goran or Neil for instance) to clean our carpets to see how they do it, things could be so much different now. This was all 2 years ago

My advice will always be, "Buy the BEST you can afford!" My custy's are always astounded by the machine, which means they DO take notice of what you're using! And I don't think anyone can ever expect to win an argument that our porty's match up to the power of the TM....

[Simon Gerrard]

Colin,
You'll get there in the end, you've get the metal
Simon

[Colin Day]

Thank you Simon... That means a lot

Colin

[Simon Gerrard]

Colin,
Anyone who is prepared to clean ovens to keep their business going has my admiration because it is the people who will do whatever it takes to succeed that in the end do succeed and you're one of those people. I started my business career (35 years ago) delivering milk for my father-in-law and decided to start my own round at the same time. I started with one customer and built it up from scratch till I had 400 customers. I then started carpet cleaning part time and slowly and painfully built it up. I always wanted to do large commercials and low and behold I now have a job I could not have dreamed of. When I look back at all the things I did along the way to keep going when times were tough ( and there were plenty of those times) it makes me realise that I always was going to succeed, it was only ever a question of time and opportunity.
You have that same metal and I admire you immensely for it, so no matter how tough things get, you've got to keep going because if you do you WILL succeed.
If you fancy a day in Southampton you can come and have a look at one of our ships being cleaned, that will either inspire you or put you off carpet cleaning for good.
I know you've got it tough at the moment so if there is anything I can do to help: simon@gerrardscarpetcleaners.co.uk

Simon

[MAX Carpets]

Well said Simon! Too many people (not you Colin) think this business is easy to start up! I would say the complete opposite. I, like you Simon have made so many mistakes since starting in 1988 I'm surprised I'm still alive, let alone trading! To build up a good solid customer base is very hard, draining and stressful to say the  least.  Well done to all that succeed!

Is the invitation to see your ships open to anyone??

Justin