[actualcleaning]

hi ya we are all window cleaners,if you turned up in a sighn written van and uniform,with a clip board, and i turned up in my batterd truck with me trackis on and a note pad, do you think you would get the job, you might have to charge more than me for the same job, on the other hand they might feel sorry for me and give me the job like i said its a mind game and we are all cleaning windows at the end of the day........pete

Maybe on cheap end domestics the customer doesn't maybe care,but on higher end domestic and commercial many of them wouldn't entertain the battered truck and tracky bottoms brigade.Snobby or not when i work on property that is valued at millions my customers are very aware of a professional attitude towards my business...but listen each to their own.    

[tomy jackson]

stobarts nearly went bust and hadto sell of the worst of bisnes

[actualcleaning]

stobarts nearly went bust and hadto sell of the worst of bisnes

But they built their business on image and reputation for quality services...one goes hand in hand with the other when building a reputable concern. 

[AuRavelling79]

stobarts nearly went bust and hadto sell of the worst of bisnes

But they built their business on image and reputation for quality services...one goes hand in hand with the other when building a reputable concern. 

Not always. As tomy has pointed out - for all their image and reputation, Stobarts had huge difficulties.

And window cleaning is different - for every custy that is impressed by a wraparound sign-written van another is put off - and yet another doesn't care!

Round my neck of the woods is a guy with a 56 Vivaro, silver grey with BWCA and Ionics logo's and you see him working with a massive yellow pole - and take a peek in the back of his van and he's got a 1000L IBC on a pallet and uses half inch hose with leaks all over the shop!

Whitewashed Grave Window Cleaning (Matt 23 v 27 ) should be his moniker! In fact with a tank like that it very well could be!

[actualcleaning]

Yes maybe they did fall into trouble,but they bought it around based on their work ethics,reputation and business image...as i say they all go hand in hand to build a business.
Window cleaning is no differant,the wc running a quality service with a professional image will over time stand more chance of picking up quality work compared to the wc in a battered vehicle and tracky bottoms.I suppose it is what you class as quality work,and yes we all know that profit margins are king,but professional images and professional work ethics are paramount to succeed in any business,and window cleaning is no exception imo.

[Dave Willis]

I had a kitchen fitted once and the guy turned up on site in a Porche ! Did I think wow, he's really professional I'm glad I got him?
No, the hell I did - he's ripping me off more like!

[actualcleaning]

I had a kitchen fitted once and the guy turned up on site in a Porche ! Did I think wow, he's really professional I'm glad I got him?
No, the hell I did - he's ripping me off more like!

Well you probably would,but you are very unlikely to get a professional window cleaner turn up in his porsch now are you.
However if you kitchen fitter had turned up in a rather smart van with full signwriting and a very professional image would you have thought that the guy was good at his job and was running a professional kitchen fitting business?
Or would you like to have had the kitchen fitter turning up in a battered old escort with your cabinets and doors hanging out the back and him getting out of his battered old car with a shabby pair of trackies on?
Mayb e you would but i bet most customers would feel happier with the professional image. :

[jonnyald]

hey Actual , whatav you got agenst trakkie bottoms then. id bet you the MAJORITY  of the countrys cleaners wear em !

[actualcleaning]

hey Actual , whatav you got agenst trakkie bottoms then. id bet you the MAJORITY  of the countrys cleaners wear em !

I have nothing against them,it was used as an example from a previous poster if you look. :

[Dave Willis]

Image means nothing to me. Recommendation means everything. I wouldn't hire a builder with the newest van.

[Window Washers]

hey Actual , whatav you got agenst trakkie bottoms then. id bet you the MAJORITY  of the countrys cleaners wear em !

I have nothing against them,it was used as an example from a previous poster if you look. :

you are having a laugh   I would not be seen dead in jogging bottoms at work, and would not let staff wear them either, sports wear is not work wear unless you work in sport which we dont.

Are you saying we are all chavs   :

[Window Washers]

Image means nothing to me. Recommendation means everything. I wouldn't hire a builder with the newest van.

would you hire one with a manking shagged out van if he was not recommended ?
I think the answer would be know, first impressions count for a lot Dave, dress it how you please. How did you buy a new house ? are you a rippoff merchant ?  :

[actualcleaning]

Image means nothing to me. Recommendation means everything. I wouldn't hire a builder with the newest van.

No you might not,but if you couldn't get a recommended builder would you look for the builder who takes the professional approach or would you go for the builder rolling up with his escort estate full of cement dust who looks like he probably couldn't care less?
As i say each individual has his/her own ideas but when i employ people to do the job i want to know they are a pro...so that's what i look for. :

[Window Washers]

Image means nothing to me. Recommendation means everything. I wouldn't hire a builder with the newest van.

No you might not,but if you couldn't get a recommended builder would you look for the builder who takes the professional approach or would you go for the builder rolling up with his escort estate full of cement dust who looks like he probably couldn't care less?
As i say each individual has his/her own ideas but when i employ people to do the job i want to know they are a pro...so that's what i look for. :

you put that better than me, I 1000% agree with you.

Some people know they need to change things and make excuses for not doing it. (not saying posters are just pointing it out in general.

FTP was not digging at you just want to know your answer

[AuRavelling79]

I think it is easy to get "up yourself" when being a window cleaner. I mean - when you want your garden done do you want a some mincing ponce in a flash motor or a regular guy in a Landy? I agree that a rusty M reg Escort with the ladders out of the roof is counterproductive (But a similar aged, well kept say... Volvo Estate that is presentable is perfectly acceptable) but pull up a sleeping bag and stay with me.

On here we hear of comments from custies that show they don't like the fact that their windy has turned up in a vehicle that is better than theirs. I know a windy who has a porsche - his wife has a nice 09' Golf convertible - and a nice detached house (down sarf so pushing 500K in value) with leccy gates and intercom. He is a sole trader. (He's got no kids so that saves a fortune too mind! )

His van is an 04 plate Peugeot Expert with a self build 650L system. It is silver with clear simple writing - no wrap, no pictures of guys in hiviz doing 4 floors, no "academy trained" logos and certainly no "crippled man" logo.

Just XXXX window cleaning with a landline number and a mobile on the sides and back in dark blue. He wears a sweatshirt or poloshirt and cargo's.

Like he says - the last thing he wants to do is have his custy's see his motor or gaff! It's nicer than 80% of their pads and he's a humble window cleaner.

In my view, as long as you are presentable and your vehicle is presentable then that is what custy's want.

In window cleaning you can be "too posh" for your own good IMO. If I turn up in 20Kplus of VW transporter all sportswheels and blacked out windows - well I might as well write "Rip-off Window cleaning" on the sides!

[Window Washers]

if you lose a customer to someone because you have a new van find another one or 2, 99% of customers would not care if you have a new van or not.

Have a shagged out car/van they will notice it more so can work both ways, I knwo which I would prefer and customers that dont like it, are not forced to have the best window cleaner in there area 

[actualcleaning]

I think it is easy to get "up yourself" when being a window cleaner. I mean - when you want your garden done do you want a some mincing ponce in a flash motor or a regular guy in a Landy? I agree that a rusty M reg Escort with the ladders out of the roof is counterproductive (But a similar aged, well kept say... Volvo Estate that is presentable is perfectly acceptable) but pull up a sleeping bag and stay with me.

On here we hear of comments from custies that show they don't like the fact that their windy has turned up in a vehicle that is better than theirs. I know a windy who has a porsche - his wife has a nice 09' Golf convertible - and a nice detached house (down sarf so pushing 500K in value) with leccy gates and intercom. He is a sole trader. (He's got no kids so that saves a fortune too mind! )

His van is an 04 plate Peugeot Expert with a self build 650L system. It is silver with clear simple writing - no wrap, no pictures of guys in hiviz doing 4 floors, no "academy trained" logos and certainly no "crippled man" logo.

Just XXXX window cleaning with a landline number and a mobile on the sides and back in dark blue. He wears a sweatshirt or poloshirt and cargo's.

Like he says - the last thing he wants to do is have his custy's see his motor or gaff! It's nicer than 80% of their pads and he's a humble window cleaner.

In my view, as long as you are presentable and your vehicle is presentable then that is what custy's want.

In window cleaning you can be "too posh" for your own good IMO. If I turn up in 20Kplus of VW transporter all sportswheels and blacked out windows - well I might as well write "Rip-off Window cleaning" on the sides!

Exactly...so he portrays a clean professional image to his customers,and when he gets new work they will see him as someone serious about his business...do you think a new customer would feel quite the same if he rolled up in a clapped out mondeo with ladders strapped to a roof rack with a bucket stuck in the back rungs?...i doubt it 

[Dave Willis]

The only cleaners in my area with the sign written vans are the newbies desperate for work (I was one three years ago). Once you've got the customers they couldn't give a fig about my van to be honest. Can't ever see me losing.. customers because my van is ten years old or because I don't wear a uniform.

How did I buy a new house? Not sure what your getting at there?

[traps7]

Just thought I'd chip in with my two bobs worth.
I think somewhere in the middle is about right. I agree with a lot of the points above from both sides.
Some cleaners are ott in my opinion but some are also right skanky.
Personally in an ideal world I'd like a 2 or 3 year old nicely sign written van. No wraps. My van is a sign written 04 Vivaro but it's what I could reasonably afford. It looks respectable without being ott. I have navy blue embroidered sweatshirts, white embroidered polo shirts and navy work trousers/knee length work shorts.
People don't want you to be doing too well. If you are then just keep it to yourself. Nobody likes people being flash. I wouldn't turn up with a shirt/tie and clipboard but neither would I turn up in my tracksuit bottoms or beachwear.
I want a good wage for what I do but I'm not into ripping people off.
For a builder say, I think I would go on recomendation. But probably not anyone with a brand new vehicle. But then I wouldn't want someone in a beaten up old Escort Van either. I think someones vehicle gives a good insight into how they view themselves and their work.

[dazmond]

gold and traps are right on this one.i have an old car in good nick and clean and tidy.smart embroided polo shirts and jeans.good trad gear etc..........

oh and just a little thing...........i do a good professional job,do what i say im gonna do for a fair price for me and my custys!!

i wouldnt be seen dead in trackies though!or reebok trainers with a fAg(or joint!) hanging out of my mouth......!!!!

ill be getting a van in a few months but itll be a 5/6 year old fiat doblo/connect/combo but ill look after it and keep it looking clean and smart!!

i wont be "pimpin it up" with oversized alloys/black out windows and overblown stereo!!