So do you consider Gardiners to be a small or large company?
They seem to be a fair size these days to me, exporting to America etc but are the fastest evolving company around. They never stand still for five minutes. They make a groundbreaking pole then improve on it continuously.
The other companies Ionics, Brodex and even Facelift seem so slow in comparison - probably because they don't listen to the bottom of the pile ie. us.
Pretty small compared to some I should think, but growing all the time. Alex has the advantage where he actually uses the tools he produces himself. He knows when he is onto something good because it works well for him. The big companies I refer to rely on a R&D department that probably have never cleaned a window in their lives except for maybe a demonstration window set up somewhere.
Then if it gets to the next stage and the non window cleaners are happy it then goes out to some window cleaners that because they got a freebe wouldn't dare to give their true feelings on the product. Obviously all companies are not the same but this has been my personal experience with at least two in the past.
Another story. Many years ago I was at one of the large companies warehouse showing them a new tool I had and while I was there they gave me a new rubber they said was great, to try out. A couple of weeks later they asked how I got on with it and I had a bit of a laugh thinking they can't be serious, they were serious and were really disgusted when I told them exactly what I thought of it. No point beating about the bush, they gave me something to get my opinion on it, and I gave them it. Dear knows what sort of rubbish others who gave them feedback were telling them.
Alex is growing because he knows a good product when he sees one, and can try it out personally himself before any major decisions are made, and not relying on an R&D department that still thinks a window is better cleaned with a squeegee.
Poll