[Richard1967]

Can anyone help me with leaflet idea's.  As a newbie its always dificult to know what works and what doesn't.  If anyone could send me a sample of a leaflet that has worked for them in the past it would be much appreciated. Have tried requesting sample leaflets from various printers, but have had no response, yet.

[Simon Gerrard]

Hi Richard,
I've noticed your interest and machines and now leaflets. Are you just starting out in the business or have you been at it for a while, cleaning that is?

Simon

[Richard1967]

Hi Simon, I am in the process of starting a business, so fairly early days.  Have training booked in for begining of August, and looking to get machine around then too. So really just looking for some marketing idea's for leaflets to help me design and word my own.

cheers Richard

[Simon Gerrard]

Richard,
If I were you I'd think again. Seriously there are bad times ahead even for long established businesses and I really don't think this is the time to be investing in this industry. By the time this down turn / recession has passed this industry will be a lot slimmer than it is today.
Do the training and market research by all means but I'd think long and hard a bought spending your hard earned cash on it just yet. Why not wait for the first signs of a recovery then make your move.

Simon

[Richard1967]

Looking through the various threads it seems that some are doing alright, some are quite and some are very busy.  In an industry that relies on marketing it could be argued that a beginner has just as much chance as someone who has been going 5 years, as the work booked or comming in is only as good as the last advert or leaflet.  I'm not saying other factors are not important, such as knowing how to do the job and experience and yes someone going a few years has a client database to fall back on and repeat business.  I'm not looking to rely on income from CC alone, to start with, as I also do inventories for letting agents, but this is only part-time hence I am looking for an add-on to fill the hours and make a living.  Whilst I have experience marketing other businesses (I was a mortgage advisor until the crunch) I have not advertised CC before, hence my request for sample leaflets to help me design something that will work for me.

[Simon Gerrard]

Richard,
well if you can get your foot in the door with some letting agents that may be a good thing as I think they are going to be doing very well indeed in the next few years.

Simon

[maxcarpets]

One more thing Richard, please dont be offended but you may find Carpet Cleaning very hard work compared to your other jobs. Also as Simon said it is very hard at the moment, we have some 4000 customers on our data base, yet we still have quite patches, we also market to approx 50,000 homes per month. Dont get me wrong, we go to work everyday, but we have to fight for it. I think a newbie may get swallowed up at the moment, but then what do I know?

Justin

[Gerry Styles]

Hi Richard

I have been trading for just over 14 years, the last 4 years as a Ltd company. It is really hard out here at this time, I am still getting work but compared to this time last year its its very slow. Even my regular domestic work has cut back.  It is not a good time to start out right now

[Jason Hedges]

Hi Richard,

As mentioned above by Simon, Justin, Gerry & Clinton its hard times for most carpet cleaners even the established ones.

I've only been trading for 5 years but luckily enough have several letting / estate agents & private landlords as regualar clients as well as several good commercial contracts which keep me ticking over as well as repeat, refered and new customers.

I honestly wouldn't look into getting into this business as a new starter at the moment.

There are lots of established cleaners out there covering most of the regular work, getting into that market is hard believe me especially commercial.

Not wanting to put a dampener on your plans but would rather be honest than paint a false rosy picture that all is well.

On the other hand some cleaners are making a good living from the business but it takes time and lots of hard work & marketing....

Good luck whatever you choose to do. If you'd like a chat about anything please give me a ring on 07721 827163.

All the best,
Jason.

[Bennie25]

I have noticed an increase in people packing in, alot of TMs for sale recently, higher fuel costs along with lower income has really squeezed many c/cers. 

[M.Acorn]

Good luck mate thats all i can say ! i started my cc business on the back of my wifes very sucessfull dom cleaning business,after i was made redundant 4 years ago ! even with her huge database of customers and 3 letting agy`s it`s still nowhere near as busy as i hoped it would be.Spending vast amounts of money on websites ,listings,yellow pages and leaflets.there is always someone who will come along and undercut you by miles,very disheartening