[TomCrowther]

Decided to avoid the rain and got a new leaflet sorted today and also found the time to get a few of the kids Christmas presents as well !
I am sending out 30,000 of these this time after being inspired by a couple of the other guys on the forum. I normally do a couple of thousand at a time but have decided to give it a good blast and see if the numbers improve. I have been quite busy with the gutter clearing the past few weeks so have made this service a bit more prominent although my biceps are certainly feeling it from reaching over conservatories and sloping roofs etc.
For those interested, I will update with numbers/success or otherwise in a few weeks.

[Gutter Cleaning]

How did it go

[TomCrowther]

so far so good, 26 new customers so far. Only problem has been the weather and not able to get all the first cleans in yet and sub zero wether is not the best time to impress a new customer with the benefits of wfp..

[JoeMax]

Any updates Tom?

[Daniel12]

what sort of info do you put on your leaflets

[JoeMax]

I'd be interested to know as well - I'm about to get some printed and I'm currently brainstorming the copy. Obviously there is the super simple approach but I'm also considering a few other ideas.

One thing I have done is purchased a 'gold number' from eBay - this cost me £15 and my mobile number is real memorable (077** 707000).

[TomCrowther]

I have ended up with a slightly dissapointing 35 new customers from that mailing. Looking at what others have got this is the low end for sure. I am happy enough though because I believe that the vast majority of them will be good, year round customers. I have had a couple who turned out to be wasters but I can live with that.
re the info on the flyers, it was nothing brilliant or new, just bullet points about WFP, frames/panes/sills, greater privacy, better results, difficult windows, conny roofs etc. Plus I put three customer quotes on there {genuine ones} which seemed to work because people mentioned referred to it. Land line and mobile number is important.
My thoughts were get the flyer out November, the guttering offer is relevant and might yet provide a few more jobs. Then do another in Spring to the same addresses. Those that thought about it in November but didn't act may do the next time expecially as "summer is coming".
I also got two driveway jobs and a small commercial job, one of the directors lives locally and liked the flyer.

[SB Cleaning]

Hi tom,
Im doing a similar sized drop in the spring I was just wondering how you did you distribute your leaflets mate?

[TomCrowther]

Hiya, this one went via the local paper. I have also used leaflet distribution companies with mixed results. One time they "outsourced" to a charity bag firm and they just delivered wherever they felt like it.

[Clive McDonald]

Hi Tom
Very interested in your posts. you seem to have the right attitude.

Did you really put out 30,000? And got thirty back?

Let me ask you some questions about what you do and i'll try and give some answers.

[TomCrowther]

Hey Slumpbuster
Yep, 30000 out and 35 back, not brill I know. I have been half hearted about things because I was still doing something else but now I want to focus properly and get a successful little business going asap. Very keen to learn from you and a few others on here if I can.

[Clive McDonald]

Good, i'm not too keen on sharing as my ideas took me lots of effort.

Out of interest what were you doing before?

The first thing is this is quite tough.Lets say you have one hundred customers, to get to two hundred you have to keep those orignal one hundred happy, and when you get to two hundred the same.So you have less time to get new ones, or, the choice is go out and leaflet and earn nothing, or service your customers and earn well.You get to resent any time away from the glass.

If you get someone to help you you only increase productivity by 50%.If you get some one to help you you both run out of work very fast.Then you are paying them and you have no work.

The figures you mentioned are okay, but it's hard on the body.You might do it for a year, or even ten, but at some point you get sick of it.

So what do you do at the moment? you arrive at the job, do it, then what? What systems and procedures do you have? What software do you use?

[JoeMax]

I'm working on a flyer with the basic 'WINDOW CLEANING - CALL FOR A QUOTE' on the one side.. and on the other it will list the other services with a big 'NEW YEAR SPECIAL: CONSERVATORY BEING CLEANED AT 50% OFF". Perhaps some sub text saying the 50% deal is limited, make a note that we're currently working Saturdays as well.

I'll test it out in a few days

Oh yeah, I'm using PrintMarketUK.com A5, double sided.

[TomCrowther]

Cheers Slumpbuster
I was a salesman and channel manager in IT for 19 years. Very, very good money but that is the only thing going for it and when the world woke up and decided it was broke something had to give and I had no heart for it anymore. So my reason for starting the WC was to get real again {I started as an apprentice joiner and have always enjoyed the physical side of things, so have kept fit despite sedentary job}
No don't laugh, this is my routine. Got a big old van, 1000 litre tank, Ionic Pro 5 system plus two 1000 litre tanks collecting rain water but have not yet started using this supply. I have gutter vac, gutter cam and good power washer for the drives etc. I pull up, open back doors, open side door. Lift reel out and take end of hose to furthest point. Walk back, attach to system and turn pump on. Close and lock side door. Take poles out of back door then close and lock door. Walk back to clean windows. have a tap on the end of hose to limit and regulate water supply. My poles are Brodex for ground and first floor, then older Ionic {yellow composite} for higher windows. Longest pole is 60ft. I have 130 domestic customers av price £18, mix of commercial sites £40 £250 £300 and £400 with a few others quoted and awaiting response.
I use Microbore hose on manual reel and know I am wasting lots of time and working too hard on each job.
I learnt to do trad and am quite confident with squeegie, doing a fair number of my customers insides maybe every three or four months. All work won by leaflets and word of mouth so far. Want to move gradually but quickly if possible to 300 domestic and more commercial as long as they pay! Have a problem with two Property management Companies just now. Really appreciate your offer of help by the way..

[TomCrowther]

p.s. I have George for management and quite like it's simplicity. I have never collected, what a waste of everyones time. Either cash/cheque on the day or cheque in the post/electronic payment.
I don't clean domestic before 9am but did a small commercial at 0730 today and am quite happy to start earlier as long as it doesn't p people off.

[TomCrowther]

p.p.s. Customers are dotted all over the show. Have three groups of three right next door to each other a few twos together and then all others are pack up and drive!!

[bwoofie]

Tom, just wanna say good luck to ya M8 in 2011!! you sound like a real hardworker who is trying his best (and succeding!) just follow your instincts pal, Slumpbuster and ppl like him on here will give you sound advice. Good luck 

[Clive McDonald]

You're a lot further along than i thought.My average price is £15(IE below yours) and i don't really have any commercial.I do have quite a few domestic.I remember someone else had a mentor who was a big shot and talked a good game and when they finally met up the guy drove a banger and lived in a scruffy hole.So with that in mind..

I had george and was happy with it but switched to wcp because of what others posted.The main thing is you use a computer .And of course you don't collect.

As regards start time i try and start at 8am.Sometimes i select a drive to to swallow some time.With the spate of bad weather one poster suggested a few questions to ask when we first get a customer.Is it okay to come early- say after 8am. Do you still want them done if etc.

I have had some bad results from leaflets and advertising and most agree it is trial and error.30k with a response of 30 has to be a new benchmark though.

Ionics are supposed to be and probably are the best systems.1000l gives you lots of capacity.

[TomCrowther]

Cheers Slumpbuster, I have decided to get two new poles from Gardiners plus a hose guide for side of the van and a new elbow joint for the reel which will allow me to walk away from the van, pole in one hand and hose in the other with pump on, saving me one walk at least {can't do this cos reel blows off every time}. I would lower my basic price for chunks of work together but have never had the opportunity.
[Went to the physio again this morning and need to make things easier on my right elbow hence new poles and my interest in electric reel].
I have a sack truck with back pack for those odd jobs where access to the back is tricky or over long and this saves loads of time and was cheap to do. I find info on here invaluable from people like yourself, so thanks again. Wish I had read on here before starting up, would have saved lots of time and money.

[Clive McDonald]

I think making mistakes is part of the job.I've wasted loads of money, most decisions are probably wrong too.

The thing is not to be dogmatic, and be capable of changing your mind.Hose guide great idea.

If i had a whacking great van i would think about two guys poling like stink and me admin, collecting, and drumming up biz from neighbours.

This would mean you only had one days work a week.Of course you need five.

I don't think you would have saved money.You would have just made different mistakes.Gardiners is a good supplier, as is cleantech.If your system is one man, a cleantech pump board, plus reel will make it two.