[Steven Shoreditch]

Or has the past fortnight been just the start of some serious downtime?

I thought I might get out today, but still had freezing pipes on the end of the pole.  And the pipe work in the garage (push-fit plastic) was frozen, so couldn't make any pure stuff.

I think Friday we'll be ok, but the next week?  The next month?

[steve freeman]

All down hill for some next week restbite weekend back to sub zero from monday onwards

[Steven Shoreditch]

I'll look forward to that!

Not.

[Klean07]

Its looking good untill Tuesday here. I only need another 13 days and I'll get my month in. May just about do it if weather is ok till xmas.

[JSMC]

been terrible up here since end of november and prior to that it was rain

[chopsie]

Its got to be worth considering only window cleaning say March until  end November, Maybe if its mild work up until xmas?
I would say a high percentage of customers do not want them cleaned in winter anyway, and its another expense they could do without? right or wrong? Its a route I am considering, along with taking my holidays this time of year (although this will be difficult with having kids with ex wife so would struggle to take them away this time of year, let alone being with a teacher now who will want to go away in 6 week hols  )

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Its looking good untill Tuesday here. I only need another 13 days and I'll get my month in. May just about do it if weather is ok till xmas.

You'll be lucky to get them in!
White christmas is on the books, apparently!
I personally think this is basically set in now til the end of February!


Matt

[clearlyclean]

I been out a lot this week and most of my customers were glad to get the windows cleaned so i think a 3 month stop in the winter would not be acceptable as most want them done for christmas.I will learn from this cold snap and prepare myself to take on the next.It will only be because i cant get the car out that will stop me working.Maybe for guys in Scotland need to look for alternative ways of earning money in the winter with their existing customer base but if the transport network is ground to halt there is nothing to do but sit it out.

[Jeff Brimble]

Next one starts Xmas week  :

[scud]

  The long range forecast I was looking at last night seemed to show that it would be cold, but not freezing during the days all the way until xmas.

  News readers cold is very different to my cold, anything lower than the temp in their air conditioned offices is cold!

[Wc Solutions]

ive seen next weeks - max temp 0f +2 to +4 but night temps low as -4 to -6

[dazmond]

this will be my 17 winter window cleaning and i always manage to keep ticking over!IMO windows sometimes get more dirty in winter and im usually later than spring summer getting to my custies so their usually happy to see me!!

i personally think chopsie you seem to have quite a negative attitude towards your business at times and i think you need to toughen up or become one of the summer brigade!!!!

also some of you seem over reliant on wfp when ladders and traditional extension poles can be used when its too cold for wfp.

there seems to be a a small core of whingers on this site who just make excuses why they cant work or are ill  prepared or maybe their just stupid/thick!(im not refering to any scottish lads by the way that have been really snowed under!!) .

for those that have just started then maybe its forgivable but those who ve been going a few years really should be prepared!

either enjoy the time off or find a way to keep ticking over OR go out of business and go and sign on!!


regards


dazmond

[tompoole]

So long as the day time temp is above freezing I'm in business
However I did clean in -1 on mon and managed almost 6 hours
Before clamps froze:-)) been on it all week this week , well happy:-))
Have to catch up from previous week when I forgot to turn
Heater on in garage and tank froze, silly me took 4 days to
Thaw it out, and I'm in bucks where it's been relatively barmy
Compared to the rest of uk.

[lee09]

this will be my 17 winter window cleaning and i always manage to keep ticking over!IMO windows sometimes get more dirty in winter and im usually later than spring summer getting to my custies so their usually happy to see me!!

i personally think chopsie you seem to have quite a negative attitude towards your business at times and i think you need to toughen up or become one of the summer brigade!!!!

also some of you seem over reliant on wfp when ladders and traditional extension poles can be used when its too cold for wfp.

there seems to be a a small core of whingers on this site who just make excuses why they cant work or are ill  prepared or maybe their just stupid/thick!(im not refering to any scottish lads by the way that have been really snowed under!!) .

for those that have just started then maybe its forgivable but those who ve been going a few years really should be prepared!

either enjoy the time off or find a way to keep ticking over OR go out of business and go and sign on!!


regards


dazmond

Chopsie
We can not second guess what the customers want. If you ask them if they want a break for three months because its difficult for you to get round or that that the weather is poor, then yes most may take the break.
If though you train your customers that they can expect you every so many weeks, they will expect you. Most appreciate that we have a living to earn.
If we give them the opportunity to turn us away, we are just inviting the "not today as it looks like rain" though every season.
Lee

[tompoole]

In reply to daz, yes I agree and do get the squeegee and ladders
Out more in winter but also in summer. Tend to trad shops any how
And in winter just plod on doing bits, again most people are pleased to
See me in winter as I'm usually miles behind and the windows do
Tend to be more dirty. I also pick up work that the summer
Brigade can't and won't do , happy days . I would rather cancelled
Aug than the winter months as most people are on holiday
And am tempted to just not bothe with aug and go travelling

[dazmond]

In reply to daz, yes I agree and do get the squeegee and ladders
Out more in winter but also in summer. Tend to trad shops any how
And in winter just plod on doing bits, again most people are pleased to
See me in winter as I'm usually miles behind and the windows do
Tend to be more dirty. I also pick up work that the summer
Brigade can't and won't do , happy days . I would rather cancelled
Aug than the winter months as most people are on holiday
And am tempted to just not bothe with aug and go travelling

i agree tom!!august and january are the worst months!!

[Tom White]

It said in the paper we could be in for the WORST Winter since 1962/63; but I don't know how bad that was since I'm not PJ's age.

We'd better stock up with baked beans from Lidls I think!

[Dave Anderson]

Now is the time to review your business...

Someone recently came up with 200 days as a good amount of day to make your annual income...

So far I'm at 166 and am at 11% increase in turnover from 2009.

But if these couple of years are anything to go by either putting alot more money by or finding something else as a income generator needs to be found...whilst I have saved for 8 weeks bad weather (4 being my holiday this year) perhaps more needs to be put away.

What are you thinking is the best way forward for you...?

[tompoole]

Jan. Noooo I love jan it's snows in bucks I normally get a week
Off playing in snow with the children.
Maybe I'm still new to this window cleaning coz I only started in dec 07
But I alwas put a lump of money away each month , originally
It was in case of illness never thought snow would be problem
As we never used to get any round our way. Also the last two years
I've used my tax money to buy a car use it then sold it for
A few hundred quid more  when the tax was due. Could never
Have done that in my last job

[dazmond]

Now is the time to review your business...

Someone recently came up with 200 days as a good amount of day to make your annual income...

So far I'm at 166 and am at 11% increase in turnover from 2009.

But if these couple of years are anything to go by either putting alot more money by or finding something else as a income generator needs to be found...whilst I have saved for 8 weeks bad weather (4 being my holiday this year) perhaps more needs to be put away.

What are you thinking is the best way forward for you...?

work through it i say!!