I've had a few thousand leaflets dropped this last week, very basic format. So far I'm getting a better than expected return, especially in an area with alot of other windies. I know most of these guys and one or two have been in touch to check it was me. They've not really lost any work so no aggro. Apart from one brave window cleaner who called me up yesterday.
This brave guy, and I hope he is on here reading this, left me an amazing message explaining to me the finer details of how a certain area (though he won't tell me where) is his in no uncertain terms, that he (though he doesn't tell me who he is) cleans here so how dare I try to get work there (where?), so he is phoning (though he doesn't use his number) to put me straight, that he knows where I live now (but won't tell me where he lives), that he's coming straight round to sort me (still waiting) because I must be soft (as he's 'ard).
I know we need to protect our businesses, but is this the way to do it? I don't directly quote against others, I look for people without windies, all my new business is this. Anyway, it made me laugh, and I'm toying with the idea of putting it on Youtube.
Any similar experiences?
As a comparison, I lived and worked in Ireland for a few years, when I went up against another established guy, a tough Donegal bloke, he came round to see me. He told me he had most of the houses in a certain area, but told me of other areas he thought people were looking for a cleaner. From this I built up a decent round quite quickly.