[Terry_Burrows]

In my area Romford Essex is dead carpet wise,just thought how is everyone else doing? we are first page Google,Thomson Local, age concern,news paper : or is it calme before the storm : christmas carpet clean time, just cant work it out :

The amount of carpet cleaning machines on Ebay! never seen so many,have you guys noticed Tesco have done us no favours!
Rug docktors £20 plus chems!

[chrisjohn]

Id say im fairly steady at the moment,which for me is a job a day.Certainly not as busy as last 6 months when doin 2-3 jobs a day.Not sure why there has been a lull over last 3 weeks.

Chris

[Terry_Burrows]

well your lucky! carpets,we have just 2 jobs booked its dead in this area,I think people just dont have the money not sure what to do next in this department,we have gone in the book again but I will give it one year and if it dont pick up I will sell off the machine,so many on Ebay right now :

[Colin Day]

After a belting 8 -10 weeks, I'm quiet at the moment, however oven cleaning did pick up last week. I have some good jobs booked in for the beginning of next month though. I've learnt not to panic when things go slack now! I'm just awaiting some chunky cheques to come through the door from the commercial work, so it all evens itself out in the end...

[Terry_Burrows]

 : I wish I could say the same colin it might be my area at the moment,but I can defo say this year
is far worse work wise than last year,I checked my work book and its clear to see,in fact its so clear it looks like I taken the bloody year off,what people dont know I did have a bad fall in an Esso Garage in the shop,last september,and was off for a long while,my lawers are dealing with this now,been one year I am hoping its going to the courts! so I did have to give up some work with my contracters too much pain at the time :

[davep]

Are you sure it's quiet in Essex or it's just you who's quiet?

[M.Acorn]

Had a really good run of work over the last 2 months,got a nice big buffer in the bank for when it's quite now.
Got quite a bit outstanding too.
But it's getting a little bit slower,1 job this morn,then 2 quotes,1 on Thurs and 1 on Fri,phone has stopped ringing though,couple of calls over the last 2 weeks,letting agencies slowing down a bit also.
Trying a different adversing company now too,3 months over xmas,so hopefully it should help.
Got a couple more big commercial jobs ,just before xmas too.

[Phil @ Extreme Clean]

Absolutely dead been looking for a part time job to tide me over but even that's hard no work anywere thinking of giving up meself.

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

Do you guys leaflet? Rather than wait for the phone to ring get your walking boots and Ipod on and do some walking. Better still go around some commercial premises and ask if they need their carpets cleaned? There is money around but you need to work to get the work.

[Paul Evans]

After A reasonable 5-6 months.

Have been quiet last 2  weeks (maybe the kids going back to school)

Seems to have picked up a bit this week. This is only my first year though so nothing to compare it with.

Paul

[Terry_Burrows]

wow not just me then last year was better,so if your just starting up,good luck : the problem is it cost to advertise which we have done with little or no return, = ouch :

[A Morley]

Yep, just about to start up as soon as my Ill Health Retirement cash comes through from my company next week. I realise I'm taking the plunge right when there's less cash around than there's ever been. But what's the alternative, chase a minimum wage job that will have fifty people after it or linger on benefits !? The problem is all of the options are difficult.

It's times like this when I wish I had more strings to my bow. We'd all love to turn the clock back and maybe have a bricklaying apprenticeship under our belts or be skilled at fixing cars. Well there's no point in rueing missed opportunities, just got to get on with things I guess.

And yes, I will  be putting a lot of miles in leafleting. It may be the most demanding option, but it's also the cheapest.

Good luck all.

[bcc]

ITS SLOW HERE IN SOUTH WALES AS WELL, BEEN CLEANING FOR 20 YEARS SO I KNOW WHEN ITS SLOW (BACK TO SCHOOL) JUST A FEW JOBS BOOKED

[davep]

Dont put too much on leaflets. Response can be low especially with the increase of takeaway flyer and charity bags piling up on the mat

[Terry_Burrows]

I agree Dave p,for the first time since December we are going in the papers to test the water!but at £40 per
week,reaching 45,000 homes will see

[clinton]

Yur right with the take away menues etc as we have noticed many more dropping through the letterbox too.

Had some schools to clean over the holidays so that kept me very busy..

[Colin Day]

Looking back through my diaries, I do see a pattern emerging, this time of year is always a struggle. I've got a big job this Wednesday, 2 seater, 3 seater, carpets and oven....


At least the wife will be pleased I've finally got round to cleaning our own stuff...

[M.Acorn]

Not all bad here,booked my first quote today,taken another booking for Friday,got asked by a woman walking her dog for a card,as I was outside removing the roof bar clamps from my van roof.
Quoting another one this eve 4 bed clean and protect,should be worth £250 ish

[dave123]

Not been too bad here , ticking over .Like Colin have a few big cheques due to land on my doormat anyday now . Always find August and September to be good months . As well as leaflets Terry do you contact old customers to remind them it's time to get their carpets cleaned ? Also I send new customers a thank you letter and prompt them to recommend me to their friends and family .

Dave

[Clare.w]

Do any of you have the small a5 sized monthly local directory books delivered in your areas?
We use 3 of the 4 that are delivered around our city, they work a treat.
I've tried other ones that have never worked but the ones that go out monthly do work, have also had editorials written in them for us sometimess for free. You should have a look around you area, see if there is anything like this and ask the editor's about doing a write up on your company.

You could also think about getting yourself in the local paper -somehow, without paying. Do something you think worthy of being in the paper, then write it down and send it to them. They won't write it for you but if you give them something they can almost print without any editing, they could use it as a space filler when needed. More likely get it printed if its relevant, just try and do something other people will want to read, not about you. ie in the spring. when people are spring cleaning, I thought about sending my local newspaper an article with 10 Top Cleaning Tips from our domestic cleaning biz. rubish example but you get what I mean!! free advertising.

Domestic cleaning goes quiet this time of year to, just for a few weeks. I think its just everyone getting back to normal after the hols, kids back to school etc, so don't worry to much just yet!