[Nick 1974]

Hi Guys

First post here, my company is Scrubs Up Nicely (pic to follow) which I have recently purchased off of a good friend of mine.

Anyway cut a long dtory short, I now have a basic WFP system in my trailor allowing me to wash windows with de ionised water (not RO yet)

I am trying to intorduce this business to my village and surrounding areas but wondered what any of you guys used as a good tool/s to get customers to convert over to WFP? i have a flyer I'm in the process of making but are there any useful strategies you used? did you just go round to peoples houses and introduce your service? put flyers in the box, both? did you guarantee to beat the end result? the price?

Should the price be like for like - should you go in at half price or twice the price etc...

Any help appreciated and apologies if some areas covered already - I live in a village which struggles to get standard broadband and hasn't even heard of 3g! 

Best Regards
Nick

[Total shine cleaning services]

hi nick

it's Graham from total shine ( helped you out in dickens drive that time)
bottom line is leaflet or canvass, price well and the golden rule is never undercut another cleaner or poach work as there is enough out there you just need to keep your eyes open for opportunities

Graham

[Nick 1974]

Hi Graham

Hope all well with you

Why is the golden rule not to undercut another cleaner if the end job is better - surely that's fair competition and the way it has been in Capitalist Britain for years? I'm not poaching work but if I can add extra business to existing clients say then that would be ideal?

How's business?

Cheers
Nick

[4S Cleaning]

Where will the under cutting stop , what if they under cut you go that way & you'll be paying to clean the windows 

[Total shine cleaning services]

business is good, most of the window cleaners on here are well decent and will go out their way for you, my own opinion is not to purposely take work off others, you can canvass and leaflet and if the customer wants to change for any reason it is down to them, but I think to knock doors and try to undercut another then it is bad karma and not good for the industry in general,if you do a good job then most customers would be loyal to you irregardless of other cleaners prices.

Graham

[Perfect Windows]

Why is the golden rule not to undercut another cleaner if the end job is better -

Why would you want to offer a better service for less?

Better = more time and care on each clean.

Offering that for less would be barmy, frankly.

Offer more and charge more.  People will pay for quality, I promise.

Vin

[Bay View WCS]

Why is the golden rule not to undercut another cleaner if the end job is better - surely that's fair competition and the way it has been in Capitalist Britain for years?

You will soon see when the client dumps you for the next cheaper windy to come along.  I don't think you will be patting them on the back and singing the praises of Capitalism then!

[Smudger]

undercutting or just being compedative ? (excuse spelling)

but Vin is right if your offering more ie.. cleaning frames & doorways etc.. then charge accordingly - you will get
plenty of work and the better price charged - better quality customers BUT you will need to do a good job.

the best way by far to get customers is to doorknock - customers meet you and if your confident in your
service and polite in your manner will get a great hit rate.   next is leaflets - we've been dropping 1k p/w over the
last 3 months and getting an average of 8 new customers p/w ( and several 1off jobs )

then advertise in parish mags etc..  personally never did get a lot from shop windows but it's an option
and get a sign written van thats the best 'local' presence you can have.

Darran

[Spruce]

Agree with Vin on this one.

In our business people usually associate a low price with poor quality.

You don't have to go out and persuade people to convert to WFP. You are canvassing for new customers so you can provide a windowing cleaning service and earn a wage. Your side of the deal is to do a good job, be honest and reliable, polite and be respectful to them and of their privacy. Their responsibility is to pay you for the service you have provided.

How you provide that service is up to you and Health & Safety. The only objection that a customer can have with you using WFP is on old leaded windows if they leak water inside. It's up to you then if you will get your ladders out and do them by hand or not. If not then that is one house that needs a window cleaner but its not going to be you.

If the round you have purchased has been done traditionally then you need your friend to introduce you as the new window cleaner and you just turn up and clean them with your method. If your friend has just cleaned the glass only and left the frames filthy, then you have an easily convert but a harder job. People will love the clean windows, but getting them spotless will take time, especially if you have difficult windows.

Most customers know all about WFP - so just do it. You may have to explain to a few how the process works, but most of the time it goes right over their heads.

Practise on your own home and friend's homes first. Get the feel of your pole and get accustomed to using it, especially at an angle, ie window above a conservatory reached from the side of the conservatory etc.

[Smudger]

Most customers know all about WFP - so just do it. You may have to explain to a few how the process works, but most of the time it goes right over their heads.

Disagree that most know about WFP - round here it's like telling them i travel to work in a space ship! but agree it all goes
straight over their heads !!

Practise on your own home and friend's homes first. Get the feel of your pole and get accustomed to using it, especially at an angle, ie window above a conservatory reached from the side of the conservatory etc.

yep as above ! and be prepared for a big learning curve - do plenty of rinsing/take your time - over a few months you'll speed up and access problems instantly ( well some of the time  : )

Darran