[Lee Burbidge]

Who on here is a member of the FWC - we would like to hear from you. Do you like the FWC? Do you hate it? Can it offer more to members? Is it doing just fine as it is? lee@windowcleaningmagazine.co.uk - have your say. We are having key people of our industry contribute their thoughts to this new article and I would like to hear from more guys like me on the ground window cleaning as well.....

[Smudger]

Personally I think in its current form brings nothing to me as a small window cleaning biz the last time I read their mag it was very focused on trad cleaners and an article about a new member being being promoted to the committee didn't even seem to know what WFP was,  then there was loads of biased articles all about a company who just happened to have full page adverts running....

When contacting the office it all felt very 1960's nice people but it was just like a club rather than a professional organisation

IMO your mag hits all the right places

What I would like to see is the fed or some one have a proper forum - an open forum for all and a members forum ( proof of biz and no phoney names ) where the fed or other post genuine contracts/ work that independent window cleaners can go for  real discounts on goods services etc..

I would pay an annual membership for that..

Darran

[Michael Peterson]

i agree with pretty much all smudger has just said

[wfp master]

whats FWC.?




                          yours sincerely confused

[MATT BATEMAN (OWC)]

You without the S(hit).

[wfp master]

You without the S(hit).

you mean super fast.

[Sean Dyer]

I haven't been a member of the fwc
It hasn't affected my business one jot
And joining would bring next to no benefit
I joined the guild but similarly felt it doesn't really mean anything

Do window cleaners really need a trade association, just increases red tape

[Lee Burbidge]

Personally I think in its current form brings nothing to me as a small window cleaning biz the last time I read their mag it was very focused on trad cleaners and an article about a new member being being promoted to the committee didn't even seem to know what WFP was,  then there was loads of biased articles all about a company who just happened to have full page adverts running....

When contacting the office it all felt very 1960's nice people but it was just like a club rather than a professional organisation

IMO your mag hits all the right places

What I would like to see is the fed or some one have a proper forum - an open forum for all and a members forum ( proof of biz and no phoney names ) where the fed or other post genuine contracts/ work that independent window cleaners can go for  real discounts on goods services etc..

I would pay an annual membership for that..

Darran

Thank you Darren, May we use your comment as part of the article ?

[Lee Burbidge]

whats FWC.?




                          yours sincerely confused

We that says it right there lol

[Lee Burbidge]

I haven't been a member of the fwc
It hasn't affected my business one jot
And joining would bring next to no benefit
I joined the guild but similarly felt it doesn't really mean anything

Do window cleaners really need a trade association, just increases red tape

Is trade representation good if it adds real value to your business?

[Lee Burbidge]

You without the S(hit).

I love you van pic in your post btw

[Lee Burbidge]

Posts from the same topic in our Facebook group.....

I had a look at their website and had a chat with is it Doris who works for fwc at the cleaning show. she was very nice and friendly. Most of my customers and friends have never heard of fwc. They dont have a large membership. I actually thought they had closed down till i saw them in march at the show

[Lee Burbidge]

So FWC can we improve it? does it need improving? What benefits should it be offering to ad value to your business?

Here is an interesting story on the AUWC ( Association of United Window Cleaners ) US - read what happened curtsey of WCBO :


On february 1 of 2013, the AUWC finally closed its doors forever. In actuality the doors had been closed for some time but nobody noticed, so some- body figured they had better make an announcement and make it official.
The AUWC originally launched with a great start and good intentions in 2006 as the first ever non-profit window cleaning association focused on the routine residential window cleaner.
Things hummed along at a great pace until 2008. Then a massive conflict of interest occurred when the acting president accepted a position at a window cleaning supply house. The competitors of that supply house the president went to work for immediately felt a negative impact. Their forum accounts were altered and hundreds of their posts mysteriously disappeared. once this was exposed to the association members there was a mass exoduses and 80% of the membership left and headed for the greener pas- tures of the new WCR forum. The association was crippled and the death spiral began.
In 2009 a new board of directors was added in an attempt to undo the past mistakes and corruption, but they were never able to generate interest from the window cleaning community.
In early 2010 the AUWC suffered its final devastating blow when it was discovered that the treasurer stole every cent from the AUWC bank account. The few remaining members left at this point and it was later discovered that the stolen funds went to pay for a new billboard for the treasurer's window cleaning company.. oops
finally, in 2013 they officially decided to close the doors forever, citing a lack of member participation as the reason.

What could of prevented this do you think?

[Smudger]

Post tampering bit sounds like here........ Buzz click account deleted....


Yes lee feel free to quote me

Darran

[wpclean]

Window cleaning will never be seen as a trade, so no need for a trade body.

[Pete Thompson]

We are having key people of our industry

Like who I wonder?  In my experience, the people who THINK of themselves as the key people are actually nobodys who try to portay themselves as 'the voice of the industry', or have vested interests.  That impact43 lot is a perfect example.

The simple fact is, window cleaners themselves don't see a need for a trade body and will never pay for membership.  Therefore it's a doomed idea.

[MATT BATEMAN (OWC)]

You without the S(hit).

I love you van pic in your post btw

This is what its from, off the website

[Lee Burbidge]

Window cleaning will never be seen as a trade, so no need for a trade body.

Really? What if a trade body was to do something useful like campaign to the Government to  ( I dont know???) make all residential work vat exempt, help window cleaners be excluded from drought orders etc etc then on top of that offer stuff that adds value to your business like training, business forms and documents etc etc.....

A trade could also campaign for any topic you might be bothered about - away into Government for any possible changes you seek?? Let say that cowboys are a real issue for you - a trade body set up right could consult with the industry (us) and the Government and sort something out if that effects you.... just some examples I am sure there are more better ones but you get the idea, right?   

[Lee Burbidge]

Window cleaning will never be seen as a trade, so no need for a trade body.

Its seen by a trade by me and many other companies in the world

[Lee Burbidge]

You without the S(hit).

I love you van pic in your post btw

This is what its from, off the website

You selling a Gardiner pole??