[redstarwindowcleaners]

 Since returning to the uk a year and a half ago  its been harder than I thought building a tidy round
mainly due to to 4 reasons the general poor state of the economy a influx of windies coming into the industry migrating from other trades such as building  the introduction of who technology over using ladders ( not everyones cup of tea climbing a ladder ) and particually around the area i live the dole topping  up brigade and their low rates

it's been a hard slog over the past year but investment in better equipment a newer more reliable professional looking van signwriting coming in a few weeks and careful worthwhile leafleting and advertising is finally working out

this side of Xmas has seen a massive rise in the number of Inquiries I'm getting  particually from small commercial customers hotels nursing homes office etc  also domestics are on the up and most people don't seem to be haggling over the prices quoted

is the economy finally turning around I think this year could be a good one

[Clever Forum Name]

The biggest thing is your attitude.

Come across desperate and the customer see it.

It like when you have a girlfriend, you get other girls interested. When you don't have a girlfriend it sucks.

I found when I went looking for work, dropping 50 leaflets here, 100 here, 500 here, dashing about trying to get more work for us. It never worked.

Sat down had a look at how to build the business, saved my pennies and the results are great now.

[Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny)]

I do hope you are right. Im looking at putting a momentous effort into targeted canvassing and promotion this year.

[redstarwindowcleaners]

I've had inquiries coming thro this month from leaflets and letters of introduction dropped from last year sept and October

[Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny)]

I seem to be getting a fair few one offs coming in its as though spring cleaning has started early..

[Smudger]

You won't expand unless you are door knocking - leafleting or advertising.

It'll be interesting to see how it goes this coming year as the winter has been so mild the fair weather windies have been able to continue right through the year.

The more effort put in the better the returns

Darran

[Dave Mills]

I've had inquiries coming thro this month from leaflets and letters of introduction dropped from last year sept and October

Care to expand?

On the main subject, remember that a bundle of people who were laid off started up as windys.  Theyre getting their nice warn indoor jobs back so they are giving up in droves.

So yes, big expansion this year.

[Ian101]

Recession ?? What recession think i may have missed it but judging by the big retail park near me in my chester yesterday so has everyone else .... car park rammed full with people parking on walkways and behind the units in delivery zones

[redstarwindowcleaners]

Care to expand?

just a short letter distributed to local companies setting out the work I do / contact details etc with a few business cards  attached

[robertphil]

no doubt about it the recession lifting , fresh decent works coming in stronger than ever  before

[Dave Mills]

Care to expand?

just a short letter distributed to local companies setting out the work I do / contact details etc with a few business cards  attached

Ah, thanks.

[koopmaster]

I did no advertising last year and did not expand just stayed about where I was in numbers.

I have just bought 10 000 flyers and roped the missues in to go dropping 4 hours a week until this lot have been dropped.  then I am going to buy 10 000 more.

The plan is to double my round to 600 this year.

[dazmond]

i dont really want too many more customers.maybe another 30 or 40 good paying jobs on 2 monthly frequencies.i will always take on new customers if the price is good and its near other work though.

its all about pricing.lots of long standing customers prices going up this year.dropped a few here and there due to always paying late or messing me about.

add on jobs are always trickling in all year round so yeah i can see me growing but not in the amount of customers really.just more money for the same type of jobs.

[James Bulton]

I find it quite amazing when chaps who started 10 years or even 5 years ago telling a newby how easy it is to build up a round. Times have moved on so quickly in the last years.Its a lot harder to build a round these days as the business is more over traded and customers just don`t have the cash they had. I started 6 month into the recession and have found it even more difficult each year later to add to my lot. I don`t know how chaps build a round, starting now.I have build a round by been dominant in a few new  areas and smart marketing.But when my punter sell and move up the ladder I find the new owners not cleaning as they are over committed just buying there houses and find they have a new baby its often good bye windy as one income bites.

[Smudger]

Swings and roundabouts regards new owners sometimes I get the new owners and get the new property from the existing customer, sometimes neither as the new owner brings their own windy and my customer moves out of the area.

You can still build a round even now in the middle of winter by door knocking and get a good pickup rate.

I see no reason why norfolk should be any different from other areas in that there are far more houses and customers than people cleaning windows,  you just gotta go get em

Darran

[stig]

i dont really want too many more customers.maybe another 30 or 40 good paying jobs on 2 monthly frequencies.i will always take on new customers if the price is good and its near other work though.

its all about pricing.lots of long standing customers prices going up this year.dropped a few here and there due to always paying late or messing me about.

add on jobs are always trickling in all year round so yeah i can see me growing but not in the amount of customers really.just more money for the same type of jobs.

. + me

[SeanK]

I find it quite amazing when chaps who started 10 years or even 5 years ago telling a newby how easy it is to build up a round. Times have moved on so quickly in the last years.Its a lot harder to build a round these days as the business is more over traded and customers just don`t have the cash they had. I started 6 month into the recession and have found it even more difficult each year later to add to my lot. I don`t know how chaps build a round, starting now.I have build a round by been dominant in a few new  areas and smart marketing.But when my punter sell and move up the ladder I find the new owners not cleaning as they are over committed just buying there houses and find they have a new baby its often good bye windy as one income bites.

Couldn't agree more, I wouldn't want to be starting a round from scratch now.
The problem is peoples wages aren't keeping up with the ever increasing cost of living
and its only going to get worse.