[Steven Butler]

Anybody use these own label spotters?
How do you offer/promote them?
Which supplier do you get the from?

[SteveAllan]

I give mine away with every clean, get from solutions

[Simon Gerrard]

We give one to every customer, free, no exceptions, wouldn't even think of charging for them.
Simon

[B Bailey]

Same as Steve

[Richard Cole]

Same as the guys above. For a cost of around £1.57 its worth every penny.

[wayne zabel]

Ive often thought about giving away spotters but I do a lot of cleanish carpets with a few spots.If I give away spotters would I be stopping my chances of earlier repeats?

[tonner0]

Are these free spotters ever used that you give away or just put in a cupboard and forgotten? I like the idea as it is something else with your name and phone number on but I wonder on the value to the householder. Is it really appreciated and used? What size do you give away, I was thinking may be 250ml or is that being tight?

[Chris waters]

It not the size that matters, it's just another way to keep your name out there.
For the price it's cheap advertising, offer a refill with every clean.

[Neil Worsnop]

I went to a house recently where they had tried a DIY approach to some black spots and given up.  I asked what they had used expecting the usual supermarket stuff in an orange bottle.  But no, they showed me a local competitors bottle of promotional spotter.

There was nothing wrong with the spotter, they just hadn't been patient enough to follow the instructions properly. 

But despite the other CCers logo and contact details they still went to a local directory and phoned somebody else.  They believed the spotter didn't work.  This isn't true because I used it successfully before cleaning the rest of the lounge.

Make of that what you wish I suppose.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

It's funny that Derek Bolton once told me that he didn't agree with the spotters being given to customers because of miss use, I give them away but I always get asked if a customer can buy one off me about a year down the line just to touch up their carpet as it doesn't want cleaning.

Shaun

[Neil Worsnop]

Interesting point Shaun, they ask if they can buy another bottle of spotter about a year later.

I'll assume we sell a bottle of spotter for £10.  And also assume one bottle is enough to clean numerous minor spills and spots. 

If we hadn't sold a £10 bottle could we have instead sold them a £60 lounge clean and done the dining room and hall whilst we are there, for just another £40?

£10 bottle for no effort or £100 clean for a bit of effort? 

For what its worth I've never given anything away although it's at the back of my mind to do so - despite my earlier point that the customer ignored the marketing message by calling somebody else.

[nathanjd]

I agree with Neil. Yes the spotter might keep your name in front of them - but so can a mailshot or as mentioned recently on the forum text offers/reminders. And these are much less in cost than spotters. The problem is we all know that our customers love to play with diy products themselves - and they generally don't, or won't follow instruction in how to use them, so they may create a mess that they may blame us for giving it to them. Personally I make a point in telling our customers how poor off the shelf spotters are, because of the problems i see them cause each day on carpets - and that in a diy sense all they should do is blot and use slightly damp cloth where necessary. Spelling out the risks of trying it themselves gently directs them to the only one in the room that should be consulted - the Pro Carpet Cleaner. Drill this into your customers and they will use you more. Because you have promoted yourself and your professional skills - not some cheap spotter.

[Phil @ Extreme Clean]

I give a 250ml Df bottle of Unbelievable and tell them to bin any vanish etc 

[JandS]

I give them a business card....thinking of getting some personalised pens made.
Not giving them something they can make a mess with or use it incorrectly so it doesn't work so bin it and not ring you again.

[Simon Gerrard]

A free bottle of spotter serves lots of useful purposes.
We give them away telling the customer it is by way of thanks for their business, people like to hear you appreciate them.
People like to get things for free.
It is a wonderful way of keeping your name in front of them.
It adds to the story they tell their friends when recommending you.
If you give them something that actually works as opposed to the likes of Vanish, they appreciate you all the more.
Our customers love them and comment so frequently about how good and useful it is that we would never stop giving them away.
We even provide free refills and often deliver them to the customers door. Customers love great service and tend to stick with you because of it.
If you're bothered by the cost then add £2 to your price.

Simon

[Scott Holman]

Anybody use these own label spotters?
How do you offer/promote them?
Which supplier do you get the from?

Good post Steve I've been wondering the same thing.
Some very useful answers too.

Thanks Scott

[Simon Gerrard]

We don't promote them, there value as a promotion is limited IMO. Give them to people who weren't expecting it by way of a thanks takes people a little by surprise, as if you really didn't need to do that, but what a nice touch that you did.

Simon

[garry22]

Totally agree with Simon here. I'm convinced that my customers drink them rather than use them on the carpets! They still have them cleaned though.

[Ian Gourlay]

Nobody said how many repeat cleans per bottle given away .
If it was 50% called and rebooked  you would have a fantastic  customer base .

[stuart_clark]

I get mine from John Kelly  and I give free refills for life! After all its just a spoonfull of pure clean! How much does that cost me ?



Stuart