[LANE_ASSOCIATES]

just found  this web site, think it is a great  idea window cleaners can talk and even help each other out. Are most  people registered on this forum one man bands, small companys or large organization.

[seanc]

i have just posted this in the ladder ban section
are you a one man band ? dont know why your name sound like a big company

tam
yes i am a one man band as i am sure everyone has been at some time start at the bottom of the ladder so to spreak (lol)  

if ladders do get banned then yes the bigger firms or people with a lot of start up money will be the only people that could work in the trade

althoue i do think wfp are the way forward and have considerd one but as i am just starting it is well out of my range

good luck to all the one man bands and well done to all of you that have been in the past and arnt any more

[WavieDavie]

Started 1983, took on one employee after 8 months, as I kept being told by new customers that their last window cleaners were taking on larger jobs and were  too busy for smaller houses. Right, I thought, they're mine now, but when I get too busy, I take on another pair of hands - and the jobs are STILL mine!
Second worker was taken on after another year or so and I've stayed that size ever since. Guys I knew with bigger firms just seemed to be dealing with problems more than having their hands on the tools.

There used to be three of us in two vans, but as two have been written off, but none by me, we're now in one motor. We work Monday - Friday and 7.30am  - 1.30pm but normally finish a little earlier on the Friday.
Right, that's MY potted history, LA, tell us a bit more about you - at present you're a bit of a mystery man, or person, fill out your profile and signature with a few juicy details for us!!

[LANE_ASSOCIATES]

What can i say, Lane Associates started in the early sixties by my grandfather,  my father took it over from him, i started cleaning windows in  1982 and haven't stopped since, there are four full timers and i sub work out to  four  other firms on a regular basis. 70 % of our work is commercial and the rest domestic, we also do carpet cleaning. We are based in Surrey, am going to look at a Brodex wfp system next week. by the way what is the ladder ban section ? My name is Martin

[seanc]

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Equipment;action=display;num=1080679821;start=20

this is the link

[Ian_Giles]

Well I am a one man band, I was a six man band, but I reduced!
Over the past 20 years I have truly lost count of the people I have employed.
Most window cleaners are one man or two man bands, or so I've found.
But I found that when you eventually find one that stays with you for a few years, it eventually percolates through their heads that they can do this for themselves and keep all the money!
So now it is just me again.
I am awaiting delivery of a WFP trolley system, courtesy of Peter at Broxburn.
I may well be tempted to expand again and take someone on, with trolley fed systems if an employee wants to set up by himself, at least it will take investment.
Quite different to going out and buying a ladder or two, a bucket, squeegee, applicator and scrims!

Ian

[wrighty]

Ian,

Are you going to do all your round with the trolley system?

I am looking at buying one so please share your thoughts and plans.

Pm me if you prefer.

Many Thanks,

Craig

[Ian_Giles]

Craig,
I am hoping it will prove viable to do most of my work with WFP.
Most of my work are shop fronts so I am hoping that a trolley system will do the trick.
I intend to follow in the footsteps of Justin Ruggles and post progress reports on all three of the forums I visit.
The ups the downs, the trials and tribulations etc.

With the new ladder regs looming over our shoulders, its time to look to the future, and it would certainly appear from all I have read on here and the other forums, that WFP is the future.

It's still very embryonic and is developing quickly.

So fingers crossed that I will find it useful on the shops as well as the larger offices.

Ian

[wrighty]

Ian,

Dont you do any residential work ?

Thanks again

Craig

[Ian_Giles]

Craig,
At the moment I have just 2 residential accounts. it has taken an awful long time to be in the position I am at the moment. I did have enough domestic work for 4 other guys at one point.
But you get a good un' and before long they leave and start up by themselves, after all, its as cheap as chips to set yourself up.

Not so of course with the WFP, that takes investment.

From all I have read on the forum it would seem that WFP is quicker as well as safer, so I shall be taking on more work in the way of domestic accounts once I get underway with WFP.
At the moment I have been passing on requests to a couple of other local window cleaners who are still hunting for more work.
In twenty years I have always found that demand has consistantly outstripped supply, and with the health and safety taliban poised to pounce, that isn't going to change any time soon

Ian

[wrighty]

Ian,

Thanks again for your comments.

Craig