[kinder clean]

Hello Mike

I am a new start carpet & upholstery cleaner based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

I have spent the past few months buying the best kit I could afford and having my vehicle sign written and now want to push hard on the marketing.

I spoke to Pete Sweeney recently who offered me some very good advise, he also mentioned you were the guy to talk to regarding flyer marketing.

Can you offer me some advise regarding flyer content, size, etc also delivery methods, obviously for the moment I will deliver them myself, but when the jobs start to come in I suppose I would need to employ someone to do that, if so what should I expect to pay, do you have methods of keeping tabs on weather your leaflets are being distributed?

I have designed a 3 fold A4 flyer and had 5000 printed but the more I read and learn from the guys on the forum that have been at this business for some time, the more I think my flyer isn't hitting the mark, or grabbing peoples attention should I say.

I have gone for the 'green clean' approach, my van also has a green theme, but I don't want people to think greener means more expensive. (attached photo's of the van) I will price myself mid table like most. 

Any help or advise you can offer or if you had an example flyer I could look at that would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Paul - Kinder Clean
 

[Mike Halliday]

I can't open attatchment on this site so send them to Mikeh@henryh.karoo.co.uk

I'll send the leaflet I use by return.

off back to work, answer more later.

mike

[Karl Wildey]

nice looking van, top marks on that, I think it will definate attact the people who want green clean

[markpowell]

Paul,
Thankyou for the e-mail, i have sent you a reply.
mark

[Mike Halliday]

my philosophy with leaflets is simple, if they get in front of someone who needs a carpet cleaner they will work.

so to increase the chance of this happening put out 1000s all the time, & have them distributed by someone reliable.

the actual leaflet is nearly irrelevant, as long as it covers the basics it will work.

So do 20,000 a month delivered to the same homes every month,

its that easy.

mike

green cleaning.....

I.M.O the only people interested in this is carpet cleaners and suppliers who sell green chemical. never had a single customer ask about green cleaning or specify I use green chemicals,

but it might be a regional thing, things might be different where you are.

[markpowell]

Mike you are right i have never been asked if i use green products or not!
Mark

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Regards the green clean, if you advertise in directories or the web directories (yell.com etc)or just the web then someone is actively looking for a carpet cleaner or a green carpet cleaner then it works but if you are doing leaflets then you are offering your services to them as opposed to them looking for you.

Green cleaning is just another selling point, look at CD they sell themselves as quick drying, green cleaning professionals 3 of the 4 key points of what the customer may want to buy but these may come out top on a pole, the 4th being price.

Shaun

[simonwonder]

hi mike could you send me a copy of your flyer as i'm looking to start carpet cleaning and i have no idea how to do marketing  looking for ideas as i'm from the south of the country 
done window cleaning bothwfp and trad not  great at marketing
thanks
simon@swindonswindowcleaner.com

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

Ive never been asked about it either but it surely would not hurt to advertise the fact! Nice van by the way I like it, John

[Simon Gerrard]

Kinder,
What is your name?

Great looking van, very professional.
I'd go easy on the green thing if I were you, some people find it a bit geekish and might see you as some kind of hippy eco-warrior. Just bear in mind that for as many people as you might attract using the green theme, you can scare others off.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong in offering a green service but I think you are making too much of it as opposed to listing amongst your other services.

Nice van though.

Simon

[maxcarpets]

Van looks good, is it brought & paid for? I only ask because I think to many people sign up to these things before they even get a job.....bad move.

[kinder clean]

Hello Simon, my name is Paul

To clarify - its Kinder clean as in - Kinder to the environment not Kinder as in Kinder scout. - A popular mistake, but hey, the worst that can happen is they think my name is Paul Kinder 

Thank you for the comments on the van, it's only been done 2 weeks and I've had 2 phone calls from it.
Believe me, the clean, simple look was anything but, I spent a ridiculous amount of time getting it exactly as I wanted it, I believe the vehicle graphics guy was ready to strangle me.

At www.  signprint.   co .  uk they have a free online vehicle graphics designer, choose your van model etc... you have to be patient though, trial and error to get the best out of it, but great for trying out your ideas.

Point taken on the green cleaning, I am pushing a little harder than most on the green theme, but I do believe the safer, non toxic more so than the saving the planet can be a good selling point, but at the same time I don't want people to think green cleaning is a more expensive clean. I believe I made that mistake with my first batch of flyers, will concentrate on the more proven methods this time.
On my website (not online yet but almost ready to launch) I have tried to get that point across, anyway we will see, I will change strategy if I have to, so long as I keep the smart, professional image, I can diversify on other selling points.

I was very interested to read your P&O cruise ship cleaning thread, most impressive. As a newbie I welcome any advice Simon.

Thanks Paul

[kinder clean]

Hi Justin

No it's all bought and paid for  , your right about what you say though, everything on the never never is not a good idea.

Paul