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I have found this time of year to be good upholstery cleaning time. Wonder what the sociology is on that one. How is upholstery cleaning going for you guys, i.e.–are you swamped or is it average.
Mike
I’ve been doing a normal amount of upholstery lately. But I just whipped up this evening a sheet like Mr. Child in Oregon is doing. It shows all the other services we provide other than carpet cleaning and I will begin handing it out when I arrive at every job. I anticipate that this will help increase the bottom line and get me more work with each customer. I’ve been pushing hardwoods lately because there is a lot of it here in the south. I booked quite a few return appointments for it and anticipate good results from the sheet I created.
Grant,
I think you and Jeremy are on to a great idea! When I was riding with one of my operators last fall, we were cleaning the carpets in a house that had 5 pieces of leather furniture. My operator looked at me and said: “wow” I’d like to get that leather cleaning job some day!!!!! ( no one home, will mail check). I looked at him and said: If they don’t know you clean leather, you will never get the job. It’s no where to be found that he cleans leather, Not on van, not on invoice, etc. etc. We both said at same time: we need to have sheet made up, of what services we offer and as important as invoice, leave with EVERY customer. You should get great return from that piece of paper.
RonI came home from the seminar and printed up the extras sheet also and have gotten a few unexpected pieces of upholstery and protectant sales. It was a very good idea. Here in NH many people tend to want to wait until after Mud Season to clean the carpets and that could be April or June. So this time of year I do push the upholstery cleaning because it’ll stay clean through mud season and people don’t mind spending the money on it. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Mud Season in TX or NC. When it’s all over they call us to clean up and then we’re very busy for the rest of the year!
Mike,
Mud Season is the time just after all of our snow melts and our yards and dirt roads turn to mush. Usually Late March, Early April. Mud gets tracked into homes by the kids, dogs, cats, etc. and depending on where you live is unavoidable. Next week it is supposed to warm up in the 50s, Here it comes!Hi Anna,
Don’t get the wrong idea… Mike is so close to the Mexican border, if he threw a rock out his front door, it would land in Mexico. He has a lot of desert rock and sand down there.Meanwhile in central Texas, we have the typical March & April rainy season.
Its raining outside as I write this. We actualy have dirt and trees hear to go with our mud season.Hey Mike, What’s Up?
Hey that’s right Rick! And don’t forget we have lots of rocks in central Texas too! ha Mostly, I really don’t like the stickers & burrs which get matted into the carpet – like berber – arghhhh!!!
How right you are Jeff.
We have a multitude of different terrain in Texas.
I’m down in a valley with clay and mostly dirt.Hey Mike,
Have you tapped into all those RV’s from the “Winter Texans”?
We change our voicemail message on our answering service during Spring to remind customers about getting upholstery cleaned. SAMPLE “Thank you for selecting Heaven’s Best Carpet Cleaning. Spring time is hear and is a great time to clean both carpet & upholstery. Please leave us your name, number & scheduling preference and we will return your call very shortly. Thanks again and have a great day!” This does work with booking upholstery jobs and at the very least, plants the seed (how appropriate for the season) with our customers for future cleanings.
In addition, when booking a job (both new and repeat customers) I always ask “For scheduling purposes are we cleaning both carpet & upholstery?” Just one simple questions, but it WORKS! This past SAT for example I booked 5 jobs and 2 jobs included upholstery after I asked the question:)
I walk out the front door and step into Mexico, for crying out loud. I had thought of asking Cody and corporate about franchising Mexico but the only part to consider would be Monterrey. Too much coruption and violence everywhere else.
Mike:
Mexico has over 335 McDonald’s in 31 states (& still growing). How corrupt can they be? Food for thought…..
Did not know that, BUT, come on down and I’ll show you around sometime. I do appreciate that info. Maybe corporate could consider it, however, so many laws here in the US regulating business practices, taxes, etc that do not exist in Mexico. Not being racist by any means but a lot of business are owned and operated by drug cartels and the mexican government, they are basically one in the same. Did studies on this while attending college here in South Texas. One major city, Nuevo Laredo, as of last year, was considered the murder capitol of the world, according to stats. I’m sure you’ve heard about the walls they are trying to build as well as all the illegals making a hard effort to come here before that law passes congress to leagalize them, which already died but will be re-written or re-worded and pass through congress again. I believe it did pass congress and died in the senate. Anyway, I’m sure we probably shouldn’t franchise in a country in which it’s own citizens don’t want to be in. Mexico can’t take care of it’s people or poor and this plays heavily on why they come here illegally, costing you more tax money. We provide illegals all the “freebies” and yet can’t take care of our own citizens come to think of it so, your right, why not franchise in Mex. I could go on about this for hours. There’s two sides to everything. Again, thanks for the info. I’m not going off on you or anything so don’t take this wrong.
If Mexico were to be franchised; there are very few places I would do that in: Monterrey, Oxaca, Cancun, and a couple of others I can’t spell.
Thanks again and God Bless,
Mike
Do you honestly think you will make money in Mexico? I’m sure you’ve been down there, so you know that negotiating is part of there culture. You’re $39 for the first 3 rooms will be brought down to $19.
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