Retail shops

[bella]

One other thing, be careful on your sales pitch as you might find you are taking someone else's work and they might not be happy!

I don't engage in undercutting; I simply offer a superior service (except for my initial attempts, where I know I fell short ?).

 

[bella]

Watch lots and lots of youtube vids (some are always better than others) and gradually you will start to understand how to achieve good results - the you have to put in to practice what you have learned and practice, practice, practice, even if you can only practice on your windows at home

Do you have any recommendations for YouTube videos that teach the traditional window cleaning method? I'm dedicated to thorough training with my own apartment building, especially since there are numerous large glass panels in the public corridors.

 

[PC]

So you can’t at this time actually offer a superior service? You’re learning and it takes time. As above said don’t complicate things.
One tip when transitioning from trad to wfp is to wash all the top frames first, rinse them off and let them dry. You may have to repeat that process and then just run the brush on the glass and rinse just the glass. Wait around until you can see them drying off and you should be able to see that they are going to dry ok. It’s a pain but needs to be done until all that soap is gone.
Then you’re off and running matey

 

[ched999uk]

I don't engage in undercutting; I simply offer a superior service (except for my initial attempts, where I know I fell short ?).

Even if your not undercutting, you might annoy someone! I'm not saying don't do it just be careful and professional, be ready to 'explain yourself' should you meet the person who used to clean the windows.

 

[ched999uk]

Do you have any recommendations for YouTube videos that teach the traditional window cleaning method? I'm dedicated to thorough training with my own apartment building, especially since there are numerous large glass panels in the public corridors.

There are quite a few like 'Tradman' his early stuff is better as he is sponsored a bit too much now, Polzn Bladz - he does think a lot of himself and he does drag his vids out but he has some good points.
If you are in an apartment block it might be worth doing your initial practicing on your own windows (insides) that way you don't have the added pressure of people watching. Once you have mastered your own windows then do the commercial areas - if you have permission and insurance - damaging a large glass pane in a corridor wont be cheap if you damage it as they will be toughened glass!

 

[bella]

Even if your not undercutting, you might annoy someone! I'm not saying don't do it just be careful and professional, be ready to 'explain yourself' should you meet the person who used to clean the windows.

Yes I am a very calm person. I can "explain myself". Thanks

 

[bella]

There are quite a few like 'Tradman' his early stuff is better as he is sponsored a bit too much now, Polzn Bladz - he does think a lot of himself and he does drag his vids out but he has some good points.
If you are in an apartment block it might be worth doing your initial practicing on your own windows (insides) that way you don't have the added pressure of people watching. Once you have mastered your own windows then do the commercial areas - if you have permission and insurance - damaging a large glass pane in a corridor wont be cheap if you damage it as they will be toughened glass!

Thanks!

 

[Ocahan01]

I don't engage in undercutting; I simply offer a superior service (except for my initial attempts, where I know I fell short ?).

I think you can only claim to offer a superior service when you know how to actually do the job. You said you left a mess with the water fed pole and now you’re asking for trad tutuorials?
This is the strangest post I’ve come across on here.

 

[Pjj]

I don't engage in undercutting; I simply offer a superior service (except for my initial attempts, where I know I fell short ?).

What do you consider a superior service to the previous window cleaner ?

 

[Cleanco]

I think you can only claim to offer a superior service when you know how to actually do the job. You said you left a mess with the water fed pole and now you’re asking for trad tutuorials?
This is the strangest post I’ve come across on here.

It seems like someone who is very good at their business skills but hasn’t got a clue about the industry especially in this country. Good luck any how as it’s always good to see someone succeed. It’s easy to learn how to clean a window, the hard part is knowing your market and being able to make it turn you a good profit, most of which comes from years of experience.

 

[Yogi1872]

Says alot about the kind of person you are tbh. Instead of trying to find your own work you take someone else's. If someone asks me to clean there windows and it made sense for me then it wouldn't bother me that they were canceling the old one.

One thing I never did was actively go out my way to take someone's work. It would have been alot easier at the time but its not something I'd do to anyone tbh. I know people will say it's all fair game but remember that person was in the same position that your currently in when they started.

I'm not saying my view is the correct one either btw,

 

[bella]

Says alot about the kind of person you are tbh. Instead of trying to find your own work you take someone else's. If someone asks me to clean there windows and it made sense for me then it wouldn't bother me that they were canceling the old one.

One thing I never did was actively go out my way to take someone's work. It would have been alot easier at the time but its not something I'd do to anyone tbh. I know people will say it's all fair game but remember that person was in the same position that your currently in when they started.

I'm not saying my view is the correct one either btw,

Imagine a company has developed an improved window cleaning tool that boosts efficiency by 15% and enhances customer satisfaction. Should they refrain from marketing it to you due to potential market share loss for your current supplier? This situation exemplifies how businesses continuously enhance their offerings through competition. If 6 out of 8 shop owners switched, it's because they recognized the added value my offering brings to their operations.

I acknowledge that I didn't succeed in my initial cleaning attempts, but I'm determined to improve my cleaning skills, and they will ultimately reap the benefits. This is precisely why they were willing to pay a premium of 20%.

They appreciate my offering, and it's a positive if other window cleaners eventually catch up because it will motivate me to further enhance my services

 

[Part Timer]

Says alot about the kind of person you are tbh. Instead of trying to find your own work you take someone else's. If someone asks me to clean there windows and it made sense for me then it wouldn't bother me that they were canceling the old one.

One thing I never did was actively go out my way to take someone's work. It would have been alot easier at the time but its not something I'd do to anyone tbh. I know people will say it's all fair game but remember that person was in the same position that your currently in when they started.

I'm not saying my view is the correct one either btw,

We all run a business and win and lose quotes on a regular basis. I am 99.9999% certain that I wouldn't lose a job to someone that is more expensive than me. I am actually 90% certain I wouldn't lose a residential job that was cheaper than me.
I don't understand why you try and belittle someone by saying it shows the type of person they are by quoting jobs other people are doing. If you've changed any service, supermarket, van insurance etc etc then in your warped way of thinking the company you've gone with are somehow immoral

 

[Iron Giant]

They appreciate my offering, and it's a positive if other window cleaners eventually catch up because it will motivate me to further enhance my services

This is a good thing quite similar to myself in a way, I switched to wfp back in 2008 I was the only one offering this in my area I made mistakes just like you and learned from them but kept on with wfp over time my quality of service and prices were higher than others and some didn't like it, that never bothered me and it shouldn't bother you,

But undoubtedly you will at some point encounter someone who really isn't happy with you taking their job's this is part and parcel of any business I have no doubt many of my customers have been approached by other cleaners and had countless leaflets dropped over the years, it's all water off a ducks back to me as it doesn't affect me, the ones that do jump ship aren't worth having as customers anyway.

 

[Cghwindowcleaning]

From my personal experience and I‘Ve been involved in retail window cleaning for over 20 years it’s very hard to take work in the retail sector especially in this day.

Nearly every high street retail outlet like Next , Riverisland, primark, H&M ,Tesco,,Sainsbury’s,JD sport ,Poundland .Food outlets like Burger King ,Five guys ,Prezzo and Ask Italian ,Wagamama etc,etc ,etc is National

This means one company takes every For example ()next) in the uk.I clean Five guys the company I am in with clean every single one in the uk from London to Newcastle.

These Jobs are in water tight 3 year contracts and the decision makers are not the store managers you couldn’t take them if you want to.Then your trying to compete with the nationals the prices are at some of the lowest this work has ever been.The prices are shocking.
I was offered a load of Prezzo restaurants the price per unit was insulting.

You may get some independent stores but again my experience is that most of these are serviced by long established old timers.The guy in my town has been cleaning some shops for 40 years there not going to change now.

Most retail units are struggling financialy I can’t see what you could offer to make them change and pay more.They only care about clean windows and some don’t care about that at all.
I can’t see what you could offer that is different to any other window cleaner but I do welcome your ideas?

 

[spruce]

One of the first purchases we should make is a genuine TDs meter. This way we would know if our water or the water Spotless is selling is pure.
The odds are that Spotless water is pure but there is always a slim chance it isn't.

 

[Iron Giant]

One of the first purchases we should make is a genuine TDs meter. This way we would know if our water or the water Spotless is selling is pure.
The odds are that Spotless water is pure but there is always a slim chance it isn't.

The screen on the front of their units displays 000ppm all the time, this is simply for show and isn't the actual TDS of the water inside the storage tank, they had an issue this year somewhere and I think the water that had been processed was around 020ppm but the display showed 000ppm this is where they were busted.

 

[scottish cleaning service]

No but I've read that transitioning from traditional window cleaning to the reach and wash system might sometimes result in spotting issues due to leftover soap residue. I'm disappointed that I didn't succeed in my first cleaning attempts and feel like I let down my customers. In hindsight, I should have been more professional and trained myself instead of relying solely on YouTube videos.

When I do a first clean then I clean all windows 3 times. Firstly I scrub all the windows and clean above vents and inside vents then I go back and clean all the windows and frames. Usually clean the doors now with the pink stuff on any stubborn bits and complete a good rinse and check how they turned out. If still have stubborn bits then I scrub with pink stuff until I'm happy but only with white pvc doors. Lastly I go back and start cleaning the glass only and do a good rinse. It takes 30mins and I use alot of pure but I have never had any complaints doing it this way so it works for me. When you complete a first clean and the customer is more than happy then they will be happy from then on. If the opposite happens then the next clean they can be looking for faults to pull you up again. That's the reason I have resorted to the 3 clean method on first cleans because it works for me. ?

 

[Pjj]

I have got to be honest I don’t understand why anyone would chase retail shops most are a pita got to get work signed off payment slow and prices very low we only do a few shops that are privately owned theses days been there and done that and realised quickly that there is far better money to be made doing domestic houses or large commercial buildings, you still haven’t answered my question as to what you are doing that others arnt ? I will be very surprised if you have come up with something that none of us haven’t tried before

 

[bella]

I have got to be honest I don’t understand why anyone would chase retail shops most are a pita got to get work signed off payment slow and prices very low we only do a few shops that are privately owned theses days been there and done that and realised quickly that there is far better money to be made doing domestic houses or large commercial buildings, you still haven’t answered my question as to what you are doing that others arnt ? I will be very surprised if you have come up with something that none of us haven’t tried before

I believe that creating clusters of closely located retail shops can lead to significant profitability. My goal is to eventually manage up to 10 shops per hour. The first six shops I won were within a 100-meter walking distance. Earning £50 per hour is easily achievable.

While I can't reveal my unique selling proposition (USP), one effective strategy that applies to any business is offering a trial when you're confident in your USP.

Among the six shop owners, one insisted on paying if satisfied with my work, but I politely declined, explaining my policy of providing complimentary service to everyone initially. I could see the appreciation in his eyes, and it was clear that I had won over a loyal customer.

Despite my initial cleaning failures, he was one of the two shop owners who agreed to have me return.

I am lucky enough to have a business mentor who happens to be the founder of a tech company and a B2B sales specialist. When he inquired about the key elements in my sales pitch that led to my successful conversions, I mentioned the free trial. He shared his own experience of encountering numerous sellers who promised a lot but failed to offer a free trial.

 

[ched999uk]

I believe that creating clusters of closely located retail shops can lead to significant profitability. My goal is to eventually manage up to 10 shops per hour. The first six shops I won were within a 100-meter walking distance. Earning £50 per hour is easily achievable.

While I can't reveal my unique selling proposition (USP), one effective strategy that applies to any business is offering a trial when you're confident in your USP.

Among the six shop owners, one insisted on paying if satisfied with my work, but I politely declined, explaining my policy of providing complimentary service to everyone initially. I could see the appreciation in his eyes, and it was clear that I had won over a loyal customer.

Despite my initial cleaning failures, he was one of the two shop owners who agreed to have me return.

I'm not knocking what you are doing but I think who ever told you that your price was 20% above what they where paying was either lying or had a window cleaner that was doing it for some pocket money.
You say £50 an hour and doing 10 shops in an hour so £5 per shop! Plus doing a free first clean - I think you may have miss calculated how much you should be earning especially in London. Don't forget that you have your overheads (insurance, transport, maintenance, equipment, water, holiday pay, sick pay, tax, national insurance, advertising etc) to pay out of your 'eventual £50 an hour'. I think you are aiming a bit low long term especially if you are looking to do big commercial buildings.

If you give something away for free then people don't really value what you are doing. Just look at how many Vine reviews on Amazon are 5 star - it's because they where given the product for free!!

As for thinking you had won over a 'loyal customer', that person was someone else's 'loyal customer' till you came along offering a free clean - the next person that comes along in a few months and offers another free clean will probably win the 'loyal customer' from you!