[Stringer]

Yes... good luck, keep plugging away, something will fall in your direction eventually.

You are going after retail business (shopping center)?

Stringer

[Cleaningman23]

Yes...good luck, keep plugging away, something will fall in your direction eventually.

You are going after retail business (shopping center)?

Stringer

Yes that is my best guess to go somewhere with the most cleaning capability in a walking distance... Any suggestions on certain places to look for that are key targets ?

:-)

[Stringer]

Well, although personally I don't like cleaning retail (too many problems), I would start with the largest stores and work down.

[Cleaningman23]

Ok so I did my door to door tactics today

And handed out and visited about 30-35 offices and businesses...

Lets hope I get a bite!
They all had cleaning services... every single one of them

One of them asked me for a price on a the spot... for a 1900 sq ft office and I sort of panicked lol

I did not know if I should have given him it or not... but I did:(... (it was real small office though)

So I wasn't concerned...

How did you door to door tactics go

[Stringer]

Ok so I did my door to door tactics today

And handed out and visited about 30-35 offices and businesses ...

Lets hope I get a bite!
They all had cleaning services... every single one of them

One of them asked me for a price on a the spot.....for a 1900 sq ft office and I sorta panicked lol

I did not know if I shoulda given him it or not....but i did:(...(it was real small office though)

so i wasnt concerned....

how did you door to door tactics go

If they all had cleaning service then that is good, that obviously means that they use... now it is your job to relate to them that they may be using the wrong companies.

Good luck in getting that one, follow up... they usually do not beat down your door. :D

Typical day, picked up two new bids, one is a 26,000 sq ft building owned by the tenants, accountants. And another one that is 72,500 sq ft, however this one is a forced bid...

Stringer

[Cleaningman23]

If they all had cleaning service then that is good, that obviously means that they use....now it is your job to relate to them that they may be using the wrong companies.

Good luck in getting that one, follow up...they usually do not beat down your door. :D

Typical day, picked up two new bids, one is a 26,000 sq ft building owned by the tenants, accountants. And another one that is 72,500 sq ft, however this one is a forced bid....

Stringer

Yeah another typical day for me also... NO BIDS... haha Im going to go pluck at it again today...

May I ask How did those bids come about hearing about yor company?
Also
What is a forced bid?
Are they forcing you to bid or something.+?

[Stringer]

Yeah another typical day for me also....NO BIDS... haha Im gonna go pluck at it again today...

May I ask How did those bids come about hearing about yor company?
Also
What is a forced bid?
Are they forcing you to bid or something.+?

Most of our business the last 5 to 10 years comes from direct cold calls, a lot from references and advertising, etc.

What we refer to as a 'Forced Bid' is one where they may not be actually looking for the service or contemplating a change but are willing to let you go through the process and offer up a proposal. Unlike one where they are actually in the market so to speak. The close to bid
Ratio is not good on these types of bids but we do sell some of them. The term is an internal one that we use so that others in the company understand the circumstances...

Keep plugging away... that is always necessary.

Stringer

[Cleaningman23]

Most of our business the last 5 to 10 years comes from direct cold calls, a lot from references and advertising, etc.

What we refer to as a 'Forced Bid' is one where they may not be actually looking for the service or contemplating a change but are willing to let you go through the process and offer up a proposal. Unlike one where they are actually in the market so to speak. The close to bid
ratio is not good on these types of bids but we do sell some of them. The term is an internal one that we use so that others in the company understand the circumstances....

Keep plugging away....that is always necessary.

Stringer

Understandable...

I am going to keep plugging away..
I went to a few offices again today...
They all had cleaning services already...


I then walked into a Bank they just opened up out here by me and gave them my business card...
When I handed it to the employee she stated that "Corporate" hires all the cleaning services for the banks...

This kind of disappointed me lol

Is there any way to get into corporate offices based off your experience?

Also when you go into businesses how do you approach the secretary and tell them about your service?

Any advice on that one..

I usually introduce myself and ask them if they currently have any cleaning services and if they are satisfied with them...

Is this a good way to approach??

[Cleaningman23]

Also..

With smaller offices...

When bidding on them

Lets say a 2000 sq ft office.. once a week on fridays...
Should I charge more towards $ .20 per sq ft for an entire month?

Or go with a hourly charge?

[Clough]

Hi, guys!

Problems here are getting solved little by little, so I should be on here more, soon!

I just wanted to let you know, that I got a piano tuning simply by bringing up in conversation what I was going to do for the evening with a cashier at Wal-Mart.

Thanks!

[Stringer]

Hi Clough, welcome back.

Hi Clean,

There are a lot of banks and other companies that are centralized in their purchasing and decision making. Generally you have to be larger to be able to source these types of contracts. I would try to find locally owned banks, the decision maker is there on site usually.

Actually it is tough getting jobs without the experience levels and time in business, companies usually don't want to go with the inexperience. I would not bring up experience at all, if they do then I would sell your attitude in that you will 'live there' if necessary to make sure that everything that needs to be done... will be.

Aaaha... the gatekeeper... You have to make her love you at first sight. Smile, smile, smile, be pleasant, smile, use a calm convincing voice, smile... did I mention smile? I have learned over the years not to give them to many questions;

Ask them if you may speak to the person that contracts for their nightly cleaning service. If she says 'who, what? (Usually they are not listening attentively) Then simply ask 'who in your company hires the cleaning company?' If she says that they are busy, then say that that is fine, may I have his/her name, phone number AND the email address so I may sent them some material about who we are, what we do and why we are different from the other companies? They will usually do this, or they will just give you the department and not the perosns' name at all. Still send all the materials. After you receive all this info, then you can joke around a little with them, but politely. And then simply ask them if the present company does a 'great job?' Usually they will say no or so so... (no one is usually happy-they will remember that toilet seat that wasn't cleaned properly two months ago=forever) then you might ask her.. 'well what are some of the problems... THIS is information that you can address later in a meeting with the decision maker. BUT, do not get the gatekeeper in trouble... don't say that he/she told you this... just that while you were waiting you got into a conversation with one of the other employees. If you turn the gatekeeper against you, your chances are like a snowball in h3ll. They can kill you, make them a friend.

There are many books out here on how to make friends with the gatekeeper and how to get past them.

Again, I never charge by the hour for regular monthly cleaning, it just isn't professional in my experience and opinion. The only time that I charge hourly is for 'side work' or projects... VCT work, carpets, windows, fabric chair cleaning, machine scrubbing of bathrooms concrete warehouse floors, etc.

Anything less that 5 days/week... charge a little more as the garbage and dirt builds up the days that you are not cleaning and you will spend more time there on the day/s that you clean it.

Stringer

[Clough]

Thanks, Stringer!

I'm now waiting for MidAmerican Energy Company to come and turn on my gas and electric again. Everything's in place for that to happen now. So, I should be able to communicate much better then.

Thanks!

[Stringer]

Thanks, Stringer!

I'm now waiting for MidAmerican Energy Company to come and turn on my gas and electric again. Everything's in place for that to happen now. So, I should be able to communicate much better then.

Thanks!

Great, not the same with one of the good guys not here... :D

Stringer

[Cleaningman23]

Hi, guys!

Problems here are getting solved little by little, so I should be on here more, soon!

I just wanted to let you know, that I got a piano tuning simply by bringing up in conversation what I was going to do for the evening with a cashier at Wal-Mart.

Thanks!

Hi clough! It is good to hear from you. Hopefully we can catch up soon!
Hope all is well ! Talk to you soon!

[Cleaningman23]

Hi Clough, welcome back.

Hi Clean,

There are a lot of banks and other companies that are centralized in their purchasing and decision making. Generally you have to be larger to be able to source these types of contracts. I would try to find locally owned banks, the decision maker is there on site usually.

Actually it is tough getting jobs without the experience levels and time in business, companies usually don't want to go with the inexperience. I would not bring up experience at all, if they do then I would sell your attitude in that you will 'live there' if necessary to make sure that everything that needs to be done...will be.

Aaaha...the gatekeeper...You have to make her love you at first sight. Smile, smile, smile, be pleasant, smile, use a calm convincing voice, smile...did I mention smile? I have learned over the years not to give them to many questions;

Ask them if you may speak to the person that contracts for thier nightly cleaning service. If she says 'who, what? (Usually they are not listening attentively) Then simply ask 'who in your company hires the cleaning company?' If she says that they are busy, then say that that is fine, may I have his/her name, phone number AND the email address so I may sent them some material about who we are, what we do and why we are different from the other companies? They will usually do this, or they will just give you the department and not the perosns' name at all. Still send all the materials. After you receive all this info, then you can joke around a little with them, but politely. And then simply ask them if the present company does a 'great job?' Usually they will say no or so so...(no one is usually happy-they will remember that toilet seat that wasn't cleaned properly two months ago=forever) then you might ask her..'well what are some of the problems...THIS is information that you can address later in a meeting with the decision maker. BUT, do not get the gatekeeper in trouble...don't say that he/she told you this....just that while you were waiting you got into a conversation with one of the other employees. If you turn the gatekeeper against you, your chances are like a snowball in h3ll. They can kill you, make them a friend.

There are many books out here on how to make friends with the gatekeeper and how to get past them.

Again, I never charge by the hour for regular monthly cleaning, it just isn't professional in my experience and opinion. The only time that I charge hourly is for 'side work' or projects...VCT work, carpets, windows, fabric chair cleaning, machine scrubbing of bathrooms concrete warehouse floors, etc.

Anything less that 5 days/week ...charge a little more as the garbage and dirt builds up the days that you are not cleaning and you will spend more time there on the day/s that you clean it.

Stringer

That is understandable for a bank to take those measures...

Do you currently clean any banks?
I also mail my card to banks and daycare centers and a variety of other companies and a letter explaining my services... and just introducing my business to them...


I also mailed my cards to property management companies...

Do property management companies hire or contract cleaning services?

Ok so I have averaged the rate in chicago area to be .15 to .20 per sq ft...

My quote for a 2000 sq foot office I figured .20 per sq foot (once a week cleaning) on fridays

For 400 per month...

Does that sound right to you :-)

[Clough]

Hi, Guys!

Gas and electricity is back on and I'm raring to go here!

[Cleaningman23]

Hi, Guys!

Gas and electricity is back on and I'm raring to go here!

Hehe woo hooo lets get this memorial day party started...

Lol

Are you there?
I can never tell when you and stringer online anymore you guys hide it!

[Clough]

I'm here! I'm going to "uncloak" myself so the you know that I'm online.

[Clough]

Are you still there, Cleaningman23?

Thanks!

[Cleaningman23]

w00t w00t..
So how have you been
Glad your back..
As you can see I have been asking many questions...
Lol
Where did you go...
I seen you found a piano tuning at walmart...
I wish I could do that at targetlll
I did do it at a gas station almost!@ But I was out of business cards which hurt me!
I won't make that mistake again!@