Off to Canada in 4 days - rug questions?

**LisaWagner** · 11-29-2009, 11:33 PM

I'm heading to Canada to teach a one day workshop to a small group of cleaners wanting to learn more about rug care. I'm very excited - have not been up north for a few years.

So... anything in particular YOU would want to learn from me in person (keep it clean - LOL)?

I'll be out of touch while I am up north ... I'd love to know what you're most interested in though, in regards to rugs.

Thanks!!!!
Lisa

www.TheRugChick.com

**the rugman** · 11-30-2009, 09:09 AM

Have fun Lisa! I would like to know how they stay warm up there this time of year!
The question really is - how to get more rugs in the door and how to nore $$$$ out of each job - you can be the best rug cleaner ever but with an empty shop ........

Bob

**LisaWagner** · 12-02-2009, 12:22 AM

Bob - you have to have an outstanding house list by now. What are you sending them regularly to keep business coming in? Are you sending a newsletter? Are you sharing with them the other services you offer? How is your web presence - getting leads from on-line? 65% of our new business comes from Google search ... 3 years ago that was only 10% so it's gone up substantially.

If you need more marketing strategies - then I have to plug Piranha hard ... cleaning and restoration, we have two of the best marketing kits in the industry with ready-to-use templates.

Let me know what kind of business you are looking for - brand new, repeat, or referrals from other companies - and I'll see what resources I have to share on that front.

No one should ever experience an EMPTY SHOP ... that's a crime!

Lisa

P.S. If you have a knack for repairs - my mother Kate will be putting on some rug repair apprenticeshop workshops this year, and then you can move some of the bigger repair jobs to the slower season to keep cash flow steady year-round. It helps fill in those gaps with some big invoices.

**the rugman** · 12-14-2009, 07:21 PM

Thanks Lisa - shop has been a little slow. You may remember I sold off that part of the biz but had to take it back - pissed me off big time but now I realize how much I love cleaning rugs. it's almost like starting over! I just got my world famous (ok - Orange county NY) # 565-RUGS back so I have sent out a mailer on that - produced some nice jobs. I am working on a blog type site now also. Will be putting more stuff out soon. Hooked up with a dry cleaner that is doing lots of fire damage work and I am doing all his rugs - not a bad deal as he pays me upon delivery while he waits! Re-focusing for next year for sure!

**cosway-canada** · 12-14-2009, 09:53 PM

Hey can you be a bit more specific? Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world

a 24 hour drive north does not even get me out of my province

ps. so far not a drop of snow in my neighbourhood and temps still above zero.

**LisaWagner** · 12-14-2009, 10:21 PM

Bob - good to hear things are shaping up for a great 2010. I may head out in your region to teach a workshop, I'll let you know.

Ken - I was in Ontario last week - here's the PROOF!

Then I went to Dri-Eaz in Nashville... and saw what I'd like my tree to look like after Santa comes...

I am looking at possibly teaching a few intensive hands-on rug workshops this year - I'll let you know where/when once I lay my entire year out. I'm not sure where to squeeze them in, but I keep getting requests and I haven't taught for 4 years, so I thought I'd do a few because I miss it (and I had a blast in Ontario playing with the super tough rugs).

I'll let you know...
Lisa

www.TheRugChick.com