I'm ready to dominate my carpet cleaning market (Pic of the day)

**bensurdi** · 11-23-2009, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by ericthered

If you want to dominate your market, I think you need two businesses. Dry N Clean as the middle to high end customer, and have another company the coupon price and upsell market. The second company, hire young and highly motivated sales force and operate like Ken Snow or Greg Cole. We bag on their cleaning, but they sleep very well and from what I hear, their techs make a lot of dough as well. I don't think there is anything ethically wrong, as long as you hire good people with background checks. My opinion to your question.

I agree with this statement. It would be impossible for my company to compete with the coupon guys because we often will spend 4-7 hours at one job. The guys who bang out 3-6 jobs a day have a completely different business model and offer lower quality work- I am in consideration of creating another business and hiring guys to conduct the operations but undesided about which method to use. Low moisture, portable, or truck mount.

Doesn't Howard Partridge run a "high end" carpet cleaning company AND have a large business that obtains high market share?

I'm curious what Howard charges?

**shane deubell** · 11-23-2009, 08:02 AM

Makes 0 cents to me, why in the world would anybody create 2 different brands with 2 seperate marketing budgets, 2 seperate vans. Its hard enough building 1 business and you want to build 2? Good luck on that

Its actually more expensive to build a lower cost coupon type business anyway, you need a BIG advertising budget and cashflow for supplies/employees.

Just offer lower cost packages

**leofry** · 11-23-2009, 08:08 AM

I like the idea spend 3 or 4 hours on one job.... i am trying to make it that way... but to do that i need more money out of custys..... I would like to pull $200 out of each... one in the morning and one in the afternoon

**Rug Spa** · 11-23-2009, 08:30 AM

Owen you are right . Schlitz found a way to shorten the brewing process. How

ever it did not affect the taste. Once Ab found out about it they clobbered

Schlitz. Schlitz had 7 or 8 brewries to AB 4. Schlitz was already waning when

they went for the faster production to try get profits up.

**Jason Whaley** · 11-23-2009, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Dave Yoakum

Just saying you have to go TV is naive at best.

I'm not saying TV is the best but only that it is why SS and CD are two of the largest "known" names out there.

My kids sing that dam$ song to me all the time..... Now how do they know about Mr. SS?
Mailers? NO!
Door to door? NO!
Internet? NO

It is because they see those TV commercials all the time.

I see the commercials more times in a week than I do their trucks on the road.

**owenscott** · 11-23-2009, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by shane deubell

Makes 0 cents to me, why in the world would anybody create 2 different brands with 2 seperate marketing budgets, 2 seperate vans. Its hard enough building 1 business and you want to build 2? Good luck on that

Its actually more expensive to build a lower cost coupon type business anyway, you need a BIG advertising budget and cashflow for supplies/employees.

Just offer lower cost packages

.... because why are they going to pay you a premium price when its the same truck ..... same guys .... same company that also offers 3 rooms for $59 (or less) when over the last three years they have been paying 3 times that OR MORE.

You might be able to educate them and upsell them but why do all that work ... they are already use to paying triple .....

They already know how your customer service is ... what are you gonna do ... be mean to them and not answer their calls like the hacks do ... just because they paid less. You would prolly lose more from the high enders than gain from the low enders.

**rugslayer** · 11-23-2009, 04:24 PM

Well, I guess you will need approximately 296 more trucks...

Seriously, if you are already a multi truck operation you have what it takes to command a larger fleet. Keep up with what you have and definitely be prepared to swallow a smaller portion of the overall 'pie of profit' and you should do fine with a solid team alongside.

**shane deubell** · 11-23-2009, 04:33 PM

By not moving furniture, traffic lanes only or by using portables. Lowering costs not everyone needs a 12 step cleaning process for every single service, sometimes I know its hard to believe but people just want quick and cheap

No connection between charging and service, i have some competitors who are good guys and i like them who only charge $20-25 dollars a room, even for living rooms. WHY? I have no idea but they do good work for dirt cheap.

Charging low prices doesnt mean your a hack or a jerk. More just a little naive or lack confidence

**Bob Savage** · 11-23-2009, 08:40 PM

Bigger is not necessarily better.

Schlitz was the top-selling beer for much of the first half of the 20th century. But recipe changes and a series of snafus made the beer -- in many a drinkers' opinion -- undrinkable, turning what was once the world's most popular brews into little more than a joke.

**owenscott** · 11-23-2009, 08:48 PM

Really Bob .. i hadn't heard that ....

**Rug Spa** · 11-23-2009, 09:05 PM

I can tell you Schlitz gave me a horrible hang over in 1991 at the lake. Hey 4.00 a case it was still a good deal for lake beer.

**shane deubell** · 11-24-2009, 11:16 AM

Sweet Spots, there are many and robs in one He has the freedom to choose the next move or do nothing

Too big and you can become a slave to the overhead machine and too small you become chained to the wand. Only through real life experience can you find that middle ground

Plus i have to say some of you have no ambition and such small expectations, sheesh dream a little bit and push your self out of your comfort once in a while. this is business not a govt job

**Rob Allen** · 12-02-2009, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by shane deubell

Sweet Spots, there are many and robs in one He has the freedom to choose the next move or do nothing

Too big and you can become a slave to the overhead machine and too small you become chained to the wand. Only through real life experience can you find that middle ground

Plus I have to say some of you have no ambition and such small expectations, sheesh dream a little bit and push your self out of your comfort once in a while. this is business not a govt job

Well said Shane. I constantly push my "borders". It usually adds excitement and profits. We have a tv commercial being prepared. If anyone would like to see it let me know and I will post it in this thread.

Rob

**shane deubell** · 12-02-2009, 11:31 AM

I actually am interested in seeing it

Also, how did you set up frequency, shows etc to play on. Did you go with cable or network,random play or specific shows/times.

Can you give some insight to the process

**Rob Allen** · 12-03-2009, 05:43 PM

The commercial is just about finished.

Today I met with a group of senior retired executives to help me plan out my strategy. I am documenting my whole process of "breaking the glass ceiling" that I intend to do in 2010. I am now extremely motivated. I encourage you to do the same because enthusiasm begets enthusiasm.

Rob

**Jason Whaley** · 12-03-2009, 05:59 PM

I want to see! PLEASE!

Do I dare say I see franchising in your future!

**Rob Allen** · 12-17-2009, 11:43 PM

You never know Jason.

Commercial is done. Final editing is being finished and I am negotiating with the cable rep as to best channels and time.

I am really motivated to "rock" it in 2010. I love that funny pic of the day I just posted. Pepsi is taking "Coke" out of their market. I want to take a few big names out of mine here in Va.

Rob

**Priceless** · 12-18-2009, 11:13 AM

Curtis said employees,dead on because they are an extention of you,and if expectations are not met,you will probably lose more work than you can bring in.So to me,that is the most difficult part.

**davenjai** · 12-18-2009, 12:53 PM

Systems.

A friend just went thru the application process with General Mills. I was flabbergasted at the complexity of it. There were multi all day meetings, mock assembly line production, role reversal, employee interviews, management interviews, family dinners. Starting with 4000 plus applicants he made it to the final 6 and after 6 months did NOT get the job. They are dead serious about their business.

**Richard Baldwin** · 12-18-2009, 12:56 PM

I'd say growth requires investment. And probably a loss at first.

It's like when I was debating investing in my first truckmount from having a portable. I would ask myself "would it make any difference in how many jobs I'm getting"? At the time I didnt think it would. I just figured I would be paying more money for equipment to do the same number of jobs. But guess what, I was wrong.

As soon as I got that truckmount, the number of calls and bookings increased. I dont know why, the people calling didnt know I had a truckmount now, but I was able to handle more people in a day and do it better and at more convenience to them. Word gets around fast and the public starts to take you more seriously as a "real" company.

You already have the big truck(s) . What about a storefront shop? something big enough to fit that truck into. A storefront makes a huge difference in public opinion and response. It did for me. People now have a place to go when they want to drop off rugs, make inquiries and book jobs. Nobody wants to come to your "house".

More equipment, a larger warehouse, leaves room to grow, and if you are doing good work at a decent price, then it will grow.
Of course the headaches grow with it. Good luck!