LisaRidgely - All Comments

re: Do You Live A Life Of Weisure?

Janitorial Supplies — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:39:16 GMT

Great post!

Having owned and operated a commercial contractor cleaning business with 150+ employees, I can vouch that a smart phone would be a "must have" for today BSC executive today. Even the voice over IP phones that email you a notification of calls with an MP3 file attached so you can not only know when the employees are calling in and out from their shifts, but you can listen to the audio files on your smart phone.

Wow, I can remember the days of having to call the actual office buildings hoping my management would answer so I could get them a message. Then came beepers/pages and then cell phones. Now the almightly email smart phones.

What a blessing in the sky!

re: City Can No Longer Afford Toilet Paper

Dave Racine — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:10:01 GMT

As with most budget cuts that affect cleaning and janitorial supply, there is a larger issue of health and public safety at hand.

I can't think of a more important core function of running a city than keeping the community safe. The paper products, soaps and hand cleansers that prevent the (sometimes very dangerous) spread of disease should never be considered non-essential item.

To our jan/san friends in the Newark area, good luck.

re: Cleanliness And Godliness

maidsbahamas — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 16:24:27 GMT

That's certainly good to know. Thanks Roger.

re: Cleanliness And Godliness

Roger D Simpson — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:25:45 GMT

Dear Lisa

Hope things are going well for you. It has been a while since we have talked. Hope things are going well for your family. Many people are using antibacterial hand sanitizers, wipes, and soaps to prevent sickness like the flu. The problem is in the long run, they do more harm than good. Sure the sanitizer might kill much of the germs, but the survivors will eventually become even more deadlier & harder to kill. There are FDA warnings out on several types of santizer products.

Sincerely,

Roger Simpson

Vice President

Certified Green Consultant

ISSA Clean Professional

KISS Janitorial

Austin, Texas

re: Would You Barter Cleaning Services?

Ed_from_IronStrikesIron — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:17:10 GMT

EdS, can you talk a bit more about your experience with the association?

We've done barter on the rare occasion and it's worked well but a co-worker's past company had a bad experience. The company was building up credit within the association but there wasn't anyone/thing else in the group that they wanted. I suppose they should have done better due diligence but I digress.

The other thing I wonder is: the new accounts -- in your experience, do they eventually convert into paying customers?

re: Would You Barter Cleaning Services?

Ed Samson — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:23:05 GMT

Bartering is a taxable event according to the IRS so I would suggest you turn yourself in to the nearest IRS office first thing in the morning.

We belong to a national barter association where the barter dollars you earn are held in an account to be spent with other barter members. There is a fee for this and all is reported annually to the IRS. It can be a good way to gain accounts you wouldn't otherwise get.

re: Would You Barter Cleaning Services?

NCAssociation — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:47:54 GMT

Bartering your cleaning service can be a great way to hold on to your precious cash. We've bartered with our clients in the recent past. One client we provided carpet cleaning for their high traffic areas in exchange for using their facility to hold a seminar on how to start a successful janitorial business.

During these hard economic times it is important to be creative and think outside-the-box to help keep your business afloat.

Nadirah Moore

www.nationalcleaningassociation.com

re: Cleanliness And Godliness

scottCEASDunit6 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:20:30 GMT

AMEN TO THAT!!!!!

re: Never Say Never

Bob Croft — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:14:42 GMT

We've generally kept our billing up - we're only down 0.7% from a year ago. Three things are key:

1) Put more, not less, effort into sales

2) Keep right on top of current clients. With everybody and his brother trying to find clients, and cutting pricing to do so, your clients ought not be given service problems, or percieved lack of attention, to encourage them to go away.

3) Keep alert to client cost cutting needs, and do whatever you can to accomodate. Cut service frequencies and price when you need to; look for internal cost savings. Consider lower rates, and shorter cleaning times, because the client has fewer employees in his office and thus creates less mess. It's a good time to pick up used equipment from failed competitors; also a good time to recruit quality employees (labor and management) at lower rates than normal.

re: Never Say Never

Lisa Ridgely — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:08:30 GMT

I just sent you a message, because I wasn't sure if your comment was posting - looks like it did! Good!

In any case, you are not alone in the struggle to make ends meet and create new business. Did you read our August cover story? www.cleanlink.com/.../Game-Plan-For-Growth--11235

That might help inspire you to think outside the box a bit; certainly, the BSCs I interviewed for that piece agree that you've got to be willing to change and take on new challenges to survive in this economy.

re: Never Say Never

magicaclean — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:58:19 GMT

We're a very small company and without a doubt are going through this just as much as any contractor. We're currently offering incentives to a particular prospect such as a no-cost carpet cleaning of 4000 rsf, just to sign a contract for next July!

We're barely getting by right now but if we plan to be in business a year from now, we're thinking ahead. The current drought doesn't feel like it's going to be better anytime soon, personally I imagine this winter season to really come down hard.

Our main line of revenue a year ago was construction cleaning & UHS floor care. Those lines of service are certainly closing up with our current standpoint. We're now offering UHS services as a no-cost incentive to prospects and they're still beating us down in hourly numbers.

What to do?

re: Swine Flu: Promote Preparedness, Not Panic

mrjohna — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:08:24 GMT

Yes preparedness is critical. This flu is in its early stages and could get much worse.

re: Swine Flu: Promote Preparedness, Not Panic

Corinne Zudonyi — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:38:47 GMT

There is a lot of information available out there for cleaners who want to stay ahead of this pandemic. In fact, various industry associations and government bodies have provided in-depth online resources to help. Information on these sites includes pandemic research as it relates to varying facility types and expands on cleaning methods that can help prevent the spread of influenza.

Click here for a full listing of valuable resources — www.cleanlink.com/.../Swine-Flu-Resource-Information--10875

re: Swine Flu: Promote Preparedness, Not Panic

mchomes — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:44:14 GMT

Thank you for this blog. Very helpful and informative. I will be sure to check USCDC website for updates on this virus. Knowledge is power.

re: Conserve Water With Easy Steps

KlausReichardt — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:51:27 GMT

There are many things building service contractors (BSCs) can do to become more water wise. Your message has started the process by bringing this issue to everyone’s attention. Being aware of the many water challenges we face is the first step. From here we can begin to address the problem.

Several cleaning tasks use far more water than many cleaning professionals may realize. For instance, older carpet extractors may use several gallons of water per minute in the extraction process. Hosing down walls, floors, trash areas, sidewalks, etc., with water and cleaning solution is still a common practice in many facilities even though it requires the use of hundreds if not thousands of gallons of water. Switching to low-moisture carpet and floorcare equipment and less-water-using ways of cleaning a variety of surfaces can help conserve huge amounts of water.

I see water conservation as an opportunity for BSCs and other cleaning professionals. It has the great potential of helping them develop much stronger business relationships with their customers, especially now with the difficulties in our economy.

I am finding more and more facility managers turning to cleaning contractors to help them both cut costs and operate their facilities in a Greener, more sustainable manner. Encouraging clients to switch to low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, and xeriscaping, among the other things you mentioned, can not only produce dramatic water-reducing results but also help lower the costs associated with water—which are escalating throughout the United States.

We are facing some serious water challenges here in the United States that are just starting to get more attention. However, on the other side of every challenge stands an opportunity. The professional cleaning industry has an opportunity here, as we become more water responsible, to help guide our clients in ways that reduce their water needs, help them cut costs, and protect our most valuable natural resource.

Klaus Reichardt, founder and CEO of Waterless No-Flush Urinals.