I try to present myself as a useful resource to my clients, discussing or providing copes of articles on prevention of cross contamination, strategies for dealing with swine flu and other potential illnesses (what we do, and what the customer can do, i. e. privide disinfectant wipes to employees - that we cah sell to the client), Indoor Air Quality (what we do and how it helps the clients employees and his bottom line).

I’ve been in the professional cleaning industry for more than 15 years. I live and breathe the industry and am as excited about it today as I was 15 years ago.

However, I agree with many young people and would not call it a glamorous industry. But with the downturn in the economy, that actually may be one of its strongest features. Consider:

• The residential real estate industry is often viewed as a glamorous industry, yet it’s now very unhealthy all over the United States.

• Fancy, expensive cars may turn lots of heads, but right now most of those cars are sitting in showrooms where they have been for months waiting for buyers.

• Travel certainly can be glamorous. But Las Vegas hotels are begging for visitors, projects already being constructed there have been put on hold, and this problem is repeated around the world right now.

I believe, economically, the professional cleaning industry will continue to improve over the next few months and although our industry was impacted when the stock market crashed last year, I think overall, we have done better than many other industries. This is our strong suit. We don’t offer a lot of glamour but a lot more stability, and I think young people may choose to put aside glamour for stability right now.

In addition, in the years to come, our industry will likely be seen in a much more positive light because we are becoming “health care contributors.” Cleaning for health and the impact of proper cleaning on health will become more important.  When there is a pandemic or threat of one, who (else) will they call to deal with the threat at their facility?  

Mike Sawchuk, vice president and general manager of Enviro-Solutions, Inc.

Having been in the Foodservice/ Jansan Supply business for over 20 years I believe we are in the best business in the world.  During the California Gold Rush the people who made the most money were the ones who sold the pans!  We are in the pan business and I am am proud to be part of it.  The opportunities in our business are vast especially for young people.

Mike Mirarchi (A proud Toilet Paper Salesman)

I own a commercial cleaning company and i currently have friends running to me to learn how and what i am doing...Alot of the big money jobs are falling by the way side and commercial cleaning is a residual based business for the most part...