-
Due to the slumping economy, a friend of mine recently made a pretty big career change that landed him his first sales job. Interestingly enough, and to the surprise of my friend, the company hired him without having any previous sales experience or knowledge about the product offering he would be required...
-
I recently learned that an acquaintance of mine works as a facility manager in a smaller company where he oversees and manages the cleanliness of the building. There is no in-house cleaner on hand so he outsources the custodial services. But I learned that he doesn’t actually outsource the service...
-
As an editor, I am either writing or researching something about the cleaning industry every day. Whether its for an article, catching up with a reader or moderating a Webcast, the information I have access to can be very valuable in everyday life. In fact, this constant attention to cleaning has unveiled...
-
When a fire damaged a high school the day before New Years Eve, officials presumed cleaning chemicals were the cause. Even though an investigation revealed that the chemicals were not to blame, the incident should serve as a warning to building service contractors working in schools. BSCs need to take...
-
In the cleaning industry there are four groups: manufacturers, distributors, building service contractors and in-house cleaners. Each group has different objectives and varying needs, forcing educational sessions and seminars to be general. As I sit through many of these events for the industry, I have...
-
Think fast: How do you say “flat-head screwdriver” in Spanish? When a cleaner is strapped for time, the last thing they need is to differentiate between a “destornillador” with a “cabeza plana” or a “cabeza Phillips.” With that in mind, two University of...
-
Over the last year, our facility has been under construction for major renovation. During that time, hard floors have changed to carpeting, restroom fixtures have been updated to touch-free and space has been optimized to include additional cubicles and work stations. The renovations got us talking about...
-
Engulfed in the daily grind of fulfilling customer inquiries and making sales calls, most distributor salespeople just can’t devote enough time to stay up-to-date on current industry trends. And distributors have been looking for ways to broaden their sales staff’s knowledge without disrupting...
-
I recently read about a retail company that requires a four-week training period that compensates new employees with their full salary. Once the training period is over, the company presents the freshly trained group with something called The Offer: “If you quit today, we will pay you for the amount...
-
When one decides to start their own company, the gamble of venturing into the business world is overshadowed by the potential to earn large amounts of money. Speaking in regards to building service contractors, the thrill of earning that first contract is only matched by earning additional contracts...
-
As Baby Boomers creep closer to retirement age, many industries are feeling the pinch when it comes to replacing these seasoned veterans. Statistics indicate that in the next 5-7 years, a significant part of senior management (about 30 percent) will retire, leaving leadership positions void. Although...
-
Last week, gas prices peeked at a national average of $4 a gallon. The stress that transportation has had on the working community has been immense and workers are looking for any way to reduce its impact. In my office, carpooling is more common than it ever was and reports from other industries indicate...
-
The executive offices of Housekeeping Solutions are currently receiving a major facelift in the form of renovated cubicles, fresh coats of paint, new flooring and upgraded HVAC systems. The end result is going to be great, but in the interim, staff members have been displaced, forcing us to reevaluate...
-
Last weekend I found myself among the hundreds of people at the grocery store looking for snacks to stock the pantry. I don’t know who decided it, but it seems as though Sunday is the busiest day of the week to grocery shop. That is why I was so surprised to see the cleaning crew out in full force...
-
This time of year, I am bombarded with e-mails stressing the importance of spring cleaning. But, this yearly reminder not only results in a cleaner home or office, it offers the opportunity for the cleaner to truly stand out as the expert within the facility. The month of April could easily be renamed...