What led you to get into this business?
My oldest son was a special needs student and running restaurants and foodservices for hospitals I learned that uneducated people are treated horribly in any industry. They are constantly told they can lose their job at anytime. I didn't want that for him so I did a little research and found that you can make a pretty good living cleaning carpets. So I started Crowley Carpet Cleaning.
-Describe your best cheerleader and what it took to make him or her so.
2 guys have turned into great cheerleaders for me
1. Kevin who owns a carpet retailer. He has always gotten compliments on my work so refers me to everyone. He trust I will do the best possible job.
2. Chad VP for Sales at Reebok. Kevin had Chad call me for a gallon of green paint that chads son spilled on the carpet. I came in and got everything out and cleaned the place. That was over a year ago and he tells everyone the story about his son which inevitably leads to selling my services. I get more leads from him than anyone and these are RICH< RICH< RICH people homes I would have trouble getting.
3.-Where was your business five years ago and where will it be five years from now?
5 years ago I just bought my dual-3 stage diamondback, my rotovac and it was going to be easy money.Hahaha. Thing took to long to dry. I didn't have any knowledge of how to really clean a carpet and I was
IICRC Certified without ever putting a wand in my hand. Things didn't really start to take off until year 3( I was still part time)
5 years from now it will be a 4 truck operation with my oldest son(if that is what he chooses) basicly running the show with my oversight and an office manager. My guess is I will be back into the what I use to do.
-Who do you emulate in this industry and why?
The business model is trying to be similar to Ken Snows with more steps. I think the formula that he has is great. I am low to midrange priced and like to keep busy with an eye on expansion.
-Start over from scratch, how would you go about it?
I would skip alot of what I have done and wasted money on. I would come out of the gates in what I would consider a top of the line Truckmounted unit. Then I would get the training on carpets, upholstery and tile before I went out the door. I would go to carpet retailers and flooring companies first and try to build that relationship. I would skip the yellow pages and go to direct market postcards. Build my website and do whatever I had to to keep any debt down. I would volunteer, volunteer and volunteer some more locally getting my name out. I would hit all the family oriented companies and discount them for my sign in the windows and do much more with donation postcards
-How have the Boards helped your biz?
ICS basicly screwed up my whole vision of what I needed to do and get accomplished. I bought equipment based on trolls saying how great it was only to find out they worked for the companies etc
when I moved my time here there was such an array of opinions and differences in business models I have been able to form a much better opinion on what works and what doesn't My feril debates on this board also check my own systems and try new things out. I could go on forever about the varied things I get from this board. Including a bunch of crap from some people. As you know I love the attention
I can honestly say if it weren't for this Bulletin Board it would be a much longer rougher road. Wish it was here 5 years ago
-What Mikey Boarder would you like to
punch in the throat the most?
Most people on this BB even the ones who give me sh^t are great and very helpful but it is Funny there would only be one that really could use a good throat shot and I don't even think he is a carpet cleaner
FCC
