LeePemberton.com

Bedbugs, by their very nature are an upsetting subject, but it turns out that anyone, no matter how clean they are, or how clean their home, can pick up bedbugs and infest their home!

BUT . . .
You (or your customers) can greatly reduce the chances of a costly bedbug infestation by catching them early!

Here is a link to a great, down-to-earth article that you can use or share with your customers . . .
Scroll down the page, this article is a “keeper”

It’s from The Housekeepingchannel.com
http://tinyurl.com/tipbbgs

P.S. I have listed a great Bedbug resource book link in the CleanTip Resource Corner.

This is a media and political game and you as a small business person must not buy into it!
Don’t start thinking about fuel surcharges and such – it will only hurt your business!

Yes, what you pay for a gallon of gas is important, but what is really important is your overall costs of producing and delivering your service, or what is called your “Breakeven” which I will refer to as your “B/E”. You must be able to know what it costs us you to clean an average square foot of carpet in your business.

The truth is that gas at $5.00 per gallon vs at $3.75 will have only a negligible effect on your “B/E”.

Here is a real life example: Let’s take a one TMT operation grossing about $100,000 per year – we will use the operations real numbers here -

With $3.75 gas, and productivity is 700 sq ft per hour – your Sq ft “B/E” is 10 1/5¢

With $5.00 gas, and productivity is 700 sq ft per hour – your Sq ft “B/E” is  11¢

This information has been calculated using real data from a real company, but yours will be different. If you would like to plug your figures into this calculator, just let me know and I will look into setting up a webinar for that purpose.

My cellphone always looks disgusting, but this article really gave me a different perspective on cellphones and sanitation! Check it out!
- Lee

Nasty Bugs Lurking on Your Cell Phone
By Tim Locke
WebMD Health News

Study: E. coli Found on Cell Phones the Result of Poor Hand Washing
Oct. 14, 2011 — The next time you reach for your cell phone, consider this: A new study found that 92% of cell phones in the U.K. have bacteria on them – including E. coli — because people aren’t washing their hands after going to the bathroom.

Read more:
http://tinyurl.com/tip1028

I love this article! When it comes to disinfection, there is so much mis-information put out as fact that it is really disgusting!
- Lee

The Fantasy Of Disinfection
according to Dr. Steven Spivak,…chairman of the Cleaning Industry Research Institute International’s (CIRI) Science Advisory Council, efficacy in principle is rarely reached when disinfecting is practiced.

“Because of … the time demands of cleaning services, some in the industry have dubbed the practice of attempting to remove harmful pathogens from surfaces “the fantasy of disinfection.”

Read more:
http://tinyurl.com/tip1029

A little over 10 years ago fluorochemical based fabric stain protectors came under intense pressure based on results from internal toxicity studies and mounting pressure from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The agency determined that the main chemical compound present in fabric protection products commonly applied to fabrics posed long-term, harmful damage to both humans and the environment.

Over the next few years these products were completely reformulated into environmentally friendly versions. However, during the interim period a number of competitive products moved in to fill the void left by the popular brands, leaving much confusion as well as mis-information.

In fact, so much has been said by so many, that a refreshing white paper recently published is a “must read” for all in our industry. It is straight forward and direct – and I like that. I have placed a link so that you can download the .pdf file and read as well as use it for reference. It is titled:

A “White Paper” on the Changes in Carpet and Fabric Protector Technology -

by Doyle Bloss, Scott Warrington, and Tom Forsythe – Bridgepoint Systems

They answer and document the answers as they proceed to meticulously lay out the information needed. You can expect to find the answers to each of the following subjects . . .

What really has changed about protectors?

Is a new generation of protectors that do not contain fluorochemicals at all.

Let us simplify your life and help you to continue making money.

Is there a water based protector that can safely be used on delicate upholstery fabrics and “bleeders?”

Make sure your protector has an effective demonstration system.

Looking for a Certified Green Protector?

Follow THIS LINK for your .pdf file.

How have you resolved to market and grow your business in this unique economic environment? Many companies in our industry are talking about developing “Marketing Plans”, but they really don’t know where to start.

I seriously suggest that you plan to attend the “Totally Booked University” program here  Friday, February 25^th .  Jeff  Cross, senior editor of Cleanfax magazine and one of the best known marketing pros in our industry will be here to help you determine the strategies to avoid and embrace, without spending more time or money than you can afford.  His “Totally Booked University” marketing workshop is hands down, in my opinion, the most no nonsense, realistic and useful program in our industry today!

Some companies spend years trying to get a substantial number of clients. At Totally Booked UNIVERSITY, Jeff will share with you a unique method that carpet cleaning (and other cleaning industry companies) are using to land a huge amount of clients (in some cases, dozens, and in others, several hundred) in just one day.

How?  This technique: Group buying programs!

Make 2011 the year you learn to market consistently, while spending very little in money, people and time.  After all in marketing, it’s not what you spend, but how you spend it.  I suggest that you resolve now to make 2011 your best year ever, with some assistance from Pembertons recommended resources.  You’ll be very glad you did.

Another New Year Is At Hand! — Pay close attention to things happening around you. I am sharing these trends that I see unfolding, and I strongly caution you to take positive steps so that they don’t steamroller over you and your business this year. Following are two that I feel you must become aware of, with more over the next few weeks:

#1 – RETENTION
Customer Retention is a big one! Attracting new customers has become increasingly difficult, making the retention of existing customers a big priority for several reasons:

• It really does cost less to keep customers than get new ones even when times are good. With the incredible lack of trust among consumers today, the saving are significant!
• Secondly, referrals are the new “customer gold”, available only to those hardy “miners” who are knowledgeable enough to know how to do the “mining” in a totally trustworthy manner.

Retention of good employees is directly tied to your ability to retain customers, and is especially critical when “mining” for referrals!

• Don’t let the high unemployment issue blind you to the fact that good employees are still not easy to find and keep.
• The employee who knows how to treat your valuable customers may well be your most valuable tool this year for increasing your customer base through referrals!

#2 – SELF EMPLOYMENT
As the fact sinks in that their old jobs will not be coming back, the unemployed will be faced with options they don’t like. Some will take jobs at a lower pay scale and adjust. Others will decide to take advantage of government subsidized training to qualify for jobs in a different field. Some will relocate for better job opportunities.

However, many will decide to become self employed. You can expect a significant upturn in new business start ups in the cleaning industry! Parents & grandparents will lend money for equipment once they realize that good training is easily available in this industry, (and everyone already thinks this is an easy business)!

This is a scary time for the new business start ups that are specializing in carpet cleaning  in the northern parts of our great country.

The question I get is “What can I do, it’s really slow?”  -  Giving that question a quick “off the cuff” answer is not fair or easy!

And, here is why:

The first and most important “secret” that I have learned about being successful as a “Mom & Pop” business is simply this  .  .  .

Just Be Yourself – Will Always Be Your Best Policy.

Your effectiveness in business comes from your effectiveness as a person. The two are inseparable. To have a business goal worth pursuing implies that you have a life goal worthy of your best efforts.

That attitude will shine through in both your business and your training activities. If you don’t really believe that your business goals are meaningful, that is exactly what will shine through, regardless of all the motivational words you use.

• Learn to step back and remove your feelings from a situation.
• You can see situations much more clearly when feelings are removed.

Only then can the discussions begin!  Things that might be great for one “Mom & Pop” business, will absolutely not fit another. The secret is honesty with your self! Why even try to do something you can’t or won’t be comfortable doing?

Bottom line: Figure out who you are and what you are honestly comfortable with and I can help you! And while we are being honest with ourselves, next week we look at something called “Truth”.

This “Green Cleaning Report” is based on a survey done by John Braun at Hitman Advertising in October of 2010.

His purpose was to gain market research on what professional cleaners have to say about green and safe cleaning and some of the results were as you may expect.

But a few of the answers were surprising and serious, in my opinion!

First of all, answers seem to indicate that, in general, homeowners are concerned about the type of chemicals being used in their home. (To be expected, in my opinion)

In addition, it troubles me that about 1/2 of the operators surveyed indicated they had experienced physical problems with cleaning products they have used!

Also, the indication was given that customers are more interested in “Safe”, than “Green”.

To get a good look at everything the survey tells us, Mr. Braun has graciously offered CleanTip readers a Free copy of his 10 page report.

Just follow this link to get your Free copy  .  .  .
http://tinyurl.com/cleantip5

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to Listen to Lee’s Message!