The SFS / VAST team of Jeff Cutshall, Chuck Violand, Bill Yeadon and Steve Toburen share their insights into the best business practices and how you can make it alone in the Cleaning and Restoration Industry.
So how many problems did you solve for your employees yesterday? A lot? Feeling pretty good about yourself? Chuck Violand says “shame on you” if you have become the Chief Problem Solver in your company …
The “Three Stooges”? (We’re not talking about Chuck Violand, Big Billy Yeadon and Steve Toburen of SFS fame!) Nope, Chuck says that we learn how to avoid “Paralysis by Analysis” from Larry, Moe and Curly!
Cleaners get nervous when its time to quit the day job and go full speed ahead with their new cleaning venture. Bill Yeadon shares his insights after helping many budding cleaning entrepreneurs make the jump!
Chuck Violand proves that the old saying, “The fish rots from the head down” is constantly proved true when it comes to how we hire new employees. Escape from the “employee revolving door” by avoiding the trap of “desperation hiring” …
Rhinos, elephants, and camels- Does this have anything to do with carpet? Click on through to see what a carpet cleaner can learn from Mohawk Industries’ marketing techniques. (Hint: Brace yourself…)
Even with Honda’s high quality (and profits) their executives still aren’t happy. Why not? Chuck Violand explains and in the process you will learn a valuable lesson for your cleaning and restoration business …
As children we are really inventive when it comes to making excuses. Then as we mature we improve even more on justifying our behavior. Chuck Violand brings this dangerous crutch home to business owners. Who do we blame? Chuck says one little book can turn these negative “excuse making” actions around …
How important is a good guarantee in your overall customer service system? Big Billy has stumbled on a treasure trove of ways to keep every customer pleased. Check out how coupon discounter Groupon is building their company by wowing customers …
You may know the Jon-Don “Bobbsey Twins”- Steve Toburen and “Big Billy Yeadon”- as two of the leading management/marketing experts in the Cleaning & Restoration Industry. But Steve and Bill have also pushed around their share of buffers and cleaning heads in their time. In this new “Clean Talk” column Bill shares the technical wisdom of his years (which are considerable!) and Steve chimes in …
Woody Allen postulated years ago that “75% of success is just showing up”! Chuck Violand focuses on that other vital 25% which you can control …
Most of us entered the carpet cleaning industry by the “back door”- as technicians first. No shame in that. But sooner or later most carpet cleaners must morph into being a “leader” in their company. Being a good leader is both simpler and infinitely more difficult than you may have ever imagined …
Unsuspecting new carpet cleaners are still wasting time and money attending “sleazy snake-oil seminars”. (Sadly, the old “bait and switch” game doesn’t just happen in people’s homes!) So Steve gets nailed with the totally valid question, “What is SFS?” every day. He unloads right back in this passionate post. Steve also unveils the new “SFS Curriculum” page which supports his claims. See it for yourself in the top menu under “About SFS”.
We only put on eight “Strategies for Success” seminars per year and they all sell out early. But now SFS site readers are getting a sneak preview of next year’s dates. Please use it well and get your 2011 SFS plans made now. (Or you may still be able to sneak into a SFS in Chicago next month or St. Louis this October.)
Most of us sort of “stumbled” into carpet cleaning as a way to pay the rent/ buy groceries/ make the car payment, etc. Chuck Violand reminds us that the journey of life should be about much more than “growing old on the wand” …
When there is a problem with a customer do you handle it immediately? Or do you take the low-profile route and let your office staff or technicians face the heat? Big Billy Yeadon tells us how Southwest Airlines handled a stressful situation recently …