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 …
Do you ever feel like you are leading the troops in a daily war? Chuck Violand brings up that your soldier employees need much more than a pay check. They need emotional support and comfort. How can you deliver? One great way is with FOOD!
First impressions are lasting impressions. Start off on the right foot with your disaster restoration customers by showing genuine care and concern. How? By simply paying attention. Read on for the details …
A Los Angeles Building Service Contractor is sick and tired of getting blamed for every unlocked door. Steve says he only has three options …
How’s that for a headline? Did it perk your interest? It should as it used two rules for writing headlines: 1) get self interest in your headline and 2) use a question. But this post is not about headlines. It is about Influence …
A prospective Denver carpet cleaner has caught the “entrepreneurial cleaning bug” but his wife just isn’t excited about this new development. Steve timidly ventures into the “family counseling” field with some hard-learned wisdom from his own experience in cleaning up …
Do you like your job? Do your techs and office staff like their jobs? Do you know OR are you afraid to ask them? Insights to both their and your motivations can give some engaging and maybe even frightening answers …
Can your home-based or small cleaning and/or restoration business compete with the big boys? A lot depends on your telephone skills. Here is a tip to make sure future customers AND potential cheerleaders don’t fall through the cracks!
Check out these 10 questions that just may keep you from joining the 80% of start-up businesses that fail within their first decade. Then share with your fellow board members other vital questions that have kept you safe, sane and profitable …
A New York carpet cleaner poses a thorny question, “What is the average age of my customer”? In typical Steve Toburen fashion he takes the “long way around” before answering the original question. But Steve’s long-winded reply contains some great insights on the Emotional Dynamics of the home owner/technician relationship …
Good morning, Steve,
Even though I own my own carpet cleaning business I have also been building my own house and contracting it out myself. The people I am coming across are astounding! These “professional” businesses and contractors have absolutely no customer service.
“I solve problems. That is what I do.” How often have you thought that this mantra essentially sums up your business life as a carpet cleaner? And yet Chuck Violand shows that this constant “desperation problem solving” may actually hinder instead of help your cleaning business …
Chuck Violand points out that the most brilliant business advice can destroy your company IF implemented at the wrong time or in an impulsive manner. Read how to avoid the very dangerous “E-Drift” syndrome …
Give pet problem spots priority by visually letting the customer know you are giving them the due attention.
Our hi-tech world can keep you constantly connected. Is that always a good thing? Chuck Violand evaluates this current (and in his opinion very damaging) trend …