Leave more than just your good work behind after a service job.

I hear about and see everyday in forums where satisfied customers can not find the contractor that provided a great job or service for them.


Take the below example just posted yesterday at http://www.thegrimescene.com/ as an example:


“Mildewed in Morton Grove, IL

About 5 years ago I signed on to this forum as my mom needed her cedar deck and fence washed and sealed. I found some great people who thankfully advised me to stay away from sealmax and others and hooked me up with a great contractor. The guy did a wonderful job but moved to Florida--he gave me another name and we rolled on. Now, Mom needs her deck and fence done again in a big bad way and I can find no one. I am just looking for an honest worker who will do a superior job. I know workmanship should not come too cheap and I put attention to detail above all. Anyone out there that could steer me in the right direction? Chris”


Here is a customer that would love to find the same person he last used and was recommended but can not locate the information since it has been so long ago.


So how can you improve the chance that you will be contacted for the follow up business, one, three even five or more years down the line?


1. Leave a card or collateral print pieces behind when you leave. This can be a nice flyer with a tear off business info card area to be placed in a Rolodex or passed on to a friend. Least effective unless person is a pack rat.


2. Leave a useful promotional item like a magnet, note holder clip, jar opener, or any thing that has the potential of staying around for a long time to keep your name in mind and in front of your customer.


3. Leave a business card, sticker, magnet or laminated info card near or attached to the work that was done. And be sure to tell the customer that you have done this. Great way to be used again.

4. Follow up contact with the customer by mail or e-mail. Number one way to get repeat and referral business.


I know that the third suggestion sounds strange but here is where I have seen it work.


Take a deck builder that staples laminated business cards to the underside of the decks he builds in a number of places, including top stair risers and the anchor board against the house etc. he knows later, if any repair work needs to be done, that owner or even the following home owner has a good chance of finding out who built the deck, gazebo, fence etc.


I know our electrician puts his magnet inside our electric fuse panel door. Or the AC furnace man that leaves his sticker on the back of the AC unit or side of the furnace.


Same with a carpenter friend of mine; he leaves a small info card stapled along the back edge of doors or inside door frames he hangs, window frames of windows he installs, under chair rails or moldings. This way later he may get the call to do other work. Sure the customer might forget its there or it not get found until repair work has started, but once found, the owner will remember who did the work the first time and could call or recommend him again to others.

The fourth item is the reason that yearly or quarterly informational post cards and seasonal e-mails to former customers help retain these customers as future income or as part of a great referral business. You need to keep your name and business fresh in past customers minds with out irritating them by contacting too frequently.

Don't underestimate the impact of the great work you have already done in bringing you new and repeat business.

Laundry products from Soap Warehouse

For most of you that are in the pressure washing business you might be asking why should I care about what laundry soaps Soap Warehouse sells, I'm not a laundry?

Well good question! One reason is that just like being able to buy superior, concentrated chemicals to do your cleaning jobs you can also benefit buy getting superior professional grade laundry products that commercial laundries, dry cleaners, hospitals and other commercial operations use. Second is that it can save you money while making you and your employees in your business look great.

Do you use uniform shirts for your business? Are you paying to professionally clean uniform shirts and pants? Are you having trouble getting your uniforms clean enough? Are some employees uniforms fading faster or looking dingier than others?

It is important for your businesses image to be sure that all employees look clean and professional at all times.

Crescent is our best selling detergent for washing uniform shirts and pants, especially medium to dark colors to release dirt and grease in hot temps of 100 - 140 degrees. This is an oxygen enhanced enzyme detergent using 2-4 oz in your home washer per load. Also great for khaki pants and white shirts too.

Flex is an all in one detergent with built in oxygen bleach that is safe for all colors. Flex also has great deodorizing power when washing at 110 degrees and above. Get those sweat stains and smells out of shirt collars, pits and cuffs and leave them clean with no lingering scent. Can be used at lower temps and still remove latex paint, blood and other stains. 2-6 oz per load depending on temperature and soil level.

Rave Plus is great if you are mainly a cold water washer. It is phosphate free and great for jeans to keep them dark longer. Economical yet effective and can be used at all temps. Great for permanent press or khaki pants as well. Use 4-8 oz per load depending on temperature and soil level.

Then we have Scat! our all purpose stain remover. Don't want to buy professional detergents to get rid of sweat stains and odors? You should never have to worry if a stain or odor will come out. Spray Scat! on when you take off the stained item, saturating the stain past the stain line. Just throw it in to the hamper, sort and wash as normal even days later. The stains should all come out. Visit the Scat! site at http://www.scatstainremover.com/ to see all the ways to use Scat!. Scat! comes in 1 gallons or 16 oz trigger spray bottles and in cases.

Any of these items can be added to your regular chemical order.

The detergents come in 40 lb pails (5-6 gallon size)

and you can try any one of these products once for half price when you add it to your regular order. This offer of course may be limited or changed at any time but will be valid from the time of posting at least until the end of September 2010. Please mention this offer when ordering.

Visit our site http://www.soapwarehouse.biz/ anytime for a complete product list, descriptions and pricing.