Sometimes we lose accounts. Thank goodness more often than not there’s nothing we could have done to stop it and you just have to thank them for their business and hope that one day you get the opportunity to work with them again.
Blog
Sales and Service, Frenemies?
I never knew that problems between sales & service was a big thing, until I started working for a big corporate company back in 2012. Before this I had my own company, brought in my own sales and managed a service team without any of the complications some environments deal with today.
New Year, new challenges.
The reason I ‘fell’ in to the cleaning industry was firstly by accident (I was involved in selling cleaning franchises) and then stayed in the industry as it became blatantly obvious that the industry was amateurish, unprofessional and also an enormous opportunity for a company who could introduce better working practices, increase productivity, improve customer service and in some cases, save the clients money.
Spooky stuff!
I occasionally get asked questions about my time in business and apart from the usual “Why did you start up in business?” or “What’s the proudest thing you’ve achieved?” one of the most popular includes “Have you or do you clean anywhere that’s been haunted?”
The Living Wage Challenge
There is little doubt that the Governments announcement of the new Living Wage a few months back is great news for those working for or in the region of the current minimum wage.
I don’t like politics but….
When it comes to politics I tend to glaze over. I can’t get enthused about what they stand for, what plans they have or what they say they’re going to do for my region, my friends, my family, my business or simply, just me!
Reflections of 2014
A year ago Hazel and I sat in the Marriot Hotel in Panjim, Goa, on a winter break overlooking the Mandovi River and talked about goals and aspirations for both our business and personal lives for 2014. We find Christmas and a New Year a great time to look at what’s been achieved and look forward to the next 12 months.
Determination, like no other
One of my favourite TV programmes is the BBC’s DIY SOS. I just love the way people pull together and make things happen, in fact make things right for those desperately in need of a little help. I’m always astounded by the way people give up their time and money to assist where it’s needed the most. Often these individuals and groups are strangers and simply give because they can and have a desire to ‘give a little something back.’
The Price of Productivity
Being in the industry we’re in we’re often providing quotes for prospective customers and as our sales team have been on holidays through the summer, I’ve been going on a few of the bids, just like the old days, before we had a sales team when I did them all myself.
Why I don’t do buffets
Luckily enough I’ve been to a few birthday parties, anniversaries and a couple of ‘Sportsman’s Dinners’ over the past month or two and at those events with a buffet on, I’ve made sure I had something to eat before I got there. Sounds ungrateful? Well read on.
