Favorite Articles

I've been getting a lot of questions lately on "how do I get the fringe looking better?!?" - so I thought I'd send out some tips to my loyal Rug Chick blog readers. =) Unfortunately there is no magic Fringe Formula that you mist on and your job is done....keep reading

Do Not Promote! - Build Relationships!
Stop looking at your social media presence as a way to sell and start looking it as a way to build relationships. The work you put into making yourself a professional, quality resource locally is what's going to help your business reach success in the long-term....keep reading

Focusing on current technical and business trends that have a major effect on 1-10 employee professional cleaning services. IN THIS ISSUE -- WHAT ARE CUSTOMERS CUTTING BACK ON?, RECENT POST AT JIMS CLEAN CHAT BLOG - Do Dry Tools Rinse Well?, NEWS YOU CAN USE - Thoughts From Lee & EDUCATION ALERT: IICRC Approved UFT Certification Course (IICRC UFT) December 1 & 2, 2011, 8 AM - 5 PM....keep reading

Focusing on current technical and business trends that have a major effect on 1-10 employee professional cleaning services. IN THIS ISSUE -- DON'T FORGET ABOUT NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING, RECENT POST AT JIMS CLEAN CHAT BLOG -- FAQs - Does it Pay to Protect Polyester and Triexta? & EDUCATION ALERT: IICRC Approved UFT Certification Course - April 28, 29 & 30, 2010....keep reading

I can't wait for the elections to be over this November (2004). As I reveiw the audio, video & printed messages we have been exposed to during this event, I am overwhelmed with the need for believability as a prerequisite for communication....keep reading

In many ways this really is a simple business. That doesn't mean it's always going to be easy. But it's a simple business based on finding out what people WANT to buy, when they want to buy it,and then selling it to them. Compare it to fishing. . ....keep reading

Here are the steps to successfully increasing your sales . . . 1. SET WEEKLY AND MONTHLY SALES GOALS ($$$$) 2. SET WEEKLY AND MONTHLY PROSPECT GOALS (Prospecting=Sales) 3. CREATE AN EFFECTIVE PROSPECT GENERATOR 4. GENERATE MORE NEW CUSTOMERS 5. GENERATE MORE SALES FROM YOUR CURRENT CUSTOMERS...keep reading

The secret to success in your specialty cleaning services business is to differentiate! The secret to unparalleled success is to differentiate by solving the largest unmet needs of a market. This path is the surest route to success but it isn't the easy route. The research results you uncover from taking this approach seriously may greatly alter your business model, products, approach and positioning....keep reading

Alleging violations of the overtime law is a new "growth industry," with employees (and their lawyers) going after everyone from mom-and-pop businesses to industry giants....keep reading

The majority of lost or dissatisfied customers, including damage claims paid by 'cleaning service professionals' like yourself occur because of pre-existing conditions or other factors beyond the control of your 'service business' once the service is rendered! 
Even in situations where an actual damage claim does not occur, if the customer doesn't get what they expected, they will complain, refuse payment, or even worse, never call for future services!...keep reading

One way to build trust and increase sales of your cleaning services is by the use of testimonials, brief endorsements by a satisfied customer. You'd think that since testimonials are so easy to fake people wouldn't believe them. But used carefully, the opposite is true. They really work....keep reading

Focusing on current technical and business trends that have a major effect on 1-10 employee professional cleaning services. IN THIS ISSUE -- NEW ONLINE MARKETING CONCEPT COMING YOUR WAY SOON!, RECENT POST AT JIMS CLEAN CHAT BLOG - Silk Fabric Cleaning Challenges, NEWS YOU CAN USE - New textile training program launches & EDUCATION ALERT: FINE FABRIC CARE WORKSHOP & "Rug Chick" Brings Her Program To Pembertons....keep reading

Focusing on current technical and business trends that have a major effect on 1-10 employee professional cleaning services. IN THIS ISSUE -- ICE MELTERS & CARPET PROBLEMS, RECENT POST AT JIMS CLEAN CHAT BLOG -- FAQs - Is It Really Possible to Dry Carpet Before Leaving the Job?, CLEANTIP ALERT - Special Note from Lee Pemberton, NEWS YOU CAN USE & EDUCATION ALERT: IICRC Approved CARPET CLEANING TECHNICIAN (IICRC CCT) Certification Course - March 17 - 19, 2010, 8 AM - 5 PM....keep reading

It has been my experience that a fairly large percentage of persons entering this industry as an employee have never paid anyone for professional cleaning service, and I now realize that includes persons starting a new cleaning business! These new business owners may have rented equipment or worked for a professional cleaning company, but had never actually purchased professional cleaning services on their own prior to starting their own businesses. . ....keep reading

I'm sure you've seen them. Rugs with a backing that looks like burlap, or rugs that have those thick beige fibers on the face or in the middle of the rug when you bend it open. Jute is quick to grow, cheap to make, and is in a LARGE number of rugs today....keep reading

You want to keep in touch with customers & prospects, but you don't want to be a pest. Where is the line between the two? How much is too much? How often is too often?...keep reading

There are a number of reasons why you can and should use postcards as an important part of your marketing plan. With the advent of very affordable web sites, they have become even more valuable. Digital postcards are the next tool that you will begin to use in conjunction with postcards & your web site!...keep reading

Focusing on current technical and business trends that have a major effect on 1-10 employee professional cleaning services. IN THIS ISSUE -- THOUGHTS FROM AN AGING CARPET CLEANING SPECIALIST, RECENT POST AT JIMS CLEAN CHAT BLOG - Understanding Traffic Lane Presprays, CLEANTIP ALERT, NEWS YOU CAN USE & EDUCATION ALERT: DIVERSIFICATION - Stone Floor Cleaning & Wood Floor Care....keep reading

Clean them or toss them? Seems like every year we get crazy new rugs coming from the whacky minds of designers. They are fun ideas in the beginning...until you discover that some are not even cleanable. And that's what is happening with a big group of popular rugs out these past few years, and now badly all becoming in need of a good cleaning - SHAG RUGS...This is a good article to share on your own blogs to help educate your customers....keep reading

The power of saying thank you is undeniable. Thanking customers regularly and sincerely goes a long way towards building long-term relationships.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO MAKE YOUR "THANKS" REALLY COUNT:...keep reading