The World According to Randy

[randy]

Scampooing in a residential is nothing more than you using a kirby vacuum scampoo attachment. They use Scott's shampoo.

Done it years ago in my own home, vacuumed everyday and it still looked like crap in a month.

Actually the same holding company owns Kirby, Scots, cutco knives and about 20 other small companies. The holding company is owned by Birkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffet really is into everything, even encap SHAMPOO.

Damon, it is very hard to damage one of these types of rugs. The fact is probably 80% of rugs can be safely cleaned with satisfactory results in the home. We clean around $3,000,000 worth of rugs in a certain embassy every year ON LOCATION. They won't allow the rugs to be taken to a shop and brought back in 7-14 days. They won't them cleaned, to dry fast and are willing to pay well for it.

The guys that have invested big into "cleaning plants" in their garage or a more elebrate shop with a high rent payment every month can piss their pants telling the cutomer what "should be done" till their Depends is overflowing. The fact is many customers aren't going to let you take their rugs off property and most aren't going to pay the $4.50 a square these "rug masters" demand. That market is a very small puddle of customers and is shrinking everyday. Here in the DC metro area we have 10 million people and I have seen tons of rug specialists go under and close up shop. Five of the top ten wealthest counties in the country are in the DC metro area and we are seeing huge change. Whether we like it or not millennials aren't buying high end furniture or rugs, they are buying cheap machine made rugs and Ikea disposable furniture. By 2020 there will be more millennials in the work force then all other generations above them combined. The upholstery and rug cleaning ends of the business will continue to decline sharply. You are on the right end of this as the rug cleaning shops are going to be disrupted by demographics most of them don't even understand. That Vibe can make you a millionaire is you avoid common industry beliefs and focus on marketing.

 

[Mikey P]

I copied this from Damon's vibe thread.

Who here is seeing what Randy does?


@Jim Pemberton
@scottw

 

[SamIam]

Whohoo!

Shake and shine boys

 

[Ron K]

Who is Randy Royer?

 

[Dolly Llama]

Who is Randy Royer?

diverse biz man that's been around since the red/blue board days

..L.T.A.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Very large commercial cleaner who has been around decades. He is a good businessman, who knows cleaning. Both HWE & Low Moisture. He focuses more on low moisture since that is the best option for clients.

I believe him, "Oriental Rugs" are not as popular as they once were. We still clean a lot of them but as Randy said it's the older clients that own them.

I believe it's the bold colors and patterns, a dated style. But it could also involve everything from the almost slavery labor used in construction to the political narratives involved in their origin countries.

The good thing is rugs are still very popular. The only negative is they are of much less value and they are not made as well. I think there will always be those that want a more thorough cleaning of their rugs than on site cbut $4.50 won't be a choice if the value of the rug doesn't warrant it.

 

[Nomad74]

I love this business. More than one way to skin a cat. Always learning

 

[Jimmy L]

I highly respect Randy

 

[Mikey P]

and an Islamic Terrorist..


https://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/randall-ismail-royers-letters-prison

 

[Ron K]

diverse biz man that's been around since the red/blue board days

..L.T.A.

Web Site. His Business name?
Is he a prophet or a Rug Cleaner Red or Blue?

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Actually the same holding company owns Kirby, Scots, cutco knives and about 20 other small companies. The holding company is owned by Birkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffet really is into everything, even encap SHAMPOO.

Damon, it is very hard to damage one of these types of rugs. The fact is probably 80% of rugs can be safely cleaned with satisfactory results in the home. We clean around $3,000,000 worth of rugs in a certain embassy every year ON LOCATION. They won't allow the rugs to be taken to a shop and brought back in 7-14 days. They won't them cleaned, to dry fast and are willing to pay well for it.

The guys that have invested big into "cleaning plants" in their garage or a more elebrate shop with a high rent payment every month can piss their pants telling the cutomer what "should be done" till their Depends is overflowing. The fact is many customers aren't going to let you take their rugs off property and most aren't going to pay the $4.50 a square these "rug masters" demand. That market is a very small puddle of customers and is shrinking everyday. Here in the DC metro area we have 10 million people and I have seen tons of rug specialists go under and close up shop. Five of the top ten wealthest counties in the country are in the DC metro area and we are seeing huge change. Whether we like it or not millennials aren't buying high end furniture or rugs, they are buying cheap machine made rugs and Ikea disposable furniture. By 2020 there will be more millennials in the work force then all other generations above them combined. The upholstery and rug cleaning ends of the business will continue to decline sharply. You are on the right end of this as the rug cleaning shops are going to be disrupted by demographics most of them don't even understand. That Vibe can make you a millionaire is you avoid common industry beliefs and focus on marketing.

There is a strong tend toward the purchase of rugs made from cellulose and regenerated cellulose fibers. The buyers of such rugs also find the use of them for animal waste depositories acceptable.

The application of protector to these delicate and often non colorfast rugs makes sense, but such products do not of course make them bullet proof.

How this will influence the marketplace remains to be seen.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Web Site. His Business name?
Is he a prophet or a Rug Cleaner Red or Blue?

Rug cleaner is a broad term. However if he says for one of his accounts he does 300k in rugs, I'd say he is a rug cleaner.

 

[Cleanworks]

I am seeing an increase in area rug sales in my area. More and more people are converting from w/w carpet to hard surface floors. Then they discover that they are uncomfortable and put down rugs. Fine oriental rugs are disappearing and are being replaced with polyester and viscose crap. Yeah, try the vibe on a viscose rug. I agree that $4.50 per foot for a tufted poly rug is not going to fly with most customers as the cleaning cost may be more than replacement cost. The smart operators will try to limit their costs and charge a reasonable rate. The ironic thing is that I can clean a fine wool oriental rug with little or no problems. These are the ones that most cleaners are charging a premium for. The cheap synthetic rugs cause me all sorts of problems, yet we can't charge too much for them.

 

[Jim Williams]

I've never really thought about it but he may very well be right. I have heard the statistics that each generation is having it harder financially than their parents. If this is true we may see cheaper "Pottery barn" rugs in the future. The younger generation does seem to be less into fancy oriental rugs and more into cheaper rugs that look more modern in styling.

I think he may be onto something. I think upholstery cleaning will stay around since little kids still are going to spill food and barf on the sofa. It may be made from polyester more and more but I don't see furniture cleaning going away.

 

[Ron K]

one of his accounts he does 300k in rugs,

Kansas Education?
The post said $3,000,000 worth of rugs We clean a Kabillion dollars "worth" of rugs.Trying to sound more important than he is.
In fact the dealers around here are selling rugs woven by the Shah of Irans personal weaver while the Shah was Lion hunting.
They even have a tag on'em thats say's Made in I Ran!

 

[Lee Stockwell]

and an Islamic Terrorist..


https://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/randall-ismail-royers-letters-prison

I read all that, very interesting

 

[hogjowl]

I didn’t

 

[J Scott W]

Floor Covering weekly and other sources say that sale of area rugs is increasing. However, sales of quality hand knotted rugs has declined in dollar volume. The number of rugs sold is pretty steady, but the prices are going down. People who were sold on the idea of hand knotted rugs as an investment are often disappointed. I like rugs. that is hwy I buy a few, not because I expect them to increase in value.

Plenty of rugs to be cleaned. Large rug washing shops are doing well in a few larger cities. I don't expect to see a large rug plant succeed In Carsonville or even Carson City. Smaller rug washing plants should do well. Volume of rugs has to justify the cost of the plant and equipment.

 

[Nomad74]

Floor Covering weekly and other sources say that sale of area rugs is increasing. However, sales of quality hand knotted rugs has declined in dollar volume. The number of rugs sold is pretty steady, but the prices are going down. People who were sold on the idea of hand knotted rugs as an investment are often disappointed. I like rugs. that is hwy I buy a few, not because I expect them to increase in value.

Plenty of rugs to be cleaned. Large rug washing shops are doing well in a few larger cities. I don't expect to see a large rug plant succeed In Carsonville or even Carson City. Smaller rug washing plants should do well. Volume of rugs has to justify the cost of the plant and equipment.

We have one in Redding called Bauer's. They charge about $5 per sqft for a rug. I may need to nip their heels a bit. They have the Micro-seal territory locked up. I seem to not be able to get an FPA territory quite yet.

 

[Ron K]

We have on in Redding called Bauer's. They charge about $5 per sqft for a rug. I may need to nip their heels a bit. They have the Micro-seal territory locked up. I seem to not be able to get an FPA territory quite yet.

They were a top notch rug Washing place a number of years ago when I was there. Best to build a relationship with them wholesale.

 

[Nomad74]

They were a top notch rug Washing place a number of years ago when I was there. Best to build a relationship with them wholesale.

They look like they have a nice plant. Never heard any complaints about them.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I wouldn't say the sky is falling but the younger generations are not buying like the older ones did. Here are a couple of articles.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/27/...rsian-rug-may-not-be-long-for-this-world.html

Over the centuries invaders, politicians and Iran’s enemies have left their mark on Iran’s carpets, said Prof. Hashem Sedghamiz, a local authority on carpets, sitting in the green courtyard of his restored Qajar-dynasty house in Shiraz. The outsiders demanded changes, started using chemicals for coloring and, most recently, imposed sanctions on the rugs. Those were blows, he said, damaging but not destructive.

But now, Mr. Sedghamiz said, the end is near. Ultimately he said, it is modernity — that all-devouring force that is changing societies at breakneck speed — that is killing the Persian carpet, Iran’s pride and joy. “People simply are no longer interested in quality.” Or in paying for it, he might have added.Not only that, but Persian carpets have fallen out of favor even in Iran, with many middle-class Iranians preferring cheap plastic laminate floor covers. Those who still like carpets often go for cheaper Chinese and Indian knockoffs.

“We are selling around 10 percent of what we used to sell over a decade ago,” said Morteza Talebi, the head of the council of the Shiraz bazaar. The century-old bazaar was filled with carpet shops, but there were no buyers.

http://nycitylens.com/2016/02/antique-rugs-an-endangered-species/
Twenty years ago, the traditional look they represent was considered fashionable and the rugs clientele consisted largely of older customers, who were going after high quality antique carpets that were viewed as an investment. If they would buy an antique Persian rug for $5,000 or $10,000 they were confident that in a few years the price would go up 40 to 50 percent. Now, he says, the market is filled with baby boomers, who are interested in modern—and often cheaper—merchandise. “They just want something that goes well with their furniture,” he explains. Modern rugs are lighter and more color neutral compared with antique rugs, which feature strong, darker colors and tribal design.

It’s not only a matter of losing domestic business. Most of the antique rug dealers in New York have also been selling merchandise to Europe and South America. Now, they seldom sell abroad. Yeganeh says that 90 percent of that business has been lost, while domestic sales are down by 60 percent compared with 15 years ago. “I didn’t have any stock back then. Now it’s different. I have a stock of rugs because people don’t buy.” As a result of this glut, rug dealers have been forced to lower prices, which according to Yeganeh, have dropped at least by 30 percent. “These days we are just desperate to sell and survive,” he says.

As Hakim explains, the high end and the low end are still selling strong; it is the middle point that suffers. “There’s more competition in the middle price range,” he says, “because that’s where the price points for most of the new low quality rugs are.” In the U.S., people still want rugs, according to Hakim, but the younger generation is less informed about the difference between a new contemporary rug and an antique rug. “I don’t think they care about the difference,” he says. “They only care about color and price point.”

 

[Bob Pruitt]

I clean a lot of rugs. Most are the decorator rugs that are excellent choices on a number of levels...color, texture and whatever... the quality varies from pretty good to junk. I tell my customers that own the hand knotted and better quality rugs that I think there is a Rug Cleaning guy in Naples. So far not one of them has wanted to go through the hassle of sending the rugs out.
Most of what I do is upholstery, tile, wall to wall carpet and rugs. Almost every job has at least one rug.
I think @Jim Pemberton use to teach rug cleaning ... I would sign up for that class.

 

[Nomad74]

They were a top notch rug Washing place a number of years ago when I was there. Best to build a relationship with them wholesale.

Rob, do you think they would be open to me stopping in for a visit?

 

[J Scott W]

Almost every job has at least one rug.
I think @Jim Pemberton use to teach rug cleaning ... I would sign up for that class.

Open invitation to @Jim Pemberton to come and teach with Doug Heiferman and me at our next Hands-On rug washing class in Austin TX or any future class.

 

[randy]

Kansas Education?
The post said $3,000,000 worth of rugs We clean a Kabillion dollars "worth" of rugs.Trying to sound more important than he is.
In fact the dealers around here are selling rugs woven by the Shah of Irans personal weaver while the Shah was Lion hunting.
They even have a tag on'em thats say's Made in I Ran!

LOL, hardly this business is a dirty one and I'm in it. Just pointing out that they will not allow a rug shop to haul $3,000,000 worth of their property offsite. Not sure how I could have made that more clear to people who want to stick there head in the sand and ignore undenialable industry trends. I understand the salesmen pushing rug cleaning plants dreaming of business as usual, but any cleaner that doesn't see MAJOR change coming with millennials is going to be easily disrupted and possibly made irrelevent. Probably by millennial men/women that get how their demographic thinks and adjust their business accordingly.

With this customer I mentioned one of their rugs is over 100 years old (so they claim) and can't be replaced. Before we picked up the account they had a guy flying in from back home just to "freshin up " their rugs. What he was doing I never really determined but when he passed away they looked pretty bad and they started looking to outsourse it.

They had a bunch of rug washiers come by, everyone disregarded their clearly stated requirments of it being done on site and proceeded to lecture them on why this shouldn't be done. Then they left quotes for hauling them all off on a certain rotational schdule for cleaning. Do you really think the embassy gives a dam what a bunch of rug washiers think about their requirments ? Better question: does any customer ? They don't and for many years that has been a profitable account that has lead to many more accounts, because I was willing to listen to the customer and figure out how to meet their needs instead of making them fit mine. Literally that account and their referrals made up for when I lost the pentagon account the first time (and the last time), and frankly I didn't think I ever recover. That was one of the reasons I sold my security guard company in 2005. I feared I would need more cash to stay afloat. The lesson in it all is things change guys. The industry changes, trends, preferred provider policies, new competetion with much lower costs, and even recession. How many cleaners do you know that didn't survive the recession of 2008-2009 ? How many of those guys would still be around if they took a more long term view of things and changes occuring. There were a ton of hints it was coming and many of us flat missed it.

That's why I posted on this originally and what I thought this board was about, the sharing of ideas.

 

[Mikey P]

Relax Randy, Ron is hea6bly invested in a rug plant, of course he's going to be contrary.


Compound is our friend for the facts that you bring up, rugs that CAN'T leave a home.

 

[randy]

His area may have a demographic that will support a plant, for now. When grandma dies it might not. To me what millennials are buying, doing and thinking tells clearly where we are headed. Unfortunitly that includes politically, so buy your AR-15s now and stockpile non-corrosive ammo while you can.

I hear you on compound. I hate the stuff but picked up a used Host liberator for $260 at a bankruptcy sale and figured I would play with it. Great for inhouse rugs and daycares that demand "all natural" Host because someone told them it was "safer" and all natural. By the way, that bankrupt firm that was liquidated last July, in business since 1969. Anyone want to guess what their main business was besides water damage ? Yep, their state of the art rug plant.

 

[ruff]

I agree with listening to what our clients want and doing our best to accommodate them. Simple, good business practice.

Claiming to know what the Millenials, who as of 2018 are 27 to 37 years of age, is presumptuous. Randy, like others, have no idea what their purchasing habits and trends will be as they mature.

I agree about accommodating the clients, not being stuck with preconceived ideas and I like the passion. The zeal and overconfidence of "knowing" exactly what's going to happen, however, reminds me of a new convert.

 

[Jimmy L]

I BELIEVE!