How did you get your biggest account?

[Chris A]

Most successful cleaning businesses seem to have one or two clients who feed them a ton of work. Without one of ours my cleaning biz would not be where it is today, I've been working on a couple huge accounts for a very long time, so's got me thinking...

 

[Ken Snow]

That would really only apply to carpet cleaners who rely on commercial bus for a large portion of their revenue Chris, don'tcha think? Tghis is a very dangerous place to be cause as soon as either their bus suffers or management hanges there could be a new cleaner givn the job.

 

[Chris A]

Well obviously I based that on my own business Ken, but many cleaners I talk to who clean mostly residential have one client, be it a realtor, referral source, or just a crazy lady who won't shut up about them shiteatinggrin , that give them a ton of biz. Having large accounts can be dangerous, but the big ones give a lot of stability if you can hang on to them...

 

[Charlie Lyman]

our biggest acct tried a couple of other cleaners and either they didn't do a good job, or they didn't have a good enough apperance for the facilities. One of their employees gave them my number.

 

[Jimmy L]

On the big accounts it pays to smooze everyone.

That includes their employees with little gifts like candy when you see them.

You never know when new management comes in and you will be gone.

So it pays to smooze your "cheerleaders".

 

[rhyde]

By being there when the other guy dropped the ball for the 6 or 7th time

 

[Chris A]

By being there when the other guy dropped the ball for the 6 or 7th time

I'm waiting on the seventh time on a couple that I'm pursuing...

 

[Scott S.]

Presentation.. Show them pics, show them examples, do a demo.. give away spotters..

 

[XTREME1]

On the big accounts it pays to smooze everyone.

That includes their employees with little gifts like candy when you see them.

You never know when new management comes in and you will be gone.

So it pays to smooze your "cheerleaders".

Totally disagree. Keep doing great work for everyone and ask for referrals. Residential will bring you small business, small business will bring you midsize accounts. If you are capable of bigger ones then the midsize will bring larger. They don't want to see you , hear you or talk to you. They want it done when they schedule and done really well at a reasonable price. You schmooze beyond basic business you become a punchline

 

[Jeremy]

Cold calling. I walked in and asked for the opportunity to earn their business.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Jimmy's right on the money, sorry Matt.

Take care of the "little" people and you never know when they will have the key to the BIG account.

A grumpy elderly lady got me into MSU, and a harried young mom got me into a Chemical Plant account that paid us over $30k a year for ten years.

38 years experience talking,
Thanks,
Lee

 

[XTREME1]

I guess I was wrong on how I got my biggest accounts. Sheesh

So lee you went into business and gave gifts out to people you didn't know before you had their business? How does that work

 

[Dolly Llama]

On the big accounts it pays to smooze everyone.

That includes their employees with little gifts like candy when you see them.

You never know when new management comes in and you will be gone.

So it pays to smooze your "cheerleaders".

Totally disagree. Keep doing great work for everyone and ask for referrals. Residential will bring you small business, small business will bring you midsize accounts. If you are capable of bigger ones then the midsize will bring larger. They don't want to see you , hear you or talk to you. They want it done when they schedule and done really well at a reasonable price. You schmooze beyond basic business you become a punchline

I disagree with your total disagreement ...but not totally....
it "pays" to schmooze 'em all
Not some canned emotional response psychological manipulation tactics they teach arrogant jocks in chArm skool,
but genuine pleasantry and making a "connection' with all-de-peeps you come in contact with

as far the referral thingie leading to bigger and better things.... that I agree with
that's why I don't totally disagree with your total disagreement


..L.T.A.

 

[Dolly Llama]

I guess I was wrong on how I got my biggest accounts. Sheesh

no one said you were wrong about how you got "your" accounts
just that you're a duMb jock..... :shock:


.L.T.A.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Not "gifts" which are sometimes viewed (accurately?) as a form of bribery.

I meant giving the everyone the feeling that they are your most important customer.

I'm even careful about how I treat their dog...

Thanks,
Lee

 

[John G.]

Sold the state of Kentucky on the superiotity of OP, landed us a $20,000.00 contract plus sold OP equipment to the state for
thier maintaining of thier own carpets.

 

[XTREME1]

I don't understand how does that land you big accounts. They aren't customers yet


Signed dumb jock

 

[Dolly Llama]

I don't understand how does that land you big accounts.


Signed dumb jock

who, me?

it opens doors that might of otherwise been neglected or not known of

did you read the thread question?

yeaya

"how'd you get your biggest account"

so were you in "total disagreement" with how Jimmy gets his?

or just being disagreeable.............


signed, the dude that was making out with the dumb jocks girlfriends when they sweatin' their azz off at practice :mrgreen:

..L.T.A.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Sold the state of Kentucky on the superiotity of OP, landed us a $20,000.00 contract plus sold OP equipment to the state for
thier maintaining of thier own carpets.

Did our crooked one term republican governor have anything to do with it? Reason I ask is that we still do a lot of hwe for the state here.

I will add that we bought our first OP from John to do a very delicate (old) wool carpet in the Law Library at MSU. Job turned out great!

Thanks,
Lee

 

[John G.]

LOL, Lee, we do things differently here close to Frankfort.... We were the only ones who
dared to the old civil war captial, they were so afraid of damaging the 40 year old wool
carpets in there.

 

[XTREME1]

I was asking lee Larry

 

[daniel@procarpet]

On the big accounts it pays to smooze everyone.

That includes their employees with little gifts like candy when you see them.

You never know when new management comes in and you will be gone.

So it pays to smooze your "cheerleaders".

Totally disagree. Keep doing great work for everyone and ask for referrals. Residential will bring you small business, small business will bring you midsize accounts. If you are capable of bigger ones then the midsize will bring larger. They don't want to see you , hear you or talk to you. They want it done when they schedule and done really well at a reasonable price. You schmooze beyond basic business you become a punchline

Greg I agree with you on this one. If you can do the job right and show up on time, that alone is about all it takes. If the customer has faith in you that you will do a good job on time then you are set. I call it worry free service because they can call you and not have to worry about a thing.

 

[harryhides]

A very large and impressive account can be a great reference and add credibility but it can also be dangerous if you rely on it too much.
I got this large Government account ( $1.5 mil over 5 yrs - was a bit painful when it was over ) and a few others by being the "go to guy" with carpet repairs and color repairs and other problem solving success stories. The one good thing about these large accounts is that their managers know all of the other property managers in town and refer anyone that can do the job right.

No gifts here - just a break when doing senior staff's own homes.

 

[steve frasier]

Jimmy and Greg are both correct

it really depends on how you got the account

I have a few that I have lost because of price, those accounts I still would have lost even if I was schmoozing them

I have a few accounts, because they are tired of poor workmanship for the low ball price they were paying, I don't have to do a thing to keep them

I have a few I got from refered or priced matched, I schmooze them to keep them

I have a couple that just stopped all together, they have the employees clean it up, because they were tired of my price and were not going to pay for crap anymore

 

[dealtimeman]

i usually demo and then when they call i accomodate them as much as needed. i luv when they say " the other company told me that would never look good again".