Jeff Bishop - creator of the "rug bath"...

[LisaWagnerCRS]

Just saw that posted on Dusty's site...

...since when did Jeff invent the "rug bath"? Wash pits have been around for years and years - and Phil Auserehlian made his mark with them "officially" before Jeff was even considering that rugs might have some money in it for him.

I imagine all of these guys need to try to make some money, because I just can't imagine Ellen Amirkhan lowering herself to being on a webinar with Jeff Bishop, and having them both presented as "rug experts".

She is - he is not. But... sometimes your best advertising is your worst competitor, so she might get some bites to her program as a result.

Perhaps she can stump him with "how do you tell a hand woven rug versus machine woven" and he can fumble and go down for the count.

The rug cleaning BS is making me want to go check out the drug plant next to my rug plant. LMAO.

Lisa

 

[Bjorn]

Ruth Travis the original rug chick

 

[LisaWagnerCRS]

Ruth Travis the original rug chick

LOL... Odin the original rug prick... hey you guys would make a cute couple!

But seriously... Jeff went and saw Phil's system before he ever had a clue about rugs. How can he say he invented the rug bath - it's just nuts.

Lisa

 

[Bjorn]

your jealous you did not think of saying you invented it first

you kept it one of your rug secrets

Loozer

 

[Jimbo]

Actually, Lisa...you and Terry are like peas in a pod!...You just haven't noticed yet!

 

[Mikey P]

No kidding Jimbo.




Shall we invite Ruthie to the debunking Rug Cleaning Myths @ Nashville?

 

[sweendogg]

Lisa.. how some real questions... lol not that we aren't all having fun!

Planning on Joining the ARCS? I'll be down at Deep Eddy's end of April, and looking foward to a real rug cleaners association.

 

[rhyde]

I'm flabbergasted!!





people still post on the rug hub...really?

 

[Jimbo]

ARCS???? Please explain!

 

[CCINW]

An association of rug cleaners, started by former members of ASCR/RIA. In many cases they are the descendents of the people that started the National Institute of Rug Cleaning, which became the Association of Interior Design Specialists when they included carpet, upholstery and drapery cleaners. Aids as an acronym for a disease forced the next name change, and the Association of Specialist in Cleaning and Restoration reflected the inclusion of water damage specialists. The recent name change to the Restoration Industry Association indicated how much the organization had been taken over by restoration contractors so time to start over with a focus on rugs again.

No website yet, but they do have a Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Association-of-Rug-Care-Specialist/191930807485676

 

[Ron K]

Association of Rug Cleaning Sociopaths.

 

[The Great Oz]

Association of Rug Cleaning Sociopaths.

My kind of people.


Anyone that cleans rugs would do well to be part of this group:

 

[Cameron1]

Ruth Travis the original rug chick

LOL... Odin the original rug prick... hey you guys would make a cute


She laid one in on ya there, Otis

 

[LisaWagnerCRS]

No kidding Jimbo.




Shall we invite Ruthie to the debunking Rug Cleaning Myths @ Nashville?

That would be perfect, she'd be my "live" example of how not to build a rug cleaning business. And I could share some examples of students' clients' rugs ruined in class with a bath cleaning but not the right understanding of rug cleaning.

I think they will be on their way to Australia to share more of their misinformation to a new crowd. Not a one of them knows how to build a growing rug business - and the tools are cool, and you can find ways to make them work in your own set-up... but if you are trying to learn how to actually get in the orders and land them - yeah, I would not be learning from anyone who has not built up a solid business in the field first. When they can't do it, they teach it, they add more regulations and fees to bankroll more, and that's just how IICRC works for instructors like them.

I hope the host over in Australia makes some money on it - most suppliers lose their ass on holding that class.

Lisa

 

[LisaWagnerCRS]

Lisa.. how some real questions... lol not that we aren't all having fun!

Planning on Joining the ARCS? I'll be down at Deep Eddy's end of April, and looking foward to a real rug cleaners association.

You know... it depends. It's some of the same people who were running the NIRC division at RIA/ASCR - and none in the group are really savvy marketers. When you have rug companies that have been around for 100+ years, you kinda rely on the fact that "you've just always been there" and are not plugged into how to get more and better business.

When I look for networks to join, I think about what I can do to help/add, but also who can I learn more from and grow from - and with this group, I just don't know. Ellen and Aaron started it up - and they know stuff for sure. But a networking and association group - you look at every one in our industry right now, and they are shrinking and falling to the wayside... and here they are, starting up the same thing in the same way, just another cover over it. But basically a "club" to chat about rugs... and I can get that in lots of other places right now without having to pay to join, and then pay to meet.

I guess I feel like I want to be part of something more fun, a younger innovating crowd, and something that I know will multiply results either through referrals or adding more capabilities to my arsenal of business tools.

It just seems like yet one more trade association. Kinda like IICRC talking about creating a new national trade association and wanting us to get excited about it... if it's the same old people creating this "new" thing - can we really expect their NTA to kick ass?

New blood, new ideas, new energy - that's what I'm looking for.

But I'm sure you will have fun talking about rugs. =)

Lisa

 

[LisaWagnerCRS]

Actually, Lisa...you and Terry are like peas in a pod!...You just haven't noticed yet!

Yeah... I know he enjoys the boxing as much as I do...
:mrgreen:

 

[The Great Oz]

Oops, they do have a web site: http://www.rugcarespecialists.org/

In some ways I agree with you Lisa, many associations are sort of bound to the way they've always done things and are afraid to change things up to try and bring more value to members. Of course the rug cleaners were sort of the moral compass of the ASCR/RIA so I hope the best of the restorers continue to be chosen for leadership there. At least it is a very cleanly run organization with very little personal profit driving the volunteers. I'd guess the ARCS group will continue to have the same level of integrity.

In this way I disagree that marketing should drive everything. Spending time with people that have built solidly successful companies has always turned into profitable ideas for me, so I'm somewhat OK with the club concept. The things you pick up from being around "the club" members go more to the heart and soul of what makes a company really great in addition to just looking and seeming great. These folks are successful without drama and without shifting everytime the wind changes because they have such a depth of knowledge about their business... even if they don't understand this week's marketing gotta-do.



PS: I think Deep Eddy's rainwater recycling has been one of the most successful marketing schemes in a long time. The company established a reputation that competitors can now only copy. Pretty savvy for an lil' ole Austin rug cleaner.

 

[LisaWagnerCRS]

Oops, they do have a web site: http://www.rugcarespecialists.org/

In some ways I agree with you Lisa, many associations are sort of bound to the way they've always done things and are afraid to change things up to try and bring more value to members. Of course the rug cleaners were sort of the moral compass of the ASCR/RIA so I hope the best of the restorers continue to be chosen for leadership there. At least it is a very cleanly run organization with very little personal profit driving the volunteers. I'd guess the ARCS group will continue to have the same level of integrity.

In this way I disagree that marketing should drive everything. Spending time with people that have built solidly successful companies has always turned into profitable ideas for me, so I'm somewhat OK with the club concept. The things you pick up from being around "the club" members go more to the heart and soul of what makes a company really great in addition to just looking and seeming great. These folks are successful without drama and without shifting everytime the wind changes because they have such a depth of knowledge about their business... even if they don't understand this week's marketing gotta-do.



PS: I think Deep Eddy's rainwater recycling has been one of the most successful marketing schemes in a long time. The company established a reputation that competitors can now only copy. Pretty savvy for an lil' ole Austin rug cleaner.

I hope you are right Bryan. After so many NIRC meetings, and not seeing much come to life, I guess I'm a bit jaded by it.

My point on the marketing is more just the "hanging" with people innovating new ways to reach new people... since all of my marketing strategies are education-based, that's cool ways to get the value to the right people.

I understand the "club" attraction, and I do like talking rugs... I just already have lots of groups I do that with already - so I'm looking for what is the cool "hook" that the new group brings - what makes it better than what they had before with NIRC?

I'm sure I'll join, because I've always supported trade associations... I guess I'm just wondering what's new.

Though you being in it, and David, and Deep Eddy - you're right, it would at the very least be some solid conversations with companies more solid than most in the cleaning niche.

I'm open to it... just waiting to see if it's temporary enthusiasm, or if it's going to actually take action.

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[sweendogg]

Oops, they do have a web site: http://www.rugcarespecialists.org/

In some ways I agree with you Lisa, many associations are sort of bound to the way they've always done things and are afraid to change things up to try and bring more value to members. Of course the rug cleaners were sort of the moral compass of the ASCR/RIA so I hope the best of the restorers continue to be chosen for leadership there. At least it is a very cleanly run organization with very little personal profit driving the volunteers. I'd guess the ARCS group will continue to have the same level of integrity.

In this way I disagree that marketing should drive everything. Spending time with people that have built solidly successful companies has always turned into profitable ideas for me, so I'm somewhat OK with the club concept. The things you pick up from being around "the club" members go more to the heart and soul of what makes a company really great in addition to just looking and seeming great. These folks are successful without drama and without shifting everytime the wind changes because they have such a depth of knowledge about their business... even if they don't understand this week's marketing gotta-do.



PS: I think Deep Eddy's rainwater recycling has been one of the most successful marketing schemes in a long time. The company established a reputation that competitors can now only copy. Pretty savvy for an lil' ole Austin rug cleaner.

Actuelly Bryan, that is the exact Merit that both My Father and I see in this "club." We have quietly been around for almost 60 years ourselves.. granted we are just in our toddler years of cleaning, but we have steered a steady course that has kept us profitable through some pretty sparse times. While my grandfather and Father were never Marketing Guru's they always had a tight thumb on the pulse of the business and they did what they had to do to make an honest living. I hope to slowly take it to the next level.

 

[rhyde]

what are the membership dues?

 

[sweendogg]

I'll let you know once I find out.