Yup.
Dropped about 350 leaflets at the weekend before cursing my stupidity at wearing my old, clean boots which I haven't worn for four years instead of my mucky lovely Wonderboots which have done a hundred miles recently and hobbling home with shitty blisters. Calls so far: 0. There's plenty of time though.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 8:54, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

I think you need to be patient, your chances of hitting someones house

at the exact time that they need your services are slim, you can therefore only hop they hold onto your flyer and remember it when they do need you!
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 8:57, Reply)

Indeed.
Patience is the only thing I can have! Trouble is, the way it's planned at the moment I need a batch of work to show to the bank so I can ask for a small loan. If I get one or two jobs now and none for another week or two, that plan goes out of the window haha as I won't have the gear to do the two jobs I've already got. It's a tricky one. Fortunately I'm managing to save money at the moment so even if it doesn't take off straight away I'll eventually hopefully have enough money to fund it, or something else, myself.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:07, Reply)

Remind us what service you are offering

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:08, Reply)

I know what service I wish he was offering.
*does dirty old woman face*
( girlinthehole, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:09, Reply)

Me-ow!

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:12, Reply)

Window cleaning and lawn mowing.
Neither of which I'm equipped in the slightest to undertake at the moment! I'm starting to feel a bit out of my depth if I'm honest.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:10, Reply)

*lends scissors and jay-cloth*

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:12, Reply)

A touch labour-intensive
but thankyou kindly.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:13, Reply)

Things should pick up at Easter
Now the weather is improving, them lawns are going to grow like, well, lawns.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:14, Reply)

I reckon that'll be my main income.
I'm starting to suspect that the market is somewhat saturated with window cleaners which is a shame as it's work I really enjoy doing and I'm bloody good at it. Give it a couple of years when daughter's finished her exams and I might move to somewhere with a gap in the market and try again.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:16, Reply)

The market is only saturated with crap tradesmen
If you make sure you are utterly reliable, then you should get on. I can't find one in Luton.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:21, Reply)

True.
I'd need to be reasonably established to be able to carry that off really. I need potential business to get a loan for the gear and without a reasonable threshold of that potential there's no point in me trying the bank. Fortunately I'm already in a job so if it doesn't pick-up straight away I'll be able to save and plug away at getting business over the coming months.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:25, Reply)

Good advice
I despair of window cleaners who turn up once and then you never see them again............
(Purpledoris I've got afeckin' job, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:35, Reply)

I've never understood that.
Repeat business is your bread-and-butter. If there was a job I didn't particularly like I'd still go and do it and maybe increase the price a little to make up for it. If there was a job I couldn't do for any reason I'd give it to another cleaner.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:41, Reply)

Try knocking on a few doors as well.
Once they see you're a respectable young chap, then they may be more responsive to employing you.
( girlinthehole, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:18, Reply)

I'm almost militantly against touting for business like that
but it might come to it. I noticed there's a surprising number of houses with those 'We do not buy at this door' signs - probably 20-25% of the houses I've dropped so far have them, and it bugs the shit out of me when people hassle me for business at my front door.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:20, Reply)

I guess you're right.
*puts thinking cap back on*
( girlinthehole, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 9:24, Reply)