Time for healing PW industry wounds???
- Thread starter Clean County PW
- Start date
Clean County PW
Active member
Same response.. There's always another bid,another estimate or another job that your competitor may not want because it's to far,there over booked or they just can't do that type of work because there not set-up for it.
I'll come back to this Post in a moment and show you an example of what happen to me....and this has happened on multiple occasions for different type work thru other contractors and Vice a versa
Clean County PW
Active member
If Celeste Gorthrop was still posting here she can confirm this story. I new someone who got a 150+ Kohl stores on the east coast. Because I network like crazy he took 56 of these and the rest he passed over to me to give them out to people I trust. He asked for nothing in return so I didn't either. I wouldn't want nothing in return because I don't want "Your Headache". I'm not a service provider or a PM type. I want to cut those guys out if possible but in all fairness I work with numerous PM's as well.
Those Kohl stores I took 41 of them and Celeste I called took around 17 in her state. They were for entrance way cleanings to be done 2x yr for $285 per store. In my case my 2 fulltimers went out and came back3- 4 days later. We had these stores for 2 yrs which was 4 cleanings total. That was almost $12,000 a clip.. Now that's an out of state example networking. I also met Celeste at one of the biggest Roundtables in history which she held in NC a few yrs earlier.
2nd quick example is a local contractor found these bb's and for whatever reason contacted Carlos Gonzales. Carlos helped this guy out and then refered him to contact me. He did and it was to clean a 100' tall building here. He is not set-up to do this type work. So I took it, met the owners and price it out and got the job. This contractor wouldnt take a %. He only ask if he can call me on occasion when he has questions. He said other contractors he called here don't return his call. No problem. I got more work from this job which totaled over $30,000 this yr alone. This contractor had such a problem getting a chlorine connection here and he even went to a place he heard about that only give contractors with yrs on an account. There a pool company contractor only supply place. As luck would have it that is where I've been doing business for yrs.. So not only did I have his account set-up for him I also paid for a Skid of Chlorine for his disposal. He met me there and he's was excited that I did this for him....but look what he did for me as well....
I have alot of stories like this... its my belief system... of course if I get screwed then all bets are off.
Work with your fellow contractors. Go to an event,Convention, and Roundtables and get to meet them.. your not the smartest person on the planet.. none of us are except for some guy name Stephen Hawkins(Quadrapeligic and not of this Industry).. Learn what they know... give back where you can as well.
If you take away what can happen in business where you think you know it all..... you don't. Learn from others and give it back.
Good luck.
Those Kohl stores I took 41 of them and Celeste I called took around 17 in her state. They were for entrance way cleanings to be done 2x yr for $285 per store. In my case my 2 fulltimers went out and came back3- 4 days later. We had these stores for 2 yrs which was 4 cleanings total. That was almost $12,000 a clip.. Now that's an out of state example networking. I also met Celeste at one of the biggest Roundtables in history which she held in NC a few yrs earlier.
2nd quick example is a local contractor found these bb's and for whatever reason contacted Carlos Gonzales. Carlos helped this guy out and then refered him to contact me. He did and it was to clean a 100' tall building here. He is not set-up to do this type work. So I took it, met the owners and price it out and got the job. This contractor wouldnt take a %. He only ask if he can call me on occasion when he has questions. He said other contractors he called here don't return his call. No problem. I got more work from this job which totaled over $30,000 this yr alone. This contractor had such a problem getting a chlorine connection here and he even went to a place he heard about that only give contractors with yrs on an account. There a pool company contractor only supply place. As luck would have it that is where I've been doing business for yrs.. So not only did I have his account set-up for him I also paid for a Skid of Chlorine for his disposal. He met me there and he's was excited that I did this for him....but look what he did for me as well....
I have alot of stories like this... its my belief system... of course if I get screwed then all bets are off.
Work with your fellow contractors. Go to an event,Convention, and Roundtables and get to meet them.. your not the smartest person on the planet.. none of us are except for some guy name Stephen Hawkins(Quadrapeligic and not of this Industry).. Learn what they know... give back where you can as well.
If you take away what can happen in business where you think you know it all..... you don't. Learn from others and give it back.
Good luck.
Attachments
Scott Stone
New member
The way Ron and I work is we do our thing. If it is an account that is important to the other, we leave it alone. I never targeted his accounts and he never targeted mine, that I know of. I did start servicing one of his accounts and they forgot to tell Ron. His guys pulled up on me. I called Ron and he called his guys off and told me how to clean the account faster. The only reason Ron lost it is because a janitorial company bid it for a dirt cheap price. I got it, did it a couple of months, and they ended up losing the part I was doing in the kitchen to a hood cleaner for an even lower price. I did not extend the same courtesy to the hood cleaner because he "knew it all".
Vince Wood
Active member
I just try and get along with everyone. I'm always willing to help someone out over the phone. Just when you call me don't pretend to be a property manager or a restaurant owner from out of state. If I'm in front of my computer and google their phone number and find out they are actually another power washing service then I'll call them out on it. If I do this, they normally just hang up on me.
The Cleaner
Vetran Washer 30 Years Plus
Many here in FL have subbed out or networked with each other over the years.
Clean County PW
Active member
Beautiful Nick. NY is tough here. But we try(smile)
Guy Blackmon
Roundtable Host 2009
John, an announcement about this will be made at some point, but I don't feel I would be qualified to hold that position. I would rather be part of a enviro-committee (Or Team if you will) using our collective knowledge in whatever capacity is needed for Contractors or the Industry. I could see us working "Hand In Hand" (If Need Be) with regulators to make sure that the misinformation that has been fed to them for the past 15 years about our Industry is corrected. If chosen, I would be honored to serve on a committee like that.....
Clean County PW
Active member
Well when the UAMCC does do an announcement on that and if your chosen to help out that's surely a plus. Being a contractor myself I hope this time someone gets it right and puts a contractor front and center here because if anyone's going to get fined down the road it will be no different then in the past and it will be some contractor who gets the ticket as usual in most cases.
This is why I supported in my UAMCC days to use Consultants whether it be distributors or whomever but a contractor should now be the face here... Because it takes away the "perception" of something not being right.... And as we all know "Perception" can be like an uncalled for Death Sentence.
Good luck Guy & you have my(the outsider coalition 1 man all alone) vote.
Guy Blackmon
Roundtable Host 2009
Kris, you couldn't be more wrong Buddy.....but you are right about LB'ers and the beer & cig crowd, but actually they make us money. When I first started I had that same mentality but learned quickly that working with other Professionals in our area can be very beneficial and I do it all the time. We throw work each others way, help each other out if something breaks, share tips...etc. Of course we only work with about 3 in our area, but work with about 10 Contractors in the State.
Guy Blackmon
Roundtable Host 2009
Who knows John..Maybe, Maybe Not. It will be "Uncharted Territory" something no one or Org. has ever done.
Vince Wood
Active member
Well said Guy. I had a competitor call me last week from the next city over to help him on a job. He was up against the clock on this one. I went out there for 2 full nights, helped him out, we got it done together and everyone was happy. If I ever get in a pinch and need another power washer then I know who to call to help me out. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours is the way I see it.
Clean County PW
Active member
Looking forward to it down the road. Heading to "New Awleens" Thurs.. And got tons of stuff on my mind.. This topic here is at the forefront (like you can't tell..lol) so I'll be scouring the net and yapping it up with a few in the later hours to get some idea's on what's on there minds... Secretly of course(smile).. Darn my wife just looked over my shoulder and saw this... Looks like Karaoke @ the Cat Meow has to come first..oh well.
Good luck regardless.
Kristopher Pettitt
Member
Point proven, and I agree. I'm not totally hard headed that my mind can't be changed. And who knows perhaps I'll try to open communications up with my Riverside Competitors. There are two companies local in my state that has helped me, even another one in a state next to mine. So it's not unheard of that we help each-other, but I do see some that don't help or really do have that agenda to take out their competitor. Maybe it's a grudge or something, I don't know. However I will say this we need our competitors to keep the bar high. If not for my Riverside competitor, I might not work as hard as I do. I may not work on that "quality" or that "satisfied" work that I pride myself on now. I'm always looking at everyone's website to see what they are doing, how they are doing it, and how I can do better?... cause that's me I want to do better. And with-out my competitors I couldn't have a goal. So in short... thank you for opening my eyes.
Shhhhhhh don't tell these folks on do interior work.
Thanks Scott for the props
Text me anytime for question 480-522-5227
Robert you where not in charge at the time , however when a Police officer stood up in houston and said we will just cite pressure washers and let the judge sort it out you told the PWNA bod that Houston is fine.
Why would you report nothing wrong in Houston with those type of comments? Why would you think it would be ok with me to say those things and be acceptable on any level?
Why would you report nothing wrong in Houston with those type of comments? Why would you think it would be ok with me to say those things and be acceptable on any level?
mistersqueegee
New member
Maybe we could rename the thread - Time to wound PW industry heals. Sorry couldn't resist.
I'm giving Ty a Walmart today, if he calls me back. Might actually be two wal-marts
Kris I invited you to a few meetings with others in Cali, will be there in a few weeks. Come over and visit, I help others and often others help me. Just got a lead on two joints today from a competitor that is to busy to handle the work.
I also throw guys here in my area work occassionally, I use Ty for all residential leads. Unless they are high end rust removal , I have enjoyed taking those myself at 600 to 1000 for 30 minutes of work.
Kristopher Pettitt
Member
You know I'm always up for a meeting. and thank you. I would love to get more personally involved in my industry and not be one of those that sit on the side line.