March 2004
In This Issue:
- FAQ - Sample Questions From MDCSP Members
- A typical Day in the life Of a Mobile Dry Cleaner
- Are You Focused - Do You Have A PMA
FAQ - Sample Questions From MDCSP Members
The majority of MDCSP members are people
just like yourself who have had questions and concerns about starting their
own Mobile Dry Cleaning Business. Many of the questions I receive have
been often times asked by another. After reviewing our FAQ's, I
decided that posting some of the more pertinent questions and answers of
those already operating a Mobile Dry Cleaner Business, can shed some light
to those of you who are still in doubt or want to know more about what this
business actually involves. In keeping with our privacy policy names
and personal information will be excluded from the question, but where
possible I will include initials of the questionnaires.
I hope you will find some of these comments and answers
helpful:
Q. Can you share you secret on how you get
those 500 customer. your advertising method, the time it took you and the
lenght mileage of the route
thank for helping ...P
thank for helping ...P
A. I cannot take credit for that. I
was acquired by a very large cleaners in my area and they gave me their
customer base in my area and when we merged them with mine there was over
500. i had around 200 when that happened. I concentrated on
businesses and mainly grew from referrals and meeting other employees as I
delivered. If I had to start over completely I would concentrate on
residential and go door-to-door and introduce myself and sign up people that
way. Every big-time route person I have ever spoken to has told me the
same thing: door knocking in good neighborhoods is the way to go.
I would not spend a dime in any type of advertising. No coupons, no
direct mail no nothing! Save the money for bags, business cards, a
website, and of course GAS!...D
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Comment - Just wanted to say thanks! I
hope people take advantage of this opportunity to share our thoughts and
strategies with each other. I am a single Mom who was laid off after
9-11 and decided to start my own business. It's been about 4 months
now and I have steadily shown an increase month after month. Of
course, there have been some challenges and I'm hoping that people with some
more experience will use this forum so we can assist each other. I know I
will help with whatever I can. I'm working on a website (no
budget,teaching myself) so if anyone has any suggestions, it would be
appreciated. Carol, thanks for the manual, it really helped. The most
important thing you said in it is "nothing works better than good old
door-to-door sales." Anyone thinking about this business,
REMEMBER THAT!
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Q. I was just wondering is there anybody
that is being successful at this yet and what is the driving factor of your
success? ...M
A. Hi M..., my driving factor is FREEDOM. I'm a single Mom and have been doing this for just 4 months. I love the flexability it affords me and right now am able to meet all my expenses. The key is to keep the costs down and STAY ORGANIZED!
Anything I can do to help just ask. GOOD LUCK! ...A
A. Hi M..., my driving factor is FREEDOM. I'm a single Mom and have been doing this for just 4 months. I love the flexability it affords me and right now am able to meet all my expenses. The key is to keep the costs down and STAY ORGANIZED!
Anything I can do to help just ask. GOOD LUCK! ...A
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Q. I am just about to set a deal with an
office building in my town for pick up and delivery. There are 300
people in this building. Is there a rule of thumb of what the
percentage is of participation for a group this large. If anybody has
any kind of advice I will be gald to read. ...M
A. Work out a deal with a couple of
eateries in your area. What you want is free food any way you can get
it. First send out in your next billing or whatever to your route
"FREE FOOD FOR REFFERAL"
Then invite every manager or head honcho to lunch
at your free food eateries in exchange for help with inside promotions to staff. The eaterie will want to do this for the free advertising you will provide them by way of your current & future customers. Almost like a personal refferal from you to him. MAKE SURE YOU LIKE THE FOOD SERVICE!!!!
As for # of people using you, there is no way to accurately tell you that answer price, quality, access to your new 300 potentials ect ...T
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Q. What is the best way to approach plotting off the exact routes (street by street) you will sell to? Do I need a city directory? And how would I obtain that?
Do you keep a master record of the homes on your streets that are not a customer yet?
Thanks for any help you have on these subjects! ...J
Then invite every manager or head honcho to lunch
at your free food eateries in exchange for help with inside promotions to staff. The eaterie will want to do this for the free advertising you will provide them by way of your current & future customers. Almost like a personal refferal from you to him. MAKE SURE YOU LIKE THE FOOD SERVICE!!!!
As for # of people using you, there is no way to accurately tell you that answer price, quality, access to your new 300 potentials ect ...T
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Q. What is the best way to approach plotting off the exact routes (street by street) you will sell to? Do I need a city directory? And how would I obtain that?
Do you keep a master record of the homes on your streets that are not a customer yet?
Thanks for any help you have on these subjects! ...J
A. Hi J,
1.Get a local street map of the area. They can be purchased at most convenience stores, local food markets, or on-line keyword-maps. It may take several trips through a community before you plot the route that is most efficient, but after that, you will know the area and the light bulb will come on. Routes are always changing as you are adding new customers, streets and communities to your market and a map can help you define your territories.
2.You can never keep to many records. In the beginning everything is new and confusing, but as time goes on you will become very familiar with the streets and homes in the communities you service and you will refer less and less to this log.
3. But, by all means, do keep a record of any homes that post a house for Sale or Sold sign. New homeowners are the best source for new business, and once the sign has been removed you can overlook the change in ownership and thereby miss a golden opportunity.
1.Get a local street map of the area. They can be purchased at most convenience stores, local food markets, or on-line keyword-maps. It may take several trips through a community before you plot the route that is most efficient, but after that, you will know the area and the light bulb will come on. Routes are always changing as you are adding new customers, streets and communities to your market and a map can help you define your territories.
2.You can never keep to many records. In the beginning everything is new and confusing, but as time goes on you will become very familiar with the streets and homes in the communities you service and you will refer less and less to this log.
3. But, by all means, do keep a record of any homes that post a house for Sale or Sold sign. New homeowners are the best source for new business, and once the sign has been removed you can overlook the change in ownership and thereby miss a golden opportunity.
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Q. Does anyone have a sample contract they
could send me? A contract between you and the dry cleaner doing your
dry cleaning? If you don't have a sample could you tell me where you
had one drawn up? ... K
A. I'm not using a contract with my cleaners
and most mobile dry cleaners I've talked to don't either. We have a
verbal agreement and some prices in writing and it's working out okay.
I feel more comfortable doing it that way at this point because if I need to
change cleaners due to dis-satisfaction, I can do so pretty easily. ...J
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Q. appreciate your help. Thanks for
your input.
I agree that a good image is extremely helpful. Have you been doing this long?
Do you offer any other services with the Dry Cleaning? I have toying with the idea of offering DVD/VHS rentals. Seems like it would fit. ...G
I agree that a good image is extremely helpful. Have you been doing this long?
Do you offer any other services with the Dry Cleaning? I have toying with the idea of offering DVD/VHS rentals. Seems like it would fit. ...G