Warning Sign in the Cleaning Business

Marketing a service is unlike marketing a hard goods commodity. It is intangible until it is produced. A customer or prospect cannot among other things, test drive it, admire the color, or feel the texture of a service. In advertising, a service could be distorted or misrepresented before it is actually performed.

Unfortunately, our industry has "bait and switch" operators. They make it tough on the rest of us, as an unhappy customer may feel all carpet cleaners are the same. Be on the alert for such cleaners and be prepared to adjust your advertising to combat them.

Other warning signs may point to your current advertising strategy. Some questions to ask yourself.

1. Do sales gimmicks and promotions no longer bring in calls? They may be stale or or out of date.
2. Price becomes the driving force in booking jobs. Do not "sell" your company short.
3. Customers tell you they did not know you offered a certain service. Re-evaluate your marketing.
4. Referrals and repeat customers drop in proportion to total sales. Is your service still as good as it once was?

Continued monitoring of these and other aspects of our business, is something that we do at Bane-Clene® on a consistent basis.

Related information on the Bane-Clene web site:

• ABCs of Advertising
• Bait and Switch in the Carpet Cleaning Business.

Thank you for reading Bane’s Blog^®.

Please read the latest issue of the Clene-Times^® at www.baneclene.com/publications/.

Please visit our new and improved web site at www.baneclene.com.

The Bane-Clene^® Team.

Cleaning Demo Proves Safety of System

We often are asked, “is the Bane-Clene® System safe and effective on all carpets?” If we are not able to show them in person, then we share this information with them.

Our service division has often rented booth space and displayed our System at Flower & Patio Shows, Home Shows and similar shows. The obvious purpose was to be able to demonstrate our service to a live audience.

At one such show, we exhibited a truck-mounted unit and performed a marathon type of demonstration. We poured different types of stain-causing foods, liquids and particulate matter on to a piece of carpeting.

When we turned on the equipment (inside the exhibit hall), a crowd would immediately gather. We would make a few passes over the soiled carpet to remove the mess. We would then answer any questions and pass out literature.

Over the 10 day run of the show, these were the statistics:

• 12 demos per hour
• 108 demos per day
• 1080 demos during the show
• Over 4000 passes (wet and dry) over the carpet

While using the same piece of carpeting, we were able to show that there was no wear or delamination of the carpet. Besides showing the effectiveness of the Bane-Clene® System, we were also able to demonstrate how safe and gentle it is on fibers.

Thank you for reading Bane's Blog®

Related information on the Bane-Clene web site:

• Bane-Clene “Truck-mounted” Carpet Cleaning Equipment.
• Carpet Care the Bane-Clene® Way
• Carpet Cleaning Chemicals
• Carpet Spot and Stain Removal Guidelines
• Hot Water Extraction Cleaning of Carpet (Steam Cleaning, HWE).
• Pro Equipment Guide Overview
• Spot and Stain Removal General Tips

Thank you for reading Bane’s Blog^®.

Please read the latest issue of the Clene-Times^® at www.baneclene.com/clenetimes.html.

Please visit our new and improved web site at www.baneclene.com.

The Bane-Clene^® Team.

About Product Safety

Periodically, there will be an article in the news about damage caused by a Carpet Cleaner. Whether it be an accident, equipment malfunction or "ruined" carpeting, it can cause the public to be concerned about our industry.

The overwhelming majority of the work accomplished by our industry is done safely and without incident. Most of the accidents that occurred have been a result of carelessness or not following instructions. However, when you compare the handful of unfortunate accidents or problems to the economics of the industry, it is quite apparent that these incidents are proportionately small.

Billions of dollars circulate each year due to cleaning and related products and functions. Millions of gallons and pounds of cleaning chemicals are used without incident by thousands of cleaners. The results are cleaner carpets and a healthier environment for all of us.

A true professional always follows all the instructions on product labels. They maintain their equipment so that it is operating at top efficiency. They pride themselves on their techniques and customer relations. To that end, it is important to purchase your products and equipment from a Company that adheres to the same principals as you do.

At Bane-Clene^®, we continue to work hard to earn your trust, today, tomorrow and as we have for the over 55 years.

Related information on the Bane-Clene web site:

• Bane-Clene “Truck-mounted” Carpet Cleaning Equipment.
• Carpet Care the Bane-Clene® Way
• Carpet Cleaning Chemicals
• Hot Water Extraction Cleaning of Carpet (Steam Cleaning, HWE).

Thank you for reading Bane’^®s Blog^®.

Please read the latest issue of the Clene-Times^® at www.baneclene.com/clenetimes.html.

Please visit our new and improved web site at www.baneclene.com.

The Bane-Clene^® Team.

Grit is Hard on Floors and Carpeting

Hard surface floors become dingy and dull from the scratches inflicted by shoes and grit. These floors need to be cleaned often to protect them from damage and to keep them looking good. The cost of maintaining them is usually higher than carpeting and potentially labor intensive.

Since dirt and grit can hide in a carpet, some people like to state that cleaning is not required like a hardwood floor. While true carpets should still be professionally cleaned at least once a year and vacuumed frequently. If traffic patterns require it, then daily vacuuming and more frequent cleaning is better for the life of the carpet. When grit and sand "scratch" carpet fibers, that causes the light to refract differently. The result is a "dull" appearance.

When that occurs, consumers go back to the retailers and complain. They claim the carpet is hardly used, has been down several years and looks terrible. If properly questioned, they will probably admit to infrequent vacuuming and the fact that it has never been professionally cleaned.

Both the carpet industry and we the carpet cleaners must continue to educate the public that grit does harm carpets. Regular vacuuming and proper professional cleaning cycles will help the consumer maintain the beauty of their carpets. This will give them a longer life and improve the public's opinion of carpeting and lessen complaints and claims against Mills and Retailers.

The other upside of this is more work for our industry.

Related information on the Bane-Clene web site:

• Bane-Clene “Truck-mounted” Carpet Cleaning Equipment.
• Carpet Care the Bane-Clene® Way
• Comparison of Carpet Cleaning Methods.
• Hot Water Extraction Cleaning of Carpet (Steam Cleaning, HWE).
• Resoiling after Carpet Cleaning.
• Wood Floor Care for Professionals

Thank you for reading Bane’s Blog^®.

Please read the latest issue of the Clene-Times^® at www.baneclene.com/clenetimes.html.

Please visit our new and improved web site at www.baneclene.com.

The Bane-Clene^® Team.