Could this be a big part of what's wrong today?

After WWII a stranger came to live with us. We were fascinated with this newcomer and he was quickly accepted. He kept us spellbound for hours with stories of adventure, mystery and comedy. He took us to major league ball games, made us laugh, and made us cry. He never stopped talking, but we didn't seem to mind.

Our household was ruled by certain moral convictions, but this stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity was not allowed in our home but the stranger used words that made us squirm and blush. He encourages the use of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes and talks freely about sex, yet he's never been asked to leave our home.

More than fifty years have passed since he moved in with us. He is not as fascinating as he once was, but he still sits in his corner waiting for someone to listen to him. His name? We just call him T.V. for short.

Author unknown

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Phone closing tips

After giving a quote on the phone, try not to allow a lull in the conversation. Ask tactfully for the order by saying, “Were you thinking of having the work done this week?” If the answer is affirmative, ask, “Would you prefer a weekday or Saturday?” If a preferred day is mentioned say, “Just a moment please while I check the schedule to see if we can do it for you on (day).” Come back with, “Thank you for waiting. We can do that for you. May I put you on our schedule?”

And don’t forget to ask about getting paid. “Will that be cash, check or charge?” If the response is “charge,” say, “We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Which would you prefer?” Once in a while a prospect will say, "I don't believe in plastic, just send me a bill." Be polite and explain that your bookkeeping system does not have a billing function. If you lose the job, you may be better off.

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Practicing free speech (while it's still allowed)

To my representatives in congress:

The Postal Service was born in 1775 and in 234 years you couldn't get it right. FDR was the chief architect of Social Security in 1935 and Fannie Mae in 1938. Johnson's "War on Poverty" that began in 1964, confiscated trillions of dollars in wealth to give to "the poor." All it did was create more poor people who are socially and morally bankrupt. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965 and Freddie Mac came along in 1970. They're all broke.

Trillions were spent by Bush in the massive political payoffs called TARP* in 2008. Obama cooked up the Stimulus bill and the Omnibus Appropriations Act in 2009. The ACORN and APOLLO projects, along with tons of pork in other congressional bills have put American taxpayers in a financial hole for generations to come.

Cash for Clunkers was founded in 2009, and went broke in a record two months. Good cars that were the best that some folks could afford were replaced with high priced, mostly Japanese, cars. A big chunk of those profits went overseas. Thousands of those cars will be repossessed soon because buyers couldn't afford them and shouldn't have bought them.

With that perfect, 100% failure rate, now you want me to trust you with my health care? With all of the respect that is due to you, thanks but no thanks!

Bill Bane

P. S. Does the proposed new health care bill exempt politicians from having to participate?

P. P. S. Have you read this bill or is it like the others you signed without reading?

P. P. P. S. There's an ugly rumor that congressional pensions are funded by AIG. Is that the reason you gave them so much money?

* The corrupt banking industry, governed by the Federal Reserve Board (a product of the CFR (Council of Foreign Relations)** got nearly all of those funds to buy other banks, hold expensive retreats and declare new profits and big bonuses for their employees. As an old TV pitchman used to say, "Isn't that amazing!"

** It doesn't matter which party is in power. If you really want to understand this mess, read The Shadows of Power, by James Perloff. It exposes the CFR (New York money establishment gang) that is really ru(i)nning our country.

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Remember that giant sucking sound?

Ross Perot brought it to our attention in 1992. But he was concerned with Mexico which may be the least of our problems now. The sucking sound we hear today is the value of our currency declining in a cloud of national debt.

In 1988, I read The Shadows of Power, by James Perloff. I skimmed it, didn't give it much credibility and thought the author to be radical. In 2006 I came across that book again and read it thoroughly this time. Then I read it again to make sure I didn't misunderstand.

Perloff's book is about corruption, greed, war, banking, political influence and one-world government via the UN. He took a hard look at the history of the CFR (Council on Foreign Relations), the WB (World Bank) and the IMF (International Monetary Fund). He was convincing because he printed references for every sordid allegation he made.

The world situation today, the economy, politics, banking and especially the antics of the Federal Reserve Board convince me that Perloff was very accurate. The last three administrations in Washington and the current crop of elected officials, supposedly representing the voice of the people, proves that his unbelievable opinions were right on the money.

The Shadows of Power is not an easy read and was never very popular because most people don't like the truth. But, if you want to understand why our politics, economy and society are heading south, it will help you do that. Reading this book may even give you a good sense of direction in your planning for the future.

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Follow the money!

The simple program that Ron Van Gelderen wanted that would recognize reputable carpet cleaners has been co-opted by private interests. Politics and greed have replaced ideals and simplicity. Circumvention of carpet warranties seems to be high on the agenda. Certain mills want to eliminate certain cleaning products but they want to do it through the offices of CRI™ and "independent testing" programs. Apparently they don't have the courage to do it themselves or they may fear legal ramifications.

Cleaning carpet is not a particularly difficult chore, but there are some who wish to make it seem more complicated than it really is. Tethering carpet cleaners and suppliers to a never-ending progression of hoops and fees under the guise of approved products and services can be profitable for CRI. Some educational interests (IICRC®) have joined with CRI to make carpet cleaning sound like rocket science so they can sell more classes and employ more instructors.

Mr. VanGelderen's profound and simple goal could have profited everyone in the carpet industry, from mills to cleaners, had it been promoted and allowed to mature. Instead, the result has been confusion on the part of the consumer and continually falling carpet sales.

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Remember these profound words?

"Maintenance is an important part of consumer satisfaction and the cleaner is the last one in the chain to see the carpet customer. If the consumer is not satisfied, the retailer who sold the carpet suffers, the mill that made it suffers and indeed the whole industry suffers if carpet is not their future floor covering choice. Cleaning firms that provide responsible service must be recognized and promoted by the CRI for everyone's sake." Ron VanGelderen, CRI™ President

In 1995, Ron asked me to form a committee to work toward his goal. Duraclean®, Host® / Racine Industries, ServiceMaster® Von Schrader® and Windsor® Industries were invited and joined Bane-Clene® on the committee. Chem-Dry® joined CRI and our committee a few meetings later. This group represented the most diverse in cleaning methods and was a good cross section of the entire cleaning industry. The Council of Better Business Bureaus, Stanley Steemer®, ASCR and a dozen equipment and chemical manufacturers were invited, but all declined to participate.

Six years of hard work and many expensive meetings in Atlanta lead to the original CRI/SOA program. But the current SOA doesn't even resemble the one that was established by the committee in 2001 over the objections of the IICRC®. That program was unceremoniously discontinued by CRI in 2002. Look in here Wednesday morning for some of the reasons.

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Remember any of these names?

R. H. Macy’s name has survived bankruptcy, acquisition and merger. But, Abraham & Strauss, Bamberger’s, Block’s, Bonwit Teller, Broadway, Bullock’s, Burdine’s, Dayton’s, Famous Barr, Filene’s, Ford's, Foley’s, Frederick & Nelson, Gimbel’s, Goldwater’s, Hecht’s, Hudson’s, I. Magnin, Jacobson’s, Kaufmann’s, Lazarus, Liberty House, Lit Brothers, Lord & Taylor, Maas Bros., Marshall Field’s, Meier & Frank, Pogue’s, Rich’s, Rike’s, Robinson’s, Shillito’s, Strawbridge’s, Stern’s, Thalhimer’s, Wanamaker’s, Wasson’s, Woodward & Lothrop and dozens of other big department store names are history.

Large corporations have trouble making quick adjustments in policy which explains in part why they are so vulnerable and why so many disappear from the business scene. Everyone in a small business should celebrate the fact that BIG is not always better. Stay loose and be ready to make adjustments to your MO's in the months ahead. Times are changing fast!

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"Do unto others"

Have you ever presented your credit card to make a purchase and be interrupted by someone coming up behind you and asking a question? The clerk politely answers which leads to another question and the situation deteriorates into a general discussion. Meanwhile you cool your heels.

Or how about the clerk that's in the process of taking your order when the phone rings? They must dutifully answer the phone but then may become immersed in a five minute discussion. Meanwhile you cool your heels.

Then there is the server bringing hot food to the table who stops to answer a question by a patron at the next table. That same server, when you are anxious to leave, takes another order while on the way back to your table with your credit card receipt. Meanwhile you cool your heels.

Don't interrupt a conversation with a customer. Put your cell phone on vibrate and go outside to answer or return calls. Never use the customer's phone or bathroom either. Follow that old biblical advice of "Do unto others" and go contrary to these trends by others and you will profit beyond your wildest expectations.

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Peroxide purchases

There is concern in the cleaning industry about buying peroxide because it can be used in making bombs. I have been told that cleaners should have no problem buying peroxide, but that the FBI or Homeland Security might contact them to verify its usage.

A representative of our supplier said that copies of all purchases were being sent to the FBI long before the latest terrorist incident. He said there are at present no limits on purchases nor was special permission needed. This may change in the future.

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A Simple Truck mount?

Each year, Purdue University holds a "Rube Goldberg" contest which is named for the fictional inventor who could turn the simplest concept into the world's most complicated contraption. The majority of truck mounted carpet cleaning equipment, if entered in this contest, would be runaway winners.

An article in a trade magazine bemoaned the fact that, "Simplicity has been lost in supplying safety and protective components for carpet cleaning equipment. Safety guidelines imposed by product liability protection must be considered. If the engine should run out of oil due to a leak, the engine would be destroyed within minutes without a shut down switch." Lost engines? Shut down switches? Bane-Clene does not want them or need them.

Further the article says, "Most high pressure pumps will be destroyed in a matter of minutes if a homeowner flushes a toilet or a car parks on the water supply hose. A shut down switch is good insurance against severe damage to the machine." Homeowners flushing a toilet? Cars parking on water lines? More shut down switches? Bane-Clene does not want them or need them.

This article also tells readers, "Additional features include thermostatic controls, a bypass system, waste tank shut off switches, pulsation dampeners, and vibration control devices." All of this for a machine designed to clean a delicate fiber normally not more than a half inch in length.

Bane-Clene equipment does not use or need any of these devices.

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Beware of impostors

A web site with used truck-mounted cleaning equipment recently advertised a Bane-Clene Paramount® system for sale. Close examination revealed that it didn't even resemble Bane-Clene equipment beginning with the cleaning head and including a faint picture of some junk piled in a truck. Sometimes this kind of ad is placed to make Bane-Clene look bad and there are many people who try to trade on our good name and reputation.

Bane-Clene equipment is very popular now because it is electrically operated and the price of gasoline is going to be much higher in the future. But be wary. If you purchase Bane-Clene equipment from anyone except Bane-Clene or one of it's authorized agents, be sure it is legitimate. Check the serial number and verify its authenticity by calling 800 428 9512.

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Direct mail is a numbers game

A good direct mail program needs to start with a good list. The list you buy will give you the start but you need to customize your own mailing list. You can start by purchasing demographics such as a certain value of the premises, combined income for the residents and by specifying owner occupied rather than rental properties.

The Direct Mail Marketing Association analyzed 1,122 industry specific mailing campaigns and determined that the average response rate was 2.61%. This is high based on my many years of experience in using direct mail marketing. Somewhere between 1% and 2% is more realistic. An assortment of high quality mailing pieces is a prerequisite for a successful mailing program.

In an economy when spending has slowed and saving money is in vogue, it's harder than ever to convince yourself to be repetitive in your mailing program. Get over this hurdle and you're on your way to increasing your business while everyone else is laying low.

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Cleaning is our business, so . . .

We must be neat and clean. Customers form early impressions and may even judge our work based on our appearance. An operator who arrives at the job needing a shave and haircut, wearing cut-off jeans and a tank top, and driving a dirty, cluttered truck may be able to clean carpets every bit as well as anyone else. But his customer may disapprove of the job because of that first impression.

A male operator should be clean shaven, have neatly trimmed hair, clean shoes, a fresh uniform and his service truck must be sparkling clean. He should use a good deodorant after his shower in the morning, because it needs to last all day. Female operators should do the same except for the shave. They should keep their hair under control.

There are companies that teach people how to dress for their jobs and maintain their personal appearance. But, a little common sense will avoid spending money for a special course. There is no substitute for cleanliness, especially since we are in the cleaning business.

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