On this eve of the new year, here's a wish from all the staff at Bane-Clene.
May you and yours enjoy a blessed, happy, healthy and prosperous 2011.
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SBA loans are available, but harder to get. Banks require more information than in the past. You'll need tax returns and bank statements. They want to know about you and your background so prepare a resume' with details on your qualifications to run the business. If you've been at it awhile, daily bookkeeping records will also help.
Specifics on how you intend to repay a loan, a precise dollar amount and how you'll use the loan proceeds are essential. Your credit score is important because it illustrates how you handle your obligations. They may request a lien on your business assets and/or require life insurance to back the loan. If you own a home, be prepared to put your equity up as collateral.
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They want to control the cleaning industry and justify the effort with a bogus survey that declares cleaners are responsible for carpet's drastic decline in popularity. They use fake dirt in a flawed testing program and equate cleaning to rocket science. They give their highest rating to a cheap little rental machine which confirms the fact that they don't know, and they don't know they don't know. That makes them dangerous.
We know, and we know that we know, and we clean real dirt. Nearly fifty years in the cleaning business has taught us to use products and methods that evolved through the real world test programs of trial, error and survival. We use economical, safe and efficient products, techniques and training programs that ensure customer satisfaction. A real cleaning service is our teacher and tens of thousands of satisfied customers provide the proving ground.
A number of competitors have been in the business for years and have built and developed their own brands, methods, procedures and reputations. I don't know about the rest of the industry's veterans, but I resent this shake-down racket they impose upon us. They want us, who know how to clean real dirt, to pay them for the privilege of working. "They" are the CRI.
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T'was the night before Christmas, and all through our land,
a lot of us weren't praying or even willing to take a stand.
Why the PC Police and bureaucrats are trying to take away,
the very reason we celebrate Christmas, no one can say.
Children in our schools are told not to sing,
about Wise Men or Angels or any such thing.
Feelings might be hurt, their teachers will say,
the 25th of December is just another holiday.
Christmas charity requests at some stores are turned down ,
and in some others the word Christmas can't even be found.
they use words like inclusive, insensitive and diversity,
to explain the tactics they use to intimidate you and me.
As people talk about Winter Break or a Dream Tree,
they forget whose birthday it is, so just listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, especially what you say.
Shout "MERRY CHRISTMAS," not "Happy Holiday!"
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Congratulations to our old friends at J&J Industries on acquiring Templeton Hospitality Carpet and rolling out a new brand called "J&J/Templeton." Templeton has manufactured carpet for the hospitality market since 1974 and specializes in public areas such as hallways and lobbies.
David Jolly, CEO of J & J, said, “We are excited to enter the hospitality carpet market with a proven brand like Templeton. With J&J’s many resources and Templeton’s segment expertise, we are confident we have the solid foundation to build J&J/Templeton into a significant player in the hospitality arena with high styled broadloom and modular carpet offerings.”
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These e-mails and posts from bulletin boards* were sent to me during the past two years about the CRI/SOA program. Just as in real politics, there have been instances of retribution against those who dare protest. The names on these have been deleted to protect the innocent.
From a friendly carpet maker in Dalton ........."As a long time member in CRI, I understand some of the inner-workings and politics that govern the organization. It is sometimes painful to watch, especially when hidden agenda surface."
From a gloating hardwood floor merchant ........ "This (CRI) study is going to make the consumer's confidence level drop like the stock market. They will be running more than ever for a nice hardwood floor that actually looks better longer and has longevity. Perhaps even area rugs will take a hit."
From a Bane-Clene system owner in California ...."CRI probably got their idea for Platinum and top billing from Google. Pay more and get a better spot or a better rating. It's all about the money. The rating they gave rug doctor proves that."
From a Bane-Clene system owner who is also a carpet retailer ..........."CRI and IICRC are joining forces to take over installers and cleaners and eventually they will want to tell us how to sell carpet. Who do they think they are anyway?"
From a carpet cleaner who runs competitive equipment .... "It's obvious that carpet mills are involved in a massive collusion and scandal about warranties. They are trying to put their responsibility on carpet cleaners and they are inviting class action legal warfare."
From a competitor in the supply business ......."With CRI telling us how to clean carpets and what chemicals to use, why aren't they telling the consumer that stain-resist carpets need the protectant reapplied after several cleanings. They must feel like it is perfectly alright to market those carpets as bulletproof, but not to tell folks that it does not last forever."
From an upset carpet installer ....... "You are always picking on us for being responsible for the most carpet complaints. I don't agree, but if it is true then your CRI is really at fault. They ignored Jim Walker some years ago when he tried to get them going in the right direction. You always talk about hidden agenda. You have it in spades at CRI."
From a competitor who manufactures equipment and chemicals ....... "The SOA, as focused, is beyond help. We have to persevere because the SOA scam is a dire threat to us. Also it is a major threat to the entrepreneurial carpet cleaning community in general."
From a water restoration specialist in Illinois ......... "I've been a CSP (Certified Service Provider) for 2 years and to date I've not got one job from CRI. I'm not going to renew next year and the same goes for IICRC. It's all money down the drain."
From a carpet cleaner on the other side of the world ........ "With respect to Werner Braun (President of CRY), Sir, I believe that you suffer from the "Tell People Often Enough & They'll Believe It" syndrome. Sorry mate but, we are not buying it."
These represent a cross section of the industry and are strikingly similar to hundreds of others I've received that overwhelming do not approve of the SOA program. Just like national politics, the common man's opinions don't register with the bureaucrats in Dalton. My advice.... We'd better all learn the lyrics to "Happy days are here again!"
* I can't be certain that forwarded messages from bulletin boards were not modified, but I doubt it since they are all of the same tone as the many e-mails I received on the subject.
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If all carpet cleaners use exactly the same process, exactly the same equipment and exactly the same chemicals, then every job result should be exactly the same and end with a completely satisfied customer. Theoretically, that's right. But it doesn't work that way.
In the real world, the consumer isn't interested in the make of cleaning machine and chemical products we use. Customers are concerned about honesty, integrity, manners, and job execution! These are characteristics that can be taught, nurtured and motivated. Good schools are the answer, not a money-motivated testing program.
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There were 566,786 accesses to this web site last month. Cleaners looked for information, ordered supplies, visited catalog and information pages; i.e,.: MSDS, Spot removal guides, Troubleshooting charts, the Cleaning Digest, Clene-Times® and my BLOG. Total accesses last year were 6,908,988 compared to 3,735,610 in 2003, 106,328 in 2000, and only 823 in 1996, our first year on the internet. This dramatic growth indicates how fast internet marketing is growing.
Carpet mills, retailers, insurance adjusters, banks, realty firms and plumbers visited, too. But most visitors were consumers looking for someone to work for them. When they can't find a local cleaner in our referral directory, they call our toll free number. So far this year, all but 224 of the telephone inquiries were referred to certified Bane-Clene operators.
Bane-Clene owners can be a part in this advertising bonanza. Call 800 428 9512 or click on "Your own web site" in the menu at the left of our home page. We'll arrange a link so you can tap into this potential gold mine of business prospects for a one time fee of only $99.
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There are a few manufacturers who say carpet warranties will be void if cleaning products are not CRI/SOA approved. Of course, there is a fee for approval and carpet makers just happen to own the CRI. Who'd have guessed that? Incidentally, CRI awarded its highest "rocket science" rating to the little Rug Doctor® rental machine. You don't suppose SOA is about money?
Every professional carpet cleaner should call carpet mills and also carpet retailers in their service area to see if they recommend the equipment and chemicals you use. If they don't like what you use, do you think you should recommend their products to your customers when you're asked to suggest replacement carpet?
Some might label this as retaliation, but I prefer to call it reciprocity. In our own carpet cleaning company, we send more business to carpet sales people than they send to us. I asked Dan Willis, manager of our service division, how many jobs he could trace to the CRI, its SOA program or being a CSP in the past three years. The answer was "none, zip, nada, zilch."
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Gary Jordan, a Bane-Clene owner/operator since the '70s, has a degenerative kidney disease. He does not drink or smoke, eats healthy, and is in otherwise great physical condition. He spends 12 hours a week hooked up to a dialysis machine.
If you or someone you know is interested in being tested as a potential donor, contact Gary at tandccarpet@aol.com or 508 747 5357. If you want to learn more about becoming an organ donor or receive a donor packet, contact: Frank Korn at Mass General Hospital, 617 643 6513.
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Mr. Bane,
About 10 years ago when I attended your class in Indianapolis you spent some time talking about the economy, inflation and the importance of making our own inflation gauge. I just wanted to tell you that I did what you suggested and I'm grateful for your foresight and advice.
Tonight I was watching Glenn Beck on TV and he's saying almost the same things about inflation that you were saying to us that afternoon in your school. Thank you for being so far ahead of the curve. I hope others who attended your class listened and did what I did.
Thank you.
Rick Meyer
Thanks Rick and I hope they listened and took my advice, too. The next few years are going to be critical, especially with the devaluing of our currency which could bring about the worst kind of inflation. How we operate our business in this treacherous climate will be crucial to profit margins. So stay alert and be sure to watch your gauge.
If anyone doesn't think we have real inflation look at the average pay of federal civilian employees. In 1987 it was $28,984.00, compared to $81,258.00 in 2010. Have you raised your prices that much? If not, you're not keeping up with the ruling elite.
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Cleaning a carpet is not really that difficult, but much of the training and certification have been abdicated to third parties which, for monetary reasons, try to make it more complicated than it really is. Basic instruction for maintenance and proper operation of equipment should be the responsibility of the equipment manufacturer or their sales agent. This is the easy part.
Dealing with customers is the most critical part of technician training and is an important part of good management. Schools with proven training programs and good reputations can be utilized for this specialized training and should include management participation. On-the-job experience and adequate supervision will ensure satisfied customers.
My point is that manufacturers of equipment and chemical products along with industry schools should be the recognized authorities to certify professional carpet and furniture cleaners, not a committee of non-cleaners who believe that carpet cleaning is analogous to rocket science.
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Dale Leensvart of Greenville, Ohio, says to wrap a section of solution hose with half inch foam pipe wrap. Dale says it keeps the solution extra hot on its way from van to home in very cold weather. Pipe wrap is available at hardware stores and is inexpensive.
Thanks Dale.
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I'm opposed to CRI equipment testing for two reasons. Their lab uses fake dirt and a procedure administered by people who have no idea how to clean a dirty carpet which is an insult to any cleaner who has worked hard to learn their trade and build a good reputation.
The ultimate insult though, is that a cheap little rental machine is rated higher than some truck mounted equipment. You have to follow the money to understand this one.
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