Anyone have any ideas on how to get new accounts fast.

Dlee

New member
Hello all,

I'm not a Hood Cleaner but will be soon. ...I hope! :) I'm very excited about the possibilities as a Hood & Grease Duct Exhaust Cleaning specalist.

I'm in the process of doing a market analysis and I am finding that all exhaust system are already being cleaned. I will keep at it and try not to get discouraged though.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get new accounts fast when starting up in an area that seems to be already serviced very well.

Thanks,

Dlee

P.S. Not sure if this is the right place to post this question but I would like to hear from experienced Hood Cleaners. You have to start some where.
 
Who will be teaching you to service exhaust systems?

The key is to learn the right way. At that ponit you will be able to put a market plan together. Most account feel that they are being serviced well by there cleaner. But you will have learned what to look for and you will be able point out issues and concerns to the account.

Good luck
 
Dave,

I will be attending classes at Delco in Ft. Worth. Yes, I am a firm believer in formal training. Any knowledge gained far out weighs any inconveinience.

I have the sales and marketing material from Phil Ackland's Commercial Kitchen Exhaust System and have been reading through the manual ... somewhat.

Should I offer prospects free and complete Hood & Exhaust System inspections?...once I have been formally trained.

And ... one more question Dave.

Which AHJ inspects the Exhaust System at regular intervals. I'm guessing that only a Exhaust & Hood Cleaner is the only one inspecting after new restaurants opens the first time.

dlee
 
Most of your questions will be answered in the Delco Training.

If it were me I would go on a ride along for a week and then go through the training. The second best would be to have a work/ride along after the training. The training will cover the best case situations and the real life is that each hood has its own issues that you must be prepared for.

After the training I would join IKECA. This would give you membership in a very focused group cleaners. Most of the meetings are in Texas. Membership based on less than 300M is (I think) $295. Send me a EMail with your phone and address and I will send you some info.


3saulque@garlic.com

916-663-3033
 
For fast accounts you could print up a flyer..."$50 hood cleaning". Send it to all of the oriental restaurants in your area. You better get a pen and paper, have a seat by the phone, write fast.:D :p
 
dodsonish,

Thanks for the tip I'll get right on it. I don't plan on doing them for no money though. I spent seventeen years in the Asia Pacific region. Yes, I was the minority but, I have no issues in approching these types of jobs for what they are worth. Again I say "for what they are worth". Typically Asian / Oriental kitchens are filthy and down right unsportsmanlike. I don't see them as a challenge to myself as if I have something to prove for a out of the gate newbie like myself but rather something that is very necessary and I hope they are ready.


DLEE
 
That post was intended to be a joke. I actually avoid oriental type restaurants. They generally keep poor frequency and look for the low bidder. Good news is they usually pay at the time of service and don't short change after they have run your bid price into the dirt. I'd say bid high because they'll always want to bargain.

I have a couple of oriental accounts that stick with the 3 mo frequency, but the grease is a different kind of sticky. I'd rather not do them.

You also need a very good hot water pressure washer or you'll never get it clean in the time you want it done. I can recommend a specific model, but I'm not sure if the board rules allow that.
 
recommend away. This board is not sponsored by someone that runs the board for money. In fact, the guy that pays for it is not associated with the guy that runs it, other than giving Mike the right to run it.

Manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors can be freely mentioned by contractors, You cannot promote your own distributorship though.

Scott Stone
 
Alright then, here is the message I sent to him.-

Re: Tibetan Kitchen Cleanning/equipment spec
The unit is a 1500 psi hot pw built by Bradley Chemical in Nashville. Its named the Model 21. You can buy them through Russell Clark who is the infamous RustyAce on this board. This is an amazing piece of equipment, designed specifically for exhaust cleaning. You can heat your water up to 280 degrees or adjust it down to cold. This is the best machine for your money at about $2400. Most machines will heat to about 220, but this one is built to run off of hot water which enables it to hit 280 in about 10 minutes run time. I normally run mine about 250. You can get this temp off of running cold water through the burner.

I've run a 3000 psi Hotsy, which is supposed to be one of the best brand of hot pw's, and the model 21 blows it away.

Stay focused, thats the best way to succeed.

I noticed that you are looking at training for hood cleaning. Have you checked out hoodcleaningschool.com?

__________________
Josh D. Dodson
Dodson Hood & Duct Service
Member of CHCDA
GO RAMS
 
Who makes the Bradley M 21-I can't find it on Google-help!
 
What does your workers compensation insurance say about running 280 degree water....
 
Hello All,

Is their anyone out there that can comment on getting new accounts fast. I am concerned about this particular subject because all the restaurants I have called already have someone that comes in and services them at the scheduled intervals.

What are the absolute best parctices in getting new accounts?

What is the most ecconmical highest yielding return on investment on your marketing dollars?

Any Pro's out there want to comment, or will this not be the issue I think it is, once I have gotten started.


I appreciate all the responces I've gotten so far. So please chime in and contribute to the board.

dpl
 
Dear Dlee,

Call me and I'll discuss our little marketing plan that has helped o' Dodsonish net over $200K in his first 6 months of business.

David: Do a search for: "bradley premier kitchen exhaust cleaning machine"

Rusty
 
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Delco will be able to give you some good info. regarding that subject or give me a call. I could run some ideas by you.
 
That $200k is gross annual, this year I won't see all of that. Next year I should though, and then some. If sales increase as planned it should double.

mbryan-
How many post cards does $2k a week get you?

Also, how many employees and crews do you employ?
 
Hi Josh,

Congrats on your successes!

Those machines you guys use look remarkably like, Largo model 21. The physical difference is the cord box on the top and the name on the burner. Check out http://www.adpub.com/largo.

'nother question, do you think they want the security at McD's because you work alone? If you brought a helper to the jobs, they might consider that sufficient and it might save the rent-a-cop fee. Just a thought.
 
They are built for us locally. They bend the pipe, powder coat it and hand assemble it for us.

Much higher quality and more durable. Plus since they are built for us we can control how we want them built.

That is we can customize it to our liking.

The frames are more heavy duty than other's.

The coils are sch 80 instead of 40.

Rusty
 
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Cool Idea, Rusty. We have one of the Largo Electrics, we use it mostly for situations where noise is an issue. It is very reliable, for the amount of usage we give it. Now, I take that back it's from Mobile Systems Inc, Decaturville, Tenn.
 
indiana jones-
I don't work alone on most jobs, only the small ones. I also 2 employees as a crew. I'll keep the one maners for myself, and put them on the bigger jobs.

mbryan-
Wow, 15 crews. Sounds like you're doing something right. How many men per crew? If you don't mind I'd like to give you a phone call, I've got a couple of questions and I could spend all night typing them.

One more question here though. How do you set your logo under you name?
 
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