May 2014

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ncca Features:

pHenomenoms No more cold-calling Commercial Carpet Cleaning

May 2014

The official journal of the National Carpet Cleaners Association

Contents

Published monthly by:

03 From the Editor 04 Cleaning commercial carpets versus cleaning domestic carpets 06 How to handle your incoming calls 08 No more cold-calling 09 PAS86 - order yours now 10 Simple tips to help your cash flow 10 NCCA consumer leaflets 11 TrustMark - latest news 12 A guide to customer complaints (part four) 14 Turkoman rugs (part four) 15 Your pull-out-and-keep guide to the Carpet Cleaners Carnival 2014 20 NCCA Trainer Conference 21 Customer letter (a job well done) 22 Into the future 24 Online marketing 26 pHenomenons 27 Create trust to increase sales 28 H & S information - employers’ obligations Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Association or it’s officers or members. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the statements within this publication, we cannot accept responsibility for any errors, or omissions, or matters arising from any clerical or printing errors, and whilst every care is taken of manuscripts and photographs submitted to us, we can accept no responsibility for any loss or damage. ©Carpet Cleaners Association Ltd 1994 (Trading as the National Carpet Cleaners Association). No part of this Newsletter may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Carpet Cleaners Association Ltd.

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The National Carpet Cleaners Association, 62c London Road, Oadby, Leicestershire, LE2 5DH. Tel: 0116 271 9550 E-mail: admin@ncca.co.uk Website: www.ncca.co.uk

Editor Nicky Law Editor in Chief Keith Robertson Design Editor Nikki Law CEO/Technical Director Paul Pearce Vice President/Admin Director Nigel Lay Company Secretary/2nd Vice President/Training Director Glyn Charnock Membership Director Martin Johns Marketing Director Keith Robertson Corporate Director Allan Simmons Events Director Billy Russell Co-opted Franchise Director Denise Pitt www.facebook.com/NCCAFloorCare www.twitter.com/NCCA_floorcare_

From the Editor We have heard that some of you are struggling to fill all those gaps in your diary. Well, have you thought about branching out and extending the services you offer, or even just improving on the skills you already have?

We know this has worked very well for many of you. Imagine that you are cleaning carpets for your customer and they ask you if you could also clean their leather suite or travertine kitchen floor, would you be able to provide these services for them?

The NCCA offer a range of courses to help you improve, and extend, your existing skills (see page 13 for full listing). So, how about booking yourself onto one of these courses this summer. We have some excellent schools lined up for you in June and August, such as: Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician (IICRC COURSE, HOSTED BY THE NCCA) on 10th and 11th June This course provides you with an understanding of the skills necessary to professionally and efficiently process commercial carpet cleaning. It is ideal for those just starting in commercial carpet care, seasoned professionals diversifying into this lucrative field, as well as those seeking IICRC certification. The course is taught with a combination of lecture and actual cleaning demonstrations and includes templates you can use yourself when tendering for work.

Course tutor: Paul Pearce Health & Safety for the Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner on 19th June Health and Safety laws apply to all businesses no matter how small, even the self-employed. The

laws are there to prevent people from being harmed at work and to provide a satisfactory working environment. They are also there Nicky Law to protect the public from Newslink Editor workplace dangers.

This course includes: The Law, Manual Handling, Lone Working, Emergency Plans and Reporting Accidents, Work Environment Guidelines, Slips and Trips, First Aid Guidelines, The Importance of Training and Induction, Risk Assessment, Method Statement, Health and Safety Policy, COSHH Assessment and includes 30 Health and Safety PDF documents on CD. Course tutor: Paul Pearce Hard Floor Cleaning on 28th and 29th August Hard floor care requires a degree of knowledge and the NCCA have a keen interest in ensuring that there is an increasing supply of trained and qualified technicians.

The programme for this course includes some practical hands-on training and covers the cleaning and care of Resilient, Wood, Ceramic and Natural Stone. Each delegate is provided with an excellent accompanying manual, which is theirs to take home once the course is over.

Course tutor: Keith Robertson

If you think you would like to join us on one of these courses, give us a call, and we can provide you with more information or simply book your space there and then over the phone. Call the NCCA office on: 0116 271 9550.

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Cleaning commercial carpets versus cleaning domestic carpets Paul Pearce

T

he first thing to consider when cleaning commercial carpets is the amount of foot traffic they are subjected to compared to domestic carpets.

This traffic can range from a few hundred pairs of feet to several thousand pairs every day, varying from building to building. The type, and amount, of soil found in a building where the company's sole business is serving food would be very different from that found in a five-star hotel, a solicitor's office or a factory or car showroom.

Even weather conditions, and the area of the country in which the building is situated, can have a major impact on the carpet and type of soiling to be removed as well as the cleaning process that is to be used.

The amount of traffic (and therefore soiling) in most commercial buildings will mean that a regular maintenance programme is required to improve the appearance and extend the life of the carpet.

The programme should include routine interim maintenance with thorough daily vacuuming and

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spotting procedures (this is sometimes carried out by in-house staff or by a contract cleaning firm, or sometimes a combination of the two) as well as regular professional appearance-retention cleaning and periodic deep cleaning. In this instance, the professional cleaning undertaken is known as restorative cleaning.

This is, of course, is a very different approach to most domestic carpet cleaning. Most homes do not include a regular cleaning maintenance programme and very often you are only called in after an accident has occurred or in readiness for an upcoming event.

The type of carpet in commercial buildings is also

usually different from that found in a domestic situation. Commercial carpet will often be of a higher quality and perhaps a synthetic fibre. It is often a denser carpet and in many cases is of loop pile construction. The wear warranties on some commercial carpets can be as long a twenty years; this is because it is generally more wear-resistant.

The amount of carpet in commercial properties can be considerably greater than in domestic dwellings, depending on the type of building, or facility, you have been asked to clean. The amount of carpet in commercial buildings can range from just a few metres in smaller properties to thousands of metres in bigger buildings such as large hotels, airports and high-rise offices.

Unfortunately, despite our suggestions and advice that a commercial carpet should be subject

to a regular maintenance programme, in reality you are often only asked to come in and clean it when it reaches an appearance level that is no longer acceptable to the image and look of the environment it is installed in. As is often the case, the construction of the carpet is designed to hide soil, therefore by the time it 'looks' dirty it is, in fact, absolutely filthy. It is obviously much harder at this stage to restore the appearance of the carpet to an acceptable level.

If you are thinking of branching out to include commercial carpet maintenance in your list of services, it is important to convince your potential clients of the necessity of regular planned maintenance if they want to prolong the life of their flooring.

Commercial carpet maintenance takes practice to plan and administer and is very different to domestic carpet cleaning, but it can also be very rewarding and providing this service can be an excellent addition to your existing business.

If you think you would like to learn more, why not join me on the IICRC Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician Course (hosted by the NCCA) on June 10th and 11th, and you could soon be adding a brand new skill to your repertoire.

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How to handle your incoming calls

NCCA Library

F

irst of all, remember that most telephone calls to your business are from people wanting to buy from you. They are not just 'window shopping', because they have already taken action by dialling your number.

The first few seconds of a call are when a caller forms his/her opinions about you and your company, based on the way you answer.

If the phone is answered on the first ring, the caller can be given the false impression that the person answering the phone is unprepared or hurried, on the other hand a caller having to wait for an excessive amount of time, ten rings or more, is already looking for the next number to dial. It is said that the second or third ring is the time to answer a call.

An unfriendly welcome is off-putting, so it is worth having a greeting in mind to put the caller at ease when they phone, for example “Hello you're through to ABC of XYZ, how can I help you?�

Answer the telephone positively. Your aim is to make the caller feel comfortable and confident.

Experience shows that you have as little as thirty seconds to create the right impression about you and your company.

This is also your chance to gather information from a prospective customer, so it is important to ask for the caller's name and to be able to take notes, so have a pen and paper or diary to hand.

Vital information to collate after the name is: telephone number, address including postcode, email address and where they found your contact

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details so that you can track the advertising that is working for you.

Don't forget that they have called you and are looking to buy from you; at this moment in time you have their undivided attention without any of your competitors breathing down their neck, so make the most of it by creating the right impression.

Important Notice The NCCA are increasingly contacting members via email to circulate relevant Association information.

As such, it is more important than ever that we have your current email address logged on our database.

If you change your email address at any point could we ask that you please notify us immediately so we are able to update your details. This will ensure that you do not miss any important information circulated by us.

To inform us of any changes, please email Nicky on: nicky@ncca.co.uk or phone the NCCA office on: 0116 271 9550.

No more cold-calling

Keith Robertson

M

ost of us cannot expect to fill our work schedules with repeat business or internet enquiries. Also the cost of posting mailshots or having professionally delivered leaflet drops has become prohibitive for most of us, so what are the alternatives?

I am quite sure that you pride yourself on the quality of the work you do and no doubt have customers who are so pleased with the results that they ask whether you have some business cards to pass on to their friends and family.

Therefore, it is important to make sure that every day you are carrying some cards. There is no better way to deflate the 'moment' than you having to say “Err... I usually have some but I forgot to pick them up this morning.” Having said that, even if you have managed to pass on your business cards, you need to be realistic and remember that most people quickly forget what we have achieved; they may

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have even forgotten us altogether within a few weeks, so perhaps trusting or believing that they will actually tell their friends is asking too much.

So… is there an alternative way of making the best of the situation? Well, what about saying “Thank you Mrs Smith, here are some cards. Now is there anyone you know who you feel would also benefit from our service? I could get in touch with them and offer them a referral discount because you recommended them.”

Don't ask for a list of people, just ONE. That makes it much easier for them to come up with a

name. When you have been given a name, ask one final important question “May I use your name when I contact them?”

Now you are ready to make the most of the referral and it’s no longer a cold-call because you are able to say “Your friend Mrs Smith suggested I should contact you because…”

Realistically most of us will not be able to do this on every job we do, but even if we did this once a week it could make a noticeable difference to our profitability.

David Coker makes some good points in his article this month 'Create trust to increase sales'.

He sets out four specific rules that are important.

There is part of one of these rules, however, which I have never followed and don't believe has cost me much, if any, work. I personally hate uniforms and would not wear one. I agree that it is better to be well-groomed than unkempt but, at the same time, I don't want my customers to think of me as 'just another tradesman'. I am their expert, the consultant who will give them what they really, really want.

I am aware that I break the rules by wearing jeans but, to compensate, I wear a sports jacket. I wouldn't wear a suit to work but prefer to be smart/casual when I arrive at a customer's house.

I can easily take my jacket off whilst working and with its many pockets it holds everything I need, from my measuring tool and camera, to pocket knife, notebook and those all-important business cards I need to hand out when the customer kisses me on both cheeks and says what an amazing job I have done!

PAS86 - order yours now!

The National Carpet Cleaners Association believes in the importance of promoting best practice in all aspects of carpet cleaning.

Best practice is promoted to our members through various means, including: PAS 86: 2008 - Professional inspection, maintenance, cleaning and restoration of textile floor coverings - Code of Practice.

Many NCCA members have already adopted the PAS as their official guide to professional carpet cleaning.

This Publicly Available Specification (PAS) has been developed by the National Carpet Cleaners Association in collaboration with BSI British Standards and with input from industry experts from all relevant sectors of the cleaning industry. PAS86 is the only government recognised code of practice for professional carpet cleaning.

The PAS is intended for use by the cleaning industry, however it is also relevant to government bodies, trading standards, the insurance industry, carpet manufacturers, consumers, retailers, training bodies and those involved in the management, cleaning and inspection of textile floor coverings. The PAS is applicable to all types and styles of textile floor coverings within domestic and commercial environments.

TO ORDER YOUR COPY, PLEASE PHONE THE NCCA OFFICE ON: 0116 271 9550.

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Simple tips to help your cash flow

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ate payment is the thorn in the side of every business relationship, even though small firms have been eligible to claim statutory late payment interest against debtors since 1998. This is because there is still a general reluctance in enforcing this entitlement as it upsets the client. Statistics show that on average it takes 58 days for bills to be paid, and over 50% of companies are guilty of late payment.

A combination of inadequate credit control procedures and a casual attitude to invoicing often allow lax payment practices to take hold of a company.

However, by implementing a few simple credit control procedures it is possible to keep ahead of the situation and enforce payment terms.

Below are listed some pointers that may help in recovering debts without losing customers AND keep the bank manager happy: 1. Set up a company policy that specifies payment terms and conditions of trade.

2. Establish an escalating timetable of procedures to collect debts.

3. Consider offering an incentive to encourage prompt payment.

4. Clearly communicate payment terms and conditions from the beginning during negotiations, as well as on contracts, invoices and ‘welcome’ letters to new clients.

5. Acknowledge large contracts/orders in writing,

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Pawlo Woloszyn

highlighting payment terms and conditions.

6. Obtain proof of completion for service or goods.

7. Monitor the payment status of outstanding invoices on a daily basis.

8. Invoice promptly, within 24 hours.

9. Do not allow debts to fester, act promptly and decisively to address the matter.

Finally, it may sound harsh but it might be wise to stop supplying your services to certain clients.

Remember, just because they are on that slippery slope it does not mean you have to follow.

NCCA consumer leaflets We recently redesigned our consumer leaflet, available for NCCA members to purchase.

This leaflet is ideal for leaving with domestic customers and presents another opportunity for you to promote yourself and gain new business.

Wide distribution will ensure that more people will become aware of who we are and what you, the member, has to offer.

The leaflet includes a section on how to tackle stains and spillages, which will encourage your customer to retain it for future reference. There is also a space on the back where you can place your own company details, ensuring that your customer will have your particulars readily available should they want their carpets and upholstery cleaned again in the future.

The leaflets retail at 11p each if you order under 500 and 9.5p each if you order 500 or over.

Phone the NCCA office on: 0116 271 9550 to order yours now!

TrustMark - latest news

N

Glyn Charnock

ow that the NCCA has been awarded TrustMark Scheme Operator status, we have a say in how the scheme is run, and are privy to the plans TrustMark have for the forthcoming year.

Nigel Lay (NCCA Administration Director), Nicky Law (our Newslink, Marketing and PR staff member) and I (NCCA Company Secretary and Training Director) recently attended the latest TrustMark meeting in London.

Wow, what an eye opener! TrustMark have doubled their marketing and PR budget for 2014/15; their new consumer PR consultants have already increased their consumer awareness in three months and their plans for the forthcoming year make anything we, as an Association, could afford to do look like 'small beer'.

In the last four weeks they have had national breakfast TV coverage, over seventy mentions in the national press and countless internet hits.

Their website visits increased by 100% on the day of the breakfast TV coverage and searches for TrustMark members increased by over 50%. See www.trustmark.org.uk Checkatrade and Rated People can cost hundreds of pounds a year to join, and they will let 'Any Old Carpet Cleaner' join - literally. No qualifications

National Organisations Supporting TrustMark

required, no Code of Practice to be adhered to. Basically, no protection for the consumer searching for a tradesman.

If you want to be part of the ONLY consumer protection website which actually checks whether its members are qualified to do what they say, is endorsed by Government, and is recognized by over 24% of consumers, then you need to join!

Don't forget, only NCCA members with sufficient training and experience can join.

At only ÂŁ150 a year (less than ÂŁ3 per week!), ONLY NCCA members are eligible, so all the 'splash and dash' merchants on your doorstep CAN'T get this fantastic endorsement of their training, qualifications and business ethics. One or two jobs and it's paid for itself!

Your entry on the NCCA website will highlight you as a TrustMark member and you will get a link from the TrustMark website to your own site. With around six million hits a year on TrustMark, your Google rankings are bound to benefit and don't forget, there are TrustMark search boxes on loads of major consumer websites like Citizens Advice and Age Concern, so even more ways for you to be found.

Don't miss out! Joining TrustMark will help to fill those empty spaces in your diary.

To apply (or for further information), please phone the NCCA office.

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A guide to customer complaints (part four) Lewis Scroby (NCCA Standards and Fair Trading)

NCCA Standards and Fair Trading Officer, Lewis Scroby, continues his series on dealing with customer complaints. This month features technical issues and liability.

I

f you don't want complaints you need to act to avoid them arising. The previous articles focussed heavily on surveying and qualifying with customers before commencing any work. On the technical side, problems can almost always be avoided by carrying out a thorough pre-clean inspection. If you come across a blue twist-pile wool carpet and have cleaned 1,000 blue twistpile wool carpets without any problems, this does not mean that this one will be the same. Test, inspect, survey, investigate, question, record, and review. Find out everything you possibly can about the item before you start. It is guaranteed to reduce the number of complaints you may receive.

Carrying out a thorough pre-clean survey should ensure that any potential problems that may arise during cleaning are identified. These can then be brought to the attention of the customer. We have received many reports in the office of members taking on work despite knowing that there may be difficulties during, or following, the cleaning. A common situation is a member explaining to a customer that there is a risk, the customer making a verbal agreement for the work to be carried out regardless, and then making a complaint once the

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issue has arisen. Verbal agreements aren't guaranteed to negate complaints. It will always be one party's word against the other.

Written statements are much more secure when it comes to concerns about cleaning results and potential damage. Many members use liability waivers (essentially written statements clarifying that a risk has been identified during the survey and there is potential for a problem to arise if the item is cleaned). Customers can agree for the technician to continue work despite the risk and would sign the waiver to confirm this.

Liability waivers can prove to be valuable if the identified problem does arise, but it is important to understand the distinction between an unavoidable issue arising and a problem arising due to negligence or inefficiency on the part of the technician. Waivers are very useful for addressing potential complaints and educating clients before starting work, but they should not be used to evade liability if the customer has genuine reason for complaint.

Another difficult situation members have found themselves in is what's become known as the 'Last person to touch it' scenario. Essentially, if damage or staining is present on the item following a clean, and no evidence can be provided to prove this was pre-existing, the last person to 'touch' the item (ie. you, the cleaner) is liable. Unfortunately hindsight will not help anybody in this situation. A pre-clean survey is

Diary Dates 2014 NCCA COURSES Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 4th - 5th July 12th - 13th September 21st - 22nd November

vital and a liability waiver may also be required to ensure you do not become a scapegoat and accountable for the damage.

Many members have come unstuck because they agreed to carry out work despite their awareness of a problem or the potential for a complaint. It is important to remember that you do not have to clean anything. It is upon you to decide whether the reward will be worth the risk.

If you come across an item that will be difficult to clean, is already damaged, or you are unsure about meeting the customer's expectations, then you have the option to NOT take it on. Thank the customer for considering you, explain your concerns and politely refuse the work. They may not appreciate your position, or argue and insist that you proceed, but ultimately if you aren't sure you can, it is not advisable to try.

Next month's article will focus on Advertising.

Member referral report Since publishing a referral statistics report in last month's Newslink there have been 71 recommendations for full members provided by the NCCA. This number is made up of 34 referrals from the NCCA office, 36 potential customers contacting members direct through the website and 1 referral to a member without an email address, which has been tracked by the office.

Advanced Spot & Stain Removal 20th June 10th October Leather Identification & Cleaning 11th September Health & Safety for the Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner 19th June Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician (IICRC COURSE, HOSTED BY NCCA - with Paul Pearce) 10th - 11th June Hard Floor Cleaning 28th - 29th August All above courses held at NSPCC Training Centre, Leicester unless otherwise stated. Visit: www.ncca.co.uk for booking forms and further details.

CARPET CLEANERS CARNIVAL 20th September at Wicksteed Park, Kettering, Northamptonshire

IICRC COURSES (HERTFORDSHIRE) Carpet Cleaning Technician with Paul Pearce 16th - 17th September 25th - 26th November Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician with Paul Pearce 3rd - 4th June 23rd - 24th September 2nd - 3rd December Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician with Paul Pearce 30th Sept - 1st Oct Held at Alltec Network, Royston, Hertfordshire. Tel: 01763 208222

IICRC COURSES (SURREY) Carpet Cleaning Technician with Adam Jankowski 3rd - 4th June 15th - 16th October Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician with Adam Jankowski 23rd - 24th July 28th -29th October Held at National Flood School, Surrey. Tel: 01252 821185 Visit: www.iicrc.org for further details on all IICRC Training Courses.

Turkoman rugs (part four)

Peter Collins (Honorary Member)

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popular and much loved Turkoman rug found in many British homes is the Afghan. Afghan rugs are, in essence, a product woven in the Bokhara region; however they are also made by the tribes of northern Afghanistan, a territory which stretches from the slopes of Hindu Kush and along the Bokhara border.

Afghans are large coarse rugs, usually woven with a Bokhara octagon design, without the dividing lines which make the field of the finer rugs look like a decorated chessboard. They are often sold as Khivas.

These rugs are full of character, fierce and created with great expression. They are usually dyed a dark savage red, the colour of blood, but sometimes a more sombre colour such as Indigo; occasionally they are dyed in lighter shades.

Nature features heavily in these rugs and some are created with complex borders displaying flower patterns. The fringes, which are created from goat's hair are often long in length and of an ashen brown colour.

Afghan rugs are sometimes made of goat's hair and sometimes made of wool. The warp is of brown wool, or the coarser hair of the goat. Spinning these filaments is a difficult task, as when they are wet they curl so tightly that they cannot be spun at all.

To overcome this, the hair is not washed but, instead, is finely combed after shearing. One problem this causes however, is odour, which can be very difficult to remove.

The nomad rugs of Afghanistan show a diversity which probably entitles them to a separate classification. Perhaps the most interesting (and rarest) of these 'independent' Afghans are the rugs

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A typical Afghan rug

made by Turkoman tribes dwelling in the region of the Barkhut mountains, the gateway through which is the renowned Pass of Herat. Their rugs are a positive announcement of their position on the map. They have 'borrowed' the fish pattern design from the Herati and weave in colours 'borrowed' from their kinsmen and neighbours from the north.

Aside from the blood red of the background and the dark brown or blue which is used to outline the patterns, there is a minimum show of colour in the body of the rug, however in the borders there is more life. The patterns here, usually an indented octagon combined with some form of a tree, are adorned with several bright colours, such as orange or light blue, and its lines are plainly copied from the old Beluchistan.

These weavers have caught the notion of magnitude with rugs measuring twenty feet or more in length. This probably results from the opening of a railway, which introduced commerce to the wilds of Turkestan, and allowed for larger rugs to be transported easily to the markets.

Next month the journey continues with Beluchistan rugs.

NCCA Carpet Cleaners Carnival 2014 Wicksteed Park, Kettering, on 20th September Your pull-out-and-keep four-page guide to CCC 2014

Fun da y out for all the family !

Come and join us at the Carnival On 20th September we will again be holding the Carpet Cleaners Carnival (CCC), at Wicksteed Park in Kettering.

The Carnival is open to everyone in the industry, together with their friends, partners and children. So why not come along and join the fun!

The event includes an exhibition featuring top industry manufacturers, suppliers and advisors. We already have some excellent companies signed up to exhibit this year, including: Dry Fusion, Cleaners Warehouse, Columbus Cleaning machines, Sebo, Chemspec Europe and DriEaz Products, Alltec, GetBookedUp, Woolsafe, Prochem Europe and Chemspec Ltd, together with Kirsty's Kids, a charity run by NCCA member John Bryden.

This year we will be also holding a number of seminars to help you in your business.

Along with the exhibition and seminars, the Carnival will feature entertainment and women's interest areas, providing attractions and activities for everyone in attendance. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the many features within Wicksteed's acres of beautiful parkland.

(For more information on Wickteed Park, see back page of pull-out-and-keep guide).

ŸOrganised by the NCCA ŸOpen to everyone ŸNetworking opportunities ŸSupplier exhibition ŸEquipment for sale ŸSeminars ŸFamily friendly format ŸOrganised activities ŸFun day out ŸExcellent venue ŸFREE attractions ŸFREE parking ŸCamping facilities onsite Wicksteed Park Barton Road, Kettering Northamptonshire NN15 6NJ

EXHIBITORS AT THE CARPET CLEANERS CARNIVAL 2014

CHEMSPEC LTD One of the world's best known authorities on stone care and maintenance.

The only official UK distributor for Klindex (the leading Italian manufacturer of Professional Stone Restoration Equipment), Chemspec Ltd not only supply a full range of stone cleaning equipment and materials but also offer regular 'Free' training courses.

Tel: 01784 259814 Email: chemspecltd@hotmail.com

A market leader, Chemspec Europe supply a large range of specialist cleaning products to the carpet and upholstery cleaning industry.

Call in for a coffee with us at the CCC in September.

We’ll be on stand number four. See you there!

Chemspec Europe, Tong Park, Otley Road, Baildon, West Yorkshire, BD17 7QD. Tel: 01274 597333 E-mail: info@chemspec-europe.com Website: www.chemspec-europe.com

Pull-out-and-keep guide

EXHIBITORS AT THE CARPET CLEANERS CARNIVAL 2014

EXHIBITING AT THE CCC If you would like to exhibit at this year’s event, please call NCCA Corporate Director, Allan Simmons, on: 01405 813665 or email: allanjnr@getbookedup.com Once you have booked your stand space you will have the opportunity to advertise your company (for FREE) within the pull-out-and-keep guides in Newslink. To take advantage of this excellent opportunity, email Nicky at: nicky@ncca.co.uk for more information.

SEE OVERLEAF FOR INFORMATION ON WICKSTEED PARK AND YOUR NEXT TWO TOKENS FOR YOUR PRIZE DRAW VOUCHER.

Your guide to CCC 2014

CATERING FACILITIES AT WICKSTEED PARK A The Sandcastle Drinks, ices, snacks B Rollover Diner Hotdogs, baguettes, ices, snacks, drinks Burgers, chips, pies, ices, drinks C The Hexagon D The Park view Bistro Traditional bar meals, beverages E Charlie’s Sweet Shop Fudge and Pick ‘n’ Mix Hot dogs, jacket pots, ices, donuts F Food Precinct Baguettes, sandwiches, ices, drinks G The Snack Shack Fish & chips, pies, ices, snacks, drinks H The Oaktree Arcade Refreshments Hotdogs, burgers, ices, drinks I Available for private hire J Function Suite

CARAVAN & CAMPING

Ticket Office

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PAVILION

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WHERE CCC IS HELD

FAIRGROUND Ticket Office

J E

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Ticket Office

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G H

Ticket Office

PLAYGROUND

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Your voucher for collecting tokens for FREE ENTRY TO THE PRIZE DRAW: Wicksteed Park

Camping at Wicksteed Park

Wicksteed is a very popular day out destination for families. It was one of the first Leisure Parks in the UK and is also an English Heritage Grade II Listed Park and Garden.

Wicksteed offers a fully-equipped on-site camping area where you can pitch your tent or park your caravan/motorhome.

For the kids (and the kids at heart!)

There will be FREE PARKING for all Carnival attendees.

Wicksteed Park boasts one of the biggest and best free playgrounds in Europe, a fairground aimed at families with young children (up to the age of fourteen years old), racing cars, a lakeside area featuring water chute, nautical jets and boats and the UK's busiest narrow gauge railway.

Places to eat There are various food outlets situated conveniently throughout the park, so refreshments are always nearby. All food is freshly prepared on-site and ranges from Bistro dining to fast food and snacks. But if none of that takes your fancy, you could always bring your own picnic or barbeque food.

Pull-out-and-keep guide

Parking

THE NEXT TWO TOKENS FOR YOUR PRIZE DRAW VOUCHER

WIN £100!

WIN £100!

A ALL NIIVV IZZE E RN AR C CA RI PR E EP E E R R W FF A AW R R D D

A ALL NIIVV IZZE E RN AR C CA RI PR E EP E E R R W FF A AW R R D D

TOKEN FIVE

TOKEN SIX

NCCA Trainer Conference

Glyn Charnock

aturday 29th March saw the first ever NCCA Trainer Conference held in Leicester.

Twenty two of the most active NCCA corporate members, trainers from a variety of disciplines in the industry, and current NCCA trainers met to discuss the future of training in the industry and how to raise standards.

We have known for some time that the number of applicants to join the NCCA is limited because of the requirement to undertake our own training course.

We have always had this requirement, as it is fundamental that members have received the correct training to be able to offer a competent and professional service to the public. However, for new entrants to the industry, this is an additional expense which they may not be able to afford, especially when they may have received free training from the suppliers of the equipment they are purchasing. For those already in the

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PhotographsŠKeith Robertson

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industry it may be seen as a repeat of courses they have already attended elsewhere.

So what is the solution?

We could not simply accept the training provided by other organisations, as we have no control over the content or delivery of the information. To maintain the standard of people allowed to join the NCCA, we need a way of monitoring the standard of training provided. The Trainer Conference was organised to set standards for training in the industry, allowing people to take NCCA Approved courses and join the Association without having to go to Leicester and sit our own course.

This will benefit the Association by widening the number of people eligible to join and increasing

membership, and will benefit the training providers by showing that their courses meet industry standards.

For the system to work, we needed to set standards in three key areas; Trainer Criteria, Course Content and Course Accreditation.

The first area, Trainer Criteria, is to ensure that trainers are suitably qualified and experienced to teach their subject. There were some differing views in the meeting, but enough common ground for us to come up with a set of criteria which everyone will be able agree on.

Course Content was limited to the Carpet and Upholstery syllabus for now, other courses will be added later, and we were able to agree on what needs to be included in the course using the current NCCA syllabus. Only a few minor additions or changes to wording were required.

The difficult one was Course Accreditation. This is how trainers can demonstrate that the syllabus is going to be delivered effectively and to a high enough standard. With a very diverse group of trainers at the meeting, ranging from those with no formal training in teaching adults but lots of experience, to those with 'Train the Trainer' right up to Adult Education NVQ qualifications, it was difficult to explain to everyone why we need some of the information we wanted them to provide for their courses to become accredited.

We have yet to reach agreement on what methods we use to assess courses for them to be acceptable for attendees to join the NCCA, but I am sure that we will be able to endorse at least some courses in the near future.

Customer letter (a job well done) We recently received the letter (below) praising the services of NCCA member, Mark Blazey, of TopMark Cleaning. Mark’s company is based in Norwich and joined the NCCA just under one year ago.

Dear Sir/Madam, We are currently re-decorating a bedroom in our house and, having previously been disappointed with the services from more than one carpet cleaning service (which I would like to add were not NCCA members), we decided against having it cleaned and to replace the carpet instead. We didn't consider having it cleaned as we didn't think it would make any difference based on our previous experiences, albeit the carpet is of good quality: wool, not worn, and only looked slightly grubby.

Having priced the cost of a replacement carpet (a staggering ÂŁ775!) we then thought it probably was worth considering having the carpet cleaned. The difficulty was we needed to find a high quality carpet cleaner. We thought there might be some sort of Association that ensured a level of technical competence and knowledge, so that we didn't end up with 'a man and his van along with a Vax', and fortunately we found your website. From your website we contacted Mark at TopMark in Norwich.

Mark has just been today and has done an excellent job. As well as the bedroom he also cleaned the landing and stairs carpets. What a difference it made to our house! I would definitely not hesitate to have him back again.

Kind regards Mr S of Norwich

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Into the future

T

Terry Guilford (The Ultimate Floor Sanding Co.)

he floor sanding industry is probably one of the most change resistant service industries in existence. I think there are many reasons for this. Firstly it isn't a big industry or particularly high profit for the manufacturers; plus, being a complex business, even after lots of testing, products can fail in the real world. Also a lot of floor sanding businesses are handed down the family creating an 'if it was good enough for dad...' mentality. The combination of these factors mean that contractors stick to what they know and, as someone with the arrows still in his back, I understand why nobody wants to be a pioneer.

In common with the motor racing industry, change, when it comes, is sometimes forced on us and also, like the slightly more glamorous racing world, we fight the change, begrudge it, reluctantly accept it, learn to make it work and eventually embrace it. When the EU VOC laws were introduced, low VOC products were quite often unusable. Now, not only are they reliable but they are opening up new possibilities all the time. The latest generation of stains for example are not only VOC free, but give a greater depth of colour than their odorous counterparts. Experimentation with new primers, which needed to comply with legislation, led to bonding agents that allow recoating of floors without sanding, or even abrading, the existing finish - a Godsend to those in the floor care industry who are not floor sanders.

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Whilst still on the subject of finishes, the long awaited site finish UV cure is now perfected after many years of unfulfilled promise. Now fully UV cured systems (including the primer) are available and the issue of timing has been overcome with the lights being self-driving, thus ensuring the correct speed and therefore full cure. Wider adoption of this system will hopefully see the price dropping (instead of your jaw when hearing the price).

Abrasives too have begun to change. As well as the aluminium oxide, silicon carbide and zirconia, we are now starting to see ceramic abrasives (ironic that ceramic in finishes had become so discredited, but are now being used in abrasives). Diamond technology has also been introduced for rapid removal of multiple layers of old finish and, at the other end of the finishing scale, new products are making inter coat abrasion quicker and more consistent.

There is probably more change going on in our industry at the moment than at any time in working memory. It is an exciting time and I think, with the world economy gradually improving, that those with an open mind will enjoy the benefits these and future changes will bring.

THE ULTIMATE FLOOR CARE EXHIBITION If you want to see any of these new products or talk to Terry, why not call in to the Ultimate Floor Care exhibition in Bewleys Airport Hotel, Dublin on June 24th this year.

Online marketing

Derek Bolton (Honorary Member)

I

am probably not the best person to lecture anyone on online marketing, or to write an article on the subject, but I have had my fair share of travels around the internet and felt I would like to share my observations with you.

Obviously company websites are now the 'must have' thing. When I was much younger it was a washing machine or, dare I say, a Hostess Trolley.

I understand that many companies today are also using social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter (the NCCA use these too). Some say that this form of marketing is working well for them, leading potential customers to their website where they can 'sell' their services.

Social media sites can (without doubt) be very useful, but they can also have their 'Dark Side' too. They are open networking platforms and, as such, clients can post positive comments about your services which could lead to referrals‌ BUT, by the same token, these sites are also open to negative comments from the odd dissatisfied customer or from other cleaning companies.

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These negative comments can be devastating to your business. In the past, an unsatisfied customer may simply have called you (hopefully you will then have dealt with the complaint satisfactorily) or told a few people close to them of their dissatisfaction with your services.

Unfortunately, adverse comments on your social media sites can be seen by far more people and far more quickly. Careful regular monitoring of your sites' content is therefore absolutely essential.

On the flip side, however, fear of adverse comments may make cleaning technicians more conscientious in performing well to ensure

customer satisfaction… and this has to be a positive thing for our industry.

One thing that is abundantly clear is that, if you have gone down the route of internet marketing, it is imperative that your online persona reflects positively on your business and the professionalism of the industry as a whole.

To help create and maintain your professional online persona: 1) Make sure that all spelling and grammar is correct. Most computers do include a spellchecker (make sure it is set to UK English).

2) Ensure that any pictures you use clearly illustrate industry standards. You would be surprised how many don't. One of my personal 'favourites' are photographs which fail to show the use of drop sheets when cleaning upholstery.

Unfortunately there are many other examples.

3) Make sure that any content used is your own (that includes pictures). If you do wish to use someone else's text or photographs it is essential that you ask for their permission first.

4) Do keep your website up-to-date. Your website and social networking sites are your business shop windows to the world. The window needs to be changed on a regular basis to make sure people revisit frequently. If you don't do this simple thing they will stop visiting. What a MISSED OPPORTUNITY! Having just read through this month's effort, it's not bad considering it's been written by someone who is dragging himself slowly, but surely, screaming into the 20th Century. I have pencilled the 21st Century into next year's diary already…

NOW, that's what’s called forward thinking!

Win a place on a training course!

Win a FREE place on a floor sanding training course at The Ultimate Floor Sanding Company.

Just log on to their website and sign up for their monthly newsletter. To be sure they know who you are please put NCCA after your name.

Log on to: www.ultimate-floorcare.com The winner of their last competition was Steve Wilkins from Ideal Upholstery Cleaning in Cheshire. Our congratulations to Steve; Terry at The Ultimate Floor Sanding Company is looking forward to seeing you on his course soon.

New NCCA Members Anglian Eco Clean West Bergholt, Colchester, Essex Click Clean Cleaning Ltd Saffron Walden, Essex TCS Cleaning Services Southport, Merseyside REJOINED WITH NEW COMPANY Eco Dry Carpet Care Preston Under Scar, Leyburn, North Yorkshire

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pHenomenons

Ken Wainwright

A

t the time of writing this article, we are just a third of the way into the new year and, during this brief period, I have encountered an issue that has popped up several times - once with an experienced colleague on one of my training courses and twice with lesser experienced NCCA Members who phoned me. The problem is that of pH sensitive dyes.

In the simplest of terms, pH sensitive dyes can be regarded as a type of indicator dye, similar to that used on the pH paper we all have in our survey and testing kits. It's just a bit slower to react.

The problem with these dyes manifests itself with our acidic and alkaline cleaning solutions.

Both can change the fabric's colour in much the same way as an indicator pH paper changes when put in solution. This may not be immediate, but can often appear in patches as it dries.

Traditionally, we have cleaned upholstery with an alkaline pre-treatment followed by an acidic neutralising rinse. It is this rinse that usually reveals the problem as it is the last solution to be used.

Correction is simple. Merely mix a mild solution of Sodium Bicarbonate, mist onto the fabric and gently brush in. The discolouration will disappear before your eyes.

Better still, rather than having to return to your dissatisfied customer to execute this 'colour

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repair', just avoid the issue from the beginning.

Whether you clean with traditional detergents or with detergent-free chemistry, a simple change to pH neutral pre-treatments, shampoos and rinses should prevent the problem from occurring.

Simples!

Relatively small issues like this highlight for me the need for refreshing our knowledge, maybe developing new skills and learning about new types of product and fabrics. If we worked in (most) other industries or professions, our employers would regularly send us on a multitude of training and refresher courses. Carpet cleaners are no different. None of us know everything. For me, personally, I know enough to know that I don't know enough.

A day spent upgrading your knowledge and skill is an investment in your business. Plan ahead, book yourself onto a training course and enjoy the benefits it brings.

Create trust to increase sales

I

recently heard a carpet cleaner complaining about a job he had quoted for but didn't get.

Apparently the customer wasn't convinced by his 'very good price'. The cleaner simply couldn't understand why he hadn't got the job!

Zig Ziglar said, "Every sale has five basic obstacles: no need, no money, no hurry, no desire, no trust." It could very well be that the last one was the problem.

Trust is not based on a sales pitch or low price offer, but on behaviour.

People are very sceptical when they are being sold to.

It's often been said that people buy from people they 'know, like and trust'. In this untrusting world, it is more important than ever before. But you already know this. It is far easier to sell to a customer who has used you before than to a new customer.

It is the reason why 'generic' products are often outsold by 'brand’ names. People trust them.

They're usually advertised heavily to build up awareness and familiarity. That equates to trust.

This is not a strategy that I recommend for a small carpet cleaning business - it's far too costly - but there are things that you can do to increase trust which, in turn, will lead to sales.

1) Show up on time - If you say you'll be arriving at 8:30am, be there on time... or slightly before. Good timekeeping conveys respect for the customer as well as self-discipline and professionalism. Being

David Coker

late (and not letting the customer know if it's unavoidable) greatly reduces trust.

2) Do what you say you'll do - Keep your promises and don't make lame excuses. Unreliability reduces trust. Especially with the older generation.

3) Dress and groom well Make sure that your uniform is immaculate. Yes, UNIFORM. It conveys an air of authority and competency... that you know what you're doing. That's why your doctor wears a white coat!

4) Listen before you prescribe Prospective customers want to be understood. They don't want 'glib' answers that show you're not really listening. They don't want a sales close, they want a prescription to their problems.

Interestingly, I recently had an opportunity to have all of this demonstrated to me. I needed a new driveway and decided on block paving. My first thought was “Who do I know that does this type of work?” (“Who do I trust?”). Then, “Who do I know who knows someone who does this type of work?” (Referred trust). It was only when I couldn't think of anyone that I started to look at adverts.

The results were quite interesting. Out of four that I asked to quote only two actually turned up.

One turned up late, just as I was going out. Only one showed up on time, looked the part and listened to what I actually wanted. Was he the cheapest? I don't know. But he got the job.

It is simple, build trust and your sales and referrals will increase.

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Health and Safety information - employers’ obligations Danielle Sinclair (Eversheds LLP)

E

mployers have a legal duty to protect the health and safety of their employees and others affected by their actions. As part of this duty, employers are legally obliged to provide employees with certain information about health and safety in the workplace. In particular, employers must provide information about: Ÿthe hazards and risks employees may face in the workplace; Ÿthe measures that are in place to combat those hazards and risks (and details of who is responsible for managing the same); and Ÿthe emergency procedures that are in place.

Businesses have a duty to consult employees on issues that affect their health and safety. In particular, employees must be consulted when the business is: Ÿproposing to introduce new health and safety measures; Ÿplanning and organising training; and Ÿproposing to introduce new technology aimed at improving health and safety.

In addition to the above, employers are required by law to display an approved health and safety information poster in the workplace, which can be purchased on the HSE website. The poster contains information about employers' and employees' obligations under health and safety law, and details of what to do in the event of concern. The poster must be displayed in a prominent position where it can easily be seen and read by employees.

Updated poster Since 5 April 2014, employers have been legally

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obliged to display an updated version of the health and safety poster. The updated poster reflects changes in the law since it was last updated (in 1999). The poster has also been redesigned to set the information out in a more appealing format.

Employers are no longer required to provide information of the relevant enforcing authority or employment medical advisory service on the poster. Instead, employees must obtain this information from the HSE website.

Employers not currently displaying the updated poster must ensure they do so as soon as possible.

Failure to comply with this requirement could lead to an unlimited fine being imposed, albeit the chances of such strict enforcement action are relatively low.

What obligations do employers have to provide information to those working remotely?

Many employees in the cleaning industry will work remotely and rarely visit just one single premises during the course of their employment. Employers have the same communication duties to those employees as they do to those working from a single office. Care must be taken to ensure that mobile employees receive the information outlined above and are involved in dialogue about health and safety issues.

In respect of the health and safety poster, discussed above, employers are obliged to ensure it is placed “in a place which is reasonably accessible to the employee whilst he is at work”. Where a business employs mobile workers, simply displaying the poster at its head office will not suffice. Mobile

in consultations and ensuring such workers know how to raise any comments (perhaps through a named contact).

Conclusion Employers have the same duty to consult remote and mobile workers on health and safety issues and to provide information as they do to employees who regularly work from a single site. Compliance with these requirements is important not only for the protection of workers' health and safety, but there could be a financial and reputational impact on a business where the HSE is unable to find a culture that promotes the sharing of important information. This is easily avoidable.

workers must be given a health and safety leaflet, which is available to purchase on the HSE website.

Practical steps Employers must take extra care to ensure that mobile workers receive health and safety information. Practical steps that businesses may wish to take in order to ensure that this happens include: 타providing new employees with the health and safety leaflet at the time of their induction; 타endeavouring to provide information in person where possible (for example, if the employee regularly meets with a manager); and 타obtaining signed confirmation from the employee that they have read and understood the information provided.

Employers must also ensure that remote workers are consulted on health and safety issues, for example by maintaining e-mail contact, ensuring representatives know to include remote workers

NCCA Member Benefits Adelante Merchant Services: 01628 820500 BeValued - Home Options (specialist claims management - insurance work): Call Shaun Mulvey on 01323 418432 Control Account PLC: 01527 882901 Hibu (previously Yell) - ask for Corporate Advertising Department: 0808 100 7890 HMCA (free legal and counselling helpline): 0117 934 2600 HMCA (medical health cover): 01423 866985 Payatrader: 01296 660177 SiteWizard (website creation): 08450 608860 Thompson Local - ask forCorporate Advertsing Department: 01252 390385 TrustMark (Diversity): 0115 9673767

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Items for sale BUSINESS FOR SALE Small, long-established, reputable working carpet, upholstery and soft furnishings cleaning company. Essex based. Owner Operator retiring. To be sold as a complete package only. Mobile HWE and dry cleaning system.

Domestic and commercial clients. Genuine interested parties only please to call 07903 497298 and leave details.

CLEANING AND RESTORATION MACHINERY EQUIPMENT - ACCESSORIES Dri-Eaz Dehumidifier 1200 - as new (boxed) £450.00. DriEaz Sahara Pro TurboDryer - new (boxed) £150.00. Dri-Eaz Dri X Airchanger Dehumidifier - new (boxed). Normal Price £1900.00. Our Price £500.00. Plus much more. For a complete list please telephone: 07580 182 325 or email: restorationdirect@btinternet.com VACANCY & BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Experienced full time Carpet and Floor Care Technician required. Own van and equipment an advantage but not essential. Good business incentive package (profit share or buy in). Area coverage M4 corridor from Bristol to London. Apply by email to glynn.norcutt@gnccontractservices.com (with full CV, etc.) or telephone: 01672 871882 or mobile: 07831 172743.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Mobile container/bin (red) - comes with lid. Heavy duty container on wheels. L55” x W32” x H31”, ideal hose and other carpet clng equipment storage. List price: £199 selling for £75. Whole room drier/air mover. List price: £534 - selling for £99 (no VAT). Contact Chris on: 02380 898 212 or 07970 040729 or email:mncrostance@googlemail.com BUSINESS FOR SALE Small long-established reputable NCCA registered working business, specialising carpet, upholstery and hard floor cleaning. Northumberland based owner/operator retiring. To be sold as a complete package only. Sign written 55 plate Iveco Daily van with fitted Prochem Blazer Truck Mount. High pressure and extraction hose reels complete with hoses, including wands, hard floor surface spinner 3 turbo dryers fans, 4 dehumidifiers, MMs Plus, Sebo vac and duo, Rotary scrubber, plus lots of other equipment and chemicals.

Plus a fully SEO website. Genuine interested parties only please. Call 01670 787185.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Whole room downdraft dryer from Power Flite. Versatile air mover - multiple positions. Hardly used. Was: £325.

Accept: £150. Victor Sprite 12" Rotory Machine. Used once. Was £855 - Accept £450. Collect from Coventry. Tel 02476 620444.

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OFFICE PRINTER/COPIER Duplo DP-2211 Single colour A3 or A4 duplicator. Full working order, any fair trial. Ideal for low cost Flyers.

Some consumables. PC Interface, prints direct from P.C. or printed copy - £250.00 o.n.o. For further Information Contact gary@amazingcleaning.co.uk or call 0116 2672720. Based in Leicester.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Prochem 250 ft vacuum hoses for truck mount £150.00. Chemspec hose reel for truck mount plastic £200. Prochem sadle tank for truckmount 227 litre/60 gallons - £250.00. Contact aquadriinfo@btconnect.com for further information or contact Andy on: 07970 544806.

TRUCKMOUNT Banclene truckmount complete with base unit, stainless steel 80 gallon recovery tank, 100 gallon solution tank, 150 feet of vaccuum/solution hoses, floor, stair and various upholstery hand tools, inline heater and misc parts etc. The van has been sold separately. Selling due to retirement and will consider the highest offer. Call Derek at Aquamaster on 01845 537640 - mobile 07976 218304 or email: derek@aquamaster-yorkshire.co.uk BUSINESS FOR SALE Small, well established carpet, hard floor and upholstery cleaning business (London and Kent borders). Package includes: 57 plate Vauxhall Vivaro LWB Van with 53k miles on the clock, Prochem Blazer GT Truck Mount machine with only 270hrs on the clock, established interactive website (which had SEO programme last year), chemicals, turbo drier, 250 feet of solution and suction hose and van mounted hose reels, together with a property maintenance company name, website and promotional materials. Contact telephone number 020 8309 6517. Sale price: £18,000 O.N.O. EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Airflex Storm 800psi, Solution hose 25ft(high pressure), 25ft x 1.5" vacuum hose with 1.5" cuff fitted at each end, Westpak 4" stainless steel hand/detailer tool with splash guard, 6" stair tool, Upholstery Pro Sapphire Hand Tool, HOST Reliant agitator, Sebo BS36 upright vacuum cleaner, Dri-Eaz Air Mover Sahara E 3 speed, Magma heater 1313, Assorted horse hair brushes, Furniture Foam Snap Blocks x 360, Orion 6L Sprayer with nozzle set, 10 Litre Bucket x 2, Carpet Sliders x 8, pH Test Paper, Corner guard, Hose hook, Pumptec Powersprayer BOM, Mesh hose bag. Assorted cleaning chemicals - some opened. Bereavement forces sale.

Cost: £4500 ONO (Bought as new in 2013 for £7500). All items used a maximum of 5 times so in 'as new' condition. Please contact Jamie Edmonds at: Jledmunds@hotmail.co.uk. Tel: 07795546037. Items located in North Cornwall.

NCCA Corporate Members WHOLE ROOM DRYER 360 degrees air mover, ex company stock used for 18 months only (Truvox) - Cost new: £500. Selling cost: £150. Contact: 02380 898212.

MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT 3 Ozone plates 4'' x 6'' to fit Jetazone 600 ozone generator - £15.00 for the 3, plus £5.00 p & p. Please phone Pete Collins on 07885 804560.

MACHINERY FOR SALE CFR Paramount 1000 PSI machine - delivering 1000 pressure per square inch. 95 litre recycling tank, great for commercial and domestic work £600.00 o.n.o.

Contact davidkendall40@aol.com for further information or phone David on 07768 667824 or 01277 824546.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE - IDEAL FOR NEW BUSINESS Everything you need to start carpet cleaning, including: Ashbys Ninja adjustable up to 400psi with Dry Cleaning Functionality built in, 2 x25m vacuum hoses, 1 x silencer hose, 1 x wand, 1 x upholstery tool, 1 x dry cleaning solvent tool. Sebo Duo agitator. Sebo Vacuum BS36. 1.5hp blower dryer. Truvox high speed buffer. Prochem Stain Removal kit. 2 x 6 litres pressure sprayers. 1 x 1 litre upholstery/spot sprayer. 1 x vinyl mat for Ninja and 1 terrapaulin sheet. Huge array of chemicals including: Prochem Power Burst, Defoamer, Prochem Pre Spray Gold, Prochem Natural Carpet Cleaner, Ashby's supreme Anti Grease, Prochem Browning prescription, Prochem Fabric and Fibre Rinse, Ashby's Extra Fresh, Prochem Odour Fresh. Box of other bits including: shoe covers, brushes, polystyrene pads, measuring jugs, dry compound. All in excellent condition. Selling as my second business is consuming all of my time. Selling for £1950. Contact Richard on 07903 841534.

+ Allied Insurance Services Ltd: 0844 8156211 (I) + Alltec Network: 01763 208222 (C/M/F/T) + Amtech UK: 01444 232211 (C/M) + Ashby's Cleaning Equipment: 01322 227806 (C/M/E) + Asset Finance Solutions UK Ltd: 01254 584404 (FI) + Bio Productions Ltd (inc. Stapro): 01444 244000 (C) + Camberford Law (insurance brokers): 0208 315 5000 (I) + Chemdry Franchising Ltd: 01482 872770 (C/M/Fr) + Chemspec Europe Ltd: 01274 597333 (C/M/T/D/F) + Cleanerswarehouse Ltd: 01772 434333 (T/C/R/M) + Cleaning Systems UK: 01334 656787 (C/M/T/F) + Cleansmart Ltd: 0115 8240034 (T/C/R/M/K) + Cleantec Innovation Ltd: 0870 733 7733 (T/C/W/M) + Columbus Cleaning Machines Ltd: 01772 426527 (M) + Dri-Eaz Products Ltd: 01908 611211 (C/M/T) + Dry Fusion UK Ltd: 01772 433711 (C/M/T/W/Fr) + Get Booked Up Software: 01405 813665 + Gleaming Insurance (insurance brokers): 0845 4740068 (I) + Hi-Tec Cleaning Group: 02866 341416 (C/E/F/M/T) + Host Von Schrader Ltd: 0151 347 1900 (M/C) + Hydro Dynamix: 01622 664993 (Fr)T) + Mailboxes Etc: 01628 633336 + McGregor Lloyd (insurance brokers): 0121 706 0616 (I) + NSL Restormate: 01670 590099: (M/C/Tr) + Nu Life Stone Care Ltd: 0161 480 7284 (M/C) + Oates Laboratories (Europe): 01772 433711 (C) + Prochem Europe Ltd: 0208 974 1515 (C/F/M/T) + Rainbow International: 01623 422488 (M/C/Fr) + Restoration Express: 01252 726106 (M/C/T/A)

The Association advises that all goods are checked to be in a satisfactory condition, and comply to electrical and health and safety standards, etc. It is recommended that equipment serial numbers should be checked to ensure the seller is the legitimate owner. The Association accepts no responsibility or liability arising from any transaction or dispute between the buyer and seller.

+ Robert Saunders Marketing Mentor: 08450 537129 (K) + Sebo UK Ltd: 01494 465533 (M) + ServiceMaster Ltd: 0116 275 9000 (M/C/Fr) + Stainshield Ltd: 01372 841467 (C) + Textile Cleaning Solutions: 01934 521155 (M/C) + The Big Clean: 0208 3934778 (M,C,W,K) + The Ultimate Floor Sanding Co.: 00353 91846488 (M/C/Fr) + The WoolSafe Organisation: 01943 850817 + Truvox International Ltd: 02380 702200 (M) + Worldwide Cleaning Support: 01279 422220 (C/M)

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C - Chemicals / M - Machinery / W - Wholesalers / Fr - Franchises / I - Insurance / K - Marketing / T - Technical Services / F - Fire Retardents / A - Auxiliary Services (Restoration Cleaners) / E Supply/Repair of Curtains and Blinds / Fi - Finance / Tr - Training.

Going Going - Gone!

BEFORE

Say e dby goo ains! t to s

AFTER

Dye Gone offers a unique new package and application device to remove the severest of dye stains including: coffee, tea, wine, hair dyes, paints, candle colours etc.

No need to mix - just spray - wait and the stain is gone.* *pre-test carefully and rinse out after stain is removed with cold water.

Chemspec Europe, Tong Park, Otley Road, Baildon, West Yorkshire, BD17 7QD. Tel: 01274 597333 Fax: 01274 597444 E-mail: info@chemspec-europe.com Website: www.chemspec-europe.com