Start an ironing service... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

giggles_alot

sassygirl75 wrote: »

Morning all,

How did you all start ironing for others? This is something that i have been thinking about for awhile now as it's a past time i enjoy doing. Everyone think i'm mad :cheesy:

Any information will be helpful.

Regards

Hiya, I just thought about details, how much i would charge etc - phone a few people in your area to an idea of prices - pretending to be a potential customer. Then i told friends and family, then got to some cheap cards printed and starting leaving these in public places - seem to have got most of my new people from them collecting postacrds from petrol station. I now have a few regular people and have had 2 new people this week. Also a few places online that allow you advertise for free - including ebay.
Hope this helps, let me know if i can help with anything else

Stephb1986_2

whoopsy about the ironing board we've done that before luckily my OH had a welder at work I somehow managed to fit the ironing board into my hard top convertible car and took it to the far side of manchester to be welded it only lasted a few more weeks after that

Hi, Sassy we started by making our own leaflets and posting them through peoples doors mainly new housing estates we also made a package with some local estate agents that they gave to new buyers.

HTH

Steph xx

sassygirl75

Thank you all for your advice and i'll give it a go. Got some free business cards coming my way by the weekend and placed a few window ads in the local shops and the recruitment agencies i've seen have taken them without me even asking to put on their staff notice boards, so we'll see how it goes. I'll keep you all up to date.

Sassy x

mrsjanejane

My sister was looking in to doing this. How much are you looking at for setting up the business from home?

Where do you buy these bags that everyone keeps mentioning on her for garment protection?

Thank you

giggles_alot

mrsjanejane wrote: »

My sister was looking in to doing this. How much are you looking at for setting up the business from home?

Where do you buy these bags that everyone keeps mentioning on her for garment protection?

Thank you

To start with i used what i had. Normal iron and board. First told family and friends, then got some business cards printed. I used Vista print - only pay postage and strangely it sometimes works out cheaper to order more
Started leaving a trail of these everywhere i went.
Next i set up website and started advertising online (free sites).
Then upgraded the iron to a steam generator (money earnt in advance so didn't need to find it).
Have just killed the ironing board so now need to find another one before i kill my sisters too.
As for garment covers - i'm still struggling to find these. At the moment fold or hang a few things together and use a bin bag over them - probably not the best idea but i'm struggling to find proper covers without breaking the bank.
I started this about November time, now have a few regular people and had 2 new people this week so it can take off quickly but don't get disheartened if it does, mine just seemed to happen all of a sudden.

mrsjanejane

Told my sister about this forum!

She also mentioned that there is another company offering an iron service in her area. She lives in a medium sized village. She is worried that it is more difficult to set up competition in a village than if she was still living in London. I can see where she is coming from, but I think if she wants to do it, she should still give it ago. What do people think?

mambury

HI there,

Just out of interest does anyone here on this thread iron in north devon? I was thinking it might be a good idea for some extra pennies but not sure if there was much call for it in a rural area!

Thanks in advance

giggles_alot

mrsjanejane wrote: »

Told my sister about this forum!

She also mentioned that there is another company offering an iron service in her area. She lives in a medium sized village. She is worried that it is more difficult to set up competition in a village than if she was still living in London. I can see where she is coming from, but I think if she wants to do it, she should still give it ago. What do people think?

I also live in a small village and to be honest none of my regular people live in my village. It is rather handy though that i live on the main road to the city so alot of people are happy to drop off as they are pasting the door. But if your sister can collect and delivery she will get more interest that way. With one order of ironing she would cover the cost of leaflets so worth a try.
Good Luck to her

Jag_Babe

I have just started my own cleaning and ironing business based in Fife but as I have my own transport I am able to cover Edinburgh and Tayside so hopefully I will get some clients. Anybody interested send me a PM.

I have decided that the best way to go is to charge per number of items for the ironing and laundry service and I charge per room with the cleaning.

I am planning to go out doing door 2 door flyers and I already have an advert on gumtree. Is there any other websites that are free?

giggles_alot

Jag_Babe wrote: »

Is there any other websites that are free?

Ebay offer classified adds for free, i've had quite a few people contact me that way