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giggles_alot

missspeedy23 wrote: »

I have to say I've never experienced that one!! It does sound very strange, I wonder if she's moved and just forgotten about them? I think I would fold them in a box or something and just put them to one side just in case she does come back but it doesn't sound likely. Was she elderly? Do you have a surname as you could try searching on 192.com for her or a relative nearby to you?

Thanks Missspeedy,
I checked phone book for people with surname but doesn't seem to be anyone nearby.
Shes not elderly, gave the impression as being a bit of Scatterbrain and not too organised.
Normally I have people chasing for their clothes but to not miss them in over two months is a first to me
Thanks, think they will now be folded and bagged,

maisy_daisy

Evening everyone

Just checking in - I've been playing around with my ironing but have decided to go for it and really concentrate on making my business work.

I've had 2 enquiries this week, both through my website which I'm really pleased about. I've just ordered some flyers from Vistaprint that I'm going to put up in local shops/takeaways/children's centres too.

Does anyone know anything about Google rankings? When I google "ironing" and my town, I'm one of the first results listed (yay!) - but is that only because I visit my own site pretty regularly (to admire my work :rotfl:). Would anyone else get the same results, or is it random? It's the first time I've ever created a web site and I'm pretty proud of myself

Stephb1986_2

Hi everyone sorry I've not been around much been busy

We've never had anyone not collect their ironing for two months strange one really. The longest I've had one is a week I had called 5 times to deliver it and she was never in! She took the mick on collection not being in on the time she requested then again on delivery 5 times in the end I posted a note through the door on Sunday saying she will have to collect it and the order is £x amount with the phone number and the address, she turned up unannounced on Tuesday and said she didn't expect it to be that much and can she knock £15 off!!! of course we said no and she was lucky I didn't add and extra £5 for every time I tried to deliver and she wasn't in. Grrrr! I'll give it a few more weeks if she hasn't turned up either put it in the bin or take it to a charity shop or you could start charging her for storage.

I wouldn't worry too much about competition it's a very competitive market out there you just have to be slightly cheaper and better than the others, there are some that are cheaper than us but musn't be as good.

If theres any questions you really need a answer to please pm me and I'll get back to you as quick as I can
Steph

mrsspoon_2

Aaarrrggghhh! Ironing is taking over my life at the moment. The extra money is fantastic, but I have literally no life.

I keep aspiring to 2-3 minutes per item but it's just not happening. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I can do easy iron shirts in 2-3 minutes, but 100% cotton shirts, ladies blouses, ladies tops with frilly/floaty sleeves, combats, dresses etc all take me on average I reckon 5/6 minutes per item.

I usually end up working 10-12 hour days 2 days per week (and 5-7 the other 3) and for the money I'm earning it's less than the mimimum wage.

Does anyone know any good tutorials on the net? I feel I know the order the iron things in, but I could do with something on the actual ironing technique - how to move the iron to get the best out of it, how much steam should be applied etc.

I have a Pro Express Steam Generator, wide board, foil under board - only excuse is man power but I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Please help! I'm doubtful about finding a job with the little skills I have and am desperate to make this work out.

missspeedy23

Print365 wrote: »

Hi all,

Thanks for all the posts, i've been reading through them all for nearly 2 hours now and i've picked up loads of great ideas and tips off everyone and i'm so glad i found this thread.

Just a quick bit about me....My name is Lee and i'm in the process of setting up a collection & drop off ironing service in Gloucester. There are a couple of other people doing it around Gloucester or the surrounding areas, but i think the area is large enough for everyone, plus competition keeps everyone on there toes IMO.

I own & run a printing company full time but have been thinking about starting up another business for a while, the first thing businesses do when watching their pennies is to reduce there print requirements so would like to try and establish another company.

I have been thinking about printing leaflets and putting these through doors, however i'm thinking it might be better to advertise in a local community magazine instead to start off. Just because it works out cheaper to have an advert rather than leaflets, once you take into account the print and the distribution costs.

I've had a look at the other local businesses and everyone seems to be charging £x per item, i always assumed that it would just be £xx per basket. Will have to have a proper think about what to charge.

Has anyone found a certain type of advertising works better for them?

Also the pick-up/drop off times would be between 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. Is that pretty much the norm or do you think those times are to restrictive?

Any tips, ideas or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Wishing everyone all the best in there business.

Regards

Lee

Hi Lee

The best advertising I've found is either a local guide that comes round by us or via a Google Places account (think it's on the maps page). With the Google account people type in "ironing near x" and it will bring you up. I've had a few calls from a free Yell.com advert too - but don't let them talk you into a paid one! I did do a leaflet drop one weekend but think I got 2 calls so for the cost/effort involved it wasn't a great return and I wouldn't do it again. I also put flyers in kids play areas and a few pubs.

I charge by the kilo (£3 per kg) as find this much easier than counting out different items. You can also weigh it there and them in front of them if they want with luggage scales.

Most of my customers want pickups after 5 as they're mainly professional couples and some as late as 7 but it all depends on what you want to do. I would suggest up to at least 6pm but that's up to you. I work 4 days a week in addition to this so most days I can't pick up until after 5 anyway so that suits me. I also do Saturday morning drop offs/pick ups.

Good luck on your new venture!

Jo

theironman

Hey all

I've had a nightmare as now not starting the ironing business with the business partner I had intended. Going alone and doing around my 9-5 job. Long story and to be honest, more my fault for not thinking long term goals through (wont bore you all here!) Hope we can remain friends but was a tense week and I feel very bad about the whole thing.

On a positive note, im excited about giving this a go as a way to raise extra money for me and my family at the moment and if its something I can expand in the future, do be it. How do you all cope working other jobs - do you set aside a number of hours in the evening and do collections in the evenings? I wouldnt be available to collect/deliver in the day so worried this will hold me back!

Any advice appreciated!!!

Richard

missspeedy23

theironman wrote: »

Hey all

I've had a nightmare as now not starting the ironing business with the business partner I had intended. Going alone and doing around my 9-5 job. Long story and to be honest, more my fault for not thinking long term goals through (wont bore you all here!) Hope we can remain friends but was a tense week and I feel very bad about the whole thing.

On a positive note, im excited about giving this a go as a way to raise extra money for me and my family at the moment and if its something I can expand in the future, do be it. How do you all cope working other jobs - do you set aside a number of hours in the evening and do collections in the evenings? I wouldnt be available to collect/deliver in the day so worried this will hold me back!

Any advice appreciated!!!

Richard

I'm sure you'll be fine - good luck!

Up until January I worked full time too but then got busy enough to be able to drop a day a week at work. I've only ever lost one customer who wanted me to pick up and drop off at her work but other than that most customers want me to pick up after 5 and some are not bothered what time I go. I generally do my runs between 5 and 7 and Saturday mornings. It is hard work having to do it on an evening but I try and time most of mine so that I can do them on my day off.

It got busier at the beginning of the week and my day off is Thurs so I was struggling so I took someone on to help me and she's a lifesaver! She does anything at the beginning of the week and I do midweek and I still make a bit from what she does for me.

If you're happy to do some hard work for a while then do it on an evening like I did or try and get pickups for Fri so you have the weekend to do it. As and when you get more customers you could always reduce your hours at work if that's an option for you.

The only real problem I have is when customers ring me during the day as I don't want to be answering my phone at work - they know I do the ironing but don't want to take the mick by doing it in their time. I've missed a few calls because of it but try and ring them back when I can. I also have caller display on at home to see if I've missed any there.

Jo

theironman

Hi Jo

Thanks for the advice. I hope to build it for awhile and then see if i can expand and also take people on like you have done - do you find you get get regular weekly business and then the same people use you week in week out?

Now that im starting this alone im seeing it more as additional income for the family as my wife will also be able to help and then expand later (where as with business partner is was meant to expand quicker) but hey things happen for a reason.

I work on a saturday so have mondays off which means that my help - i hope to fit everyone in during evenings, maybe even have a set collection and drop off day - does anyone else have set days for collections/returns

Very excited still and ready for a challenge!

missspeedy23

I have 4 or 5 regular weekly customers, a few fortnightly ones and then a lot of others that are once a month or so but send me loads!! I have started doing set days in the areas that are further away from me that I cover but if they're within a mile or so I'll go every night - though I do try and pick up from people in the same area at the same time to save on fuel costs.

maisy_daisy

I've got my first customer :j

But I'm having a crisis of confidence. Exactly how well do you iron things? I mean when you get brand new clothes from shops, they look immaculate, and I've never been able to replicate this level of ironing at home, even with my super-duper steam generator. Do customers expect their clothes to come back looking brand new, or just crease-free and folded/hung nicely?

And how addictive is Vistaprint? I could spend an absolute fortune on there :eek:!!!