Friday, April 30, 2010
1st Period Sales Contest Results
80th Anniversary Sales Contest Standings
The 1st period Duraclean Sales Contest results are now posted on the franchise website. You can find it on the home page at "2010 Contest Results." You can also go directly to the results by clicking on the following link: http://www.duracleanfranchise.com/Contest/contest.htm.
Congratulations to everyone on a great start!!!
Labels: Sales, Sales Contest
# posted by The Duraclean Team @ 8:59 AM
Art Restoration
Chicago Conservation Center: the Nation's Largest Restoration Firm
Duraclean started a relationship with Chicago Conservation Center (CCC) over 12 years ago. Some of you might remember a presentation that they gave at Duraclean Central in July 2005. They are the largest restoration firm in the U.S. and have also worked on art items outside of the U.S. They are truly a full service business and we have recommended CCC to insurance agents in the continuing education courses that we have presented over that time.
To learn more about them you can check out the article that appeared in the Chicago Tribune this past March.
http://www.chicagoconservation.com/news_pdf/tribune_article_032410.pdf
You can also check them out at their website:
http://www.chicagoconservation.com/
Labels: Artwork, Chicago Conservation Center, Restoration
# posted by The Duraclean Team @ 8:00 AM
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Restoration Mold Newsletter Series
Restoration News Mold Newsletters Series Grows to 28
There are 9 new Restoration News mold newsletters that have just been added to the series. All address "Remediation Steps & Monitoring." These currently complete this series. The other two newsletter series are on water damage restoration and fire damage restoration. Here is a view of Newsletter No. 20.
The water damage series is being currently revised. The information is the same but photos and other graphics are being added. That will increase the number of newsletters from its current 15. These newly illustrated versions will not be posted in the "Downloads/Newsletter" section of our franchisee website until it is complete at which time it will replace the previous text only series.
Once downloaded you can personalize them with your tradestyle and phone number and then print out as many as you wish.
There are 9 new Restoration News mold newsletters that have just been added to the series. All address "Remediation Steps & Monitoring." These currently complete this series. The other two newsletter series are on water damage restoration and fire damage restoration. Here is a view of Newsletter No. 20.
The water damage series is being currently revised. The information is the same but photos and other graphics are being added. That will increase the number of newsletters from its current 15. These newly illustrated versions will not be posted in the "Downloads/Newsletter" section of our franchisee website until it is complete at which time it will replace the previous text only series.
The newsletters can be distributed to insurance agents, real estate agents and building management as both an educational and marketing tool. You can download any of the newsletters from our website using the following link: http://www.duracleanfranchise.com/downloads/newsletters.htm.
Once downloaded you can personalize them with your tradestyle and phone number and then print out as many as you wish.
Labels: Fire Damage Restoration, Restoration News Newsletters, Water Damage Restoration
# posted by The Duraclean Team @ 3:12 PM
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Safety Considerations
Protect Workers and Their Families
The following article is a condensation from the "Safety News Alert" newsletter from BLR (http://www.blr.com). It provides information on ways to prevent chemical contamination.
It would be tragic if a worker's family member became ill because of chemical contamination brought home from the workplace. Train your workers to prevent the spread of contamination.
Safety consultant Fred Rine says about workplace safety: "If employees don't understand the ‘why,' not just the ‘how,' they'll never get beyond a certain point. You need to motivate them by reminding them that the reason to work safely is to protect their lives and their families."
Safety consultant Fred Rine says about workplace safety: "If employees don't understand the ‘why,' not just the ‘how,' they'll never get beyond a certain point. You need to motivate them by reminding them that the reason to work safely is to protect their lives and their families."
That brings us to today's topic. One of the ways employees can help protect their own as well as their family's lives is to make sure they don't bring chemical contamination home with them.
Chemical hazards can easily move from the workplace to home and harm loved ones.
Chemical hazards can easily move from the workplace to home and harm loved ones.
Contamination can be carried home on:
- Work clothes
- Tools and equipment
- Work-related materials such as boxes, bags, or scrap brought from work
- Workers' bodies, if they don't wash carefully at the end of a shift.
Simple Rules Protect Families
A few simple rules can protect employees' families from contamination:
- Always remove contaminated clothing and PPE before going home.
- Wear gloves when removing contaminated clothing.
- Remove clothes from the upper body before those on the lower body.
- Shower or wash thoroughly with soap and water, and change clothes before going home.
- Never keep work clothes and PPE in the same locker with street clothes if you work with or around chemicals.
- Place contaminated work clothes and equipment in the proper place for decontamination or disposal.
- Never wash contaminated work clothes with family laundry.
- Don't ever bring home items from the work area such as tools, boxes, etc.
Also remind employees to be aware of the signs of exposure to any chemicals in your workplace so that they can recognize those symptoms in family members. Point out that because children's bodies are small, they may be more easily affected by even small amounts of a chemical.
And be sure to tell workers that if they think a hazardous chemical they work with could be affecting someone in their family, they should immediately consult their doctor and notify their supervisor as well.
Labels: Safety Compliance, Safety Management
# posted by The Duraclean Team @ 2:04 PM
Sunday, April 25, 2010
This blog has moved
This blog is now located at http://duracleanfranchise2.blogspot.com/.
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# posted by The Duraclean Team @ 12:43 PM
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Rick Criss Will be the May Duraclean "Franchise of the Month"
Look for next month's May 1st article about Rick Criss, the second "Franchise of the Month." Randy and Noveita Roe were the featured franchise for April.
Labels: Criss, Franchise of the Month
# posted by The Duraclean Team @ 10:33 AM
Monday, April 5, 2010
Truck Mount for Sale
Duraclean Van and Hydramaster Boxxer 421 For Sale
Duraclean franchisee Tom Dube of Scarborough, Maine has a complete truck mound system for sale. Note the following information for consideration:
VAN
Duraclean franchisee Tom Dube of Scarborough, Maine has a complete truck mound system for sale. Note the following information for consideration:
VAN
- 1999, 3/4 ton, 130,000 miles
- Great condition
- Newly inspected and registered
- New tires, brakes
- Well maintained & 100,000 mile service
- Service mechanic's phone number available
TRUCKMOUNT
- Boxxer 421, 2002
- Well maintained and ready to go
- Unit has about 7500 hours, however, most major components have been replaced with new having only about 1500 hours
- Replacement items are: Blower, Pressure pump, Engine, Waste pump, Chemical pump, Freshwater pump and other misc. items.
- Over $6000 worth of components and labor.
- 70 gallon waste tank with pump-out
- 80 gallon submount fresh water tank
- Hose reel holds 200 feet 2" hose
- Solution hose reel
- Shelving Unit with two pullout drawer units
- Vac hoses/solution hoses available and included
- Two pre-filters and mesh bags
- Carpet wand available and included
- Serviced at Allied Equipment, MA; Telephone number available upon request
- Other equipment available but not included; just ask.
PRICE/CONTACT INFORMATION
- $12,000.00 firm. This includes one final inspection and service at Allied Equipment, MA
- Contact Tom Dube at: (207) 839-3712 or tdube@maine.rr.com
Labels: Equipment, Truck Mount, Used Equipment
# posted by The Duraclean Team @ 1:42 PM
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Franchise of the Month
Roes are the First Featured Duraclean “Franchise of the Month”!
This is a first in a series of monthly articles featuring successful Duraclean franchises. If you are interested in being part of this series contact: billo@duraclean.com
This is a first in a series of monthly articles featuring successful Duraclean franchises. If you are interested in being part of this series contact: billo@duraclean.com
Randy and Noveita Roe have been Duraclean franchisees in Irmo, SC since May, 1997. Over the years they have been the recipients of seven “President’s Circle Awards” for exceeding their annual sales quotas. Their most recent award was for 2009.
Prior to Duraclean Randy was in retail for 20 years as a manager and district manager with Kmart. He was also General Manager of Shoe Carnival. Noveita was in life insurance for 20 years. They were prompted to purchase a Duraclean franchise because Randy was looking to get out of retail and he had a flood in his store. After seeing the extraction and drying process and the equipment used, he found it to be very interesting. When he received the bill, he thought it would be a good business to be in!
They decided to open a store in Irmo because they lived and worked there. They looked at different franchises and Duraclean was open in the Irmo area. They started Duraclean in their home. After six months, they moved to a small office and stayed there for one year.
After a year, they moved to a larger office with additional trucks and employees. This is when they bought their first office/warehouse. It was 1500 sq. ft. They were blessed with growth, running six trucks with their service being mostly carpet cleaning. They then expanded their market to insurance work.
After a year, they moved to a larger office with additional trucks and employees. This is when they bought their first office/warehouse. It was 1500 sq. ft. They were blessed with growth, running six trucks with their service being mostly carpet cleaning. They then expanded their market to insurance work.
They added another 2000 sq. ft. to their warehouse to handle additional drying equipment, cleaning contents and area rugs.
They soon outgrew that building and due to property laws, could not expand anymore. They bought the current facility in April, 2008. They now have 6000 sq. ft. (2000 sq. ft. office and 4000 sq. ft. warehouse).
They now have room for additional production areas for processing contents…
…and loose rugs.
They have four vans, 2 box trucks, a pick-up truck, a Tahoe and a Suburban. Here is one of their service vehicles with a trailer.
They feel that 2009 was a tremendous year for Duraclean Professional Services and they expect 2010 to be even better. They currently have 15 dedicated employees. These include:
Customer service – Courtney Johnson…
Estimation - John Kincaid…
Estimation - Michele Gibson…
Marketing – Melvin Reed…
... and Technicians.
Their biggest challenge is continuing to grow their insurance restoration business with ServPro and Service Master in their area having national contracts with many of the larger carriers such as State Farm, Allstate, Travelers, etc.
Another challenge Randy and Noveita face is finding quality technicians with whom they can depend on and trust. They try to run their business like a larger company by offering employees benefits such as insurance. They also regularly invest in training their technicians. The technicians often become so qualified that other local businesses seek them out as prospective employees. Over the years, Randy and Noveita have had four technicians leave them to start their own business. Although they do not like it when this happens, it is a testament to the type of people that they have working for them.
The most memorable job experience was when they were involved with the clean-up of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana. They worked at the Proctor and Gamble/Folgers coffee facility. They were twenty feet away when President Bush's helicopter landed and they actually got to meet him. Here Randy is shaking President Bush's hand.
Other Duraclean offices answered the call as well and they all got to work together as a team to help the people of Louisiana after such a tremendous tragedy.
It's the "Team Spirit" that Randy and Noveita embody that will carry the Duraclean system forward in the years ahead.
Labels: Franchise of the Month, Roe
# posted by The Duraclean Team @ 2:21 PM
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