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We had live chat on our website for quite a while.

It was ok while I was in the office to man it but as we got busier and I was out of the office more, I thought it looked less professional to have live chat showing 'offline' so we removed it.

The best thing for us is call divert, all calls diverted to my mobile, so no matter where I am, they still get the same call response as they would if I was sat in the office.

Emails also come through to my mobile and always get a response within 2 hours.

Would I allow someone else to run my live chat for me? Not a chance!

I have used telephone answering services with operators saying 'I'm sorry the person you need to speak to is unavailable, can I take a message for you?'

I've also been on to sites that have 'Live Chat' operators who leave you feeling suicidal with frustration because they haven't got a clue about the business they are representing.

My mobile phone is my mobile office ... and it doesn't cost me any additional costs.

I'm afraid I wouldn't trust a stranger with no knowledge of our business to be the first point of contact with a potential or regular customer. It takes years to earn a good reputation and seconds to lose it.

Far too many!!

We are coming up to our busiest time of year, have secured new commercial clients for future work, brilliant... just what every business wants!

With such a high rate of unemployment  you would think it would be easy to find people who actually want to work wouldn't you?

Oh no, you would think we were asking for a rocket scientist.

It seems nobody needs to work these days so if we want the work done, we do it our self.

I'm not very politically minded, but the way I see it, they get far more financial assistance than we do, therefore its less of a risk.

The majority of immigrants, as has been said already, have a drive and passion to make a good life for themselves and will often work very long hours for very little money in order to get a footing.

Sadly that drive is missing in our own youth of today and they will just sit back and let the world pass them by.

There is also the family support that they seem to have perfected along the way with all members of the family contributing.

Like Ryan I wasn't brought up in a family of business people either and although my parents both passed away long before I set up my business, I think the biggest doubters were my elder siblings.

They all had well paid jobs and were quite happy to stick with the 9-5 comfort zone of a regular pay packet and were horrified at the thought that the baby of the family would even think she could be a success. In fact they said I wouldn't last 6 months.

My daughter however was 17 at the time and from day one has thrown herself into helping to make the business grow and even her 5 yr old daughter talks about nan and grandad's business at school and acts like she owns the business and hopefully in a few years time she will! 

It's not about cost for me its about credibility.

Whilst I am aware of all the benefits to members, it's the public I'm more concerned about

Originally Posted by Barney

“I'm worried as to whether I joined the right forum here, 2 administrators, ones a miserable old git, with the other being lined up as the next state executioner! ”

One miserable old git? I'm sensing a battle for top Victor Meldrew spot!

Bank holidays should be banned ... they kill our business!!!

I love Morrisons!

I will certainly pass it on and do my best! 

Well done Steve!

I personally think that any organisation that can help the public to separate  quality tradespeople from the cowboys is a brilliant idea.

Unfortunately for most small businesses the cost of becoming a member of these organisations is one that we are unable to afford.

With all the bait and switch rip off merchants that have recently been highlighted in the press, god knows that our line of work is in dire need of some good promotion.

For every professional carpet cleaner in Coventry, there must at least 20 that claim to be, but in reality are claiming benefits and looking for a top up.

There are probably half a dozen or so of these that I feel would benefit us , as a reputable business and to become a member of them all would probably set us back between 3 and 5 grand a year!

We played a part in setting up TACCA, The approved Carpet Cleaners Association, and think it would be brilliant if that too could come under your umbrella too.

 Did you dig deep for that on my behalf Steve? Lol

Just goes to prove you really don't know what goes on behind closed doors

Errrmmmmmmmmmmmm Nooooooo just answering a question

Please dont shoot, I only just got back up!