Crystal Ball Time

They say that when you build a better mouse trap, the world will beat a path to your door. For those that have dealt with mice in your home or shop, you probably already found that the original snap trap still works the best. In some cases, the old method is still the best yet many designs come along every year. The same maybe said for the cleaning industry with a few innovations.

Looking into your personal crystal ball, what do you see in the near future? Are there any real innovations out there that will shake up the industry or are they just another version of the mouse trap....new look and features, but essentially the same or maybe worse. What is bubbling up in your area regarding trends, are there changes that will spread to other areas?

In my area, there exists a major retail source for furniture and carpet that dominates the region. I would suspect that 60% of the carpets I see come from this store and are installed by their contractors which are only allowed to use a specific padding and I've seen more stretchers in college dorm rooms being used for tables then I see being used to install these carpets. At least the padding has a water resisitant top layer to it, so treating pet stains has improved.

My crystal ball sees a shift from carpets "looking" better and more towards being "healthier". Sure, that isn't a shocking revelation, but there seems to be a much stronger push towards it as people stay home a lot more than in years past. I see textiles moving towards some type of antibacterial / antifungal /antiviral treatment (silver fibers maybe) being built into the fabric and the need for cleaners to be able to sanitize as much as clean. I see more testing equipment being used in the field to verify that something is indeed sanitized and without residues when we do our thing.

I guess what I am saying is that I see us moving more into the science aspect of cleaning at a baser level instead of just the appearence. This may be especially true as fabrics become more stain resistant and vacuums get more effective at removing dry soils. We might all end up carrying ATP meters and wearing lab coats....well maybe the lab coats are a bit too far.

ODIN wrote:

Terry, I've been around the world 7 times, 5 county fairs and 2 goat mating contests and that beats all I have ever seen.

I would just start becoming hip, cool, fresh, pepole want the coolest most stay at home approved wife businesses. Do a drastically differ marketing approach like be all pink. Get to be the ladies choice, offer free gift corroborate to a local spa for a one hour massage with every whole house cleaning. Get in with a local well known spa and u know, make a deal with em. Shouldn't cost u much.
Stop worrying about getting carpet more clean. U could say we use special water that is revolutionary... soft water.. but other than that move on from the cleaning and make it about evoking the nitche emotion u want to create

Interesting, so you think the mouse trap is complete and it is just a matter of packaging for carpet cleaning? You might be right, but I did find that apparently there is a company chasing the anti-bacterial angle on the manufacturer's side.

http://www.blissflooring.com/bliss/home-carpet/carpet-treatment/silver-release.aspx

I don't know, there might be something to the trend although the disclaimer on the bottom takes a little of the wow effect out of it. Still, I can see changes coming along those lines.

milspec6 wrote:Interesting, so you think the mouse trap is complete and it is just a matter of packaging for carpet cleaning?  You might be right, but I did find that apparently there is a company chasing the anti-bacterial angle on the manufacturer's side.

http://www.blissflooring.com/bliss/home-carpet/carpet-treatment/silver-release.aspx

I don't know, there might be something to the trend although the disclaimer on the bottom takes a little of the wow effect out of it.  Still, I can see changes coming along those lines.

In california, EVERYTHING has a disclaimer, so that shouldn't take the wow effect out of it here, LOL !
However I have my doubt though, but I'm also skepticals about most new products

The last time I was stationed out in Cali., I enjoyed reading all the warning labels. My toaster said to not operate under water (I guess in case you got hungry while scuba diving), the curling iron said not to insert into any bodily orfice, and my favorite was on a riding mower that simply told you "caution, avoid death". Interesting people out there.  

Beyond that, I have my doubts as well on this one, but if something like that did work....it could be an interesting change.

I read it fast and thought you said last time i was STONED out in Cali...   carry on..

milspec6 wrote:The last time I was stationed out in Cali., I enjoyed reading all the warning labels.  My toaster said to not operate under water (I guess in case you got hungry while scuba diving), the curling iron said not to insert into any bodily orfice, and my favorite was on a riding mower that simply told you "caution, avoid death".  Interesting people out there.  

I'd say more like the 'EngRish" warning label makers in China.