your vans image

Does the look and logos of your van stand out.? Does it make a long lasting impression when people see it? In other words: they've seen it, but later on down the line(weeks or months) when they are thinking about carpet cleaning: DO THEY REMEMBER YOU OR WHO YOU ARE?? Can they find your name and # among the listing of CC? Lets be honest, I dought anyone will write down your name and # when they see your van and say to themselves, "thats who I'll call or just in case I need...". I dont remember other service vans and who they are, and I would guess that is the way it is with most other people.
Ex: afew years ago I was watching youtube vid's of carpet cleaning(go figure) and i came across some vids from a co. in Portland, OR. His vans have a orange color and real Oranges on his vans. That really sticks out like no other. If I lived in that area and was thinking, lookin for a CC-that would be the one I look for. because I remember his vans.
In addition, does your listings in the YP or online have a visual connection? Like the oranges. If I went searching online and I saw a listing with "oranges", thats the one, look no further, I got what I was looking for.

food for thought,
Matt

BTW, Im having mine re-done next week. I will post pics.

I think if your out driving around everyday more and more people see it, I see the same vans around town and after seeing them repeatedly it starts to stick.

That is also the benefit of facebook, its all just brand recognition. You try and get them to see it over and over until they associate your name with carpet cleaning or whatever other services you offer.

Break down in a busy intersection and you will have 100's remember you...and they will call you too. Not for work, but they will call you something.  

I actually fly below the radar with my van. The company name sounds like an home alarm system installer and there is only one van running around. The only thing that I can claim is that a customer never forgets me.

I get people all the time that say they see us driving around all the time . Then if they don't look me up specifically when they click on my site from goog they will say oh ya I've heard or seen them around. Branding .. that's why I have green everything people remember green. Or in that case they would remember orange.

My van says something by saying nothing.

It's a basic marketing strategy , (reverse phycology)

I read it in a book that had a blank grey cover with no title, only sold 3 copies, so only 2 other people know about it.

I don't have any graphics, 2 reasons, one is there are about 20+ cities that we serve around greater LA area and most of them required business tax permits, I can't and won't let them jack $ 300 for a city that I do a couple of jobs per year, I'm licensed in 2 cities where I do most of my business, second reason is in metropolitan areas there are people that their full time job is getting insurance money from collision with service company vehicles, they're targeting a medium - large businesses, with a blank cargo vans they won't know our size and they won't take a chance to stop in front of me in the freeway while going 65 mph or more, something to think about.

I know what you mean Dp

My uncle has an oil company in southern california Golden Bear Oil and Trucking

The gang members and cartel types had a huge scam running for a long time, not sure if it still is around

They would surround the oil truck on all sides with regular cars, then get in front of the truck with a mercedes and force a crash into the benz and collect big money

They were doing it so much it became a well known scam

Good grief, it sounds like California is now just Mexico North. That is the kind of stuff that was common practice down in TJ.

dp1 wrote:I don't have any graphics, 2 reasons, one is there are about 20+ cities that we serve around greater LA area and most of them required business tax permits, I can't and won't let them jack $ 300 for a city that I do a couple of jobs per year, I'm licensed in 2 cities where I do most of my business, second reason is in metropolitan areas there are people that their full time job is getting insurance money from collision with service company vehicles, they're targeting a medium - large businesses, with a blank cargo vans they won't know our size and they won't take a chance to stop in front of me in the freeway while going 65 mph or more, something to think about.

I'm sure it sounds silly to the others in other states, but those are exactly the same reasons I roll with a plain van too!.........everyone is sue happy here, and then there's the insurance scam artist that are just looking for the payday, like you said DP.

And in addition, I really don't like drawing attn to the fact my van is full of expensive equip to the thieves, which we have no shortage of around here also........my buddy's cleaning van was stolen a few month ago, right out of his drive way, in a very nice neighborhood in Huntington Beach, CA. He was Very lucky tho, Seriously Lucky, because the van broke down lol shortly after they stole it, and it was recovered just 3 miles from his house, with only a blower missing.   

My old van, I did have my name on, and very rarely got a job from it, so I figure the risk to reward is against me having my co name on van.

milspec6 wrote:Good grief, it sounds like California is now just Mexico North.  That is the kind of stuff that was common practice down in TJ.

Man, you wouldn't believe how accurate you are, in more ways than you can imagine!!    

I may have had to use a heat gun to de-ice my car doors this morning and shovel the 6 inch drift away (April 14!!!), but at least nobody is going all "road warrior" on me during the commute.

Maybe you just need a supercharger and a sawed off shotgun...works in the movies.  

No real vandalism problem here. We do work on our branding with our vehicles a lot.

People do comment that they see us everywhere and we look like a parade rolling through town.

Know what you mean about the cold and snow.

If I could just find someone who like to purchase our overstock of snow, I could make some nice money this year

Mark Saiger
www.saigers.com

Hey Mark, I've been reading about this stuff called "Global Warming"....I don't think it is going to catch on in the midwest though.  

Ridiculous weather...if it snows again, I'm putting the xmas lights back up and starting over.  

milspec6 wrote:Hey Mark, I've been reading about this stuff called "Global Warming"....I don't think it is going to catch on in the midwest though.  

Ridiculous weather...if it snows again, I'm putting the xmas lights back up and starting over.  

Not to be selfish, but I really hope the global warming will catch on here in the Midwest.

I really do have a selfish wish of it becoming true sooner than not ....LOL

Mark Saiger
www.saigers.com

And my christmas lights are still up because they are frozen down yet LOL

 

Mark Saiger wrote:And my christmas lights are still up because they are frozen down yet LOL

  

Maybe we should run a Christmas special and see how the people respond?? Might actually work.  

My wife and I think that might be a fun idea Milspec If things don't get better faster in the weather department. We like it!

Mark Saiger
www.saigers.com

milspec6 wrote:I may have had to use a heat gun to de-ice my car doors this morning and shovel the 6 inch drift away (April 14!!!), but at least nobody is going all "road warrior" on me during the commute.

Maybe you just need a supercharger and a sawed off shotgun...works in the movies.  

That's a very small problem compare to what happened to me today, went to whole foods for lunch and when we got out, our van's vanished, called the police dept and turned out it was towed because there was a no parking sign after 3 pm, it was 3:20 pm !
Walked to the police dept and paid $ 119 for a release vehicle form then walked to the tow shop which is another mile and a half and they want $ 168 for towing it a mile and a half from where I parked ! Then when I thought it was all over, saw a citation on my windshield for $ 46, turned out to be the most expensive lunch in my life !
And lost one job too because the customer is moving out and can't wait for me any longer   

Man, that sux DP, sorry to hear that!!      :thumbs down:   

That is one sucky day DP don't worry about that lost customer didn't sound like a repeat anyways

Thanks for reminding me to stay out of CA.

Ever wonder if a competitor reported your illegal parking? I had one report that I was a drunk motorist in hopes of making me late to a demonstration bid for a local hospital.

In my case it worked out as I ended up running so late that I went home and missed one of the worst hail storms in the state's history. Dimple free is better than a chance to bid a job.

I wouldn't rule it out Dp.

$168 for towing!! If you had hired them to tow the same distance to your mechanic; probably $80-100. When a city, county, or state agency calls the tow co. to tow a vehicle...its a cash cow. They pay good $. Here they(tow co) will drop you even if they are on their way; if one of those kind of jobs come in.

Mo, that is my repeat customer, lol, unfortunately they moved out of town and yesterday was their last day, they couldn't wait for me as they're leaving pasadena, which I don't blame them, I would leave that f@#$ing city too if I live there, thank God I don't, lol.
Rob, I don't think so, my van is blank white with tinted windows, noone knows it's a carpet cleaning van.
My carpet cleaners, yes I know those m@#$er f@#$er is out to rip people off, however the $$ is curse $$, they will not live a happy life ripping people off like that ! Oh well, it's over :-)

Ahh man that sucks if someone actually did that to you.