Kalani Eckart has been responsible for the day-to-day operations of Honolulu-based Kleen Sweeps, Inc. since 2001. One of the most interesting parts of the Kleen Sweeps story is the challenges posed by power sweeping in an island paradise. Although there are many aspects of the sweeping industry that remain constant regardless of location, Hawaiian power sweeping is very different from the industry we recognize in the lower 48. …
In 1991, Doyle Caffee was a credit manager for Circle Business Credit, a commercial-lending division of Xerox specializing in the refuse industry. The pending sale of CBC prompted Doyle to explore career options. He could start his own refuse company, but the sizable capital investments required prompted him to consider an alternative path–the sweeping industry. Doyle purchased a used sweeper for $13,000 and plunged head first into 90+ hour workdays, building up his company, Sweep All, Inc. The original game plan called for selling the business in 5 years, but over 20 years later, Doyle is still going strong. …
Pete Phillips recently sent us some pictures from his exhibition booth at the Chattanooga Small Business Expo. If you aren’t already attending events like this in your area, you should start making connections with local property managers and business owners. One new introduction can more than pay for the cost of your booth. If you have ever contemplated attending a show to promote your business, you know that showing up to these events is the easy part. Crafting a short and concise elevator pitch that prompts prospective customers to engage in a discussion is the real magic that turns a meeting with a prospect into a sales opportunity. …
Ever since launching www.1800sweeper.com, we have busied ourselves building a brand. Some forms of messaging resonate better with certain groups than others. This is why you have seen a number of different brand building tactics over the past few years. We aren’t afraid to try new strategies and nobody will ever say we are timid about thinking outside the box. The front and back cover ads in North American Sweeper, parking containers adorned with the 1-800-SWEEPER banner near expo centers, our highly visible presence on the web, sunset cruises along the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Sweeper Summit are all prime examples of our brand building efforts. We’ll never shy away from an opportunity to connect with current / prospective partners and buying influences sourcing sweeping services if it makes good business sense. …
Ever since returning home from the 2013 Sweeper Summit in Detroit, we’ve been taking Cameron Herold’s advice to heart, working steadily on the “Painter Picture for 1-800-SWEEPER. Visualization leads to performance, and as a group we all must be focused on the same vision to succeed. To build upon our momentum, we are proudly unveiling our “Painted Picture” describing where 1-800-SWEEPER will be in three years. …
