Contractors want to know what customers care about, what’s important to them.
Service quality is a good guess. Price, and to a minor degree product quality, also count.
But for service contractors, customers care most about service quality. Check the research. Statistically valid research. (more…)
Add comment March 27th, 2008
Continual budget reductions are a pain to customers and contractors alike. Here’s a scenario that’s probably too familiar.
A customer has hired a facility service contractor. A fair market price has been negotiated in a competitive bid process. The first year goes well. (more…)
Add comment March 17th, 2008
Hewlett-Packard (HP) has enlisted retired HP employees to pitch its products in person.
In today’s NY Times, Going to the Company Elders for Help describes how HP asks long-term loyal employees, now retired, to volunteer. Their job? To promote HP products in retail outlets like Circuit City.
That’s right volunteer. No pay. (more…)
Add comment March 10th, 2008
The potential for heartbreak exists in all relationships, contracts included. But the risk / reward calculation tips us into engaging.
Contract relationships start out rosy. Then, when familiarity settles in, expectations go unrealized, or some unknown internal timer goes off, changing contractors turns serious.
From out of nowhere the slippery slope appears. (more…)
Add comment March 4th, 2008
That’s a leading question coming from a consultant. Is it self-serving? You bet.
Now that’s out of the way, let’s look at why this question is worth talking about.
At any time you, or your management are aware of some aspect of your company that should be improved.
If you’re aware of weaknesses or faults, why aren’t improvements going? (more…)
Add comment March 2nd, 2008
Why would customers allow contractors to over promise in their bids and under deliver after receiving the contract?
Customers’ only tool to look into contractors’ future performance is the bid process. The goal of customers’ bid process is to select contractors with the best value.
The catch? (more…)
2 comments February 19th, 2008
Is our economy in recession? Have we been, or will we? What’s a recession? Are these too many questions?
Even if you may not be seeing recession’s effects locally, customers are hearing the pronouncements in newspapers, radio and TV. We are, or will be, in recession.
How does recession affect customers and contractors? (more…)
Add comment February 14th, 2008
Green is definitely the flavor of the moment for marketing janitorial, engineering, and of course, landscaping services.
But everyone’s doing it. They’re Me-Too Green.
Contractors seeking to get an edge and stand out from the competition are seeking that next advantage.
So what’s next? (more…)
Add comment February 6th, 2008
On December 14, 2007, Revenue-IQ posted “Consequences” about executive mistakes that cost 1,000s of jobs, yet the execs can easily find new jobs.
On January 27, 2008 the NY Times ran “What’s $34 Billion on Wall Street?” about highly-paid executives being courted for new jobs after their mistakes lose 1,000s of jobs.
Coincidence? Or business savvy?
Either way, the article “What’s $34 Billion on Wall Street?” adds several insights. (more…)
Add comment January 28th, 2008
Can you find a building service contractor that doesn’t offer green cleaning, or environmentally friendly service and products?
It’s time for the me-too bandwagon.
First movers (those committed to green cleaning early) are likely seeing less benefit from being first now that everyone else is in it. (more…)
Add comment January 25th, 2008
