Hi Don!

I actually got the idea for Flyering the neighborhood from your "Paint the Curb" example on your site. It saved me from having to knock on every door and waste valuable time.

Thanks Again.

Duane

> Thanks for the kind words Dwayne. I have
> benefited greatly from the experiences of
> others and I enjoy relating my own...here's
> 2 more...1 aligned to your "snow"
> program and one for "non-snow"
> areas;

> 1) Many years ago I went on a ski trip to
> Aspen, CO and after 2 days my buddy and I
> decided we'd stay for 3 weeks longer...only
> problem was, we were almost out of cash and
> maxed out on our cards so...as we were
> sitting at the bar looking out over this
> beautiful town in the mountains (with oodles
> of ski-bunnies everywhere)...we noticed it
> was snowing again. The tar-bender said it
> was going to be a "big dump".

> Just then, as I was looking at all the WHITE
> ROOFS, I got an idea; I asked the tar-bender
> if the snow will continue to build-up on the
> roofs. He said, "You bet! And if those
> folks don't get that stuff off...some of
> them will possibly lose their roofs.

> I asked him if he knew if there were any
> shovels or brooms in the building. We were
> staying at the Continental Inn and he showed
> us where all the maintenance equip was.

> We then went down to the lobby and asked the
> asst manager if we could shovel the roof for
> an extra few days lodging. He agreed...in
> fact, because it kept snowing, we were able
> to get free lodging AND food for the next 3
> weeks (Till New Years Day)

> We had a few problems like getting the
> proper gear (shoes and gloves and heavier
> coats) which we finagled...plus, roofs are
> no picnic to shovel. You could fall off and
> die!

> We figured out a way to do it and spent
> every other day knocking on doors asking if
> they'd like their roof shoveled for $50.
> (The other days we skied)

> We only took the "easy" jobs...no
> 3 story jobs...and were able to do 6 a day
> for $300 cash in our pockets. We were young
> and in shape and I wouldn't suggest it as a
> livilihood but we did have a terrific time
> those weeks.

> 2) Some years ago a friend called me one
> evening and said he was on his "last
> legs". He'd been out
> of a job for 3 months and was down to his
> last few dollars. I told him to meet me for
> coffee the next morn.

> He met me and I told him what I had in mind;
> We were going to "offer a Mobile Car
> Wash & Detail " Service to Real
> Estate offices.

> I figured realtors made their living taking
> prospective home buyers around in their cars
> and they NEEDED to have their vehicles
> CLEAN!

> I had a local printer make up 100 Flyers
> which said, "YOUR CAR, CLEANED, WASHED
> & DETAILED...IN YOUR PARKING LOT!....$49
> Complete. Mobile
> Detail".

> My printer did me a favor and got the thing
> typeset right away. I made 100 copies on
> bright
> yellow paper and went next door to the
> supermarket where I bought a bucket, dish
> soap and
> some sponges...went to an auto parts
> store...bought a shammy and auto polish.

> Then we went to a real estate
> office...walked in and asked the
> receptionist if we could see the
> broker (he owns the place) I introduced us
> and told him we were introducing a new
> "Mobile
> Detail Service" and that for $49 per
> car ($39 for 2 or more) we would clean, wash
> and detail his
> car and any others.

> Well...you could've knocked me over when the
> guy says, "Hold on, let me get my staff
> in
> here!"
> In a few minutes there's about 20 people in
> the room. I tell them what we were doing and
> that if
> ALL decide to have their cars it's only $35
> per car (this was in 1975) and lo and
> behold...22
> people gave us their business cards and said
> "Yes! Count me in!" $770 in ONE
> day at 1975
> dollars.

> Yahoo! But...did we work our buns off? You
> bet!

> We were dog tired at the end of that day.
> Luckily we found a garden hose at the back
> of the
> parking lot and quickly figured out a
> "system".

> My buddy went on to build a "Car Wash
> & Detail" business with 4 shops in
> 3 towns.
> You can do the same. There are business
> people who NEED their cars looking the
> best...for their
> clients. These are real estate people and
> any other "sales" types of jobs
> (Insurance offices, stockbrokers, but
> especially real estate)

> I also know of many people who started a
> lucrative landscape biz by asking to mow
> lawns.

> It just takes some thinking and ACTION!

> Thanks for reading....Don Alm