bonnyben
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 679 
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Post by bonnyben on Sept 16, 2010 13:14:07 GMT
Some time ago I put a sneaky post on here and another site I belong to asking what you did about your rugs - cleaning wise.
Not a lot of response really, most people seemed to hang them over a line and hose them off!!
Anyway to cut a long saga short I have just had a big washer (18 kgs)and a separate gas tumble dryer installed in our big basement. There is water, gas and power to it already so it wasn't as if we had to rent premises but it cost quite a lot of money for the equipment and prep work including the construction of a massive concrete plinth for the washer to be bolted to...
So now just got to wait for the concrete plinth to finally dry out and then open for business.....
Can't think it'll be of much interest to any of you on here though, all too far away, Fi near Perth and Maximum and fallible even further away but I will keep you posted on how things go....hoping for the best!!!
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Post by fimacg on Sept 16, 2010 13:23:28 GMT
BB sounds like a great plan, my rug washers pick up and deliver your rugs for free if you have 10 or more otherwise they charge mileage
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Post by fleabitten on Sept 16, 2010 15:11:17 GMT
well done for taking the plunge BB! sounds like a great business opportunity
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haffyfan
Administrator 
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
Posts: 7,391
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Post by haffyfan on Sept 16, 2010 19:43:15 GMT
Good luck with your new venture!
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Post by zara on Sept 16, 2010 20:09:30 GMT
Good luck BB; where abouts are you? I have friends in Stirling / Falkirk and I'm visiting this wwekend! Zx
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bonnyben
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 679
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Post by bonnyben on Sept 16, 2010 20:41:07 GMT
Thanks guys!!! ;D We are in Renfrewshire - Howwood (long way from Falkirk/Stirling Zara) and expect/hope to cover Renfrewshire (obviously!!), East Ren, North and East Ayrshire and maybe Dumbartonshire and parts of Glasgow... Agree Fi, that offering a pick up/ delivery service free is a good plan, and that is what we will do for up to 15 miles radius for 10 rugs or more. Quite a few yards about here that we hope to "capture"...  |
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Post by dannyboy on Sept 16, 2010 20:44:21 GMT
BB, good luck with your new venture  !! I can't wait to hear how you get on. |
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Post by scattymare on Sept 17, 2010 11:19:14 GMT
Good luck BB. I either wash my own or get them washed if they need repairing as well. My local ones just closed down. You sure you don't fancy a trip down South???
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Post by duckles on Sept 17, 2010 12:04:45 GMT
Great idea - hope you do really well
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Post by kitcat on Sept 17, 2010 14:13:20 GMT
Good luck with the business venture, I hope it all works out.
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Post by brigadier on Sept 20, 2010 13:18:53 GMT
Oh brilliant- well done, the lady I used to use also offered repairs, got herself an old industrial machine and did bits of stitching if requested. Cant remember how much she charged for each rug but it wasnt too expensive. Good luck with it!!!
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bonnyben
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 679
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Post by bonnyben on Sept 20, 2010 17:39:04 GMT
Yes I am going tpo have to offer repairs as well...  but I am not very knacky with needle and thread, but there is no doubt people expect you to be able to put on a new surcingle or repair torn fabric. Just hoping that when it comes to doing it I get some sort of strength and inspiration!!! Washing and reproofing a big rug and separate hood is the dearest option but I have based my prices on others on the web so hope I haven't gone in too heavy... Thanks for all your good wishes everyone...  |
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bonnyben
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 679
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Post by bonnyben on Sept 27, 2010 10:41:24 GMT
Up and running but not without a wee hiccup. Yesterday was a beautiful day so I thought this is the day to start but it didn't work, wouldn't take in hot water at all so got stuck in a sort of cycle where nothing much happened, certainly didn't end up wiht a clena rug.... This morning rang supplier and then my plumber, wait til you hear this  ......there two stop thingys for hot water and lo and behold one was switched off.........the plumber had left instructions to turn it on but WHO with?  Never mind - so far washed stable and t/o of my own and looking vey nice and clean ... ;D ;D |
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Post by kitcat on Sept 27, 2010 11:03:39 GMT
Yay! Thank goodness it is all sorted with no extra expense. I hope all goes well now.
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Post by fimacg on Sept 27, 2010 11:50:37 GMT
glad the initial hiccup is over... I think if I had phoned the supplier about that and been given the answer I would have felt about 2" tall... DOH!
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bonnyben
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 679
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Post by bonnyben on Sept 27, 2010 20:49:12 GMT
Yes Fi you are so right....well now I am about 2 inches tall cos at the next wash the plinth moved resulting in a massive scary noise and panic...the machine is so powerful it had shaken the steel rods in the concrete plinth so much that the plinth had moved about 3 inches and is thingyeyed..  Now it seems I need a new plinth at God knows what cost and the project is put back at least 2 months...  Can't believe our luck but then again, gotta get things i perspective...Ben has one clean stable and one clean outdoor rug.. |
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Post by racaille on Oct 2, 2010 10:48:40 GMT
Oh the hiccups of starting a new venture ..... hope it gets sorted quickly as it sounds like a great idea!
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Post by fimacg on Oct 2, 2010 14:48:40 GMT
ahh teething problems but I'm sure you'll get it sorted
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bonnyben
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 679
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Post by bonnyben on Nov 8, 2010 10:01:05 GMT
It's up and running again!!! ;D ;D ;D And this time it is (so far) issue free!! We did our first commercial rugs yesterday, having done a pile of Ben's to "practise"... Delighted with the results - so off work today to do some more and hand out flyers - 15 yards about here of one size and another...sooooo Hoping we can make a real go of this.... |
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Post by fimacg on Nov 8, 2010 12:26:11 GMT
good luck and dont forget to stick flyers up in feed merchants, tack shops and riding schools too, oh and ingliston etc etc
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Post by Jen on Nov 8, 2010 16:32:52 GMT
would it be possible to make a sign to stick at the end of your drive stating that you clean rugs?
i hope it works out well and hiccup free for you.
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bonnyben
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 679
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Post by bonnyben on Nov 9, 2010 19:09:24 GMT
Thanks guys!! ;D
Fi I handed a pile of flyers into Ingliston on Saturday and I have a pal on livery there who says she will stick flyers on windscreens at competitions..so good start. I handed 120 in at the sec of the KKRC as well and she will send them out with membership cards and newsletter due soon. She also recommended a feed store to hand them into so I will do that and off to Derby House, Dundonald on Saturday with a thing to put up there.
Jen, a bit nervous about putting anything at our drive way but it's a possibility further down the line. Hoping most of our business will be from the pick up and delivery service we are offering.
Thanks again, I will keep you posted.
Daft thing is I am loving it, such a lot of satisfaction getting rugs nice and clean and healthy smelling and looking!! ;D
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Post by brigadier on Nov 11, 2010 21:58:46 GMT
Glad its all working out for you.
re marketing: dont know what you use but you can get postcards done via vistaprint, usually the first four things you order are free and you just pay postage so all your business cards, car door magnets, flyers and simple leaflets are sorted. Ive used them lots and once youve created a template its saved. The car door magnets are good for when you go to shows and events etc, people will see your details in the car park.
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for so much hard work we thank ye!!
but I am not very knacky with needle and thread, but there is no doubt people expect you to be able to put on a new surcingle or repair torn fabric. 
