The Green Cleaning Movement Moves South |
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09-13-2017 23:38:26 GMT
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The professional cleaning industry in North America and much of Western Europe now recognizes the benefits of providing green cleaning programs to its customers. More importantly, we now understand the positive health benefits of these programs to building users and cleaning staff. However, that certainly is not true in many other parts of the world.
I thought I would share some of these questions I’m asked in other parts of the world with CMM readers. I would not be surprised many cleaning contractors here in North America are struggling with some of these very same issues. For instance:
How do I introduce green cleaning to my customers? I am a powerful advocate of giving customer presentations. A presentation on the value of green cleaning can be one of the most important presentations you can provide them. What types of customers most want green cleaning programs? Your clients that are doing business nationally and internationally are the first to approach. What is happening around the world today is that companies want to do businesses with companies that have a shared culture and this includes green cleaning. In fact, it is often one of the items at the top of the list. Further, some large corporations will ask their vendors what green and sustainability initiatives they have in place. Your customers doing business nationally and internationally view adopting green cleaning and sustainability initiatives as very simply good business.
How do I get the staff to make the change from the traditional way of cleaning?
How do I know what changes I need to make?
How do I sell and market my Green Cleaning program to prospects? Rehearse your presentation. Twenty minutes is enough time and allows for about ten minutes of questions and answers. Also, try and tailor it to what type of organization you are meeting with. A school, for instance, will have cleaning concerns that may not be shared by an office building filled with attorneys. Finally, a question I frequently am asked is if contractors should provide both traditional and green cleaning programs. At this point, I suggest transferring to green cleaning. Because the performance of most environmentally preferable cleaning products is as effective as their traditional alternatives and cost effective as well, there is simply no need to offer both. Ron Segura is founder and president of Segura & Associates, an international janitorial consulting company based in the U.S. He has over 45 years of experience in all segments of the cleaning industry with ten of those years spent overseeing the cleaning of over 4.5 million square feet for The Walt Disney Company. Ron can be contacted through his company website at www.seguraassociates.com |