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PROCHEM CASE STUDIESThe Movers And Shakers The chances are that if you are a high-flier executive about to be relocated to London and keen on golf, you are going to meet the crew at Egham, Surrey-based contract cleaners, Movers & Shakers.
The reason? Because Surrey (and particularly the area to the north fringing the outskirts of London) is a popular home away-from-home for execs and ex-pats - especially Americans, who have ready access to the nearby American and international schools run by ACS amongst others. The hugely exclusive Wentworth Estate with its famous golf course is the number one destination when you get there. Between rounds of golf, people get talking about who one another employ in and around the home that can be trusted. "The Americans in particular ask who the movers and shakers in the area are. That's where our name came from, and where we tend to come in," says Rosemary Bailey. Rosemary and partner Richard are almost exclusively servicing the contract cleaning needs of the £4 million to £5 million homes of Wentworth with a staff of five full-timers (rising to 11 in the summer) from four trucks, including a 'mother-ship' Transit fitted with a brand new Prochem Europe Blazer Plus truckmounted extraction machine. The company is an established Prochem user. "Prochem products are fabulous and efficient," says Rosemary. "When you are working for a discerning customer base as we do, you have to buy the best you can. The Blazer is a god-send. We have Comanche portable extractors, but when you are cleaning some of these huge houses, you will need three machines on the go at any one time. "The Blazer cuts through the workload like a knife through butter. It's tremendously fast to clean and dry. It also benefits from being quiet as the extractor motor is in the van rather than in the house," says Rosemary. Business comes through local estate agents and relocation agents as well as the client corporations - such as Proctor & Gamble - themselves. The work is seasonal: most of the home occupants commence and complete their employment term contracts in the summer months. June to August is a busy time for the Movers & Shakers. "We do more than clean," says Rosemary. "We carry out a full inventory checkout clean for a very detailed inspection. It's a complete service which means customers don't have to go to different companies to get carpets, rugs, curtains, upholstery, work surfaces cleaned separately. We do the lot including window cleaning, minor repairs and so on."
In short, Movers & Shakers is a property management business. And that suits the wealthy, security-conscious customer. The company's clients are a demanding but very loyal lot; they put great store in the contractors that 'pass muster'. "Once they recognise you can be trusted then you get asked to take on all types of work," says Rosemary. "Since we started in 1995, we have moved furniture, house-sat, pet-sat and even wrapped Christmas presents on Christmas Eve for our clients. That goes with the kind of business we have and we are very happy to have it." The reward for this dedication to service ("Americans tend to ask for and get what they want - the British tend to accept what they're offered" says Rosemary) is exclusivity: "there are very few other contractors in the immediate area", she adds. Conversely, Movers & Shakers rarely get a look-in on the big houses at nearby St George's Hill. Does depending on this very focussed, niche target audience worry Rosemary and David? "We've done very well with it and grown our business thanks to it and we don't have any worries," she replies "That said, we are already considering the purchase of a second Prochem truckmount - a Legend." So, hopefully, the Movers & Shakers will soon have a Legend to tell the good golfers at Wentworth. Movers & Shakers 01784 477009; fax 01784 477016 |
