Just a note to the group – it is time to choose the next Textile Pro team. This is team #9 for Jim Pemberton and I. We work with 20 companies on a team, over a six month training period covering technical, operational, marketing, and business growth. These are the specialists who we refer consumers to through our consumer directory www.rugcleanerinfo.com.
This year the online training runs from 6/15/17 through 12/15/17. The Intensive workshop is in San Diego at my facility 8/10/17-8/12/17.
There are so many good rug programs available today (there was nothing much around when Jim and I decided there needed to be a specialist training program that wove technical, service, marketing, and business together) – however, this program has a few nice extras
Heavy education.
Your entire team can go through the modules and all get the same foundational understanding of the technical basics of pre-inspection, cleaning and rug identification. Review as often as needed, when needed.
Heavy marketing.
I have with Mark Kennedy, developed some of the best marketing messages in our industry to consumers. Textile Pros have access to articles, written copy, forms and client handouts, and photos. Strategies for how to use them. And special pricing on tools such as the rug videos. Everything tested first in my own company, to make sure they resonate with consumers.
Heavy consulting.
Wondering how to charge for storage, and forms to complete? How to handle a flood job to limit your liability, and how to communicate so you are protected and still get paid? Wondering how to explain a job you need to turn away and still save the customer? If the modules do not already exist, with written examples to model, then the question becomes a new module in the program for everyone to benefit from. I share my own company systems on how we hire, train, and communicate with clients.
Heavy referrals.
Jim and I both have constant inquiries from consumers, designers, and manufacturers on the best cleaners for fine fabric and rugs. This was why we began this program, because we could not rely on simply giving an IICRC certified firm and feel good about it. We get to know every Textile Pro company very well, and can give a personal referral with confidence. We see their work, their service, and get to know their values. I have tens of thousands of consumers visiting my Rug Chick blog every month. If I wanted to, I could claim I am the only rug shop to use and give them shipping instructions to send their rugs to me. But that is ridiculous. Instead I refer to rug shops all over the world that I trust. Shops I know personally, either through this course, or peers of mine who I have seen their work in person. I follow up on every referral to make sure I have not handed them off to the wrong shop.
I have tens of thousands of consumers visiting my Rug Chick blog every month. If I wanted to, I could claim I am the only rug shop to use and give them shipping instructions to send their rugs to me. But that is ridiculous. Instead I refer to rug shops all over the world that I trust. Shops I know personally, either through this course, or peers of mine who I have seen their work in person. I follow up on every referral to make sure I have not handed them off to the wrong shop.
I have a lot of basic education out there on rugs. A lot for free, and some affordable basics online courses.
This one though is my favorite program, and where all of my training effort goes. These are the companies I want to see grow. These are the companies that all of my PR work in the consumer market is directed at generating traffic for.
So… if you have been in the rug business awhile, or starting up but know you want rugs as a primary focus, and you are looking for of course the technical, but more importantly the “how” of the business side, then send me an email at lisa@rugchick.com and I will send you the course overview and application.
The program is $3,000, broken up into six payments of $500, because we want you to be making money as you go through the training to get your investment back as we go through it. We unfortunately always have a few more applicants than spots, and preferential treatment is given to past students of Jim’s and mine, and also those in states where we do not have a strong Textile Pro presence.
Sorry for the long post – and this will be the only post I do for this.
(Thank you Cameron for the opportunity.) Anyone is welcome to message me with questions. Thank you. Happy Rug Cleaning!