Steamatic Catastrophe Management Partners With Steamatic of Australia for Flood Restoration

Check out this article about how our franchisees are working together to cleanup the flood devastation in Australia…

Steamatic Catastrophe Management Partners With Steamatic of Australia for Flood Cleanup and Restoration

February 23, 2011 // Franchising.com // Fort Worth, Texas – Steamatic Catastrophe Management (SCM) is working in Northern Victoria, Australia with Steamatic of Australia on cleanup and restoration following the devastation of recent floods. SCM is a company owned by Steamatic’s franchise owners who work together on large restorations or commercial jobs when the number of claims andrestorations requires services exceeding the physical and financial capabilities of other Steamatic franchisees.

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Featured Service: Wood Restoration

Wood Restoration

Does your wood furniture look dull and dirty? Have you experienced a fire or flood that left your wood furniture finish looking discolored and stained?  If so, you need to call Steamatic today. Equiped with Steamatic’s proprietary chemicals, Steamatic’s highly trained technicians are ready to tackle your toughest cleaning and restoration need. As we all know, wood furniture is expensive and in many cases it is hard to replace.  Vintage tables, chairs, dining sets, bedroom sets and all kinds of antique furniture can be ruined if not handled properly. That’s why it’s important to trust and call an expert.  Steamatic technicians are trained to restore anitiques as well as contemporary furniture.  They will carefully perform pre work evaluations before starting the cleaning and restoration process and understand that without careful inspection and consultation it is possible to cause irreparable harm to a piece of historically valuable furniture.  Test cleaning is also done to predetermine the cleaning/restorating possibility.

If you have have wood furniture that has been involved with any of the following, it is worth your time to call a Steamatic technician today.

Fire damage
Water damage
Smoke damage
Flood damage
Mold damage
Storm damage
Deodorizing (odor control)

To find a Steamatic near you, click here.

Steve Boyce Named Chief Operations Officer for Steamatic, Inc.

Fort Worth, Texas, Feb. 9, 2011 – Steamatic, the industry leader in cleaning and restoration services in more than 270 franchise territories in the United States and in 25 countries around the world, recently named Steve Boyce as the organization’s new Chief Operations Officer. The announcement was made by Bill Sims, president of Steamatic, Inc.

Boyce has owned and operated his own multi-truck cleaning, restoration and home inspection company, and has served as National Sales Manager for the industry’s leading chemical manufacturer. He has consulted with major franchises, distributors and manufacturers, and has been a litigation consultant and expert witness.

“Not only does Steve bring many years of experience, he offers Steamatic and our franchise partners unique experience and insight into customer service, operations and many other areas,” says Sims. “For example, in just a short time, he has increased our emphasis on customer service, product information and other operations-related matters that helps brand the Steamatic name.”

Boyce spent a year with a specialty “dot.com,” where he trained chemical engineers in sales and market development, and another seven years as Vice President of Commercial and Restoration Services for a large franchise company.

Involved in the cleaning, restoration and construction industry for more than 30 years, Boyce is an Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) Master Cleaner, Master Restorer and Senior Inspector, and has taught more than 400 IICRC certification classes in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and England. Over the years, he has taught water damage, fire and smoke damage, odor control, carpet cleaning, commercial maintenance, upholstery cleaning, carpet repair and re-installation to 8,000+ students.

For more information on Steamatic, including franchise opportunities, please contact Jarrod Sims at 817-332-1575 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

About Steamatic
Steamatic offers cleaning and restoration services through more than 270 franchise territories in the United States and in 25 countries around the world. Steamatic’s highly trained and certified technicians work with insurance agents and adjusters, and directly with the public. Restoration services include fire and smoke, water mitigation, mold remediation, and contents recovery; commercial and residential services include carpet cleaning, hard surface cleaning, HVAC and air duct cleaning, and furniture, area rug and drapery cleaning. Steamatic’s mission statement is: “Steamatic is committed to making our world a safer and cleaner environment for present and future generations.” In 2011, the company celebrates 43 years of franchising.

Featured Service: Hardwood Cleaning and Maintenance

NEW SERVICE!  Call your local franchise to request service

With the growing numbers of homes and offices utilizing hard wood flooring, Steamatic is now providing a new cleaning and restoration service to our residential and commercial customers… Hardwood Cleaning and Maintenance.

Steamatic’s highly trained technicians will use Basic® Coatings products to clean and refinish wood floors. Basic® Coatings TyKote® dust-free refinishing system allows us to provide you with beautiful floors in less time with no dust or mess. Basic Floor Coatings is a water based technology that cleans and protects wood flooring, including wood laminates. Basic Coatings have a comprehensive line of finishes, sealers, maintenance products and equipment for easy floor care application.

There are three types of systems that Steamatic can provide (depending on the condition of the floor)

1.    System One - Intensive Cleaning, cleaning and maintenance

2.    System Two – Clean and Refinish, restoring the finish

3.    System Three - Tykote®  Recoat – Very durable protective finish

To find a Steamatic near you, click here.

Tips and Tricks for Holiday Spills and Accidents

With holiday gatherings approaching, you may want to be prepared for the dreaded last minute accident or holiday spill.  Don’t panic, relax.  Here are some tips on cleaning some of the most common holiday spills.

PRE-TEST all spotting solutions to determine the colorfastness of the fabric or fiber.  Test the fabric in an inconspicuous area. 

HOME CARE SPOTTING SOLUTIONS:

Detergent Solution—One teaspoonful of a colorless, mild detergent in one cup of lukewarm water.
Ammonia Solution—One tablespoon of clear household ammonia in one-half cup of water.
Vinegar Solution—One-third cup of white household vinegar in two-thirds cup of water.
P/V Remover—Paint, varnish or grease remover available in most hardware stores. (*Use sparingly and DO NOT pour directly onto fabric or fibers.  P/V Remover can dissolve the glue that holds the layers of carpet together resulting in delamination and a possible bubbling of the carpet.)

BEER - Stain: Yellow, yellowish brown, stiffens when dry.
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot
3. Rinse with water, blot dry

CANDLE WAX - STAIN:  Stiff, built up on surface
1. Remove excess
2. Apply P/V remover, blot
3. Place absorbent brown paper over spot; use electric iron on low heat; iron over paper until all wax is absorbed into the paper being caution not to touch to iron to the fibers or fabric.

CHOCOLATE - STAIN:  Brown, stiffens when dry, built up on surface
1. Remove excess
2. Apply cool detergent solution, blot
3. Apply ammonia solution, blot
4. Apply vinegar solution, blot
5. Rinse with water, blot dry

COCKTAILS - STAIN:  Light brown or colorless
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot
3. Rinse with water, blot dry

COFFEE - STAIN:  Brown, darkens with age
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot
3. Rinse with water, blot dry

EGG (Raw) - STAIN:  White, yellow, stiffens when dry
1. Remove excess
2. Apply detergent solution, blot
3. Apply ammonia solution, blot
4. Rinse with water, blot dry

FOOD COLORING - STAIN:  Any color, absorbed into surface
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply ammonia solution, blot
3. Rinse with water, blot dry

FRUIT JUICE - STAIN:  Yellow or color of fruit, absorbed appearance
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply ammonia solution, blot
3. Apply vinegar solution, blot
4. Rinse with water, blot dry

GRAVY - STAIN:  Brown, built up on surface
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply ammonia solution, blot
3. Apply vinegar solution, blot
4. Rinse with water, blot dry

ICE CREAM - STAIN:  Any color, stiffens when dry
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply ammonia solution, blot
3. Apply vinegar solution, blot
4. Rinse with water, blot dry

LIPSTICK - STAIN:  Oily, waxy, all colors
1. Remove excess
2. Apply P/V remover, blot
3. Apply ammonia solution, blot
4. Rinse with water, blot dry

MILK - STAIN:  White, stiffens when dry
1. Apply cool detergent solution, blot
2. Apply ammonia solution, blot
3. Apply vinegar solution, blot
4. Rinse with water, blot dry

MUD - STAIN:  Grey, brown, stiff when dry
1. Let dry, remove excess
2. Apply detergent solution, blot
3. Rinse with water, blot dry

MUSTARD - STAIN:  Yellowish, brown
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot
3. Rinse with water, blot dry

PRESERVES, JAM, JELLY - STAIN:  Usually reddish or blue purple; will cause stiffness of fiber
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot
3. Rinse with water, blot

SOFT DRINKS - STAIN:  Yellow, red, brown, darkens with age
1. Apply cold detergent solution, blot
2. Apply ammonia solution, blot
3. Apply vinegar solution, blot
4. Rinse with water, blot dry

SOOT - STAIN:  Black spots, smudges (Recommended for minor spots/smudges only.)
1. Vacuum first, apply P/V remover, blot
2. Apply detergent solution, blot
3. Rinse with water, blot dry

URINE - STAIN:  Yellow, brown, darkens with age
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot
3. Rinse with water, blot dry

VOMIT -  STAIN:  Various colors, built up on surface
1. Remove excess
2. Apply detergent solution, blot
3. Apply ammonia solution, blot
4. Rinse with water, blot dry

WINE - STAIN:  Red, purple, absorbed appearance
1. Apply detergent solution, blot
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot
3. Apply ammonia solution, blot
4. Rinse with water, blot dry

Those are some quick solutions to potential holiday gathering “surprises”.  Please call your local Steamatic to have a professional come out solve your toughest cleaning need.  Click here to find a location near you!

Develop a Road Map for Franchise Growth

By Jarrod Sims, Steamatic Franchise Development

Regardless of the size, geographic location or scope of services, a franchise is really just a small business that competes for customers and attention in a certain local area or region.  The bottom line is to grow the business, yet many franchise owners get bogged down with day-to-day operational issues and concerns that never seem to get addressed in a timely or effective manner.

Franchises that operate quite well recognize their strengths, but also have a sharp eye on what it takes to consistently improve their companies. What do they do that’s different than the competition? They plan.
After a certain amount of time, many franchise owners are complacent with the services and products they offer. Instead of finding ways to add value, they are content with the status quo. Yet, the biggest area of concern for franchisees is their lack of continuously adding value through new services, updated products and additional customer support.

Franchise owners must think about growth on a 24/7 basis by developing strategies that address short- and long-term goals, how the company is going to achieve those goals, and how the strategies will be measured or evaluated.
All of this should fit on one page – no one wants to read more than a simple document. Most importantly, the strategies should be realistic and attainable. There’s nothing more detrimental to morale than trying to achieve a goal that is unachievable.
This exercise is really nothing more than determining the problem and creating a solution. Without consciously realizing it, we do this every day in our companies when there is a customer problem or a scheduling issue.
To plan for growth, try coming up with just a few goals, then figure out the strategy and evaluation.

Here’s an example:
• Goal: Grow sales in XYZ product line 10% by 2nd Quarter 2011.
• Strategy: Promote through a marketing campaign to current customers and prospects.
• Evaluation: Did the marketing campaign enable 10% by 2nd Quarter 2011?

Of course, there’s much more to the “Strategy” element that must be planned out in detail. The owner must know the elements of the campaign, how much money the campaign costs and the cost/benefit associated with the outcome of 10% growth.

In addition, you’ll want to make sure you involve any staff directly affected by your plans. This ensures accountability, but also achieves buy-in to what you’re proposing. Getting a nod from staff ensures they will help meet your goals.
While the example might seem really basic, many franchise owners really never stop to do this kind of planning! Instead, they think about growing their companies very late in the game. This only adds to their frustration because of the lack of time to carry out a well-planned campaign.

Advance planning contributes to bottom-line profits and produce results. Best of all, planning offers a roadmap to know where you going and how you’ll get there.

Jarrod Sims is head of Franchise Development for Steamatic. Contact him at 817-332-1575 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Franchise Profile: Steamatic of Arklatex

Bill Eaton and his team bring solid restoration and cleaning experience, along with quality customer service, to the greater Shreveport area.

The Steamatic of ArkLaTex Team: (from left) Clint Graves, operations manager; Bill Eaton, president; Brenda Eaton, office manager; and Jeremy Eaton, sales manager.

Serving the Community

Shreveport – where the intersection of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas meet along the Red River – certainly has other providers of restoration and cleaning services, yet none quite resemble the kind of franchise Bill and his team have created. Based on his 30 years of experience in this profession, Steamatic of ArkLaTex is a hands-on business committed to customer care, responsiveness and loyalty to the community.

“I think most franchisees like to believe that since they are the new kid in town, everyone will naturally call on them first for business,” says Bill. “Instead, the newness quickly wears off and customers are left deciding between what seem to be very similar approaches to cleaning and restoration. Almost immediately, you have to approach your prospects with a very credible, committed approach on how you can do a better job. The proof isn’t in a fancy sign and fancy suit; it’s in our hands-on approach to making every customer happy.” When Steamatic of ArkLaTex is called on to do a job, all four employees – Bill, his wife Brenda, their son Jeremy, and long-time friend and colleague Clint Graves – roll up their sleeves to help.  “We cannot afford to make mistakes; when you’re new and trying to establish yourself in the community, it’s important to understand that when we sell someone our services, we are the ones going in the middle of the night and doing the labor,” says Bill. “We have one chance to make it right, and if we miss, there may not be another chance for as long as two years.” 

Three Decades of Experience Leads to Better Decisions

Bill began his career with Steamatic of Lubbock in 1979 and worked his way up to become general manager of the Lubbock, Amarillo and Oklahoma City franchises by the early 1990s. Before he bought the ArkLaTex franchise, he most recently was general manager of a competitor in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Although Bill knows he’s made the same mistakes other small business owners make, overcoming these obstacles and learning how to do things differently is key to continuous improvement and delivering quality services. For example, instead of marketing the new franchise using advertising, civic memberships and other “textbook” techniques, Bill initially reached out to the insurance community because he knew this audience would be more readily aware of restoration claims and interested in providing reciprocal referrals. He met one on one with agents and companies throughout the Shreveport-Bossier City area. “As a new provider in town, it’s been proven that insurance agents are going to help you,” says Bill. “You don’t want to spend a bunch of money on brochures or advertising, so you go in with your name, experience and goodwill.” Bill is also a member of the local Claims Association, so he regularly networks and meets with agents and adjusters every month. After only a short time, he is now considered an integral part of the community. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have Bill and his team representing Steamatic in Northern Louisiana,” says Bill Sims, president of Steamatic. “Bill instinctively knows not only how to find and keep customers, but also how to provide his customers the much-needed security and peace of mind we all want when faced with a disaster or restoration problem.”

Beyond Shreveport’s Borders

Even though Steamatic has a national and worldwide base of 270+ franchises, Bill enjoys his association with Steamatic because the organization functions as one cohesive network. For example, he also heads up the still-new Steamatic Catastrophe Management unit. When a disaster strikes and the number of claims and restoration are too much for one franchise to handle by itself, Bill and other franchise owners and staff band together to assist in on-site cleanups.  “Steamatic is one very large family of experienced and knowledgeable professionals who are ready and able to help each other at any time,” says Eaton. “In Shreveport, we are the people doing the cleanup, yet we don’t want to turn away any potential business. What’s great about the Steamatic network is I know I can call on any of the franchises in Texas or Arkansas to come and help. No one has a hidden agenda or passes out business cards to take away business; we work as one, solid unit.”

For more information on Steamatic, including franchise opportunities, please contact Jarrod Sims at 817-332-1575 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Cleaning for Health

Here is an article on how infections and viruses are a major problem in healthcare facilities. Steamatic franchisees are highly trained specialist in cleaning to prevent the spread of germs, infections, viruses and bacteria in our homes/offices as well as healthcare related businesses.

Hospital infections kill 48,000, cost billions

AFP/File- Healthcare workers at a hospital. Nearly 50,000 US medical patients die every year of blood poisoning .Tue Feb 23, 5:56 am ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) “Nearly 50,000 US medical patients die every year of blood poisoning or pneumonia they picked up in hospital, a study has shown.

Hospital-acquired sepsis and pneumonia in 2006 claimed 48,000 lives, led to 2.3 million extra patient-days in hospital and cost 8.1 billion dollars, according to the study, led by researchers from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy at Washington-based Resources for the Future.

Together, the two hospital-acquired infections—also called nosocomial infections—account for about one-third of the 1.7 million infections US patients pick up every year while in hospital, the study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine on Monday shows.

They are also responsible for nearly half of the 99,000 deaths a year from hospital-acquired infections reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The study found that patients who underwent invasive surgery during their initial hospitalization were more likely to pick up a secondary infection while in hospital, and elective surgery patients were at even higher risk of nosocomial infection.

Beware of Dust

Here is an interesting article on the dust in our homes and businesses. Steamatic franchisees are experts in indoor air quality and use the best equipment and cleaning methods to improve our living environments…

The Poisons and Allergens That Make up Household Dust

The Poisons and Allergens That Make up Household Dust

It’s hard to get too worked up about dust. Yes, it’s a nuisance, but it’s hardly one that causes us much anxiety - and our language itself suggests as much. We call those clumps of the stuff under the bed dust bunnies, after all, not, say, dust vermin.

But there’s a higher ick factor to dust than you might think. And there’s a science to how it gets around - a science that David Layton and Paloma Beamer, professors of environmental policy at the University of Arizona, are exploring. (See the top 10 scientific discoveries of 2009.)  Click the link above to read more…

Franchising in a Down Economy

Here is a great article discussing how purchasing the rights to a franchise has it’s advantages in a down economy.

http://www.gazette.com/articles/made-95168-appeal-miami.html

Franchises: Ready-made businesses have appeal in down economy

March 06, 2010 1:00 PM
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
MIAMI - After being unemployed for a year, Pauline Hamian ditched the résumé and bought herself a job.
The former Burger King employee had no luck finding a job after being part of a corporate restructuring in 2008.

While at an outplacement center, she stumbled on a webinar about franchising.

“I felt I had to do something,” Hamian said. “It provided an opportunity for me to do something I’ve never done before and never really envisioned myself doing.”

With the help of a franchise broker, she decided to invest in ShelfGenie, a company that installs sliding shelves for kitchen and bathroom cabinets. She didn’t need to buy a storefront, it all can be done from home. There were no fixed costs and her two part-time employees work on commission. 

Click the link above to read more…