Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Thury.
Hi Kevin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Little did I know our inception at WashPros.US began many years ago with our sister company Sidemovers.com. Similar to our client base today, many of our customers have become friends, even extended family. Over the years under the moving company, our customer’s kids grew up! Soon they moved off to college before embarking on their respective professional careers. For some, they found their significant other and decided to buy their first home. Earned trust is what prompted our customers to inquire if the moving company provided cleaning services. I asked more specifically, what was it they were looking for. Power washing and window cleaning were at the forefront. Shortly thereafter, I stepped back from the day-to-day moves to learn about the exterior cleaning industry. It was new to me. Social media and YouTube alike were not the resources they are today, at our fingertips. You really had to seek out the information, then research a bit more in order to find some answers. I really was starting from scratch. Only I knew with time and experience, I would figure things out. Innately, I’m a never-ending student/problem solver. Someone who enjoys learning even in the face of adversity. After my time away, I introduced a move-in “Make Ready” package, for the moving company. A package we offer to this very day under WashPros.US. As I inquired about the insurance for this new service and bringing my CPA in the loop, both the insurance company and CPA shared one view in particular, “Split them up!” They honestly loved the entrepreneurial spirit, bridging the gap between cleaning before moving into a new home. However, they noted the two services represented two different industries. The following spring, I filed the name for Wash Pros. Our customer and family-centric methodologies remain the same as the moving company. Why change something that built our brand through referrals? WashPros by no means was an overnight success. Initially, I started part-time while working other jobs to pay off medical bills from a couple of serious injuries. One contact happened to be a builder that gave us our first chance to earn his business. We stayed the course, delivering quality service with someone they trust. Little by little, business began to pick up. So too, did introductions to some of our most beloved strategic partnerships. People I respect and have come to know their families while building new friendships. It’s been one of the greatest blessings to this day. We haven’t looked back ever since. Come April; we will celebrate our 6-year anniversary.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Ooff. The reality when I started off, I had a limited budget, lack of experience, limited equipment, and no established customer base. There were a lot of moving parts year 1. I worked days and nights, learning about the cleaning industry whenever I had downtime (which was little to none). Figuring things out on the go, during a year that I only took one actual day off. I was blessed to have the support of some employer owners, who extended great flexibility with my schedule, knowing I was starting another business. My background is in business, and I had to remind myself to slow down, to keep it simple, and start with the basics. Meaning, fine-tune your business and marketing plans. Adjust as you evolve and grow. Get to know your numbers. To my fault, I got caught up in the thought process vs moving and getting started with small jobs, gaining experience. Both of which ultimately builds leads, generating referrals. After a few years, my health was finally in check, and I could really focus on building new partnerships, lead generation, and repeat customers. To the surprise of us all, COVID was lurking around the corner. For many, the lockdowns really hurt individuals, families, and small businesses. Thankfully for us, our industry was considered an “Essential Service.” The lockdowns returned focal points back to the home front. From DIY projects to realizing it was time to call out the professionals and check off some of our to-do list items around the house. Astonishingly enough, our business tripled that year. Those were such uncertain times for so many reasons, and to be grateful for our success would be an understatement. As the lockdowns were lifted, I really had no idea what the business would do the following year. How would we beat our growth when we tripled sales??? Stress levels were certainly elevated heading into the new year. As people returned to their new normal and/or back to work in person, we kept plugging away with consistent work. By fall, we surpassed our Covid year revenue. Our celebration was short-lived, as 2021 welcomed in the New Year with a deep freeze! The projects we had scheduled were all delayed, from broken pipes to repairs or in many cases, construction. Any forecasts at hand meant nothing as plumbers, electricians, contractors, etc. were swamped. All we could do was take care of the customers that weren’t affected and reschedule everyone else. Simultaneously, I seized the freeze to invest into myself with the help of a business coach. Someone who could help me accelerate my learning curve on the back end of business, i.e., operations, systematizing a business. By late spring, business for us got back on track, reaching new sales revenue highs during our busiest months. New, bigger projects were presented as well, and by the end of the summer, we surpassed our previous year’s revenue again. So here we are today, still growing, fine-tuning and learning. The ebb and flow of an entrepreneur is real yet addicting.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
WashPros.US offers a variety of services, including roof cleaning, soft washing, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, window cleaning, Christmas and Permanent Lighting installations. We are a one-stop shop for exterior residential and commercial cleaning needs. We are known for our thoroughness, attention to detail. Offering customized maintenance cleaning solutions to fit the needs of our customers. We truly treat your home, your family, your property as if it were our own. In return, our customers trust us. Our goal remains the same, to leave your home better off cleaner, than we found it. A clean home is a happy home. So many of our customers evolve into friendships, even extended family, just like our team. Character, trust and integrity are key pillars in all that we do. We service central Houston and a few outlying areas for one-off projects. Looking back over the last 6 years, I think of the newfound relationships we have. The subtle moments throughout the year that have become life memories for me. It’s amazing how many established professionals can see the good in what we do, always offering to help us in a variety of ways. Referrals remain the greatest compliment we could ask for. Spring cleaning packages are in full swing as we speak. You can follow us on Facebook & IG @washproswindows for the latest project updates. I shake my head in disbelief, the amount of customers we have at hand, knowing we literally started at zero. I’m a firm believer in the “Pay It Forward” mentality. Most of us have fallen on hard times at some point. I never forgot who helped me (a special thank you to my mom and dad) and how much it meant. As a way to say thank you each quarter, we ask our social media followers to nominate an elder, disabled person, or a military veteran to clean and restore the luster of their home free of charge. We are here because of you Houston; we Thank You!
What are your plans for the future?
Some plans, ideas will have to remain under wraps for now. In the near future, we will be featured on a local podcast. Stay tuned! We will also release a new CRM that is definitely user-friendly. Ongoing, new team members are active in our apprenticeship-type program. I’m looking forward to the installation of some new equipment to increase our efficiency while keeping our team members safe. Our future remains bright, I have no intentions of going anywhere. Our name is our billboard; we worked hard to establish our credibility and reputation. More than anything, I look forward to the journey ahead. There’s something to be said for humility in all that we do. Time will reveal all. Just know we are always happy to help!
Pricing:
- Spring Cleaning Packages starting at $399 and $599
Contact Info:
- Website: washpros.us
- Instagram: washproswindows
- Facebook: facebook.com/washpros.us
- Linkedin: Kevin WashPros
Image Credits
Giselle Walker
