Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Cherry.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mary. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In 2015, I hired an individual house cleaner for my home. She was wonderful. I became friends with our cleaner, and she mentioned needing a helper. I was a stay at home mom at that point, and my child was starting daycare. Working during the day, and being off nights and weekends seemed like the perfect fit for me. I worked with her until she needed me. But after that, I didn’t want to stop. I had become fascinated with cleaning. So, I created my own business. The first year, 2016, I studied everything about cleaning- the products, the surfaces to use them on, the science behind them, the tools. I acquired twelve certifications in our industry. I studied the trends of textiles and finishes that are used in homes and which products are safe to use on them.
The following year, I focused on being efficient and honing in on my craft. I learned how to clean as a professional. Our business joined ARCSI, the residential division of ISSA. Through that membership, I learned about the back end and administrator tasks of running a cleaning business. ISSA holds a convention every year, the largest cleaning convention in the world. I have attended the convention in 2018 and 2019. You leave with a wealth of information, new products that are coming to market and meet colleagues from around the globe. In 2018, we joined Cleaning For A Reason, the nonprofit that partners with local cleaning services in order to provide free house cleaning to those with cancer. Cleaning For A Reason allows us to give back to our local community, the folks that helped us grow. In 2018, we received a proclamation from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Pearland Mayor Tom Reid on behalf of Cleaning For A Reason.
We have very exciting referral programs and free services for our weekly and biweekly customers rolling out in 2020 and I’m very excited!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Oh yes, struggles a plenty. I haven’t met a business owner that hasn’t. But you learn from those struggles so we welcome them. House Cleaning has a stigma surrounding it that we must be uneducated or unable to be hired in the workforce and that is why we clean. Occasionally, you do find those folks that will treat you as ” the help”. But good news, our industry has been changing. We are finally starting to be recognized as a trade, like Plumbers, HVAC, General Contractors, and Carpet Cleaners.
This year, our President proclaimed a day for us, September 17th, as National Professional House Cleaners Day. We struggle a lot with pricing as well. A lot of people don’t realize the business expenses we have and the expertise we have that reflects in our pricing. But that is about educating the public and letting them see behind the curtain a little.
Please tell us about Evie’s Cleaning Company.
We are a cleaning service located in Pearland. We clean residential as well as commercial properties in the Southbelt, Pearland, Friendswood and Manvel areas. We specialize in detail cleaning and homes with pets. We’re known for saying “yes”. Yes, we can reschedule you without a fee. Yes, we can do something extra to help you today.
I’m proud that folks trust us with making their homes clean and stress-free. We’re thankful to work with the nicest folks in our city. We get hugged, we get thanked and appreciated every day. We’ve had folks cry because they’re so happy with the results because they know it’s one less thing on a never-ending to-do list they don’t need to worry about anymore.
I think our transparency sets us apart. We will tell you anything about us you’d like to know. From how we came up with our policies, to our pricing structure, to what we use to clean with and how we use it. We also help anyone, whether you are a client or not. If we aren’t a good fit for your needs, we will help find someone that is. We know it can be difficult to find a good cleaning service. And it’s ok if we aren’t it. We will help you find out the safest product to use without damaging the surface, even if you don’t want a cleaning service. Just call or text us. We will help you with your cleaning needs, client or not.
If you are starting your own cleaning business, reach out. We will help. There’s no competition, we believe there are enough homes for everyone! I’ve already mentored a few local cleaning business owners.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Maybe there are a few policies I wish I would have implemented sooner. But, I am glad we’ve had good and bad experiences. We have learned from all of them. I’m not sure we would be where we are today if we didn’t experience the bad along with the good.
Pricing:
- Minimum charge is $135.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eviescleaningcompany.com
- Phone: 832-509-1525
- Email: mary@eviescleaningco.com
- Instagram: @evies_cleaning_company
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/eviescleaningcompany/
- Twitter: @EviesCleaningCo
- Other: youtube.com/channel/UCPxLc3HKTv-guCCE4Xs4N9w?view_as=subscriber
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