Window Cleaning MIK In Boston

Christopher Murphy and his mother Judy Briggs opened the first Men in Kilts Window Washing franchise in the Boston area.

Men in Kilts: Coming to a Boston window near you: Starting next week, a stiff Boston breeze could mean disaster in more than one way. Men in Kilts, a Vancouver-based window washing company whose technicians wear kilts while they work, will open its Boston franchise on April 2. “When people book jobs, we always remind them – no peeking,” said Men in Kilts CEO Tressa Wood. “They always burst out laughing.” In addition to spit shining windows, the kilted technicians also clear gutters and pressure wash buildings, storefronts, homes and condos.

Boston franchise owner Judy Briggs said the unique brand could not set up shop in a better city, considering the depth of its residents’ Celtic pride. “I think it will be very well received in Boston, particularly because so many people here have Irish and Scottish roots,” Briggs said. She is one of the few females within the company to don the kilt,  she said, for the simple reason that “customers prefer to see men in kilts versus women in kilts.” Judy co-ordinated her nails & kilt for the grand opening.

Meet Judy, the first female Men In Kilts franchise owner! She'll be running her Boston Window Cleaning business with her two sons as Operations Managers.

Her son, Chris Murphy, is the company’s local operations manager, and the city’s first official kilted window washer. “We’ve had a chance to practice in the kilts. You get used to it pretty quickly. It’s actually nice not wearing pants,” said Murphy, adding that he’s already gotten his share of spectators. “We definitely get a lot of people staring at us, and comments. You can’t be shy. We tell them they’d have to hire us to find out what’s under our kilts,” he said.

The service is year-round, which means next year, Boston washers must brave the winter weather sans pants. “They wear leggings underneath when it’s cold, and big wool socks. Kilts are actually pretty warm,” said Wood. “We’re excited to start doing this in Boston. It’s a fun take on a mundane job, and it makes people smile.”

Judy Briggs, owner of the Boston-area franchise for the Men in Kilts window-washing chain, with son Christopher Murphy.

The company's newest franchise is opening in the Boston area. Other U.S. locations include markets north of Philadelphia and on the Jersey Shore. Wood hopes to open another 10 to 15 locations this year. She says entrepreneurs can sign up for a franchise with less than $50,000 for an initial investment. Wood doesn’t see the kilts as a gimmick, though the unusual uniform does help narrow down the job applicants to people who are a little more outgoing and personable. “The great thing is nobody applies for the job unless they’re comfortable with the kilt,” she says. New franchisee Judy Briggs, a Medway resident who also runs a 1-800-GOT-JUNK? franchise out of a Holliston office, says she jumped at the chance to work with Wood again.

Briggs says she has her first clients lined up for the Boston-area Men In Kilts franchise when she starts next week, and she expects some potential clients among the property owners who use her firm for trash removal. Briggs’ son, Christopher Murphy, will be the general manager, and she says she has hired an employee of Scottish descent who is apparently psyched to be paid to wear a kilt around town. Like most other Men In Kilts franchises, Briggs’ cleaning work will be limited to buildings that are no more than four stories in height. So we won’t be seeing guys in kilts swinging from the sides of the Hancock Tower anytime soon. Briggs says another one of her sons, Patrick, is also training to clean windows, although he’s busy with the debris-cleaning side of the business. “He does have a kilt, just in case,” Briggs says.

“We’ll be doing lots of fun promotions and meet-and-greets to get to know even more people.”

Tartan Window Cleaners Arrive in Philadelphia: Local owners, Herb and Kate Madara live in the Abington suburb, fifteen minutes outside of Philadelphia. Before exploring the world of franchising, Herb Madara worked as a high voltage power lineman. After injuring his knee as a lineman, he decided it was time for a change. His research led him to many business opportunities, and he and his wife ultimately decided on a Men In Kilts window and exterior cleaning franchise. “I wanted to be in business for myself, but not by myself. 

The team at the Men In Kilts corporate office and all their franchise owners were so supportive during our research. The further I looked into it, the more I realized the huge opportunity in the window cleaning industry and the whole concept of wearing the kilt is just awesome. Everywhere you go, people approach you with a smile on their face.

Everyone wants to know what the kilt is all about, and some even want to take pictures with you,” says Madara. When asked if the crews will still be wearing kilts in the frosty Philly winters, Madara replies, “Of course! We’ll make sure the guys have something warm under their kilts!”

With over 25 years experience serving customers in a wide array of businesses, the Madara’s were confident they wanted to work in the service industry within Philadelphia. “We’ve lived in this area for a long time and we know what kind of service our locals expect,” says Kate Madara. “We’ll be doing lots of fun promotions and meet-and-greets to get to know even more people.” With the Bucks and Montgomery Counties population continuing to grow and prosper, the Madara’s see tremendous potential for Men In Kilts in their area. “We’re determined and committed to delivering a fantastic experience and putting smiles in to the world… one Kilt at a time. Just remember… No Peeking!”

says Herb.

With the goal of having a, "kilt and technician in every major centre in North America by 2017," Men In Kilts could grow into an even bigger success story.

Men In Kilts Edmonton Underdressed For Biggest Snow Storm Of The Year: It was no weather for shorts, let alone skirts, as a violent spring blizzard struck Alberta's capital region and stranded hundreds along Alberta highways. With up to 20 centimetres of snow falling, and wind gusting at 40 kilometres an hour, washing windows in kilts would not sound appealing to most. Launching their Edmonton operations on Monday; Men In Kilts, braved the snow, and cold, in order to get down to business. They work, "in all conditions," and no amount of snow could prevent them from donning their kilts to clean homes, and businesses. Although they worked under the snowy weather, the co-owner of the Alberta operations is feeling a little lucky, after hearing about the huge accident on the QE-2 highway in Alberta. "I would have been in that pileup possibly, because I would have been leaving around 1-1:30," said Chris Carrier in a phone interview, as he drove past the scene of the 100 vehicle mash up on his way back to Calgary.

With up to 20 centimetres of snow falling, and wind gusting at 40 kilometres an hour, washing windows in kilts would not sound appealing to most.

Carrier was in Edmonton to help launch operations and was set to talk with media, but the interview was pushed back. He says he feels fortunate to have avoided the pileup. Although the conditions in Edmonton were bad, it was not the worst weather Men in Kilts have faced. "In Calgary there was a snowstorm on St. Patrick's Day four to five years ago... there was almost two feet of snow," Carrier said, "We closed operations that day." That was at a time when Men In Kilts did not do snow removal; now they shovel, plow, clean gutters, as well as clean windows. Carrier co-owns the Alberta operations with his wife Robyn. They joined up with the company, "because of the brand." Carrier says he doesn't know of, "any other brand that can bring a smile to the face of a customer... or anyone around us."

More blogs on Men in Kilts here.