UK Window Cleaning Show Begins Tomorrow

Windex 2010 is for everyone involved in the window cleaning industry and its subsidiary services. Windex 2010 offers companies in the window cleaning industry the opportunity to demonstrate and sell products and services to the buyers of window cleaning equipment and services a truly targeted audience. The past three WINDEX exhibitions have demonstrated just how effective a well-targeted, industry supported exhibition can be.

Situated at the centre of the country, the Ricoh Arena is within two hours’ drive of almost 75% of the country’s population. It is also set at the heart of the motorway network and less than 30 minutes away from two major train stations and international airports. Located just two minutes off the M6 junction 3. The purpose built exhibition hall is capable of holding a variety of events from trade and public exhibitions, conferences, banquets and concerts. It offers: A column-free exhibition hall, Food kiosks, Air conditioned and heated, Hotel on site, Bar and Bistro, 100 seat restaurant, Car parking on site for 2000 vehicles, Internet connection and a Casino on site.

The organisers of Carpex & Windex 2010, being staged at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on 18 and 19 March 2010, have revealed that the number of pre-registered visitors has topped all previous events – and there are still four months to go. Over 2000 visitors have already registered their details, with many more expected in the run-up to the combined events.

Stand space is also being snapped up well ahead of the deadline. Martin Scott, exhibition sales director, said: “There are only seven stands left for Carpex/Windex 2010, so I urge any companies interested in taking part to contact me without delay. The launch of the Carpex/Windex Innovation Awards to find the best new carpet cleaning and window cleaning product has proved very popular, and has attracted several new exhibitors in recent weeks. All exhibiting companies are entitled to submit a product into the awards scheme.”

Companies can enter the Innovation Awards via the exhibition websites, and short-listed finalists will be judged by an expert panel at the show. The only conditions of entry are that the product must be ‘new’, and can’t have been exhibited at any previous show in the UK. The winning products will be announced during the event, and awards will be presented to the successful companies.

Why you should visit?

• To see new products and innovations
• Catch up with the latest industry trends
• Discover new or alternative suppliers
• Meet existing suppliers
• Make purchasing decisions

Free Seminars
DAY ONE:

All Windex seminars are free to attend. Register FREE to attend

10.30 – 10.50 Why you should join the Federation of Window Cleaners
Gary Johns

11.00 – 11.30 Avoiding repetitive strain injuries from the use of a squeegee
Craig Mawlam - Chairman Ionic Systems

11.40 – 12.00 Choosing the correct van insurance policies for window cleaners with wfp systems
Sarah Richards – Alexander Swan

12.10 – 12.40 Working at height regulations

Andrew Willis outlines the basics of complying with this statutory law and provides an example of how even the HSE sometimes get it wrong. Why do property owners fail to take ownership of providing a safe place to work. He also explains how his own experience over the last five years shows that over 98% of window cleaning companies currently have unnecessary working at height liabilities.

Andy Willis - is a leading Working at Height Consultant and City and Guilds A1 Assessor

13.00 – 13.50 City and Guilds NVQ Level 2 Window Cleaners 2009-2010 Awards

IMPACT43 in association with South Thames College incorporating Merton College are hosting the awards to show recognition for the hard work and effort during 2009-2010 from both window cleaning candidates and their employers

14.10 – 14.30 An overview of powered access platforms and usage in the cleaning sector
Guy Willett – Smart Platform Rental

14.40 – 15.10 Presenting a real life example and an insight into the cleaning contractor’s experience of work at height issues

Austin Green compares the structure of his company and the service needs of medium and small contractors. Looks at sensible practicable risk management within working at height cleaning activities. How risk liabilities can be removed or reduced so that window cleaning is performed safely. Examples of the hurdles and hoops to jump through at the tender stage to being awarded a contract. The demands and requirements of service delivery and how property owners and contractors need clearer and transparent joint responsibilities.

Austin Green - Managing Director of Central Window Cleaning Services Limited (part of Initial Rentokil)

15.20 - 15.50 NVQ – Training

Mark Gillman looks at how the City and Guild NVQ level 2 Window Cleaning is becoming a directive from property owners. Outlines the overall success of the NVQ over the last two years. Some amusing comments from industry forums showing a diverse gap between domestic windows cleaner’s views on training and the need for qualification to that of commercial window cleaners. Finally reasons for taking advantage of funding whilst it lasts.

Mark Gillman NVQ – Mark is Health and Safety Manager of EMPRISE Plc and a City and Guilds Internal Verifier)

DAY TWO:

10.30 – 10.50 Why you should join the Federation of Window Cleaners
Gary Johns

11.00 – 11.20 Marketing your window cleaning business
Matthew Johnson – Cam Cleaning Services Ltd

11.30 – 12.00 Working at height regulations
Andrew Willis – Working at height consultant and City and Guilds A1 assessor

12.10 – 12.30 Window Cleaning Insurance
Allied Insurance Services

13.50 – 14.20 Employment Law
Bhaskar Choudhury - AMACUS LEGAL
Source new ideas

Sponsors & Supporters
FWC

Windex 2010 is supported and sponsored by the FWC. The professional Employers Trade Association for window cleaners for over 60 years!

The Federation of Window Cleaners aims to:

• Provide information on all aspects of the Trade.
• Increase public awareness of the need for high standards of safety.;
• Represent the Industry with government and municipal bodies.
• Support Members with FREE 24 hour legal advice
• Encourage members in attaining Health & Safety Training & Education
• Promote the protection of the customer against Fraud & Misrepresentation.

1st Annual Canadian Window Cleaning Conference

Keynote Speaker: Kevin Dubrosky is the President and 100% Owner of Paneless Perfection Inc - a Toronto-based professional window and eavestrough cleaning company that he began from scratch in May of 2003, with zero leads, zero prospects, and no golden geese laying eggs in his direction. Toronto is the largest and most competitive window cleaning marketplace in Canada, with upwards of 400 window cleaning companies currently operating.
Within only 4 years, Paneless Perfection Inc went from generating $130/mth in revenue to more than $32,000 in rapidduring May of 2007, despite the fact that Kevin worked only part-time to build the company from 2003 to 2005.
Kevin has since helped several close friends and business colleagues within the window cleaning industry build successful and profitable companies from scratch in various markets, and is a paid consultant specializing in window cleaning business growth. He is the Founder and sole contributor of WindowCleaningBusinessCoach.com He is the Author of the brand-new 218-page Business Building Reference Guide “Why Everything You Think You Know Is Probably Totally Wrong”. Kevin currently lives in Toronto with his wife, and continues to work only part-time on his business. Kevin will be appearing at several upcoming events within the window cleaning industry as a guest lecturer, between October 2008 - March 2009. Specific event information can be found here.

Mike Draper entered the window cleaning industry nearly 20 years ago working with Brite-Way Window Cleaning in Galesburg, IL and then Worked for Quad Cities Window Cleaning in Moline, IL. In 2001 Mike started Clearly Windows. Clearly Windows is based out of Bloomington IL and covers all of Central IL including Bloomington, Champaign, Peoria, Springfield, and Decatur. In January of 2008 Mike started dealership arrangements in several markets throughout IL and continues to help those dealers grow their window cleaning businesses. Aside from managing those dealerships, Mike also works for Reach Higher Ground. Reach Higher Ground is the leading innovator in the water fed pole industry. They manufacture mobile water purification systems as well as distribute water fed poles to the window cleaning industry worldwide.

Adam Robertson is the President of Canadian Operations for GutterFilter. He is also the owner of Adam's Eaves , a gutter cleaning company in Montreal that he founded in 1986.
Adam will speak on Gutter Cleaning as a business as well as GutterFilter and the importance of "add ons" in any service business. GutterFilter is the leading foam insert gutter protection in Cda. Adam will have a working unit at his booth showing the effectiveness of GutterFilter. You will be able to ask any questions and there will be the possibility for you to carry GutterFilter, as a sideline add on with a terrific profit margin. Mr.Robertson has taken GutterFilter in 3 years from very little in Cda. to over 250,000ft. sold last year alone ! "

Brady started his window cleaning business, Big Shiny Windows, in July 2004 as a 1 man operation. He quickly realized that the amount he could earn in a day was fairly limited. Within a year, he had purchased his first waterfed pole (30Ft. Ionics Glass Fibre) and portable DI Cart (Eagle Power single stage). By adding these pieces of equipment to his business, he was able to look at many opportunites for growth in his business. Brady's seminar presenation will focus on his experience with purified water and waterfed poles and how these pieces of equipment have helped to grow his business.

David Lebel of White Glove Window Cleaning has been a professional window cleaner since 1979. He operates his year round company out of Cobourg, Ontario and his business spans to Toronto. David is experienced in high and low rise, commercial and residential applications. White Glove has received 2006 Readers’ Choice Award and was a nominee for his business achievements in 2007. He has been featured in American Window Cleaner and European Cleaning Journal magazines portraying his expertise and knowledge of cold climate window cleaning. Mr. Lebel has guest spoken for the International Window Cleaning Association in Anaheim, California on the same topic of interest.

I started in the industry with College Pro Window Cleaning in 1984 strictly as a window cleaner. The next year I became a franchisee with the newly started "Action- The Student Window Cleaning Team." Then, is when I saw the potential of the window cleaning industry, as my summer earnings easily paid my way through university. In 1990 I graduated with an Honors Business Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario. That same year I was offered a partnership position in Action, an opportunity I excitedly took advantage of. At that time Action had close to a million dollars in sales across Ontario. In 1991 Action branched off into the high rise sector and created "Clear Choice Window Cleaning," a division headed by myself. New View Window Cleaning Ltd., my current endeavour, specializing in residential window and eavestrough cleaning was born in 1993 with 230 clients in its first year. After 15 years we have over 1400 clients, and upwards of 5 employees. To this day I still grab a squeegee like one of the employees.

In 2002, Crystal Clear Window Works (CCWW) secured the exclusive, worldwide patent rights to a process for removing moisture and condensation from failed insulating glass units.
CCWW then proved and commercialized the business of DeFogging windows using its own proprietary window restoration and defogging techniques that include specialized tools, environmentally safe solutions, business systems and unique venting and valving technologies to remove fog, chemical fogging, moisture and residue from failed thermal pane windows.

Morley Raymer had spent more than 22 years in the corporate world when he decided that he needed a change. He started Way More Cleaning in 1998 operating out of Barrie, Ontario. His successful window cleaning business still continues to service Barrie and also covers the surrounding area. Way More does residential, low rise, commercial, store fronts, power washing and eavestrough cleaning. In 2001 Way More Cleaning won the Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Jamie of Ultra Window Cleaning will be sharing the importance of having a vision for your company. A vision for your company is everything, especially if you are in business alone. It is like the foundation of a house....without it you can't build a structure. You will also learn how to speak that vision to your employees. You will come out of this workshop with the steps on having a clearer direction for your business.