Jim's DVDs, Podcasts, Gardiner Poles & Booties

Jim Willingham Memorial DVD: DVD contains two Videos which are - Jim's Advanced Techniques and Memorial Video. 100% of the proceeds from this DVD will be split 50/50 between Jim’s two favorite charities; IWCA’s Ronald McDonald House and The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock, Texas. Description of contents below:Willingham’s Advanced Squeegee Techniques (25min) Just two months before he passed away, Jim was filmed teaching all his squeegee and pole magic as he started work on “Willingham on Windows.” What was filmed is wonderful, and can be used to train window cleaners, including:» How to hold a squeegee» The right edge of the rubber» Proper squeegee tension» Time and cost saving techniques» The basic straight pull» Around the Mountain» Pole Work» Sponge work» Deep frames (butt-up technique)» Closing Out.
Jim Willingham Memorial Video (25min) Set to Jim’s favorite music this moving memorial includes photos from his youth, IWCA early days, Jim’s recent sojourns, and quotes from industry members on the impact Jim had on the window cleaning industry. It also features “Jim-isms,” things he used to say that made you think while bringing a smile to your face. The window cleaning industry should never forget who Jim Willingham was, and this video is a fitting tribute to the man who brought the industry together. Price $65.00

Jim can be seen in some of his product videos here. Previous blogs here & here.

Another first from Reach Higher Ground. As the leading distributor of waterfed poles in the US, they are positioned to bring products to market before all others. At the IWCA Trade Show in Atlanta last week, Reach Higher Ground introduced several new sizes of carbon fiber poles from Xtel. Those sizes include 24', 31', and 35' Carbon Fiber Poles. Reach Higher Ground is on tour! - visiting a different state each month during 2009 to bring waterfed technology to the window cleaners and thank many of you who have already invested. March 21st they will be in Bloomington, Illinois with Michael Draper where they will be presenting seminars and doing outdoor demos. Here is a link to the schedule as it develops for 2009. And some pictures of the new water fed pole clamps for the Gardiners SLX pole, click on the pictures to enlarge.

Don Marsh has released his first audio podcast: This is the inaugural release of The Window Cleaning Podcast. In the background you will hear Plato doing his best Hound of the Baskervilles imitation. This podcast is only 10 minutes and 16 seconds long and it should not be too hard on the ears, and it is largely promotional in nature. Therefore, it is not for sale and it is not a part of the premium content. Don created this site to thin the herd, and make it possible for him to take time away from his window cleaning business to help those who are serious about starting window cleaning businesses of their own! I'm happy to promote Dons stuff, his blogs make a lot of sense & are easy listening. Every window cleaner should have a look in!

Mr Squeegee (aka Tony Evans) of New View Window Cleaning in Wellman, Iowa goes inside for a change & gives you hints & tips on customer care. You can now view all his videos together on his website here.

Window Cleaning Industry Legend Dies - R.I.P. Don Chute

Don Chute died a little after midnight this morning, after many days of knowing his passing would come. He was an industry legend in his own right, moving in the window cleaning circles in the United States & known as "Mr Water Fed Pole." He was in attendance at most window cleaning conferences & was always willing to give out information to whoever approached him.

He was following in the footsteps of his late buddy Jim Willingham as product specialist at the 99-year old J. Racenstein Company. While his main emphasis was in water-fed poles (WFP), Don has had a long and accomplished career in the window cleaning industry. He started his own company in 1984 and grew it to 8 employees. Don sold out to Maury Benamy in 2004 so he could pursue something he learned from Jim Willingham, WFPs. From 2004 to 2006 Don represented the IPC Eagle line of WFP equipment to the industry until joining Ionic Systems out of the UK. But when Ionic decided to leave the US market recently, Don signed up with J. Racenstein. Incidentally, Jim’s wife Jacinda Willingham knew Jim would be happy to have Don take on this role with JRC.”

Don & his wife Holly joined the IWCA at the first convention in 1989. He served on the board of directors and as chairman of the residential committee. He had worked tirelessly to get the voice of the route residential window cleaner heard. He remained an advocate for window cleaners all over the country and had been known to answer the phone at 9 o’clock on a Saturday night to trouble shoot a problem for someone on the west coast.

The Window Cleaning Hall of Fame 2009: Don Chute started in the window cleaning business in Atlanta GA in 1984. He arrived there in June of that year. In July, two major events happened in his life. He met the woman who became his wife, and started a window cleaning business. Atlanta was a boom town then. It was relatively easy to get the business going. However, it wasn't easy getting information on window cleaning. There was no Internet...cell phones weren't on the market yet!

With only a months experience under his belt, it was a bit difficult planning jobs and time. His plan was to work in smaller homes for a year so I could get enough experience to move on. By August of 1984, he had an employee, a month later another. Getting the jobs wasn't a problem for Don...scheduling was. His soon to be wife was very helpful here. She could read a map better then most people can read the paper! Every evening she made the schedule. She also helped on weekends.

In 1985, Don met a window cleaner who worked for his brother in law. One night he went to watch this window cleaner play softball. There he introduced me to his brother in law. A great guy and my first real help in the industry. He gave me a Racenstein catalog. Don thought, Wow look at all those tools!!! The first improvement was to get rid of the stick pole and get telescoping extension poles. Of course it took a while to learn to use them. In 1986 Don's wonderful wife, Holly, took a years leave of absence from her job, chef at the Georgia's governor's mansion and joined the business. The second crew was borne. Along the way, he learned about gutter cleaning, pressure washing and chimney sweeping.Don's advertising changed to accommodate the new services.

Holly became very good at sales....they were a great team. She and Don worked with the crews, did the estimating and sales. A 12 hour day was a short one. Fast forward to February 1989. It was a rainy day and they were getting haircuts. Don remembered reading something in the American Window Cleaner (a gift from Racenstein) about a window cleaning event in Orlando FL. Don asked Holly if she remembered it. She said, "Yes, it starts tomorrow". Do you want to go? Don asked. Well they went home and took a nap. By midnight we were packed and on the road. Close to the FL border they checked into a motel for another nap. Timing was good. They arrived at the hotel around 8:00am, in time to register. What an amazing event! A hotel full of window cleaners all talking shop. The trade show absolute memorized Don!

They continued to go to conventions. It provided a winter break and allowed them to renew acquaintances of those that are now good friends. There was something missing....not a lot there for route/residential companies. Don complained about that, rather loudly. Don wrote his first piece in the American Window Cleaner about it. He was told by the president Larry Colufetti to do something about it. Don began attending board meetings and volunteering at conventions, gave a seminar or two. Eventually he got elected to the board of directors. The entire residential committee was one person! It took a while to catch on to board life. By the end of my term, Don managed to get the residential safety program in place. He had some great guys on the committee then as well.

If memory serves Don correctly, in June of 1999, his good friend Jim Willingham was in town at the ISSA trade show with Ettore. Jim called and asked if Don would like a demo with this new fangled pure water thingy. Don called a neighbor and asked her if she would mind me doing her outside windows for free. These were all true divided lites. By the time Jim finished the third window, Don knew that the only way Jim would get that equipment away from him would be to fight for it!! The light went on...and never dimmed. Not only did Don become an advocate of pure water technology, He got involved in it. Went on many road trips teaching and selling pure water technology.

Don Traveled to England and learned new technology from Ionics and became the President of Ionics in America. They started the American Window Cleaning Academy, similar to The British Window Cleaning Academy. But America is a different creature than England. And it did not work as well here. If you have gone to any of the IWCA trade shows, you have seen Don and his wonderful wife in the IPC Eagle trade show booth demonstrating all of the latest products in this field. Don is at the end of his career now, no more window cleaning. Somehow he cannot put out the pure water fire that burns within him. Don had traveled a lot for Master Window Cleaners of America doing sales and pure water seminars.

Jim Willingham - Window Cleaning Legend

This was just posted over on the Window Cleaning Network by Gary Mauer:

Following are excerpts from a note about Jim Willingham, with the sad news that Jim is entering hospice care, and nearing the end of his year long battle with cancer.

It's not known how much time he has, but he's not in pain at this point, and the family is hoping for a comfortable, peaceful passing. Jim loves his friends, his family, his business and the other work he has done over the years in the window cleaning industry. His support of Big Brothers and Big Sisters has been hugely rewarding. He lived life on his terms but never missed a beat when another needed a hand. Your job is to not be sad for long. Jim would not want that. Each day he was attending any sort of treatment, he carried with him a good joke and told it to everyone, the ill, the nurses, the doctors. So have a laugh or just shoot the breeze; Jim will be there in spirit laughing and gabbing with you. Thank you all for the jokes, the emails, the cards, the flowers. It has meant the world to Jim and myself. I know we would not be where we are now if it were not for all of you.
Jacinda Willingham.

Here is Jim in action: -

R.I.P Jim Willingham

It was a quick announcement yesterday, but I don't think anyone was expecting the passing of Jim so soon. Here are just a few of the responses:

"Throughout the day I thought about Jim, his commitment to the window cleaning industry, and how his efforts helped bring so many people together around a common interest. A new community was built around those growing interests. The work within that community, in agreement and disagreement, demanded an unselfish leadership that constantly reminded everyone that our self interests could be melded into and served by a dynamic, effective organization. Jim Willingham provided that kind of leadership and set the example for others to do the same. The bonds of friendship that are created from the difficult work of giving birth to, and sustaining, a meaningful, dynamic organization like the IWCA, transcend physical association into the realm of heart and soul. I look at the list of names that received this message from you, Sam, and marvel at the connections we all have to one another. Connections formed and graced by working in, working for, helping people develop a professional approach to window cleaning, while developing a professional association. I hope I speak for others in saying I became a better person as I learned to put into practice what I learned from these associations in the International Window Cleaners Association. All this initiated and set in motion by a down home, cowboy whose gentle, humorous style and sometimes stubborn insistence brought about the focus of the creative energies of so many. God love him, God keep him, and let us all hold him fondly, individually, and somehow in the collective memory of the organization that he worked so hard to create and sustain." Jerry Rigdon

I found it hard to believe when I first saw this thread coming through. I thought that surly someone had gotten it wrong.

Of course our thoughts are with Jacinda. Jim and Jacinda have certainly had an impact on each of us in this business; whether we knew Jim personally or not. Jim was one of very few people, that when he gave me advice or suggestions, I knew it would do me well to listen carefully. He was certainly a straight shooter, and never boring to spend some time with. Even though I had not spent much time with him of late, I find myself missing him already. Steve Miller

Jim has been my friend, role model and window cleaning idol. A sad day to hear Jim is gone. I will miss you, Jim. Gordon Perrot

Words sometimes get used to make someone larger than life. Platitudes are spoken about people that may not really deserve them. Words like legend, icon, vanguard, mentor and role model. Every one of those words really and truly apply to Jim Willingham. He wasn't just a window cleaner, although You Tube evidence exists to show just how good he really WAS as a window cleaner. There was so much more to Jim, and by extension, Jacinda. Always quick to help where needed, founding member of the IWCA, willing to mentor others in the industry, quick with a joke, and about as straightforward and honest as you'd expect a good Texan to be. Jim would treat you with the same patience, dignity, and respect whether you operated a multi-state company with dozens of employees, or you just bought a set of gear yesterday and were just starting out. He didn't pull punches or play politics in an industry and association that sometimes does too much of both. I've known Jim for 19 years, and I will miss not seeing him around. We did in fact lose a legend today, and an icon, and a role model. And many of us, far too many of us, lost a friend. Godspeed Jim, and be strong Jacinda. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you. Jeff Klass

This is truly a sad day for the industry. Jim was one of the most selfless men I ever had the pleasure of getting to know. Jim joined us at J. Racenstein with one goal; to make the industry better. He was always excited to meet window cleaners (large companies to small) and help them do better for themselves. He traveled tirelessly even when sick spreading the word. Jim was proud of the industry and loved everybody in it; he even loved his competitors in Lubbock; I never heard Jim utter a negative word about a window cleaner; if you were in his industry you were his friend. The only thing he loved more than his industry is Jacinda. I am grateful to have spent so much time with Jim during the past couple of years. He taught me so much about the industry and I will always be grateful for that. But more importantly he showed me how a true gentleman conducts himself through thick and thin. The entire team at JRC and I will miss him terribly; he was our friend. Cameron Riddell

Jim can be seen doing his stuff here. Thanks for the memories.

Superman Window Cleaner - USA's Fastest Squeegee

Ben Appleton washes the windows of Aflac near Walnut and Eighth streets on Tuesday. Appleton has been washing windows for 20 years. Click to enlarge.

Fulton window washer medals twice in major competition: COLUMBIA - Squeegee in hand, Ben Appleton takes a deep breath and begins. He scrapes, left to right and right to left, up and down the window. This should be a blur of man and window. After all, Appleton is the fastest window washer in the United States. His co-workers call him "Superman" because of his "jaw-dropping" speed. But watching Appleton in action is more a study in well-paced efficiency than blazing-hot speed. Cars aren’t slowing down in the parking lot so their drivers can stop and stare. Someone could hold up a sign - “Look, it’s the fastest window washer in the country!” - and people might not believe it.

Appleton has proof, though, in the form of two medals he almost sheepishly carted back from Florida in February. Appleton works at the Shepherd’s Co., a window-cleaning business in Fulton, and traveled to the International Window Cleaning Association’s annual conference in St. Pete Beach, Fla., Feb. 16-19. He had heard about the convention's contests a couple of weeks before, but he hadn’t given them too much thought. To many people, a window-washing competition might seem silly. To Appleton, it was kind of a big deal.

The speed and medley contests are the highlight of the convention, which is billed as an opportunity for window washers from around the world to network, learn about safety practices, get safety certified and browse new equipment. Believe it or not, window washers traveled to Florida from places like France and the Philippines to attend. And, judging by the crowd that comes out every year to cheer at the competition, most attendees would rather spend their time watching races than buying new buckets.

In the speed competition, where Appleton placed second, the contestants cleaned three 45-square-inch windows, each about the size of a square kitchen tabletop, in the least amount of time. In the medley, Appleton's third-place finish, participants cleaned windows of all shapes and sizes. In each competition, time was added for smudges. IWCA associate director Mandie Bannwarth said the techniques used in the contests are definitely a precise science.

The competitions themselves are shrouded in a layer of window-washing secrecy - if there is such a thing. They’re named for Jim Willingham and Rod Woodward, both deceased, who apparently contributed a great deal to the window-washing world. The IWCA's website credits Willingham with turning speed window cleaning into a sport, and Bannwarth said he is remembered both for his speed and for his somewhat controversial techniques - apparently he'd use too little water so removing it would take less time. There’s even a moment of silence before each competition in memory of these founders before the 15 or 20 contestants pick up their equipment and begin scraping like madmen.

Those moments of silence might have been somewhat compromised this year. Appleton, who didn’t decide to enter the competition until about two hours before it started, said the equipment arrived late. The contests were supposed to take place early in the evening, but the windows, the squeegees, everything - none of it was set up until about 10 p.m. This left audience members bored and anxious. Luckily, there was a nearby distraction. “You have to remember,” Appleton said. “These guys have been sitting, waiting for two hours for the windows to show up, and they’re in a conference room. And right out front of the conference room, there’s a bar.” It sounds like a bad joke. What do you get when you put a group of tipsy window washers in a room with a bunch of glass?

No one, not even Appleton himself, is positive why he was so reluctant to enter the contest. His co-worker Kara Welker said that from the first moment he heard about it, Appleton didn’t really want to compete. He's modest. He doesn't enjoy the spotlight. “I didn’t think he was going to," Welker said. "You really can’t talk him into doing something he doesn’t want to do.” And his last-minute decision to take up his squeegee, the one that led him into the spotlight of window-washing fame? It took him until he saw the other participants practicing. Judging their speed, he knew he had a chance.

Bannwarth said she doesn’t think many of the participants take the contest too seriously - except possibly the speed winner, Frank Lauret, who travels from France every year - but Appleton did seem to have a certain respect for the race. Somehow, he didn’t even crack a smile when describing the moments of silence.

It’s almost as if before he participated and before he saw the contests in person, Appleton didn’t think they were worth his attention. But now that he’s seen the laid-back atmosphere and realized no one’s moving at supersonic speed, the race has become a thing of gravity to him - sort of the opposite of what you’d expect.

“Now that I’ve done it, I think I can cut some time off," Appleton said. "I was 17.5 seconds for three windows. The French guy (Lauret) was 11.75. I think I can get better. Now that I’ve done it, I have it in my blood.” When Appleton returned to Missouri with his two medals - silver in speed and bronze in medley - he got a hero’s welcome. His co-workers, who have called him “Superman” for a long time, just saw the win as adding to the truth of that nickname.

Window washer works on door downtown: Ben Appleton washes the windows of Aflac near Walnut and Eighth streets on Tuesday. Appleton said he got into the window washing business because of his father.

TOP DRAWER: A listing of the honourable, noteworthy, new & what's ahead for business people in Columbia - Ben Appleton, commercial manager of Shepherd’s Co. of Fulton, won two medals at the International Window Cleaning Association Convention and Trade Show in St. Pete Beach, Fla. Appleton won a silver medal in the window speed cleaning competition and a bronze medal in the speed and quality competition. More than 30 contestants from five countries participated in the contest.

Master Window Cleaners of America Seminar - North Carolina

Not long to go before the Master Window Cleaners of America Seminar - March 24th to be exact! The upcoming window cleaning seminar to be held in the Pinehurst area of North Carolina on Tuesday, March 24 from 9am to 4:30pm. It is free to all window cleaners, and lunch is provided. Attendees will receive product bags and product samples. Racenstein's Window Wagon will be on site. Drawing for door prizes also. Topics and speakers will include:

Don Chute of J. Racenstein Co. - Window cleaning education/Water Fed Pole/Art of Salesmanship.

Steve Blythe of Racenstein - Water fed Poles and Pure water window cleaning.
Jack Nelson will speak on fabricating debris.

Pete Marentay, owner of Sunbrite Supply to speak about pressure washing as an add-on service.
Kim Little will speak on glass stain & glass restoration.
Hand outs and prizes will be available.
First 60 to sign up with conformation will receive an Unger's Goodie bag valued over $20.00.
FIRST 50 to sign up will get a FREE Unger TX 100.

There is also the Prize for the window cleaner who came the longest distance.
Jim Willingham 2 DVD set" will be on sale at the event. All sales will benefit charity.

And Book your rooms using this LINK. Previous Seminars include Pittsburgh, 2008 (click on the picture of Jack to take you to the seminar photos).

October 2008 Carson, California Seminar Photos - click picture below.

You need not be a member of MWCoA but we would encourage you to Join Online Now.

Window Cleaning Hall of Fame & Scratched Glass

Two new websites you should be aware of & read for your own information: The first website is from Window Cleaning Resource - Fabricating Debris & how to protect yourself from the terrors of clients that have poorly manufactured glass & what to do about it! This is one issue that is slowly raising it's ugly head in Europe as glass manufacturers are turning out poor quality glass for the quick buck leaving window cleaners holding the rag. Also a 'biggie' for window cleaners in the USA that can make or break your business in what is becoming a frequently discussed topic. Educate yourself, knowing that once you detect it, you may be too late. Above is the much celebrated DVD available from the store by the credited expert in the field of fabrication debris, Dan Fields. More information on this topic in this blog is collated here.

The Window Cleaning Hall of Fame started by Jack Nelson of the MWCoA, this website has been established to set up "to Honor the men and women who made what we do for a living easier and a more honorable profession." "Each year on April 10th we will add more members." "April 10 was picked because of the passing of Jim Willingham." "Jim never forgot where he came from he remained true to his roots." "He was both respected and revered." "Each person named here brought something unique to the window cleaning profession." "Because this is the first year for the list, there is no way we can honor everyone who was vital to the industry."

The Definitive FaceBook Group For Window Cleaners

Click here to join Roberts group.

Anyone who is a window cleaner & is on Facebook will have come across or Robert Lamb & his group “Windowcleaners”. Being a very popular group, one that many visit every day, I wanted to find out about the owner & his story behind it. Many don’t realize that Robert Lamb the owner had a window cleaning accident & runs his own window cleaning company. Robert gave me the attached newspaper article, but also adds – here is something that wasn’t in that newspaper article:

“On October 22, 2003 I was on a ladder about 18' off the ground.” “I was in a home with a marble floor.” “I had a ladder stabilizer at the top of the ladder and leg levelers at the bottom of the ladder.” “The leg levelers were extended just a little bit.” “One leg leveler collapsed.” “The ladder was only one month old and so were the levelers.” “The leg levelers were analyzed by a university and they found the metal used was actually inferior and that was why the leg levelers failed.” “I was thrown into a banister and broke my back.” “I am now paralyzed from the waist down.” “I had been using ladders for 16 years in my window cleaning profession before this accident.” “This photo (below) was taken not long after that accident.”
“Our company was saved because of a lot of friends helping us out.” “One of those friends actually worked for us and then went out on their own starting their own company.” “They took over all of our accounts and trained window cleaners for us to take my place.” “What a great bunch of friends!” “One of our sons, a fantastic window cleaner in his own right, moved to Brooklyn, NY to do volunteer work printing Bibles and Bible literature.” “Now our son-in-law is our main window cleaner.” “Our daughter and another son also clean windows along with a hand full of others.”

Robert pictured center, shortly after his window cleaning accident.

What drove you to start a face Facebook book page for window cleaners?

I wanted to be able to network directly with other window cleaners and I’m hungry for window cleaning information.

Why do you think your Facebook page above all others became the most popular? 

I invited a lot of people to join the group, but it must be popular because I’m constantly getting requests to join and others who have already joined the group are also inviting their friends. 

Why did you make your Facebook page - “by invitation only?” 

Karl, I wanted to keep this group as “family friendly,” so it is a way of prescreening those that wanted to join. Even with this in place, some have joined and their character is questionable even by Facebook’s own standards. For instance, a few have used vulgar words and if you went to one of these guys Facebook page, he even had lewd photos of himself there. He got past the prescreening but was eventually removed from the group. 

Were you amazed by the response of window cleaners joining? 

Not really, I think basically window cleaners are a great bunch of guys and gals that are self-motivated and want to be able to hone their skills by tapping into the experience and knowledge of other window cleaners. That’s the main purpose of this group. I know there are a lot that have thanked me for setting up the group and inviting them to join.

Where do you see the future in your Facebook page & how would you like window cleaners to use it? 

That’s a good question. Some have asked to advertise and I have always turned down the offer. I think in the near future, I will allow some limited advertising. One reason is that it’s good to know what’s out there as far as products and services to window cleaners. Another reason is that this group will be easily able to contact the vendors, suppliers, etc about the products they want to try. I’d like window cleaners to show us any new tricks of the trade that they have learned, no matter how trivial it might seem. Perhaps we already knew what they are sharing, but you can always learn new tricks. Also, I would like to see more questions asked by the old dogs and novices. Post your favorite tip photos and videos, upload a document (sales advertisement, etc.), tell us an interesting work related story, etc. One thing I also appreciate is the work related leads that some have been posting here. That makes the group a great resource. And thank you Karl for finding all those interesting window cleaning news articles for us! 

Robert working in the freezing weather in his window cleaning days. Click to enlarge.

After your accident did you feel your business was doomed? 

Right after my accident, I was fighting for my life and really didn’t think about my business. A couple of months into it, I started thinking more clearly and realized I had a great support system. My daughter right away contacted Gary Mauer’s group. I’ve been a longtime admirer of what Gary thought up, the original window cleaning network. Some even sent monetary contributions to a trust fund that was set up. My wife contacted a local window cleaning company that had actually been a part of our company at one time. They covered all of our work until we could get window cleaners to take my place. That company, White’s Window Cleaning, even trained our new window cleaners. So long story short, very few of our regular customers even missed a service. 

What or who gave you the strength to carry on? 

Ultimately, besides my family and Christian brotherhood, my strength comes from Jehovah God. 

After the accident did you sue the equipment companies that caused your fall? What was the final outcome, were you happy with result? 

We hired a lawyer. He flew to California to do some research and to Tennessee to do more research. He had the leg leveler tested in a laboratory and found the metal used was inferior, but the company that had made the leg leveler was now defunct. Another company bought the rights to make that leg leveler but they improved the design by using a superior metal and when my accident happened, there was no one the hold accountable. So all I got from the deal was peanuts. Literally, my lawyer sent me a can of peanuts! I’ll have to say, though, they were the best peanuts I have ever eaten. (Laughing out loud!) No, I really was not happy with the results, but the peanuts were really were good. 

When or where was the last window you cleaned personally? 

The last window I cleaned, in a series of windows, was about 18 feet off the ground in a foyer in a residential customer’s home. It was a Pella window that broke down into three parts, an interior pane of glass, wooden grids (mutins) in the middle (to make the window look like it had French panes), and an exterior pane of glass. Why they had this kind of window almost 20 feet off the ground is a mystery to me. This home had a LOT of these windows. I must have been holding one of those wooden grids when I fell because there was one lying beside me in splinters. The last thing I remembered was cleaning that window and then hearing the sound of the helicopter that flew me to a hospital in Nashville, TN. 

Thinking of your fall, what would you give as advice to other window cleaners? 

NEVER work by yourself. My wife and oldest son were working with me that day. They were in another part of the house and heard the sound of the falling ladder. Even if they had been there to steady the ladder (and it didn’t need steadying), when that inferior metal gave way, I still would have fallen. But because they were there, no one else was home at the time, they were able to quickly call 911 and get me help. I was unconscious and had a nasty head wound. They found me in a pool of blood. If they hadn’t, I imagine I would have bled to death. 

Rob in his younger days at work.

How long has your national window cleaning company “Window Masters” been in operation & where are you expanding to? 

We’ve had Window Masters not quite seven years now. We are in We're in 25 states, Washington DC, and two Canadian provinces, and soon to be in others. Even though “Window Masters” has been up and running for several years, is still in its infancy. It’s a tiny company run on a shoestring, and we really like it that way. 

Why do you want to keep “Window Masters” small? 

What I mean is we want to keep it manageable. I know the problems associated with growing too big too fast. We want to do a good job at being a great national service provider. That means providing a good service for our customers and paying our window cleaners on time while being safe. It’s a tall order to fill without complicating things by exploding growth. 

Robert in his window cleaning days cleaning Paducah Ford.

How do you feel about National window cleaning service providers? 
About one year after my accident, I received a registered letter saying that one of our accounts in Paducah, KY, Victoria’s Secret, was no longer one of our accounts. We lost the account to a company that was supposed to do the account nationally. National service providers have always been the bane of my existence. I’m sure most window cleaners can relate to this. National service providers (NSP), are driving our industry into the ground. I understand what they are supposed to be doing, I realize that corporate America feels like these NSP are providing a really good service, saving them money, but I really dislike HOW they are doing it. They are often viewed as bullies by the window cleaning industry, taking away your hard earned accounts without you having any say so. That’s how I felt when I got that registered letter. Sometimes they phone you and say, “We have this great account for you!”, and then say we will only pay you $10 when you know the account is worth twice or more what they are offering you. If you don’t take the job, a “Bucket Bob” will. I don’t have anything against those people, they have to eat and feed their families, but if they aren’t purchasing insurance, or licenses that I am, it makes it difficult for our company to compete.

What’s the difference between “Window Masters” & other NSP’s? 

After that letter saying my hard earned account was being taken away by some unknown national company, I felt that that was the last straw. “If you can’t beat them, join them,” is a phrase I never have understood, until that letter. That day, I started a NSP company, Window Masters. There are some major differences about our company. We totally understand window cleaners, been there, done that. We don’t come in with prices that are unrealistic, in fact, we ask the window cleaners for window cleaning quotes. If they are going to do the windows for us, we want them to be happy with the price they are getting. Of course, there are some requirements that the window cleaner must meet. One basic minimum requirement is that carry liability insurance. 

So far, we are a little NSP, very little. But we can provide corporations benefits too. One benefit is that their accounts payable department spends less time writing hundreds of checks to hundreds of companies. One check to us and they’re good to go. That brings up another subject, paying checks to the window cleaners. Our regional company, Rob’s Window Cleaning, still works for several NSPs. Some pay in 45 days after the work is done! Some wait for SIXTY (60) days! Who wants that? What are they doing with the money, putting it in a savings account somewhere? We pay net 30. What that means is when our subcontractors invoice us for the service they provide, we do whatever we can to pay them within 30 days, even if we have not been paid first. 

Robert, standing next to one of his trucks before his accident.

How do you manage your regional company “Robs Window Cleaning,” & what does your working day consist of? 

I’m one of the office managers. Besides answering the phone, and problem solving, I do some scheduling and sales work. And finding a good window cleaner in untouched territory. That’s another reason why I started the Facebook group. 

Do you stick to window cleaning or do you do other “add-ons.” 

Ninety five percent of our work is window cleaning. We do a little pressure washing and other types of cleaning. About half of our work is commercial and about half is residential. 

Coping in a wheelchair must be hard, do you feel that your accident has somehow expanded your managerial abilities? 

I’m a REAL manager now. I don’t do some window cleaning and some managing. Since I haven’t cleaned windows in about eight years, I can really focus on managing. But I’m glad I had all those years of actually cleaning the windows so I can not only know the business, but have empathy for the window cleaners. 

Do you have a point of view of the recession/crisis & how window cleaners can benefit? 

Some unfortunately have suffered in the window cleaning industry because of the critical times we are living in. But when there is loss, there can also be gain. Do you remember the line from the Godfather movie, "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer?" I never saw the movie, and I really don’t think I have many enemies, if any. But the point is well taken, if you know who your competition is, when they fold because of the economy, death or whatever, that void is going to be filled and it might as well be you, or me. I know who my competition is and I know who some of their customers are, so when the competition evaporates for one reason or another, I always make myself available to the new prospective customer. You should too. 

Who do you most admire in the window cleaning world & why? 

Dead or alive? There are a lot of people. The first ones who come to mind that I admire are Jim Willingham and Don Chute. They were knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, and ambassadors for other window cleaners. Living? Frank Lauret of France (pictured right) is an awesome window cleaner. How many times has he won the IWCA speed contest anyway? You have to not only be fast, but a high caliber window cleaner to win that competition. Look him up on YouTube, look them all up! 

Anything else to add? 

I never thought that water fed pole thing would catch on (LOL). I mean, what a lazy, uneducated, and sloppy way to do window cleaning! Boy was I wrong! We have a couple of water fed poles now at Rob’s Window Cleaning. They are amazing! And I could go on and on about the benefits of using them. But what is more exciting is the next new breakthrough in window cleaning. I know it’s just around the corner and it’s exciting. Exactly what it is, is anybody’s guess, but it’s going to be great!