FiSH Entrepreneur Talks Texas

FiSH franchise - hard to miss.

Starting From Scratch After 15 Years in the Workforce: Franchise Players is Entrepreneur’s Q&A interview column that puts the spotlight on franchisees. Before becoming a franchisee, Eric Silver spent years piecing together what entrepreneurship meant for him. He worked at businesses small and large while he tried to think of an idea that could spark his career as a business owner. Today, as a franchisee, he has realized that his passion isn't a product: it is the act of running a business. Here's what Silver has learned as a Fish Window Cleaning franchisee.

Name: Eric Silver (pictured). Franchise owned: Fish Window Cleaning, with three locations in Denton, Fort Worth and North Arlington, Texas.

How long have you owned a franchise?

Six years. We opened the Denton location in 2008. We purchased Fort Worth in 2012 and we purchased North Arlington in 2014.

Why franchising?

I have always wanted to own my own business, but for years I struggled with what made sense. I liked doing a lot of things, but I wasn’t passionate about anything I could produce that people would buy. Turns out I was passionate about running a successful business.

I was taking a class on entrepreneurship at the University of Dallas while pursuing an MBA. We discussed franchising as part of the course. It was at this time where I really started to see the benefits of owning and operating a franchise. When I was ready to make the leap, my wife and I had just had our son. He was one month old at the time and I knew that I needed to do something that gave myself the best chance of success possible. I saw the relationship with the franchisor as a positive since they have a tremendous amount of interest in your success. For me, franchising at that point in my life and without having any other real business ownership experience made a ton of sense.

What were you doing before you became a franchise owner?

I had been in sales for several years. Directly prior to opening the first franchise location I was a district sales manager for a major yellow page publisher. At that point I had worked for a small business, a medium-sized business and a large corporation. I didn’t really feel comfortable and any of them.

Why did you choose this particular franchise?

There were really three things I liked:

Low investment/Quick ROI

Focus on commercial accounts

Family-friendly environment and work schedule

How much would you estimate you spent before you were officially open for business?

I spent about $30,000 on the initial franchise purchase, about $5,000 on equipment, and about $2,000 for training and first month lease payment.

Where did you get most of your advice/do most of your research?

I did a lot of research online. I also talked to business owners in the community where I was planning to open the business to get their take on the need for this type of service. I asked some of the other small business owners I knew through work.

What were the most unexpected challenges of opening your franchise?

Managing cash flow and employment. Everything I read said that cash is the lifeblood of your business. Makes sense, right? Well, when it all rests on your shoulders, you're trying to sell more accounts, service them, find employees, hire employees, train employees and be the “everything” to your business it is challenging. I learned a lot about business in my first 15 years in the workforce and in my pursuit of an MBA. However, the rubber really hit the road when I invested nearly everything my wife and I had in a business and started from scratch.

What advice do you have for individuals who want to own their own franchise?

It can be very daunting in the beginning. You are now your own boss. It is truly up to you. You find out very quickly whether you are up to it. My recommendations are:

Always be focused on revenue generating activities such as sales and marketing. Never put these off.

Watch your money and accounts receivable. You earned this money. It is yours. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for attempting to collect what is owed to you.

When in doubt, put your head down and work harder. It’s easy to get discouraged. It’s rewarding to power through. My experience has been people get discouraged too easily. Call another franchisee. Ask them what they did to get through this patch. Call your franchisor and ask for help. Don’t sit and stew. Just don’t stop moving forward. The minute you stop and think you can’t do it you will find out you are right.

What’s next for you and your business?

We bought our third location this past summer. We are constantly focused on growth and opportunity. We are always looking to get better and become the best at what we do.

Business profile: Eric Silver

Occupation: president, Fish Window Cleaning in Denton

The one thing I enjoy most about my work is: working with people from North Texas.

My business philosophy is: Take care of your clients, and everything else will take care of itself.

If I could, I'd be: an NFL quarterback.

I'm so sick of: politics and taxes.

The four guests at my fantasy dinner party would be: Neil Diamond, Jack Black, Will Arnett and David Spade.

My hobbies are: brewing beer and motorcycling.

The last book I read was: Customer Loyalty: How to Earn it, How to Keep It by Jill Griffin.

I wish I knew how to: play guitar.

My worst habit is: procrastinating.

Nobody knows I: am almost finished with my MBA.

The person I most admire is: any person who sacrifices to serve our country.

My guilty pleasure is: pecan pie.

I drive a: Toyota Tacoma.

I'd like to be driving a: Toyota Tundra.

My favorite restaurant is: I can't choose just one. There are too many great ones here.

I'm happiest when: everything is running smoothly.

I regret: not moving to Texas sooner.

If I won the lottery, here's what I'd do just for me: buy a new Harley.

If I could change one thing about Denton, it would be: the traffic.

When I retire, I plan to: enjoy spending time with my family.

A former FISH Operations Manager is currently answering questions on this forum now.

FiSH Window Cleaning Gets New President

FiSH Window Cleaning Gets New President.

Grand Rapids Fish Window Cleaning franchise owner hired as company president: Grand Rapids, MI) - A little over a decade after buying a Grand Rapids area franchise of Fish Window Cleaning Service Inc., Randy Cross has been hired to lead the company.

Cross was named president of the St. Louis-based company, which is the largest window cleaning franchise in the country. Fish provides service to more than 200,000 commercial and residential customers nationwide, the company said.

Cross plans to keep his Fish franchise location, at 2990 Franklin Ave. SW in Grandville, while leading a staff of 25 to support 250 franchise locations and develop new territories.

“Other than decisions of faith and family, joining Fish Window Cleaning has been one of the best decisions of my life,” said Cross. “I look forward to continuing to help others realize their dreams of business ownership and the freedom and flexibility it can provide in their lives.”

One reason Cross was drawn to the Fish franchise: he wouldn't have to work nights, weekends or holidays, which allowed him to have a balanced life with time for his family and volunteering. Before buying the franchise, he was a sales operation manager at Computer Products And Resources.

"I do not let business dominate my life and going back to faith, I believe I have been rewarded for that," said Cross, 44, who graduated from Grand Rapids' Creston High School in 1988 and from Hope College, in Holland, four years later.

Two years after Cross bought the Grand Rapids Fish franchise, he was named “Franchisee of the Year” in 2005.

Cross says franchising has been a good fit for him because it is about following systems and processes, which is his strong suit.

"My wife likes to tease me that I won’t deviate from a recipe when cooking. That same trait helps make me a successful franchise owner," said Cross. "The skills I have taken from the experience of being a business owner will help me in my new role leading Fish Window Cleaning."

He began working for the corporate office in 2008, recruiting franchise prospects as part of the franchise development team, and more recently, leading Fish's franchise support staff.

Owner Mike Merrick, who has served in a dual role of chief executive officer and president of Fish since he started the company in 1978, will remain the company’s CEO and chief financial officer. He and his wife, Linda Merrick, will also continue their full ownership of the privately-held corporation.

“The foundation of Fish Window Cleaning Services, Inc. is well established with over 35 years in the window cleaning industry and over 15 years in the franchise industry,” said Merrick. “These strategic changes will sustain present and future growth. I fully support Randy, and I have no doubt that he will do a fantastic job.”

Fish Window Cleaning, the leader in alternative startup, franchise and small business financing. After seven years in banking, Mike Merrick walked through a brand new “window” of opportunity and founded Fish Window Cleaning in January, 1978. Mike quickly differentiated himself from his competition by providing his customers with uniformed professionals and reliable scheduling at a competitive price. He made each customer feel as though they were the only customer.

FiSH specializes in window cleaning for low-rise structures, and also provides awning cleaning, gutter cleaning and construction clean-up for commercial and residential customers, who receive a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all work.

FiSH was named to the 2010 and 2011 INC. 5000 list of fastest growing companies. FISH ranks 119th on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2012 Franchise 500 list, 68th on Dun & Bradstreet’s AllBusiness AllStars Franchise 100 list and 14th among the Top 50 Large Systems in Franchise Business Review’s 2011 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards, which is based on the results of surveying over 22,000 franchise owners representing over 300 franchise brands.

Why a window cleaning business? Where did your initial inspiration come from?

Mike: I was always looking at different types of businesses to own. The guy who cleaned the windows where I worked put his window cleaning business up for sale, and I decided to check into it. The more I learned, the more I thought it would be a good “fit” for what I wanted.

I liked that the business didn’t require an investment in inventory. Because I had a young family at the time, I liked that it was a Monday-to-Friday business that didn’t require any work in the evenings or on weekends or holidays.

My wife’s family had owned a restaurant, and I had seen how that business totally dominated and controlled them. The window cleaning business doesn’t have any perishable items like the food business. And we’re not like retailers who have to wait for the customers to come to them. We go out to our customers.

Bottom line: I can own this business without it owning me.

What influenced the decision to start franchising the company in 1998? Were there any specific challenges you faced when trying to replicate your business model for others to implement?

Mike: I always thought franchising was a great idea, but really didn’t know anything about it. I always wanted to do it, and so I did it. Money wasn’t the primary objective. I thought about it for ten years before doing it. I figured this was a good business for others, too, since it had family-friendly hours and low overhead after start-up.

After I read an article on franchising I followed up with some of the resources mentioned in the article and worked with someone to help me get started and sell my first franchises. I learned some lessons from this experience and used those to refine my franchisee recruitment process.

One of my biggest challenges was that window cleaning is not a glamorous or sexy business. So it doesn’t have instant appeal to prospective franchisees. It became easier to attract franchises after I had the first ten or 15 franchises up and running, but getting there was a chore. My wife and I spent three long, hard years building the franchise organization, working seven days a week and traveling throughout the country helping new franchisees get their businesses up and running.

I also had to adapt to an entirely different role and set of responsibilities. I was no longer running my own business, but coaching others on how to run their businesses. I did not have control of all the factors that can influence a franchisee’s success, but their success was paramount to my success as a franchisor.

The key is to get people to believe in you and what you’re doing. You need successful franchisees who will give positive validation for your system when they speak with prospective franchisees.

When someone buys a franchise they buy a system so you have to be able to take all your knowledge and put it into an operations manual that franchisees can follow. My wife and I thought we could accomplish this in one “long weekend.” Boy, were we wrong. It’s very hard to take a concept and put it on paper. It took much longer to get the initial operations manual put together, and it’s an ongoing endeavor. We’re constantly revising, rewriting everything as our business changes and external factors come into play. Today we give our new franchisees three different manuals—operations, marketing, and personnel.

What are some of the main differences between starting a business on your own and buying a franchise?

Mike: Franchisees don’t have to start from square one. They are given a proven business model that provides guidelines on everything they need to know - how to hire, how to get business, branding and marketing guidelines, billing and accounting procedures, as well as a proprietary software system that helps them run their business. A franchisee can come in and follow the existing system and get started growing their business on day one.

As one franchisee told me, “I don’t have time to develop a database for how I’m going to keep up with my accounts receivable, my customers, my schedule, how I’m going to do payroll, personnel, how many jobs have been done. I don’t want to come up with those systems. The FISH franchise offered me an opportunity to buy into all of these existing systems.”

Our franchisees have the advantage of 34 years of window cleaning experience, a large support staff that’s available to work with them daily, and a franchise community that openly shares information and supports one another. We have regional meetings for franchisees with guest speakers and industry updates. We leverage our buying power to provide franchisees with preferred pricing on window cleaning equipment and tools. We have marketing and branding materials online and in print, as well as targeted marketing campaigns that franchisees can customize for their individual needs.

How are SEO (Search Engine Optimization), SEM (Search Engine Marketing) and social media helping support your business?

Mike: We proactively monitor and continuously optimize our franchisee’s Web sites to produce optimum results. We want to ensure a positive customer experience for users who are looking for a window cleaning service. We want it to be easy for them to find FISH so we work to maintain a top three placement in searches. We include an online estimate request form to help garner leads. We offer customers the option to pay their bills online. We use automation to keep things easy for the customer and the franchisees. We also maintain a presence on Twitter, LinkedIn and FaceBook.

You regularly publish and update a list of suggested books for entrepreneurs and franchisees to read. What book recommendations do you have for our readers?

Mike: In addition to The E Myth, which I recommend to every prospective franchisee, I also recommend Good to Great by Jim Collins. The book addresses the question, “Can a good company become a great company and if so, how?” Collins concludes that it is possible, but finds there are no silver bullets. He and his team of researchers sorted through a list of 1,435 companies, looking for those that made substantial improvements in their performance over time. They finally settled on 11, and discovered their common traits that challenged many of the conventional notions of corporate success.

The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack and Bo Bulingham. The authors describe a company that is run on democratic principles–the same principles we demand in every other aspect of our lives–and came up with a revolutionary approach to reviving industrial America. This book is for people who are fed up with management systems that don’t work, and for managers who have tried every motivational tool and still can’t get employees to perform up to their abilities.

Great by Choice by Jim Collins and Morten Hansen. This book looks at why some companies thrive in times of uncertainty, even chaos, and others don’t. Again using research and interviews, Collins and his co-author uncover and enumerate the principles for succeeding in unpredictable, turbulent times.

What’s the most exciting thing on the horizon for Fish Window Cleaning?

Mike: January 2013 will be the 35th anniversary for FISH and the 15th anniversary for our franchise organization, and we plan to celebrate this all year. We are seeing record growth from our top performing franchisees and the synergy of the brand nationally. For example, Mrs. Smith may have FISH clean her condo in Florida, but she also has FISH clean her home in Michigan. A restaurant manager, who previously managed a restaurant in Knoxville where FISH cleaned his restaurant’s windows, looked FISH up when he was transferred to Jacksonville and asked them to come and clean the windows there. We’re getting noticed nationally all across the country. This provides tremendous momentum that we plan to build on and keep going.

We’re also expanding our brand presence by making our proprietary FISH Foam glass cleaner available for sale to the public. It’s been reviewed by several influential bloggers who give it high ratings, and we now receive orders for it daily. In fact we just restocked it in our warehouse this week.

New Year Decade In Business For Window Cleaner

Biegel said he spent the first five years pounding the pavement to establish a client base that includes the owners of this Winnetka home.

New year means decade in business for window cleaner: When Jeff Biegel rang in the new year, he wasn’t just celebrating the start of 2014. Biegel toasted to the 10-year anniversary of his Northfield based business, Fish Window Cleaning. “This has worked because I surround myself with amazing people who care, and who are trusted by our clients, who feel comfortable letting them in their homes,” said Biegel, who bought the St. Louis based franchise in 2004.

Biegel, who lives in Highland Park with his wife, Monica, is no stranger to owning a business. In 1977, he bought Irving’s in Niles, a restaurant he had for nine years, which he said taught him the value of hiring good employees and keeping them happy. “I learned the importance of customer service and pleasing people, and that starts with the people who work for you,” he said. Biegel sold Irving’s in 1986 and spent the next 17 years as a commodities trader. In 2004, he decided to leave the business and search for a franchise to buy. “I got involved with a franchise broker who showed me a bunch of different companies,” Biegel said. “This seemed perfect for me because it involved my natural born skills — being a people person and selling.”With 15 employees, Fish Window Cleaning services both residential and commercial properties that are three stories or below. The company also provides gutter cleaning, and cleans light fixtures, skylights, and chandeliers.

 Biegel, who lives in Highland Park with his wife, Monica is no stranger to owning a business. In 1977, he bought an Irving's in Niles.

Biegel said he spent the first five years pounding the pavement to establish a client base that has been very loyal, thanks to his employees. “Five of my employees have been with me for over seven years,” he said. “I keep them by paying them well, and I think we are successful because of that. It’s worth it to me to pay extra in order to keep great people who have built great relationships with customers, and who are loyal because they make great money.”

Biegel said his company, which is fully bonded and insured gives free estimates, and they don’t have written contracts. “Our contracts are verbal,” he said. “Our clients just tell us the frequency they want and we honor that, and if they need to change it, that’s fine, too.”

Patty Silver of Deerfield has been a client of Biegel’s for five years. “In the past when I’ve used window washers, they’re evasive,” she said. “I would use them twice and then the number wouldn’t work anymore. Fish is a very solid operation and the guys who come here are truly gentlemen. They respect your home.” “They are dependable, always on time and very thorough,” said Bunny Mesirow, who is the owner of Highland Park’s Ravinia BBQ & Grill. “When our windows are clean, it just makes our whole place look so much better.”

Fish Window Cleaning, which has been in business since 1978 started franchising in 1998. There are approximately 250 franchises, making the company the largest window cleaning franchise in the country. Last year, the company awarded Biegel “Franchisee of the year.” “It’s determined by growth, volume, new accounts, consistency and being a team player,” Biegel said. “To them, the customer always comes first,” said Silver. “They’re on top of everything to really make a customer feel satisfied and proud of the way their windows look.” Article also published here.

Window Cleaning News, Fish, Squirrels & Dragons

First impressions always count for window washer Jason Smith: Clean windows are often part of a customers' first impression. That's why many businesses have their windows cleaned professionally by Jason Smith of Fish Window Cleaning. "Some businesses are on a weekly rotation, and others are once a month," said Smith. Smith takes calls and gives free estimates. He charges by the pane to do residential and commercial windows. When he's looking for new business, he will make cold calls by stopping at a strip mall, offering to wash windows and setting them up for future appointments.
Smith starts with a bucket of clean water and dish soap. He uses a window mop that looks like a sponge on a squeegee and washes the window until the mop glides. He changes to a squeegee with a sharp rubber blade and uses the swirl or fanning technique to glide the dirty water down and off the window. The squeegee leaves the window streak free. He finishes the job with a clean, lint-free cloth on the window edges, the sills and the frame. "I don't just wash windows; I clean them," he said.
Smith also works on windows up to three stories with either a pole or a ladder. He does windows inside and out. What's needed: A window washer must like to work and be self-driven for business cold calls. Working in the elements year-round and some ladder work is required. Attention to detail is important. Smith likes to see a positive attitude and punctuality. Employees must be clean cut and in proper uniform.
Smith worked in appliance delivery for 10 years. He's also worked in construction, car detailing and carpet cleaning. Now he's the operation manager. "This is the first time I've been in management, and I really like it," Smith said. In addition to washing windows he handles the phone calls, estimates, paperwork and billing and makes sure the employees get paid.

• Highlights: The best part of the job for Smith is the drive time and seeing all different types of businesses.
• Lowlights: The worst part of the job is filling up the gas tank.
• Advice: There's no such thing as a stupid question.
• Future: Smith would like to someday own part of the company.
• Facts: No special formulas are used in professional window cleaning — plain old dish soap and water and elbow grease.
  

Local business owner witnesses OSHA and IWCA alliance: Local business owner, Victor Munson, traveled to Washington, D.C. this past month to be part of a long awaited event. The International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced their alliance to promote safe and healthful working conditions for professionals who work within the window cleaning industry. “We pursued the alliance with OSHA to promote the importance of on-going safety education in our industry,” said Victor Munson, IWCA President and owner of Erlanger Window Cleaning in NKY. “With representatives of both organizations working together, we should be able to achieve our goal of increasing safe and healthful working conditions.”
The new alliance will concentrate on educating members by providing them with information and guidance to help them protect their employees. It is IWCA’s intention to focus on (i) improving fall protection education (ii.) reducing other job site hazards and (iii) addressing the challenges of small business owners and low literacy and limited English of employees in the window cleaning industry. In addition to member education, IWCA and OSHA will work together to promote workplace safety and health on a national level. “We want our members, and everyone in our industry, to know we take workplace safety very seriously,” said Debra Nemec, Executive Director for IWCA. “Together, SWRI and OSHA will be able to utilize their combined resources to maximize job site safety and awareness.” Both groups formalized their alliance during a meeting at 3 p.m., June 10 at OSHA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. For more information about the alliance, please contact Vic Munson at 859.371.4210

Michael Portillo (smug picture) has been staring out of a lot of windows lately, exploring Britain's rail journeys for the BBC. So he knows a good shine when he sees one, and has taken to evangelising about his window cleaner back home. Residents of Chelsea have received hand-signed letters from the former Tory MP recommending the services of one David Doyle. "When someone works inside and outside the house, I must have complete trust in that person," it reads, "I do place my trust in Mr Doyle." In case you don't believe him the letter provides Portillo's home address, email and even his mobile phone number. He's clearly forgotten what it's like to have constituents.

Answers From a Window Cleaner, Part 3 - have been added to the original questions & answers featured here. Andrew Horton, who has been a window cleaner for more than two decades responds to readers. Andrew Horton knows the secrets of the trade and safety practices.

Friends and family of murdered teenager Ben Lund have marked the first anniversary of his death and collected more than 1,200 signatures in support of a memorial garden. Nineteen-year-old Ben Lund, a popular window cleaner, was murdered in the Funktion Rooms Nightclub on July 11 last year. Nicholas Sitko, 25, repeatedly punched the teenager causing a fatal brain haemorrhage and was sentenced to at least 14 years in prison for his murder. Last Sunday, on the anniversary of Ben's death, sunflowers were placed outside the Funktion Rooms from Ben's family and other flowers, letters and cards were left by his friends.

First case of it's kind: Man told to pay £1,500 after being found guilty of drowning a squirrel - When grey squirrels invaded Raymond Elliott’s garden and targeted his bird feeders, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He bought a cage to trap the pests and, when he did catch one, dropped it into a water butt, killing it ‘almost instantaneously’. But after a neighbour tipped off the RSPCA, he was hauled into court, charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and - in a legal first - forced to pay £1,500.
The 58-year-old window cleaner, who said he believed he had killed the animal in a humane way, will now be lumbered with a criminal record. The case sets an important precedent for killing grey squirrels, which are classified as a non-native invasive species, and could pave the way for hundreds of other prosecutions across the country. The RSPCA, which brought the prosecution, warned that many common methods of killing grey squirrels and other pests could now fall foul of the law. It added that the only humane - and therefore legal - way to kill them would be to have them put down by a qualified vet, which can cost up to £40 a time.
Mr Elliott, from Branston, Staffordshire, was prosecuted under Section Four of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. He pleaded guilty and was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £1,547 to cover investigation and legal costs incurred by the RSPCA at Burton Magistrates last Friday. Yesterday, he described the fine as an ‘injustice’ and claimed he had been singled out by the charity.
He insisted that the way he killed the grey squirrel was not cruel or inhumane and said he was simply trying to do what homeowners across the country do when the pests invade their homes and gardens. 'This is an injustice. People do it across the country all the time - they are just making an example of me,’ he said. ‘I do not feel what I did was inhumane or cruel and I was shocked by how big the fine was. ‘All along it was going to be guilty because it was a test case and they needed a guilty verdict.’

Dragon helped me spread my wings: Tony Earnshaw was just 18 when he started his first business, buying a rundown burger van for £50. After securing a pitch in his home town of Glebe in Washington, Tyne and Wear, he made £3,000 in two months before selling the van for £6,000. Tony, 25, used the profits to buy a window cleaning round for £300 that he rapidly builtup before selling it for £16,000 six months later. Next he bought two transit vans and a small depot and launched UK Commercial Cleaning Services, offering everything from shampooing office carpets to a specialist operation cleaning up crime scenes.
Last year Tony appeared on the Dragons' Den television show, which began its latest series last week, and secured £100,000 from Dragon judge Duncan Bannatyne in return for 35% of the business. At the time of appearing the company's turnover was £370,000 and it operated only in the North East, but Tony had plans to take the business nationwide, having bought a second depot in Leeds in 2008. Now, nearly a year on, a London depot will open in two weeks' time and a depot in Stirling will open in six months. The firm now employs 40 people, up from 16, and turnover for the year ending April rose to £1.2m, with predicted turnover of £4m for this year.
Tony is also setting up a franchise that he hopes to sell to franchisees in the south of England. Though Tony had to hand over 35% of the business - up from the 20% stake he initially offered - he has no regrets about securing funding through Dragons' Den. 'Appearing on Dragons' Den gave the business a real publicity boost and has helped us to grow rapidly,' he says. 'I have the support and advice I need from Duncan, we speak monthly, but he gives me the freedom to run the business as I know best. As far as I am concerned there were no downsides.'

London's Strata tower: It is the world's first skyscraper with built-in wind turbines. But is London's Strata a green gimmick – or the future?At 147 metres, the newly opened Strata is London's tallest residential building. The plan was first made public six years ago and work is unlikely to be completed before 2020. It's a colossal challenge, as well as an opportunity, and the £113.5m Strata, the first of three skyscrapers planned for here, is a symbol of the dynamism and energy the project demands. And that energy must, of course, be seen to be green. It's early days, but if the turbines work as planned, and aren't too noisy for residents in the pricey penthouses beneath them, they should generate 8% of this 43-storey building's energy needs. This is roughly enough to run its electrical and mechanical services (including three express lifts and automated window-cleaning rigs) as well as the lighting, heating and ventilation of its public spaces, which include an underground car and cycle park. Strata is the first building in the world to incorporate wind turbines into its structure.

Harrisburg, Pa. - A glass panel from a 9th floor tower fell from a downtown Harrisburg building Monday evening. The panel was from a Verizon Tower and fell from the building, landing on the bridge to Capital Park from Strawberry Square. Hassinger said a visual inspection from the ground was conducted by Hershocks and HDC employees following the incident. City and Capitol police were notified and the bridge to Capitol Park remains closed until further notice. Also, the sidewalk corridor along the South side of Walnut Street along Strawberry Square has been closed to pedestrian traffic. Glass from the incident is being swept from the area by a contractor hired by HDC. An inspection of the glass panels on both the Verizon Tower and SO1 (State office tower occupied by Revenue and Attorney General's office) is being scheduled within the next 24-48 hours.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group: "Snapple was founded in 1972 by Arnold Greenberg, Leonard Marsh, and Hyman Golden. Greenberg operated a health food store on the lower east side of Manhattan. His boyhood friend Marsh ran a window-washing service with his brother-in-law, Golden. In the early 1970s, the three founded Unadulterated Food Products, Inc., to sell pure fruit juices in unusual blends to health food stores. Products were bottled at a small plant in the New York metropolitan area. The partners ran the business in their spare time while all three kept their regular jobs, and the enterprise plodded along until the late 1970s. In 1978, Unadulterated Foods began to market carbonated apple juice. The company called the product "Snapple," after purchasing the name for $500."

Bird Friendly Glass + Other Window Cleaning News

Window collisions kill between 100 million and 1 billion birds each year in the United States. NanaWall Systems, the leader in large opening glass walls, is the first operable glass wall company in North America to offer bird-protection glass that is not discernible to the human eye. The Bird-Protection Ornilux® glass includes ultraviolet patterns that make the glass visible to birds but still transparent to humans. “Collisions with glass take a horrific and deadly toll on birds every day, with home windows responsible for hundreds of millions of bird deaths. While there are effective tools such as window film, shutters, grilles, decals and painted patterns that can make existing glass more visible to birds, manufacturers have been slow to produce glass products for new construction, designed to be safe for birds.
Though people can recognize the difference between reflections and reality, birds do not. Unknowingly, they fly full-speed into the glass and make an impact. For years, ornithologists have been looking for an architectural solution for preventing or reducing bird deaths from glass impacts. NanaWall is the first folding glass wall manufacturer to provide this glass with their systems in the United States. “I first heard about the issue of bird safety and glass about five years ago from one of our customers,” said Ebrahim Nana, president of NanaWall Systems. “Since then, NanaWall Systems has been looking for a solution around the world. This spring, I was introduced to the Ornilux bird-protection glass in Germany and immediately started working to make it available to architects, builders, cities and homeowners that use the NanaWall in conventional and “green” buildings. We are proud to offer the NanaWall with Ornilux Glass to provide an architectural solution so that “green buildings” can incorporate bird-safe glass and bird-safe architecture.”
NanaWall Systems is the exclusive North American partner of Solarlux, Germany, the world leader in operable glass wall technology. NanaWall Systems’ opening glass walls provide flexible solutions to large architectural openings, from 8 feet to 320 feet and are used in houses, condominiums, restaurants, stadiums, schools and more. Nine of the NanaWall systems have been rated, certified and labeled in accordance with National Fenestration Rating Council 100/200. Depending on the system selected and glass options, Energy Star U value and SHGC requirements for all climate zones can be met. The NanaWall is unrivaled in the industry for exceeding standards for air infiltration, water penetration, structural performance and forced entry. The NanaWall SL72 aluminum folding system is Miami-Dade County approved and can be used in hurricane areas. NanaWall Systems is a member of the U.S. Green Building Association. The aluminum-framed NanaWall uses recyclable aluminum with non-toxic powder-coated finishes.
American Bird Conservancy conserves native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas by safeguarding the rarest species, conserving and restoring habitats, and reducing threats while building capacity of the bird conservation movement. Dr. Daniel Klem Daniel Klem, Jr. is Professor of Biology, and Sarkis Acopian Professor of Ornithology and Conservation Biology in the Department of Biology, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania. He earned his Ph.D. at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. For 35 years, beginning with his dissertation and continuing to present, he has studied and published extensively on the relationship between birds and windows.

Bogus official targets elderly women: A trickster conned an elderly woman into handing over £60 by posing as a window cleaner. The man knocked on several doors in Mirfield before persuading the woman into giving him money from her purse. The bogus official called at homes in Dunbottle Lane on the afternoon of Monday June 7. He was white, in his 30s, around 5ft 4in, with short dark curly hair. He wore trousers and a jacket. Now police are urging homeowners in Dewsbury and Mirfield to be on their guard. PC Lyndsey Nelson said: "It is a sad fact of life that opportunist thieves will target the most vulnerable members of our community and it is those people we would ask to be especially vigilant. "Don't let anyone into your property that you are not expecting to call." She said homeowners should not be afraid to ask for ID and ring the company if they are still unsure. Phone PC Nelson on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Local window cleaning gave scratches and dirt: Municipal cleaning company FAMI said although they were not professionals, that they would scrub the glass panes of the windows with a green pad - this was a surprise! The municipality has received a letter with serious complaints from Anna Eråker, new owner of the guesthouse Slöinge. Since the weather was not suitable for window cleaning on the house when she took over in January as part of the agreement that the former owner would pay for the work at a later date. The previous owner had hired FAMI, the municipal labor and induction unit, to get the job done, and a group of five guys came into the house one day in May. First they had to borrow a squeegee when they had not brought equipment, since it turned out that they used the green side of the kitchen sponge to scrub, thus scratching the glass panes. It was simply obvious to the homeowner that the window cleaners could never have cleaned windows before.
The supervisor agreed with her that the job had not been well done: I suggested that they should use microfiber cloths, but when I said that, they admitted they did not know much about window cleaning, "says Anna Eråker. After that statement, she lost confidence in the group, and asked them to complete their mission. After they had left there was a huge mess in the house, a bottle of window cleaner had been among the items, the dining table was scratched, there were also black hand prints on the freshly painted doors, which was later painted over, and so on. Fisnik Kycykailu is a supervisor at FAMI, and he has also been in contact with home owners. He would not really comment on the matter because he believes that there is a question of lack of communication between the house's current and previous owners. But how about the statement that the supervisor was unable to verify the work because he has to make sure that the guys would not steal? "But we have never said that they are professional window cleaners who we send." Eråker Anna says that she is primarily looking to get any financial compensation for the shortcomings of the work, "but an apology, I would have liked!"

Youngsters increasingly earning money through domestic cleaning: Almost one in five youngsters is earning money by completing tasks such as window cleaning, new research reveals. According to a report from Santander Current Accounts, 18 per cent (three-quarters of a million) of 10 to 15-year-olds are generating profits of over £400 million a year by carrying out tasks such as car washing, gardening and general cleaning. These traditional house cleaning jobs are helping children and teenagers earn an average of over £46 a month, or £550 a year, which adds up to a collective £426 million per annum. The new BBC spin-off show Junior Apprentice is giving youngsters even more inspiration to earn their own money, the survey found.
Helen Bierton, head of Santander Current Accounts, said it is good to see so many youngsters starting to earn their own money from an early age. "It's also good to see so many parents encouraging their children to have some financial independence," she added. Youngsters could see their earnings increase even more, as the hourly rate of cleaning professionals is set to go up by 25p, after Conservative mayor Boris Johnson recently announced an increase to the London Living Wage. He stressed that the increase is necessary to acknowledge the hard work of London's cleaning staff and other workers who carry out the city's esential functions.

Todd Harshman, president of Fish Window Cleaning in Lakewood, Ohio, decided to go into business for himself after being downsized out of corporate America. He didn't want to waste a lot of time doing things the wrong way so he enlisted the services of a franchise consultant. Buying a franchise worked for Todd because the business plan is already written and proven. Todd liked the Fish Window cleaning franchise because the franchisees seemed happy and the founder is a 'tremendous guy,' according to Todd. You may be thinking it's just window cleaning but to Todd it's much more than that. With 80% of their business in the commercial realm, Todd sells the idea that clean windows tell prospective customers that the business owner is proud of their business and that details matter. It also indicates that the business is well run and efficient. Many potential customers willmake a first impression before they even walk through the door. So, having clean windows can make all the difference in the world!
Fish's differentiator is umatched customer service backed by an unconditional satisfaction guarantee. And they must be doing something right because they received the 'Commitment to Excellence' award in 2007. When asked what words of advice Todd has for aspiring entrepreneurs he strongly suggests having a plan, writing it down, working it, and updating it regularly. He adds that if it isn't working, rewrite it. Don't just go off and fly by the seat of your pants. I can tell you that this is a step many people miss. This and that once they have the plan in writing they don't work it! Staying on track is essential to success. Having a written plan that you consult daily and update as needed will keep you on a forward moving path.

Glass firm secures £10m solar panel deal: Glass firm Romag has been awarded a £10.2m contract by North-East based Community Energy Solutions (CES) to provide solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and roof mount kits. The contract was awarded to Romag, based near Consett, County Durham, after it beat 12 other bidders in a European Tendering Process. CES is a non-profit organisation and the photovoltaic equipment will be used in approximately 2000 PV systems in homes and properties across the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside that will be installed within the next two years.

PPG Industries will showcase new Clarvista™ shower glass as well as an expanded portfolio of residential low-emissivity glasses at the 2010 GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo in Las Vegas, Sept. 14-16. Clarvista glass is made with a coating technology that seals the glass surface, making it resistant to corrosion caused by heat, humidity and household cleaning products. With regular maintenance, Clarvista glass looks newer longer than other shower glass products. PPG will display its complete line of residential low-e glass products including Solarban(R) 70XL glass, the industry’s highest-performing solar control, low-e glass. Two new residential products, Solarban 65 and Sungate® 400 glasses, also will be exhibited, as well as Intercept® ULTRA insulating spacers. Formulated as a value alternative to Solarban 70XL and Solarban 60 glasses, Solarban 65 glass is a double-silver, solar control, low-e glass. Sungate 400 glass is a passive low-e glass developed for window makers and homebuilders seeking to meet Canadian ENERGY STAR statutes. It is well-suited for use in northern U.S. climates as well. The insulating performance of Solarban 65 and Sungate 400 glasses can be further enhanced in window systems that feature Intercept ULTRA Stainless “warm-edge” insulating spacers, which offer industry-leading thermal performance along with superior gas retention, strength and flexibility.

Halfway through his answer, Justin Cronin stops, eyes wide, and points to the far side of the room, where a window washer has just hoisted himself down into view. “I could never do that: I’m afraid of heights,” he says, eyes locked on the man suspended in mid-air like a spider. He becomes aware that the man is only three stories off the ground, but remains unconvinced. “Three would make me vomit in sheer terror.” It’s good to know that Cronin, the man responsible for one of the creepiest books of 2010, is at least afraid of something. If you haven’t yet heard of Cronin’s 766-page Homeric novel, The Passage, you will.

Since ‘Reifen’ means ‘tyres’ in German, IMG's objective was to run ‘www.reifen.eu’ as an internet portal for trading in tyres. All in all, IMG played tricks like this in respect of 180 domain names, all consisting of generic terms. Schlicht was proprietor of the Benelux word mark ‘Reifen’ for to ‘bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; cleaning preparations, in particular, cleaning preparations containing nanoparticles for cleaning window surfaces’ and ‘services which facilitate the marketing of such cleaning agents’. He tried to register a Community word mark Reifen for the same goods and services, planning to market on a pan-European basis cleaning products for surfaces akin to window glass. Schlicht's mark is based on the first three letters of the German words ‘Reinigung’ (cleaning) and ‘Fenster’ (window). Schlicht challenged IMG's registration of ‘www.reifen.eu’ before the Arbitration Court, which upheld his complaint, withdrew that domain name from IMG and transferred it to him, taking the view that the character ‘&’ contained within a trade mark was not to be eliminated but had to be rewritten.

Hodder signs celebrity wife Mrs Fry: Hodder & Stoughton has acquired the "top-secret diaries" of Mrs Stephen Fry, revealing the comedian's secret double life as a womanising window cleaner, whose main loves in life are karaoke and kebabs. Edna Fry, who has more than 56,000 followers on Twitter, regularly recounts the details of life with her scandalous husband and five, six or possibly seven children. The diaries follow a year in the life of "an unwitting celebrity wife". "We’re thrilled to represent Mrs. Stephen Fry, who fascinates the office with unexpected insights into life with her husband, an enigmatic window cleaner. I am also delighted by the regular deliveries of her Spam-based food parcels." The book will be published in hardback this Christmas, and Hodder is planning to pitch for general humour promotions.

61 Years A Window Cleaner + Other News

Arthur's 61 years of window cleaning: Window cleaner Arthur Thornton has put away his chamois leather and bucket after more than 60 years in the job. The 84-year-old, who started out cleaning windows after leaving the Navy when he was 23, celebrated his retirement with family, friends and customers at a party last week at Changes Cafe in Prenton last Tuesday. He started with brother Freddie. But Freddie’s Ill-health forced Arthur to carry on by himself and for the next 48 years he went on to work across Merseyside. For the last few years he has concentrated on cleaning the windows of businesses in Woodchurch Road, Prenton. He retired last month.
On his retirement Arthur, who is originally from the Kirkdale area of Liverpool but now lives with his wife of 53 years, Rita, at their home in Tranmere, told the Globe that he would miss the job. He said: "I've very much enjoyed doing it, and I'm going to miss the people I've cleaned windows for. "Sometimes when I'm by myself I have a little cry, because I know I won’t be doing the round anymore. But life's been very good to me." He started off with a bike, then got a motorbike and side-car to carry his cleaning equipment around in. The father-of-two's nephew Paul has now taken over the round. Arthur is also a steward at Tranmere Rovers Football Club on matchdays and plans to take a holiday in Llandudno.
Jan Gill, owner of Changes cafe in Woodchurch Road, where the party was held, said: "Every Sunday morning he brightens up everybody’s day and used to clear the tables for us when we were busy. He is a lovely man and I’m going to miss him." Jilly Jones, an adminsitration clerk for nearby Clive Watkin Partners Estate Agents added: "I've worked here for four years and known him throughout that time. He will be much-missed and it must be very strange to give up work after 61 years in the same job."

A Nelson man has died after a motorcycle accident at Golden Downs, south of Wakefield. Mark William Herron, 38, died in Nelson Hospital yesterday after his life support was turned off last week. Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy said no- one would be charged in relation to the accident and Mr Herron's death had been referred to the coroner. Mr McCoy previously said Mr Herron travelled down the hill and was on the wrong side of the road when he crashed into a ute on Stock Rd on May 22. Mr Herron suffered head and internal injuries in the crash and was flown to Nelson Hospital by the Summit Rescue Helicopter. Dennis Noland, of Nelson Window Cleaning, said Mr Herron had worked in a supervisory role at the business for more than two years. Mr Noland had worked with Mr Herron for six months after his wife bought the business. Mr Herron would be missed. "He was loved by a lot of people; he got on well with everyone." Mr Herron loved his bike and was normally very careful when he rode, Mr Noland said.

Consumers take aim at debt collectors via federal lawsuits: When Vicki Higgins (pictured) saw a strange name on her business phone's caller ID in 2008, she didn't know that Patenaude & Felix law firm would become an unwelcome part of her life. The Export resident filed a federal lawsuit May 6 in the hopes of ending the relationship. Patenaude & Felix, through its local agent, Carnegie lawyer Gregg Morris, tried to collect $5,685.94 plus interest on a Target credit card Higgins never had. Early in the dispute, she called Target and talked to a representative who confirmed that the account with the same name as hers had an Ohio address and different birth date and Social Security number. That didn't stop the retailer from suing Higgins in Westmoreland County Court to collect. Higgins hired a lawyer. After he demanded Morris prove she was the account holder, Morris had the Westmoreland County court dismiss his lawsuit Sept. 2. Higgins said the series of phone calls, form letters and then Morris' lawsuit in Westmoreland County Court came at the worst time. Her late father had terminal lung cancer and was living with her, diverting time she could spend with her husband, two sons, granddaughter and her window cleaning and landscaping business.

Cheque campaign petition gets 12,000 signatures: Twelve thousand people have signed up to a petition to save the cheque book. Campaigners for the elderly are trying to gather more than 15,000 signatures to ensure a council debate on the demise of cheques. They fear many people, especially older members of the community will be unfairly discriminated against if cheques disappear as they do not use the internet and getting to the bank is difficult. They also fear the elderly are likely to keep more cash at home – leaving them vulnerable to theft. "Both young and elderly find cheques useful when sending money to grandchildren or relatives, or when paying the window cleaner, gardener or the babysitter.

Why are some people highly successful in life, while others just get by? Authors Jeff Brown and Mark Fenske say the difference between the high-achieving and the merely average is due not to IQs, life circumstances, financial resources, social connections or luck but to the workings of the brain. In "The Winner's Brain," Brown, a Harvard cognitive-behavioral psychologist, and Fenske, a neuroscientist, present evidence showing that the brains of the high-achieving operate differently from those of the average person. Brain scans measuring neutral activity show these processes at work, they say. They also write about a very focused high-rise window washer, London cabbies who have enlarged their hippocampuses by memorizing city routes and the Central Park Jogger, who pushed herself to recover lost motor skills and become a motivational speaker after she was attacked and left for dead in 1989.

Sisters fight for justice: The family’s nightmare began on October 18, 2008, when Chris, a 39-year-old father of one from Chadsmoor in Cannock, decided to go out for the evening with a couple of friends. It was just after midnight when he was crossing the bridge in Market Street, Hednesford, when 20-year-old window cleaner Ashley Lunn, of Sandpiper Close, Hednesford, crashed into him. At Lunn’s court case at Stafford the jury was told that Lunn had been beaten up by a group of young people earlier that night. Bent on revenge, he returned to find them and mounted the pavement in his Volkswagen Golf GTI. But it was innocent bystander Chris who bore the brunt of Lunn’s anger. Lunn was jailed for 14 years after being convicted of manslaughter – but that was reduced to 11 on appeal. He is likely to get out in just five-and-a-half years.

From window cleaner to one of Russia's richest men, Alfa Group founder Mikhail Fridman has always set his sights high. And now it appears his telecoms dream may come true. Of the original oligarchs who rose to prominence under Boris Yeltsin, Alfa Group founder Fridman is one of only two still in the game. He set his heart on telecommunications early on, and in April he cleared away the last obstacle to fulfilling his dream: to create a "Vodafone of the East". "Fridman always made it clear that everything in the group was for sale – but not the phone business," says a former Alfa Group executive (who didn't want to be named) talking about the group's strategy. Fridman's chubby figure and jolly demeanour is deceptive – in business he can be ruthless. And trouble has tended to follow in the wake of many of Alfa's purchases in the telecom sector.

Fish Window Cleaning Opens First Franchise in New Mexico: Robert and Sonia Chancey have opened New Mexico’s first Fish Window Cleaning® office at 3700 Osuna Rd. NE, Suite 603. The Chanceys previously opened the first Molly Maid franchise in New Mexico in 2005, and it is now the largest residential cleaning service in the state. Robert Chancey said they were opening the new business because, “We have seen the need for a window cleaning company… (and) received several requests for this service.” Chancey is a graduate of New Mexico State University where he received a B.S.B.A. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he served six years in the U.S. Navy as a sonar electronics technician. He also held sales and management positions with Radio Shack and Shell Oil Company.
In preparation for running the new business, Chancey and his operations manager, Paul Duran, completed four weeks of pre-training work and an eight-day training program at Fish Window Cleaning headquarters in St. Louis, Mo. Fish Window Cleaning has over 220 locations in the United States and is the largest window cleaning company in the world. The organization is ranked 182nd on the Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500, 19th for financial health on the AllBusiness AllStar Franchise 300, and received the Franchise Business Review’s 2010 Franchise Satisfaction Award for placing 43rd among the top 50 large system franchise organizations.

Psychologist Suzi Cresswell scores a hit with Jade Fry Private Eye book: The latest page-turner is called 'Jade Fry, Private Eye: The Summer Fete Robberies', and has just been published. It is aimed at eight to 12-year-old girls who would normally be classed as reluctant readers. They can follow the inquisitive youngster as she tries to find out who gnabbed a valuable pearl necklace, a crime that creates uproar in the village. Suspects include a window cleaner, the new stable lad, and radio DJ Eddie Hotspur.

Biking culture gets a makeover: At a Dutch Bike shop, you can forget about spandex, helmets, pedal clips or any of the other typical biking paraphernalia. The Seattle, Washington-based retailer wants to take customers - mostly baby boomers - back to the carefree days of childhood, when riding a bike was full of whimsy. "People think that this is messing with the paradigm of biking," said company founder David Schmidt, 39, a self-proclaimed nonconformist who previously owned a window-cleaning business where he regularly repelled off the side of commercial buildings like Seattle's Space Needle. "The bike culture is almost its own little group." By Schmidt's accounts, it's an unfriendly world filled with attitude and disdain. His company, which operates stores in Seattle and Chicago, is offering a non-intimidating alternative to lure the relaxed crowd. Customers are encouraged to come into the shop to just hang out, often with a complimentary glass of beer. Many are well-heeled and of a certain age, with pocketbooks fat enough to afford price tags of up to $3,000.