Emma saddles up for tough job: Torridge housewife takes housework to new heights. Talk about being saddled with a difficult job. Torridge housewife Emma Massingale has found a novel way of window washing without a ladder. The 29-year-old equine behaviourist balances on the back of her two horses to reach the upstairs panes of her farm in Bradworthy. Emma said: “In my line of work, even house work is never dull.”
Dummy dangling from Seattle billboard causes stir: Seattle firefighters responded to a call this morning of a lifeless man dangling on the side of a downtown billboard. The call came in about 11:22 a.m. after someone spotted the body high above Second Avenue near Virginia Street. The body was slumped over, with a rope around its waist. “Somebody thought it was a window-washer,” said Kyle Moore, spokesman for the Seattle Fire Department. But it took rescue workers less than a minute to realize the body was actually a dummy, Moore said. At first they thought it might be a Halloween prank, but it turned out to be part of an insurance ad by Lifewise Health Plan, he said. The billboard features a giant agent looking down at the dummy, with the slogan: “A dependable plan that’s there when you need it.”
"Lifewise designed the ad to get attention, but it seems to have captured a bit more than we anticipated since the figure in the ad was supposed to be shown painting the lower corner of the billboard rather than slumped over." "We’re working to have that corrected now." "The purpose of the ad, which is part of Lifewise’s award-winning BoringlyGood ad campaign, is to let people know that no matter what risks people may take in life, they can have peace of mind knowing that they have a dependable health plan that’s there when they need it."
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| Window Genie offers services that include window cleaning, tinting, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, concrete and paver sealing, in addition to light fixture cleaning. Burrows proudly stated, "Estimates are always free and most customers are pleasantly surprised by the price. Click to enlarge. |
Windows & more: Jeff Burrows is not too proud to admit he does windows. He scrapes them free of imbedded grime and uses environmentally friendly cleaners to remove the loose dirt. He'll even install different kinds of window film, pressure wash your driveway or sidewalk, clean your gutters and seal your brick pavers. And he does it with a colorful smile as bright as his purple polo shirt, embroidered with the Window Genie logo. These services, among others, are just a small part of what Burrow's company does as it finds its niche in Hernando County. "We clean windows and a whole lot more," he said, quoting his company's tag line. His webpage itemizes the other services they perform.
Burrows and his wife, Nicole, opened
Window Genie in March after doing extensive research into lucrative franchises. They wanted to start their own business and purchasing a franchise seemed their best option. "We worked with a franchise coach," Burrows explained, who helped the couple weed through businesses that had formidable foundations. The Window Genie concept captured their interest. The first of its kind in Hernando County, Window Genie boasts services many homeowners are willing to invest in, even during tough times. "No one likes to wash windows," Burrows said with a laugh.
A professional window cleaning isn't a small job. "We start with professional tools and use a commercial grade cleaner," Burrows explained. "It's not Windex and paper towels." The exterior windows are first scraped with a tool called a triumph blade that is designed specifically to protect the glass from scratching. "It removes the dirt and film that has built up over time," he explained. Interior windows are not scraped, however. "We don't want to ruin any existing window film." Installing film is another typical request. "Solar film is the main need here in Florida," Burrows said, to block the heat and glare and protects against fading. They also install security and safety films.
Although windows are a big part of Window Genie, the company has expanded its services to include other maintenance jobs that home and business owners are often willing to hire out. These fundamental services go along with protecting an owner's costly investment. Physical safety is a big factor, Burrows explained. Climbing on ladders can be dangerous. Window Genie technicians are trained in safety awareness practices. The company is also bonded and insured, giving home and business owners a sense of security. "All my guys are bonded as well," Burrows added.
Although the business is relatively new to the county, the Window Genie Corporation has been around since 1994. Burrows said there are some 45 franchise locations across the United States and at least six in the state of Florida. The Pasco location has been operating for three years. That was a big reason the Burrows decided it was a concept they could build upon. Backed by an impressive history, a strategic marketing campaign that includes a professional website with individual web pages for each location, and a following of happy, repeat customers, the Burrows were confident a strong foundation was already set. Their job was to establish their own sturdy platform, under the company umbrella, in Hernando County. "We are a locally owned and operated company with the backing of a national franchise," he said. "It's the best of all worlds."
In just eight months, Window Genie has built a solid repeat and referral base within the county, anchored from the quality of their work and the reliability factor that often drives customers to grant their loyalty. Maureen Bailey, who lives in the Heather, hired Window Genie to clean the vinyl windows in her Florida room. "They hadn't been cleaned in years," she said. The technician who came out was very thorough. He uncovered a small window, near a sprinkler head, that was exposed to water almost continuously for years. "He wasn't sure he could get it clean," she remembered. "But it was a lot better when he got done." Bailey was so impressed with Window Genie that she had the technician clean all the windows in her home
Window Genie is completely mobile, bringing the technicians to the customer. "Our business comes to you," Burrows said. They are difficult to miss, pulling up in the "Genie Mobile," with their colorful graphic logo across the exterior body of the SUV. It starts with a free estimate that is typically scheduled within 24 hours. The job is then worked around the customer's convenience. Burrows said most customers are surprised by the cost, which is typically less than they expect. And many times, a window cleaning has led to other services. "We mold our services to our customers," he said. "We have many happy customers."
