Doing It For The Kids

Brush couple Titus and Joy Grant recently set out on an exciting new venture as the duo began their new Mobile Wash LLC business, offering residential and commercial cleaning services of all sorts to clients in Morgan County. “We also wanted to create something to pass on to our kids,” Titus added. “We really created this business for them.”

Focus on family moves couple to create Mobile Wash business: Making the leap into a new life and a new occupation can prove bold for many, but for Titus and Joy Grant, the move into a new town and new business has given the couple newfound strength and freedom. “Joy was just burned out on the kid scene,” said Titus Grant, whose new Mobile Wash LLC business has become an exciting new adventure for he and his wife, Joy. “She’s been doing the daycare thing since she was in high school, for over 20 years. She was tossing around the idea of buying the house across the street and opening up another daycare, but I could see how exhausted she was. Life was not easy.”

With a trio of children in tow, including Austin, Shyann and Shailynn, the couple from California were looking for a way to support their family, as well as find more free time to spend together. When Titus mentioned the possibility of expanding his new mobile wash business to include window washing and janitorial services, a spark ignited in Joy.

What had begun as a pressure washing service started by Titus just after he created his self-built washer, which he has since upgraded in a purchased pressure washer, has since boomed with the addition of window and janitorial services, which many of their Fort Morgan and Brush business clients have taken advantage of.  

When the couple made their move from their home in California, back to Titus’ family roots in Colorado, it was the area that first brought appeal. “We are loving it here in Brush,” said Titus. “It has a rural feel and a country feel that we just didn’t get in the city.”

Titus was born and bred in Colorado, making the state home to him. When his parents made the move to California, Titus went with. He met wife Joy there 23 years ago and has been married to his bride for 21 years as of May 20. Spending the majority of his own career in sales, promoting everything from Yellowbook advertising sales to large equipment sales, gave Titus a vast knowledge of promotions and marketing, but when he looked toward the future, he saw something more.

For the duo and their children, it was taking time to focus on the family, to spend with their children and even to inspire their offspring, that proved a prime priority. The Grants made the move back to Colorado just a year-and-a-half ago and it wasn’t long afterwards that they ventured forth on their exciting new journey. 

“It’s a bit scary, but it is exciting,” said Joy whose career in childcare had brought her much pride, but didn’t afford her the time she had wanted to devote to her kids. “But this decision has been more about quality of life and priorities for us.” “We also wanted to create something to pass on to our kids,” Titus added. “We really created this business for them.”

The Grants’ Mobile Wash LLC got going officially in September of 2015, but picked up steam after the addition of Joy and the window and janitorial services, with many big and small businesses around Morgan County counted as clients. “It’s mostly been word of mouth and referrals that have us doing so much business so far,” noted Titus. “But knocking on doors also has helped. It’s what I’ve done for the past 20 years in my sales experience, so getting out, canvassing and speaking to people in person is still my greatest asset.”

From residential to commercial, the Mobile Wash cleaning company has a long list of services offered, including professional window cleaning, commercial janitorial services, commercial, residential and rental vacancy cleaning, store fronts, decks, sidewalks and gum removal, graffiti removal, road signs and road clean-up, spider webs, restaurant hood vents, flat roofs and rain gutters to farm equipment, semi-tractors and trailers, commercial fleets and oil field service cleaning. 

“We are a family-run business,” finished Titus. “It was created by the family and for the family, to serve the community. And our clients have been wonderful so far.” The company tag line, “What do you need cleaned?” pushes the couple’s notion that there’s nothing they can’t tackle and they urge anyone in need to contact them about any dirt or grime invading a space. 

Braving The Shave

A team of window cleaners will swap buckets of water for the barber's chair to raise money for a children's charity.

Window cleaners brave the shave for charity: Eight members of staff from JA Lee Windows will take on the Brave The Shave challenge in aid of Macmillan Cancer For Kids tomorrow. The team will all have their hair cut at Mane Street Barbers in Cockermouth and want to raise at least £2,000.

Andrew Lee, JA Lee's owner, said he had been affected by cancer and he wanted to help the charity.

He said: "I lost my father to cancer when I was 18 or 19 and I also lost an uncle and family friends to it. I saw the film The Fault In Our Stars as well as an advert for Macmillan and I decided I wanted to do something. "I then found out about Brave The Shave so we signed up to do it and set up all the lads with sponsorship."

The Brave The Shave campaign's aim is to encourage people to shave their heads and stand alongside men and women who have the illness. The window cleaners have had to resist the temptation to get a haircut until now and have been growing their locks ahead of the day.

Ready for the off: Andrew Lee prepares to have his head shaved by window cleaners. You may recognise Andrew when he was on the committee for the FWC (Federation of window cleaners).

Andrew added: "We've had a good response. The lads have been getting sponsorship and when I told them I was doing it seven out of nine staff said they'd do it. "This is the first time I have done this. I've done sponsored bike rides and sponsored swims in the past, but I've never done this kind of thing.  "I just hope my hair doesn't grow back grey! I agreed to go first and I'm going to buy the lads a lunch." The group will also go round Cockermouth tomorrow to collect donations and hope members of the public and local businesses can help them reach their target. To donate go here.