Sherri's New Toy + What Every Window Cleaner Needs

Sherri Medieros

Opening new doors into the window cleaning business: If you have glass in your house that is marked, marred, scratched or otherwise sullied – a table top, a picture window, mirrors maybe – you may have tried several sprays and potions to no avail. The best way we know of here to get the job done is to put down the spray bottle and pick up the phone. Call Sherri Medieros and let her and her staff at See-Thru Windows have a crack at it (pardon the pun.) Chances are she can fix the problem. Not only has Sherri accumulated knowhow from more than 13 years in the business on Marco, she also added services and staff. Her reach is not only to the tippy top of your transom glass; it’s also to new clients in Naples and the northern reaches of Collier County.

Now Sherri and her business partner and fiancé Steve Verbaro have a new weapon in their clean window crusade – a machine called Glass Renew. “It restores glass, buffs out scratches, removes water stains, such as from sprinkler water that constantly pounds on the windows,” Sherri explains. “It removes stains from shower doors, sliders and more. And we can make glass table tops with a lot of wear and tear look like new at a third the cost of a replacement.”

From Marco windows with a view to fixing inner-city gang graffiti. The convincer on whether this machine works is that it’s used in Philadelphia to remove and erase graffiti – not just spray paint but acid-laced graffiti material sprayed on by gang members. The more we chat with Sherri about window cleaning, the more we realize how little we know about it. For example: “Washing windows is more than just getting rid of streaks and smears for cosmetic reasons,” Sherri points out. “Some people don’t realize that glass is porous. Germs, mildew, salt, dust, grime, handprints, pets’ noses and paw prints and a lot of other stuff can get on windows and stay there and that’s not healthy.

Chris Curle Special to the Eagle Steve Verbaro and Sherri Medieros are using the new Glass Renew machine to remove scratches from a glass tabletop. It's the latest tool in the arsenal of Sherri's See--Thru Windows company, where she's been providing residential and commercial window cleaning services for 13 years.

 “And don’t forget smoke. I can always tell when people have been smoking in a building when I wash the inside windows. Smoke builds up and when we clean the glass, the water in our buckets turns yellow. It’s pretty bad.” We asked Sherri what common mistakes many of us make trying to do our own windows. “It’s not using the professional products and materials we use, such as squeegees and proper mops. A lot of people use Windex and paper towels. But paper towels are full of lint which will leave streaks and smudges on the glass.”

And don’t forget Sherri’s famous “S” swerve cleaning motion. “And the butterfly stroke,” she laughs. Sherri’s team can clean virtually any window anywhere. “With one of our accounts we have to put the ladder in the pool and climb up 24 steps to reach the highest windows, so the woman there always is kind enough to turn on the pool heater,” Sherri says. “So I tell my guys to bring their bikinis to work those days.” Sherri’s repertoire also includes pressure washing and screen-cage cleaning. She does everything with enthusiasm for the business. For example, she recently attended the international window cleaning convention in St. Petersburg, joining about 450 other window wizards from around the country. “That’s where we got the Glass Renew machine, which Steve now is trained to use.” He also manages Sherri’s crews.

See other posts on GlassRenu here, here & here. GlassRenu app' here. Buy here.

And this is what you need the GlassRenu system for...

G-1 Glass Pool Table: So you want to let the rest of the world know that you’ve arrived on the world stage, fat paycheck and all. How about making sure your pad stands out from the rest with the G-1 Glass Pool Table? As you can tell by its name, this pool table is going to wow and dazzle visitors to your home, and they need not rack up a set of balls on old school wood and slate – no sir, instead they will rack up on an ultra modern design that is built-to-order.

Boasting of a lightweight skeletal frame with a full visible ball return mechanism, quality is there for all and sundry to see including BCA-spec pockets and K-66 bumpers. At a pocket burning £34,999 for one of these puppies, it is nice to know that you can choose from a range of powder-coated colors to suit your fancy. Of course, one does wonder whether magic has gone into its creations since a glass surface probably can’t replicate the rolling resistance of baize. Science says no, which is why the G-1’s toughened glass will come topped with a patented Vitrik playing surface, now how about that?

Craig Nottage (pictured), the glass topped pool table designer, won bronze at the 2004 Dyson Australian Design Awards for his unique and innovative glass-topped pool table design. The UniSA industrial design graduate created the glass billiard table as his major, final year assignment. Nottage reports that the idea came to him after research revealed a lack of anything significantly different on the pool table market. "I am looking at the feasibility of making a prototype that will double as a dining table by making the legs adjust to the correct height, and adding a fold-out cover for the playing surface," Nottage says. "My goal was to completely modernise the concept of pool tables so that they would sit better in a modern decor and architecture while not compromising the game itself."

Or perhaps this one?

Kolan Hairston: Operation Window Cleaning

Kolan Hairston was at the recent International Window Cleaning Association conference, teaching how to make your unconscious mind make you incredibly powerful!

Operation: Window Cleaning: You have seen the bumper sticker, “Once a Marine, Always a Marine”. The Marine Corps experience is so strong that it leaves a lasting imprint on people. This certainly rings true for Kolan Hairston, owner of Fish Window Cleaning in San Marcos.

Fish Window Cleaning's Owner - Kolan Hairston. While serving his country as an officer flying for the Marine Corps they trained Hairston to:

• Plan out successful missions.
• Make do with the minimum.
• Lead people from the front.
• Train staff to perform well.

And after meeting him, you can see how he has retained the lessons he learned in the service. He is still in control, leading his people and soaring above his competitors today much like he did in the Corps. Although now, Hairston leverages these skills while working as the owner of the local Fish Window Cleaning service along with his wife, Lupe.  They started their franchise back in August 2004 shortly after Kolan Hairston completed his military service.

Plan out successful missions: Like a good Marine, Hairston started doing his homework about 2 years before leaving the Corps.  He began planning out his search for the next step.  With a strong desire to run his own business, Hairston looked into several business opportunities. A while later Hairston agreed to work with a business broker who presented several existing businesses.  None meet Hairston’s standards and expectations to make a successful business. The broker suggested multiple franchise opportunties for his consideration.  At first, the broker didn’t expect Hairston to jump on the chance to run a local Fish Window Cleaning business. Yet this business best fit his business criteria.

Make do with the minimum: The Hairstons opened the San Marcos location of Fish Window Cleaning.  Hairston said that they spend their time in front of customers, so he looked for a workplace not a showroom. And it is. Their office is functional, without any money wasted on mahogany desks, fancy furnishings or other luxuries probably very similar conditions to what he experienced in the Marine Corps – function first with no need for expectation of excess.

Lead people from the front: From both headquarters and the field Hairston runs the sales and service part of the business.  He guides his crews to meet his customers’ needs in an efficient and effective manner. He also leads the push to capture more business. Hairston’s interactions with happy customers generate the referrals needed to grow the business.  At the same time he has recently placed a heightened focus on marketing his business through more current methods. Meanwhile, his wife, Lupe Hairston covers the office administration duties in her effort to supports all aspects of the business.

Train staff to perform well:  As an officer in the Marines, Hairston didn’t control who they ‘hired’. Now that he dictates the hiring practice they place a greater emphasis on attitude than aptitude.  Because they provide significant training on how to perform their services, he knows they can provide quality work. Yet, Fish Window Cleaning aims to go beyond just the service. They strive to perform their service in such a manner to not disturb the tenant or homeowner.  Hairston knows that his six front line employees represent his company and that’s why he places such a high importance on the character of those on site. Just like you can spot a Marine from afar, the same is true for Hairston’s staff.  Their vehicles are marked well with their company name and information – no camouflage here.  From those vehicles his staff jump out wearing clean uniforms, looking neat and presentable,  although Hairston stops short of making a military hair cut ‘standard issue’.

What you get with Fish -  They perform many other services than just window cleaning.  For businesses they will clean awnings, remove graffiti, power wash buildings and even perform construction site clean up. Residential customer service beyond window cleaning includes cleaning rain gutters, scrubbing skylights, shining up chandeliers or clearing out air ducts. Hairston knows that these services are offered through several other providers.  He stated that many in his industry fail to operate a professional, above board business. One area worth considering is that Fish Window Cleaning carries sufficient insurance to cover their business and their clients.

Hairston said an insured provider benefits both residential and commercial clients.  He stated that owners and their tenants incur risk whenever a service company works on site.  Although the frequency of incidents may be low, the cost can be significant when an accident occurs.  When unlicensed, uninsured service providers work on your site liability may go beyond the service provider if an injury or destruction of property occurs.