Cleanfax - January 2012
INDUSTRY LEADERS REVIEW Marketing momentum Zerorez has focused its efforts on radio television and the Internet Its growth has been a result of positively relating to the consumer about his or her needs and being able to follow through on what the company promises in its advertisements As both Hoag and Kaplan said people are very conscious about what is brought into their homes and Zerorez offers a low environmental impact cleaning that people feel good about Above all else they are in the service industry and quickly let people know that they are a local company that understands what people want from their service provider Zerorez took proactive steps to hire the right people and to keep them happy Happy employees make happy clients Hoag and Kaplan went so far as to adopt a mantra that they would only hire people that they would invite into the homes of their own parents All of these business practices have quickly given them traction in their marketplace building momentum and bringing in healthy profits 30 CM Cleanfax January 2012 CLEANFAX COM Future predictions Zerorez plans to focus on ancillary services growth in 2012 At this time the company is working out the final details in its rug cleaning operation The cleaning process is amazing Hoag and Kaplan believe but the plant administrative process is being tweaked With a high volume high quality rug plant in place Zerorez is now partnering with local carpet cleaners Zerorez cleans other carpet cleaners rugs at wholesale prices allowing local cleaners to make high margins off rug cleaning without the liability and expense of setting up a cleaning plant themselves Increasing profits from other services are also in their sights Air duct cleaning and commercial carpet cleaning are both on the radar as ancillary services they plan to concentrate on Is there room for growth There must be The local market proves it as Zerorez grew from cleaning 70 homes a month to cleaning more than 100 homes a day seven days a week and its not slowing down Without a doubt this is a modern day success story worth watching CF When you ask the principals at Woodard Cleaning Restoration Services of St Louis how the company got its start they just smile and say there is a great story to be told After World War II ended Earl and Nancy Woodard put a hitch on the family station wagon and towed a trailer of carpet cleaning equipment to the homes of their customers starting this 65 yearold family business Along came their son Charlie and he grew up in the business working with his parents all through high school during summer vacations and while in college He joined the company full time in 1977 and became the CEO in 1982 a position he currently holds Charlies son Justin also grew up in the family business but he left town for six years gaining valuable business management experience with a consulting firm in Chicago Justin and his wife moved back to St Louis in 2007 and he is now the vice president of business operations at the family business This third generation company has worked hard and as a result owns a hefty market share of the cleaning industry in the greater St Louis area and a growing share of the large loss industry on a regional basis Company development Woodard was established in 1946 and has grown in size and scope over the years Like many carpet cleaners the Woodard family grew the business on the cleaning side before breaking into the restoration field They are now the largest independently owned cleaning and restoration company in the Midwest Between the cleaning and restoration service lines Woodard employs close to 175 employees with 100 vehicles serving their cleaning and restoration customers Standing left to right Justin Woodard VP of operations Dave Christoff director of sales and marketing Grant Thompson director of human resources and performance management Linda Bakersmith VP of special projects Seated left to right Debbie Bogar COO Scott VanDover VP of restoration Cecelia Dierker controller Charlie Woodard CEO Continued from prior page
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