Joel Libava(This is a sponsored post)
Call me crazy. Go ahead. I’m waiting…waiting…
Thank you.
Now, before I get into the reasons why I happen to like Men in Kilts®, you need to know about a well-known franchise business category; cleaning services. Go here to learn a little about cleaning franchises, and then pop back.
There are lots of different types of cleaning franchises, but I’m going to focus on window cleaning franchises. You do like clean windows, right?
Not The First Franchise To Clean Windows
Men in Kilts®, a Vancouver-based window cleaning franchisor, isn’t the first company that’s tried to break into this highly fragmented service business. For the most part, businesses that clean windows are of the one-man show variety.
One-Man Show Requirements;
- Cleaning solution
- Sponges
- Squeegees
- Rags
- A ladder
- A van
- A phone
- Advertising flyers
Add a business license and a checking account to the mix, and you’re in business!
The Competition
Window cleaning businesses are really cheap to start; that leads to lots of competition. But, for the most part, the competition isn’t very organized. And, it’s not like you can quickly name a window washing business in your area. That’s right; the window washing business has a serious branding problem. Plus, it’s not considered to be a very sexy business to own and operate.
But problems can be turned into opportunities. (Entrepreneurs are really good at doing that.)
An Experience
One way to differentiate a business is by changing how it’s perceived. In the case of Men in Kilts®, the founders decided to add a very unique thing to the window cleaning model;
A sexy uniform
This uniform attracts serious attention. Think about it; if you were driving down your street, and saw three dudes dressed in Kilts climbing up a ladder to start cleaning your neighbor’s windows, you would do a serious double-take. I’d wager that you would pay a visit to your neighbor’s house to see what the heck was going on over there. I know I would. Read what I wrote about how a uniform can change everything.
There’s another thing that Men in Kilts® provides; an experience. Having a few men come over your house, or enter your business dressed in kilts, to do some much-needed window cleaning is guaranteed to be a memorable experience every time.
Men In Kilts® was started in 2002 by Nicholas Brand with $500, a rusty old Honda, and a hand-sewn kilt. Since then, the business has grown steadily since they began franchising in 2011. This Canadian franchisor has received lots of press, and it will continue too. This franchise is a PR magnet.
There’s another thing that the executives at Men in Kilts® have succeded in doing;
They’ve changed the game.
Did you see them on MSNBC‘s Your Business? Watch
If you’re interested in learning more….and maybe even becoming a franchise owner, check out their laid-back and really boring franchise website.
