Marketing Ideas
National Chimney Sweep Week begins the first week in October each year.
National Fire Prevention Week begins the second week in October each year.
“We’re just trying to bring awareness to chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen when there’s a faulty chimney,” Midwest Chimney Safety Council former President Marge Padgitt said. Brooke Morris of Blue Springs, Missouri, said she and her husband are doing what they can to prepare.
“I have been wanting to light fires since we got here, and we just decided this was the time to do it,” Morris said. “I’m in the residential real estate world, and I know how dangerous it is to run a fire without checking to make sure that it’s a safe place to run a fire.”
A chimney sweep is a good place to start.?
“One of the things that we do is sweep chimneys to remove creosote that’s flammable and, in that way, we reduce the risk of chimney fires,” Padgitt said. “But more importantly, the inspection part of the process is done in order to check to see if there are any problems on the interior of the chimney or the exterior; anything that could be a fire hazard or a carbon monoxide hazard.” According to the National Fire Protection Association, it is recommended that chimneys are cleaned and inspected once a year. Padgitt said, it’s once a year for an open fireplace and twice a year for a wood burning stove or fireplace insert.
“There are about 15,000 per year that are recorded and many many more thousands that are not,” Padgitt said. “There’s a lot of damage out there that people aren’t aware of. They need to have their chimney checked before they use it.” With winter right around the corner, Morris said she does not want to take any chances. “You don’t want to light a fire and that be the reason you don’t have a home anymore,” Morris said. “It’s a wonderful thing to have a home, so make sure you keep it up and keep it safe.” Padgitt highly encourages new homeowners to hire a chimney inspector before you buy the home because oftentimes there could be problems that can be expensive to fix later.
Marketing Ideas – Most in the chimney service industry can benefit greatly by using some creative Guerrilla Marketing techniques. These are no cost or low cost ways to get your company name in front of prospects.
Some simple ideas include: Parking your unused sweep vehicle in high traffic areas and leave some business cards on the wipers for people to take (a sign that says Take One is a good method) High traffic areas may include major parking lots, along major highway routes, where your bran d can be seen as traffic passes. Think of all the ways your service vehicle may become a great advertising business sign (free)
Site signs are another way to leave where a homeowner permits. This is an election year so… people notice lawn signs. Make sure your site signs are large enough to read and have a phone number to call.
Leave a stack of business cards in related businesses where permitted or a few on the supermarket business card board. It is free and many people will take your card for future use.
Special events, parades, gatherings of people make great opportunities for your fleet of service trucks lettered with your brand to be seen!
Have a slogan on your uniforms! People read clothing with slogans and keep your slogan simple, remarkable and clean.
(do not have offensive slogans)
Now put your team together at the next meeting and discuss how your company can benefit by Guerrilla Marketing practices!