Omicron is wreaking havoc on the reopening of many offices and commercial buildings. In turn, because these are key customers for so many building service contractors, this reopening delay is also playing havoc with the finances of many contractors.

Further, some custodial workers who were called back to work a few months ago now find their hours have been cut or their positions eliminated.

“It cannot be denied that 2022 may be a complicated year,” says Michael Wilson, Vice President of Marketing for AFFLINK, a leading sales and marketing organization for jansan distributors. “What [cleaning] contractors must do is get customers in those industries they can depend on, those least impacted by the pandemic. One that comes to mind is grocery stores.”

The critical cleaning task in most grocery stores is floorcare, and, according to Wilson, while maintaining grocery store floors can prove lucrative, before knocking on any doors, know the following:

• The appearance of the floors is crucial. Many grocery store managers believe the appearance of their floor can make or break them when it comes to customer retention.
• Get expert help. Work with an astute distributor to select high-quality floor finish that can withstand heavy foot traffic.
• Don’t cut corners. Selecting the best equipment to maintain the floors will keep your customer happy and make your job easier.
• Refinishing at start of service. Suggest a refinishing of the floor at the start of service. The previous contractor may not have used the best cleaning solutions, finishes, or methods. You want to start fresh and make the floor your own.
• Burnishers. If a high-gloss shine is needed, select the highest speed burnisher compatible with the floor finish.
• Auto scrubbers. Select a quality machine large enough to clean wide corridors but small enough to tackle tight or narrower aisles.

“And when submitting your [floorcare] proposal, refer to it as your ‘plan,’” adds Wilson. “Managers like to see a plan and a cleaning strategy.  It can be more important than price.”