alderleyedge.com member Lisa Langmead has won a Smarta 100 award for her company Dust and Vac which she only founded in November 2009.
Dust and Vac, a small domestic and commercial cleaning business serving Alderley Edge, Altrincham, Wilmslow & surrounding areas, has been named as one of the top 100 smartest businesses in the country.
Lisa explained “We have been recognised for our ability to start and grow our business in the current climate with minimum set up costs, proving to give great service it really does not have to cost the earth for our business or our clients.”
Dust and Vac has also been highlighted as one of the top 5 of the Smarta 100 for their use of resources. Lisa said “We managed to achieve this by making customer service our top priority and using an innovative approach to our marketing.”
The panel for this small business competition included top entrepreneurs: Deborah Meaden from Dragon’s Den, Bebo founder Michael Birch, Pimlico Plumber founder Charlie Mullins, founder of Coffee Republic, Sahar Hashemi and Smarta’s founder Sháá Wasmund.
The judges were looking for the finest small and emerging businesses in Britain, innovative companies doing something different, daring, and disruptive, using streamlined respectable practises and making a considerable contribution to their community.
Deborah Meaden, supporter of Smarta said: “Discovering great new businesses is a passion of mine as is encouraging businesses to think and work better. The Smarta 100 does both of these things – and celebrates the best of British business at the same time.”
Lisa Langmead started her cleaning company Dust and Vac with just £15. She decided flyers wouldn't achieve a worthwhile return on investment, so she bought 100 scouring pads and ironed on name labels with her details.
She offered her services for free to selected targets clients, resulting in some immediate paid contracts, and she taught herself html so she could turn a free blog address into an impressive business website.
Lisa saved on materials costs by asking to always use clients' own products. This allowed her to employ a team, paid on a per-hour business. She takes commission, so incurs no overheads and still hasn't spent a penny on advertising, gaining new contracts through word of mouth.
Lisa also cleans for charity and treats clients to wine and flowers each month to "show them they're special". Lisa added “ We donate to the children’s adventure farm trust in Knutsford, which has gained many free hours cleaning together with a donation every month from Dust and Vac.”
For further information visit the Dust and Vac website and Smarta.com, a large online resource offering business advice and business tools.
