Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyn CEO of True Blue Maids
Lynette, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.For many years, I was sole proprietor of True Blue Maids cleaning in between dropping my kids off at school and picking them up. It was a great way to help our family with groceries and the kids’ school clothes. My husband Jerry was a cement journeyman in the union when the recession hit. At that time, there was no work for construction workers. We realized we had to step it up quickly to make our house payment and keep food on the table. We started cleaning together, we worked very hard cleaning four sometimes five houses a day. We worked weekends, nights whatever it took we did it together.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?Every day is challenging, my Husband and I work from 6 am to 9 pm every day. If we are not working, we are talking about ways to improve the business. The most difficult aspect of the business is the business part of its payroll, taxes, worker compensation insurance, licensing, bonding. It is challenging to but it is our priority to make sure all of this is in place because that is what set us apart for other cleaning services. Sometimes I will say to myself oh my goodness everyone is depending on me not just my family but my employees and their families. It is a big responsibility. This is what gets me thru the challenging times is knowing when to buck up and make it happen.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with True Blue Maids – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.We are a small, local, family business. When you call True Blue Maids, I will answer the phone 7 am to 7 pm 7 days a week. I create a property profile for every customer. I have a meeting every morning with every staff member about every client. When the cleaning team arrives at the customer’s home they have that list in hand so we are all on the same page and working very hard for the customer the minute we step into the home. I personally hire every employee. At the initial interview, I am very upfront with a potential employee. I confirm with them they must hard working and nice. We train our employees, go over our company policy several times to ensure professionalism but it is up to the individual to have a can-do attitude and a strong work ethic That is what I look for in an employee.
Often, I work alongside our employees I scrub toilets just like everyone else. I respect and appreciate how hard our employees work. I know they are working to buy groceries and their kids’ school clothes just like us. We pay our employees a living wage, one week paid vacation, paid sick days, bonuses. Our payroll is a bit higher because we make sure to have a paycheck for them every week instead of every other week. We personally prepare all the cleaning supplies and equipment for them so when they arrive they are ready to clean and give 100% to our customer right out of the gate.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?I am no spring chicken, I prefer slow and steady.