Focus on flooring
Customers enjoy new way of cleaning
Renee Sande Down to Earth NW Correspondent
Jeremy McGee knows a good thing when he sees it. Seven years ago, like any good entrepreneur, he went looking for a business opportunity that was economically sustainable. What he found was a business sustainable in more ways than one.
“The Zerorez concept just made sense, economically and environmentally” said McGee. “It also fit my goals of being able to employ people and create relationships, and, whether sustainability is important in people’s lives or not, it creates good habits.”
Purchased in 2004, the local eco-friendly carpet cleaning franchise was only the fourth in the nation at the time. Since then, McGee has seen continuous growth, with 2008-2009 being two of the local company’s strongest years on record. This past year, the company has opened two more divisions: a 24-hour flood division and a commercial division.
“In 2008, we added the bulk of our trucks and employees,” said McGee. “This year, we’re on track to grow 54 percent.”
The Zerorez patented process utilizes empowered water™” instead of soap to clean carpets, as well as any household surface, including upholstery, granite, air ducts, tile, mattresses, rugs, and more.
“Empowered Water™ is an alkalized fluid that acts like soap without being soap,” explained McGee. “It’s so safe that you can literally drink it.”
Like the name implies, the process avoids leaving any residue behind on customers’ carpets.
“Our company has revolutionized the entire market. You used to look at the ads and see things like ‘professional service’ or ‘quick drying times.’ Now, you see ‘low residue.’ We’ve set the direction for the industry.”
Zerorez Spokane has seen incredible growth, not just because of their green approach, but also because of their customer service and work ethic.
Just take a look at their Facebook page. Recently the company employed a customer feedback tracking system where customers go online to rank their Zerorez experience. The multiple daily entries from customers are nothing short of glowing reviews, each and every time.
Perhaps it’s because all Zerorez techs are trained daily and attend regular IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) classes to stay sharp. Perhaps it reflects why Zerorez has consistently been rated Platinum by the Carpet and Rug Institute. And perhaps it’s the rich working environment that McGee focuses on creating for his employees.
“Zerorez Spokane operates on three distinct premises: To Serve – that is, to act with integrity, whether it’s with customers or other employees; Be First – set good examples in customer service and production; and, Have a Purpose – have meaning behind everything that you do,” said McGee.
McGee fosters these work ethics by encouraging his employees to pick a local charity each year to which they can donate their time, while using Zerorez equipment. One of these charities, the Union Gospel Mission, has been benefitting from this outreach thanks to Zerorez commercial manager, Grant Barnes, who has given over $8,500 of his time to the men’s and women’s shelter.
“We’ve been donating our time and carpet cleaning services at UGM every four months for quite a while now,” said McGee, in a press release regarding the relationship.
“We knew [UGM] had some of its own in-house equipment and we saw an opportunity to teach the residents how to use the equipment so they could maintain the carpets between visits…Helping the residents learn how to use the equipment teaches excellent and applicable job skills when the residents complete UGM’s program and return to the job force.”
Zerorez Spokane has also contributed to the Extreme Team Makeover with Mark Peterson on four occasions, cleaning carpets, air ducts, and donating mop kits, and have also partnered with the radio station 99.9, home of The Jay and Kevin Show and Spokane’s 2nd Harvest Food Bank each October, to provide one room of carpet cleaning free of charge, with any food donation.
Last year, the 2nd Harvest fund-raiser brought in 3,000 pounds of food, and this year it’s estimated that the fundraiser will have brought in 6,000 pounds by the end of October.
“We live in Spokane and we work here; it makes sense for us to help others in our community and help improve it.”
As the company has grown, McGee says his awareness regarding the environment has grown as well. Admittedly, environmental sustainability wasn’t very important in McGee’s life when he purchased the franchise. However, since then he’s felt compelled to “create good habits” himself in other aspects of his company and his personal life.
“I remember my grandparents cleaning with vinegar and always saying ‘use what you have, wear it out, make it do or do without ’ and they did great. "It just makes sense if we can get back to that mindset of zero waste,” said McGee.
“Now I have a five- and a three-year-old at home so we have a good time sorting and recycling; I try and teach them the importance of doing our part, taking care of things.”
At the Zerorez Spokane 7,000 square foot facility, McGee says they now recycle and have gone to a completely paperless invoicing system. As well, they have made the switch to more self-reliant vehicles that are fuel efficient and that enable the carpet-cleaning machinery to create their own energy through a heat exchange system; this not only avoids using fuel from the trucks and creating pollution, but it also eliminates the need to pull from the homeowner’s hot water heater.
Despite a difficult economy, the company’s steady growth has been humbling for McGee who remembers well when “it was just me and a truck.” Now, fifteen Spokane families are supported by jobs with Zerorez.
“It’s amazing to sit down and post openings and have so many qualified and eager applicants come in,” says McGee. ““We want to be cutting edge and stay first in the market, but we also try to create a really good work culture, where our [staff] feels appreciated and hopefully love what they do.”
For more information, and to find out about monthly Zerorezpromotions, go to www.zerorezspokane.com or call (509) 922.5326
