HR Sweeping was originally founded in the 1970s by a former airplane designer. The business was started with a Bel-Aire sweeper with the somewhat new business model of getting parking lots clear of debris. The company’s use of technology has changed somewhat since its inception, as has their service area, and the firm’s legacy is now carried on by the founder’s daughter, Sharon. What hasn’t changed is HR Sweeping’s commitment to keeping their customers satisfied no matter what — even if it comes to using a broom, dustpan and wheelbarrow.
Our Executive Director, Ranger Kidwell-Ross, assisted a WSA Member with evaluating options in how to sell his single night route and sweeper, so that he could concentrate on his daytime construction sweeping. The night route is profitable but he finds it time-consuming and he’s having a difficult time retaining an operator for more than a few months at a time.
Various options were discussed on a recorded phone call and this is being provided to Members as a podcast on the topic. Since the contractor is not leaving the area and the route is profitable, the most time is spent on the idea of leasing the sweeper and route to someone who wants to develop a business of their own.
Justin Paluszcyk, co-owner of Swept Away LLC, has a firm belief that when a company buys a product, the company’s focus is more on the person who’s selling the product than the actual product itself. In Paluszcyk’s own words, “If they don’t like you, they won’t hire you.” This philosophy is part of Swept Away’s mission statement, which can be summed up in a single word: Integrity.
Paluszcyk began the business in 2007 with a somewhat beat-up TYMCO 210 sweeper when he was a 23 year old without a college education. He learned about all the hidden costs of business ownership on the fly, grew his business slowly and steadily, steered away from bad decisions that could compromise his business and now manages a fleet that includes 15 sweepers, four commercial pressure washing rigs, nine pickups and nine snow plows. He has built his fleet while remaining virtually debt free, maintaining good employee morale and long standing business relationships despite the changing climate of the street sweeping industry. Paluszcyk has only lost one company’s street sweeping work in the nine years he’s been operating Swept Away LLC, and that one customer came back to Swept Away nine months later.
Sean Luce, from the Luce Performance Group, provides a helpful document with twelve tips for common situations to help you and your employees have better interactions at social networking events.
