Stratus Building Solutions Franchise Check Day

Stratus Franchise Check Day is a time when Franchise Owners have the chance to talk to everyone at Stratus. Here we have Hanso, and Operations Manager; Stephanie, the Office Administrator; and Alicia, the Adminstrative Assistant.

How Often Should I Vacuum?

Frequent vacuuming is an important part of keeping carpets looking clean. Because carpet hides soil so well, many building owners and managers think their carpets are clean, when they're actually quite dirty. That's why it's important to educate your customers on how often carpet should be vacuumed.

The first thing you need to look at is how heavy the foot traffic is in different parts of the building. Some areas will need more frequent vacuuming than others. Here is a breakdown of heavy, medium, and light traffic areas that are common to most buildings.

Heavy traffic areas. These areas should be vacuumed daily because they receive the most traffic every day. The heaviest traffic areas are the entryways. The front entry is often given the most attention, but don't forget that employees and vendors frequently use other entryways in the building, so these must be vacuumed daily too. Other high traffic areas include lobbies, reception areas, elevators, hallways on the first floor, vending machine areas or coffee centers, and breakrooms.

 Medium traffic areas. These areas may need to be vacuumed just two or three times a week. Medium traffic areas would include office areas, hallways and upper levels.

Light traffic areas. These areas will probably need to be vacuumed just once a week.Light traffic areas would include areas not used very frequently like conference rooms or empty offices.

Detail vacuuming. Most cleaning companies detail vacuum offices once a month. Detail vacuuming involves using a back pack vacuum with crevice tool attachments. These tools help you to get into hard to reach areas like underneath desks, between file cabinets, and along the walls where dust and debris collects.

Every building is different, so be sure to review the amount of traffic in each building before deciding what frequency of vacuuming is needed in each area. Also, include your customer in this decision as they will be able to give you more information about traffic patterns.

(Originally written by Steve Hanson for the ISSA)

Stratus Building Solutions in USA TODAY for 50 Top Franchises for Minorities

Stratus Building Solutions celebrates diversity within the organization once again with inclusion in the Top Ten list of this year’s 50 Top Franchises for Minorities reported by USA Today on November 4, 2011.  The survey is in its fourth annual list and this is Stratus’ second recognition.

The National Minority Franchise Initiative recognizes Stratus to be leader in the franchising field with proven successes for minorities.  Stratus Building Solutions exceed the expectations with over 5,000 franchisees and with 93% minority participation.

“We hope this award reminds people about the strong work ethic and mental perseverance that come with a large minority base,” says CEO Dennis Jarrett.  Stratus Building Solutions also includes a Veteran Program as well as a Referral Program to franchise owners.  “Without dedicated franchise owners, the Stratus name is nothing.  We owe our successes to our team of franchise owners all over the country."
Stratus placed in the Top Ten recommended franchises being called “an optimal franchise that meets your needs” and that “there is no question that these companies are clearly doing something right and that they actively support your inclusion within their systems.”  Click here for the article and list of Top 50 companies.

 The National Minority Franchising Initiative uses a number of different resources such as company’s books, FDDs, etc. that one would reference when considering a franchise.  Access to these materials and for more detailed information on franchises actively seeking minority franchisees, please visit www.MinorityFranchising.com.