Real Stratus Customers Talk

You can listen to us all day long tell you about how great we are (we admit it, we're biased!), but listen to what some of the representatives of real customer accounts Stratus services.



Who was your favorite?

Stratus Joins the ISSA!

The International Sanitary Supply Association (now named as The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association) is an international association of companies that consider professional cleaning as the focus of their activity, and Stratus is now officially one of them.

The vision of Alfred Richter, who founded the National Sanitary Supply Association in 1923, has been remembered as. “I realized there was a great deal I did not know about the business. I presumed that a conference of successful distributors, drawn from various metropolitan cities, would result in an exchange of ideas that would be beneficial to all.”

From the ISSA:

Richter understood that the cleaning industry needed to unite as a community—not only for the betterment of its members, but also for the health of the nation. Based on these ideals, the association grew from its few founding members to a worldwide organization, and in 1966, to reflect its growing international membership, the association changed its name to International Sanitary Supply Association. Then, in 2005, the association embraced cleaning service providers, prompting the association to change its name and tagline simply to: ISSA—The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association.

ISSA’s 87 years of experience can mean success for your future. ISSA has alliances with more than 75 local, regional, and national associations as well as industry, government, and other leading corporate and community entities around the world. These are in addition to its own offices in Lincolnwood, IL; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Leicester, United Kingdom; Monterrey, Mexico; and Shanghai, China.

Stratus Building Solutions and the ISSA share the same passion for leading the facility services industry by providing the most up to date technology and processes, fostering the growth of our members and franchise owners, and finally cleaning for health.  The ISSA is a great resource to help broaden the knowledge of all of Stratus Building Solutions. 

The ISSA vision is simply “ISSA will be the leading resource for information, education, networking, and commercial opportunities as well as the leading voice in government and the community for firms within the cleaning industry worldwide.”

To achieve their vision, they follow the proactive steps

• Facilitate ongoing networking, communications, and commercial opportunities for the members.
• Provide members with the highest quality, industry-specific, relevant information.
• Be the most widely accepted resource for knowledge and standards regarding professional business practices and making the scientific connection between cleaning and health.
• Have the greatest impact on establishing a global cleaning community.

For more information, contact the ISSA Marketing Department at 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800; e-mail, diannab@issa.com.  For more information about Stratus Building Solutions facility services, please visit www.stratusbuildingsolutions.com; call 877-731-2020; email Dennis Jarrett at d.jarrett@stratusclean.com.

Stratus Building Solutions Committed to Changing Lives

Stratus Building Solutions is making history!  Last Friday, Stratus Building Solutions of Philadelphia made waves by offering an SBS-24 Franchise Plan free of charge.  The SBS-24 is a sizable franchise package valued at over $12,000 and has the potential to earn the winner up to $30,000 a year. 

Master Franchise Owners Tom Weiss and John & Bonnie Coleman are offering this to the community in an effort to make a difference on the unemployed and the under-employed.  Tom states, “We’ve been so fortunate, we’ve grown so fast and we’ve been very successful that we want to give back…and there are a lot of under-employed and unemployed people right now, as we all know, and we want to help someone out.”  The free giveaway is intended to motivate and inspire participants to know that business ownership can be for them.

On Friday, April 8, 2011, Tom Weiss appeared on a Talk Philly segment that ran on the noon to 12:30 PM which introduced the contest. The contest ends on April 24, 2011, at 11:59 AM and the winner will be announced near May 1, 2011, on Talk Philly.

To participate in the contest, US Citizens and registered aliens living in the Greater Philadelphia Area who are 18 years or older must fill out the Stratus Franchise Giveaway entry form located in the contests section of cbsphilly.com or by calling Stratus Building Solutions at 215-957-5830, and mailing it to Stratus Franchise Giveaway, 120 Gibraltar Road, Suite 109 Horsham, PA 19044.

 

Dennis Jarrett, CEO of St. Louis-based Stratus Building Solutions, observes, “It is very gratifying for me to know that we are able to share the prosperity of Stratus with our local communities.”  President Pete Frese adds, “Our vision with Stratus was to offer franchise ownership to the people who want to make their financial dreams come true.  The Stratus system will lead the lucky winner to prosperity in these tough times.”

Stratus Building Solutions franchise benefits include orientation and training; customer referrals; administrative and accounting support; pre-arranged credit lines; access to insurance and surety bonds, financing options, promotional support; and other turn-key advantages. The firm’s headquarters are at 1976 Innerbelt Business Center Drive in St. Louis, Missouri.

For more information, please see the website http://www.stratusclean.com/ or call Stratus Building Solutions at 314.731.2000 or toll-free at 877.731.2020. Media contact: Dennis Jarrett.

How to Spring Clean Your Desk the Stratus Way

Well, it's about that time again.  The weather is warming, flowers are starting to bloom and the breeze is blowing up all the loose dust around your office (fingers crossed you have a window like mine)!  Work should be a productive place to be; you need a motivating environment, and mess, clutter, unorganization and dust are not that.

At least once a year, it's time to take down all the posted comics and piles of paper collecting dust (and hiding secrets) and give yourself the satisfaction of a deep Stratus Spring Clean.

1. Start by organizing your files - have you considered a cloud-based or electronic filing system?  Then, you can access work anywhere!
2. Damp wipe down everything with an All Purpose Cleaner.  Spray on and let it sit for a minute to really let the chemicals do their job.
3. Get a bulletin board for all your little pieces of paper and notes.  If you can't give up your Post-It habit (guilty here), at least organize the little guys.
4. Get a notebook.  This can hold all your ideas, favorite websites, random lists, anything you need it to.  Give the Post-It pad a break and home to your work epiphanies.
5. Clean out your keyboard with some sprayable air.  If needed, you can always pop off the keys for a good cleaning.
6. File your business cards.  Or consider connecting on LinkedIn... no business cards necessary.
7. Back up your files.  This isn't exactly a cleaning tast... but you'll thank me later.

Now it's your turn - post a picture of your new, super-clean office on our Facebook page.  Happy cleaning!

The Top Ten Ways You Can STILL Stay Healthy This Season

One of the unique things about the professional cleaning industry is that it is made up of thousands of sole proprietors, many with few (if any) workers. However, there is a significant operational issue with owning such a small company; if the sole proprietor gets sick, which is a bigger risk during these winter and spring months, it can cause havoc, economic pain, and even result in the loss of an account. Here are the top ten ways you can stay healthy this season:

1.       Eat well. Eat three well-balanced meals each day and try to avoid fast food.

2.       Wash your hands. Wash your hands frequently while working, after removing gloves, using cleaning equipment, tools, and/or chemicals.

3.       Use PPE. Wear gloves, goggles, and other protective clothing when working.

4.       Avoid inhaling chemical fumes. If mixing chemicals, do so in a well-ventilated area.

5.       Get plenty of sleep. Try to make your hours consistent; getting home and to bed at about the same time each evening improves sleep.

6.       Take a multivitamin. Some people believe in vitamins, and some don’t. But if taken as directed, vitamins may be able to keep you healthier.

7.       Get a flu shot.

   8.       Have a weekend. To keep the body strong and healthy, it is important to have a day or two off each week.

   9.       Drink lots of fluids. Drink plenty of water and juice while at work. If you think you are getting sick, drink even more. Some studies indicate drinking extra fluids at the first signs of illness can help it pass through your system faster.

   10.    Use ergonomic equipment. Select more advanced cleaning equipment, which is designed to make your job easier and help keep you healthy.

Finally, lighten up and stay happy! Studies indicate that people who have a positive, happy attitude towards life often have a stronger immune system!

Guest blog by Chelsea Pulley

Stratus Named 10 Most Promising Franchises for 2011 by Inc.com

Stratus Building Solutions, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the “10 Most Promising Franchises of 2011” selected by Inc. Magazine in a process that establishes the best franchise opportunities for 2011. 

Stratus Building Solutions CEO, Dennis Jarrett, and President, Pete Frese, said in a statement: “We are very proud of all that 2011 has brought us already with our #1 Fastest Growing Franchise ranking from Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 and our four new offices in Phoenix, San Diego, Louisville and Baltimore.  This recognition brings even more attention to our outstanding growth of which we are very proud.  A combination of hardworking individuals and a successful business model allow these goals to be achieved.”

With a strong interest in environmental stewardship, Stratus focuses its attention on the maintenance and service of commercial properties. Stratus has been able to grow at a tremendous rate, from 708 franchises in 2007 to 3,512 franchises in 2010.  This awarded Stratus Building Solutions a place in the Franchise Times Fast 55 of 2010.  The service Stratus provides its Franchise Owners has led to many awards including, USA Today’s Top 50 Franchises for Minorities, Black Enterprise’s Top 40 Franchises for African Americans and PODER 360’s Top 25 Franchises for Hispanics.  Stratus also achieved a high ranking on the Inc. 5000 list for 2010, leading into the new year with Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500.  There Stratus achieved a #1 Fastest Growing Franchise, #5 Top Low Cost Franchise, #6 Home Based Franchise, #18 Globally and #20 in the Franchise 500 for 2011. 

Stratus Building Solutions offers 16 different building service franchise plans providing state-of-the-art “environmentally green” cleaning systems, products, services and marketing support. These include the “Stratus Green Clean” program which uses environmentally-friendly products and services to help sustain healthier, more productive facilities. Also, the firm offers an exclusive “Stratus Sani-Proof” program that kills bacteria, including Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and other germs found in schools, offices and healthcare centers.

For information about Stratus Building Solutions’ commercial cleaning opportunity, visit http://www.stratusofficecleaning.com/, or to learn more about specifically the green cleaning, visit http://stratusclean.com/stratusgreenclean.com/index.html.  The full list from Inc.com can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/bestin2011.  Press contact: Dennis Jarrett.

Choosing the Right Company - The Numbers Don't Lie

When you go to choose a company to service your building, don't you want to make sure it's the right company?  Anyone with a mop and bucket can claim to be a commercial-grade cleaner.  Well, Stratus isn't like that, so rest assured.  Go with a company you can trust - and 50 locations in the United States alone has "trust" written all over it.  In January 2011, we opened 4 offices alone!  Besides San Diego, Phoenix and Baltimore, we also opened Louisville, KY.

Stratus Building Solutions just got ranked as the #1 Fastest Growing Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine - the numbers don't lie.  Stratus has entered the Louisville market by awarding another new Master Franchise to entrepreneur and veteran franchisor Kevin Spellacy. This marks his second Master Franchise location in the United States. Stratus Building Solutions of Louisville will operate from headquarters at 4237 Produce Road., Louisville, KY 40218 and be available at (502) 966-2025.

Dennis Jarrett, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions, said, “Kevin’s new Master Franchise is an exciting trend we’re currently enjoying of Masters opening up new territories once they see the value in the Stratus business model. Kevin established the Indianapolis office to the dynamic company it is today and we wish him the same success with the Louisville operation.”

Pete Frese, President of Stratus Building Solutions, added, “Kevin and his team continue to provide his regions with the same quality, value and ease of doing business that people have come to associate with Stratus. Kevin’s commitment to the Stratus green initiative and to his customer’s service needs have proven him to be a successful business executive for all the right reasons.”

Mr. Spellacy states "We are very excited to introduce Stratus Building Solution's premier commercial cleaning service to the Louisville market. Our customer should expect excellence in facilities services from our experienced staff. They will enjoy the same impeccable service that we provide our business and institutional customers in Indianapolis."

Read more about the Louisville opening here.