Glad Helpers can find you the right helper for your home

Nominee number eight

BY PAUL ALLEN Business reporter allenp@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, February 03, 2012

'It's hard to find good help these days'. At least that's what Angelica Barrett thought when she started Glad Helpers, a cleaning service, last October.

With a full-time job and a family to take care of, lousy domestic assistance was one frustration she couldn't tolerate.

"I started Glad Helpers out of dissatisfaction with the help that was available", Barrett said. "They (helpers) would iron what they pleased, not clean everywhere and spend a week doing what could be done in a day." Glad Helpers is the eighth nominee in the Observer's Mogul in the Making start-up programme.

At least two persons from Glad are sent to each client, a step taken to ensure that quality is maintained. They also come with their own cleaning agents so "all the clients have to do is provide the space."

And while people have a natural apprehension to strangers' entering their homes, Barrett said much is done to put clients at ease.

"We customise the package based on clients' needs. You don't have to worry, our helpers are trained and we do background checks."

"I made sure to formalise business. I got it registered, the copyright process is underway, they all wear uniforms to be recognised and a (clean) police record is a must. I have all that information which can be shown to clients so they know who is coming to them."

Four months in, business has been going well for Glad which now has over 20 residential and commercial customers. There are still some challenges however, that are being addressed.

Given the economy's state, people can't afford to have their homes cleaned as often as they would like, said Barrett. She works with her clients to create services, charge fees and even offer specials they can afford.

Since trust is a major factor in growing her business, word of mouth by her clients is one of the most useful marketing tools. She also relies on social media, and more 'old-fashioned' methods such as putting flyers in mailboxes, to get new clients.