SPEAKER_02 0:00

These are the resources I have. Go talk to all these people. And even if at first there might be the person that might not refer you or use you, they know somebody else that will in the future.

SPEAKER_00 0:16

Welcome to another episode of Connections That Matter, where we have amazing conversations with Northern Colorado's best networkers and find out about all those special connections that they've made that have made them successful. So if you've been around the networking scene, my guess is you've met my next guest, Naska Mallory from Clean Spot. Nanaska, welcome to the show. Thank you. Awesome. So uh I recently had a tenant move out and they they attempted to clean it, but there's one thing between being um, you know, clean like I would try to do it, and then clean spot clean. So if somebody hasn't necessarily experienced your level of service, uh share a little bit about what you do.

SPEAKER_02 0:58

So um with Clean Spot, we do thorough cleaning, which is top-to-bottom cleaning, which you experience a couple of times, where and every uh nick and cranny is getting thoroughly cleaned. And usually that might take between 10 and 15 hours, depend or more, depending on the home is or what the people want. So it's like you get into the door and it's like, oh my god, I didn't know my house would look like this.

SPEAKER_00 1:24

Do you get that a lot?

SPEAKER_02 1:25

The people are like oh yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

Why didn't I hire you sooner? Um, but you got a big team, you got a big service area. So it's um share a little bit about more about your scope of work.

SPEAKER_02 1:38

Yes. So uh we are commercial residential cleaning. So we started as a commercial cleaner in Denver, and we are still commercial. And then um, because of family reasons, we moved up to Fort Collins, and that's when I started to do kind of like juggling both the residential and the commercial.

SPEAKER_00 1:55

Awesome. We recently had uh Mike Kane on the show. He's uh junk removal, right? So he does full-on like dumpster and hallway, but uh you're the one who's removing all the dirt and grime from all the different noops and crannies. So I know for me, when I get a house back from uh my tenants, the little vents above the bathrooms or the baseboards, but what are the most commonly overlooked dirty things in a home or a business?

SPEAKER_02 2:20

Hmm. I would say for a home, it's um underneath the microwave, you know, the bottom part because it between that that gets a lot of grime. And then I would say in a commercial space is those vents. Because uh, when most commercial cleaning companies are bidding those jobs, they're not looking at you still have to do thorough cleaning top to bottom, and you have no idea. I go through those vents and like touch them, and I'm like, whoa, this hasn't been cleaned since you moved. Got it. So yeah, so that's always fun to find those little things. And they're always like, oh, I didn't know that was even there. I'm like, it is, and you're breathing it.

SPEAKER_00 3:08

So and for commercial work, you're coming in outside of business hours. Um is it middle of the night kind of stuff, or is it uh sometimes it does, depending on what type of service they have.

SPEAKER_02 3:19

So right now we have accounts that are 9 p.m. till midnight. Um yeah, and then some of the accounts are starts early at 6 a.m. They have to be done by 9 a.m. because then businesses are opening.

SPEAKER_00 3:32

Yeah, but they get that fresh, clean, right? Was they okay? There you go. And and that's more of an ongoing relationship that you're building with your clients. Uh you know, they you're going into people's like maybe office space or their desk space. Um, and they don't want somebody that they don't trust, they don't um know their name in that space. So, how do you build your relationships with your clients?

SPEAKER_02 3:56

Um, the way I build a relationship with my clients, it's um pretty standard, I would say. So I go in, uh, I do the walkthrough and then I leave them a sheet. And this is a sheet, I would call it like a one sheet where it explains like what we're gonna do, the process of everything works, and then the products we're gonna be using. Since we use only certified 100% um eco-friendly cleaning products, um, that gives them the peace of mind. It's like, okay, like you can call me at any time. You have my number, you have my email. I've had people that at the beginning, they're like, oh, I'm shy of calling you after I was like, don't worry about it. I have my phone on me 24-7. So that actually like builds the connection of like they know me, they're starting to like me and they trust me to uh know that the people I'm putting in their businesses or homes are background checked and that they're gonna do their job the right way.

SPEAKER_00 4:50

Is uh are a lot of the jobs the same, like process and not the same, like the buildings and the type of cleaning you do, but the expectations of the client, the dialing it into exactly the client's needs.

SPEAKER_01 5:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 5:04

And um what what is that like? How do you adapt your service to everybody's specific needs?

SPEAKER_02 5:11

Um, well, I it's generalized in some ways where they want the end result, which is their home or their s or their business claims. But some people are really specific with certain things. That's where um communicating consistently, you know, works and then doing pop-ups shows up of like, hey, how's how how things are going? So that way they can build the relationship of like, hey, you actually do what you say that you're gonna do. Because a lot of people, they like, I say I'm gonna do this, but then they actually don't. And that's where business goes down. And then I have everything written down. I'm like, okay, they would like this, this, this, this specific. And then, for example, if a cleaner is sick and then another one has to fill in, they already have all the information to do it exactly the way the other cleaner does it.

SPEAKER_00 5:58

Awesome. Well, let's talk about networking because I see networking in quite a few different environments. Yes. And what I love is when you see those Facebook uh businesses, they're like, who needs a good cleaner? You're getting recommended by like people in north, south, east, and west. They're recommending you, but um, I don't see a lot of cleaners networking at the level that you do. So uh talk to me about your approach to networking. What are uh what makes you so successful at it? And um, what results have you seen from your networking efforts?

SPEAKER_02 6:29

Well, funny thing, I used to be very shy. Yes, to the point that I will like be in a corner and wait for people to approach me. But then after, you know, um networking in Colada Springs and Cheyenne and Denver mostly, that's where I'm like, okay, if I want results, I have to go and just say, hi, I'm an Asuka with Clean Spot. You know, what do you do? And then always ask about themselves because people love to talk about themselves. So that's a good start.

SPEAKER_00 7:04

I think that's really a great approach because there's a lot of people nervous. They're like, oh, I don't know what to expect, or I feel awkward trying to just like join conversations with people I don't know, but you just ask them about them and let them talk about themselves. Oh, yes. You meet uh some interesting people, like uh any um how would you love? I guess let me say, how would you love uh when somebody you're reaching out and you're asking about themselves? What are the people that grab your attention that really build the relationships the right way?

SPEAKER_02 7:32

Um they're the people that are bubbly, that have the energy that are not like stiff, you know, kind of like when you're trying to talk to somebody and they're like give you like cuddy answers. That's where like, oh, that's great to meet you and just move on. It's just having that, not only giving, but receiving that energy that you, you know, want to talk to that person.

SPEAKER_00 7:57

Sure. Well, and I've seen you take the networking to the next level. Like a lot of people network and they meet people, but you seem to be really building partnerships with other businesses where you're being able to authentically recommend them, you're building it into your intake process. But um, if you would shout out some of your partners. Um, and I'm super curious how you got those kind of relationships set up.

SPEAKER_02 8:20

Um, so one of my get partners, it's a lot of um home organizing businesses, Tilly from the Sperado Realty.

SPEAKER_00 8:29

Yeah, former podcast guest. There we go.

SPEAKER_02 8:32

She's great. Um, and I have a lot of other service-based businesses in Denver that give me, even in Colorado Springs, actually, other cleaning companies at Colorado Springs that actually reach out to me and say, like, hey, I have work in Denver. You know, you want to take it? So it's a lot of connecting with other cleaning companies in the entire state of Colorado that I've been doing. That, you know, some people think, like, why would you do that? But actually, it's like, it's a connection of like, um, you know them and they know somebody that you might meet later. You know.

SPEAKER_00 9:07

Yeah, that's smart. I mean, uh, and I didn't even think about it in a cleaning sense, but we had uh Matt Matt Case, he's a DJ, and he's like, Sometimes my best referral partners are other DJs, like they're booked on a date and they're sending me these referrals. But yeah, I mean, either your schedule's full or I gotta, you know, I'm sure the first of the month is always a busy time, but or you're out of location, maybe it doesn't make sense to travel all over there. So um, what's a family business, right? Like you've been doing it a long time.

SPEAKER_02 9:36

So yes, uh four years in Colorado and almost 17 years in California.

SPEAKER_00 9:42

Does it change much uh over the no, it's still the same. Still the same, still the same thing. Um, what is uh what's the secret, I guess, to keeping a place tidy and clean and then um uh is it just hiring you or if you get a homeowner.

SPEAKER_02 9:57

I mean that that will be a plus, but I would say um to have organization, to have your days and months and weeks planned out. Because then if you're like organized, you have a clearer mind of what to do with certain things. So I would say start with organizing uh yourself first, like your day or what you're gonna eat. And then that's so you have everything that was in place to be able to either hire a professional or do it yourself.

SPEAKER_00 10:25

I'm always just amazed too how your space like affects you. Like, you know, if if my kitchen's a mess, or we're you know, it's like it's just you know, it's a little more stressful. It's like harder to relax there in your personal home. Same with my my office space. But if you're cultivating a business environment and it's clean and pristine, you're you're projecting that uh image to your clients as well.

SPEAKER_02 10:46

Correct.

unknown 10:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:47

So do you really see like your service as something as like helping people with their brand or with their image, or is it maybe not that deep?

SPEAKER_02 10:55

Oh, it is deep.

SPEAKER_00 10:56

Okay, talk to me about that.

SPEAKER_02 10:57

Um, it is deep because um you know how I have read, I've been reading a lot of uh good books. And one of the books I've been reading, it says like, hey, people treat you the way they see you. And that it's totally, you know, relatable with um you having clients and you're discussing like um big investments, they're gonna see the way you look, but not only that, it's just they're gonna see where you are. If everything is organized, everything is put together, they're gonna think like, hey, I have the confidence to invest in this person because um he has everything organized. He knows what he's talking about.

SPEAKER_00 11:39

That's so good. Um, your residential customers, how many of them um are an ongoing um relationship? Like you come in every so often, uh, versus hey, I'm moving out, I just need to move out clean, I would need somebody, and you get a referral.

SPEAKER_02 11:55

Um, I get a lot from residential, like recurring like once a week, once every two weeks, and once a month. Where, hey, um, we just had one from this lady in Longmont that her neighbor broke her um knee, and we were like there next week, and we have been cleaning ever since. So has it been like seven months now?

SPEAKER_00 12:16

There you go. Yeah. Well, one thing that I I see of you too, Nanaska, is you get a lot of referrals, but you are one of the biggest givers in the community. Like you're constantly generating referrals, and for somebody who says that they're shy, um, you so you you're very effective at getting people resources.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 12:35

Um, where did that come from? Any tips from another networker about how you're able to generate so much business for the people in your network?

SPEAKER_02 12:43

Well, I would say that the first thing is to put yourself out there so that way you have, you know, the opportunity to meet other people. And then I would say the second thing would be to just create those connections. So when you're in one on ones, multiple 101s. Because for me specifically, if I want to um refer somebody, I have to meet them two or three times and I gotta make sure they're doing good. It's not only seeing their five-star reviews, but how they treat their employees and their clients. So that is it's vital for me. And then that way I will be like, hey, these are the resources I have, go talk to all these people. And even if at first there might be the person that might not refer you or use you, they know somebody else that will in the future.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:35

So it's so it's always never burn the bridges.

SPEAKER_00 13:39

Yeah, I think that's really smart. And as word gets out, like you're one of the biggest producers or givers of a group or a team. Do you think that's made it easier for people wanting to connect with you or coming around?

SPEAKER_02 13:51

Um I would say yes or no, because um I have what's called like a a people pleaser type where I feel bad asking for things, but I'm a hundred percent like I'm overjoyed, always people asking me for like help, resource, or whatever. I'm like there. So it will be like 50-50, I will say.

SPEAKER_00 14:14

So are you still shy when you're out networking? Or do you uh you feel like you've you've grown in that area?

SPEAKER_02 14:19

I think I've grown in that area to be much better, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 14:23

Yeah, and I think that's an important thing. It's like networking is a learned skill. If somebody's watching this podcast because they're wanting to get into networking that just like anything, you're you're not gonna be as good on your first time as you are your tenth time. Yes. Um is there anything that you wish you would have learned earlier that you know now as far as being a successful networker?

SPEAKER_02 14:43

Yes, it's to um have courage in yourself to put yourself out there. Because if you're always in the corner, you know, people are not gonna come to you, you gotta go to them.

SPEAKER_00 14:57

Go have a conversation. Yes. Yeah, I like that. I like that. Well, Nanaska, um is there anybody that you're looking to network or any kind of if maybe someone wants to get on your list, right? And uh be in your network or have a good cleaner that they're able to refer out to. Um any specific industries that you're interviewing for, interviewing with.

SPEAKER_02 15:19

Yes. Um, so I always like people that are in the service base, like window cleaning, vent cleanings, uh realtors, commercial realtors, property managers, those are always gonna be people that I'm gonna lead it, need in a consistent basis.

SPEAKER_00 15:34

Very cool. And so if somebody is like looking at their office, they're looking at their house, they're like, I wonder what it would look if it was really clean spot, clean, um, and they want to reach out to you or get on your schedule. What's for the best way for them to book or to meet you?

SPEAKER_02 15:48

Alrighty. So they can call the office. The number is 970-535-8885, or they can um talk to me at uh 970-672-6878.

SPEAKER_00 15:59

Awesome. Well, Nanaska, thanks very much for coming on the show. Thanks for all the work that you've done for uh my house and my rental properties, and uh uh hope everybody comes and checks us out at uh the next networking event. Awesome, thank you. Hey all, thanks for watching. I love networking and building relationships with other Northern Colorado business leaders. So if you want to come meet some of these podcast guests, meet me or meet some other amazing entrepreneurs in Northern Colorado, I would love to have you attend one of our next events. Uh go in the podcast description. There's a way so that you can see our upcoming schedule, and maybe uh you could be a future podcast guest as well. Thanks.