INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTH
INDI E OF THE MONTH
CLEANING MAY BE A CHORE FOR MOST, BUT FOR THIS CAMBRIDGE-BASED COMPANY, IT’S AN ART Art of Clean
WORDS BY FRANCES MCNAUGHTON
hen the average person cleans their carpet, it’s a task performed simply to clean away the dirt. For
Pierre de Wet, founder of family-owned local cleaning company Art of Clean, it’s much more than that. “We clean a carpet because clients want a healthy home,” he explains. After spending time working in the restaurant industry, Pierre ditched the long hours and started his own venture. “I studied business management in South Africa and really wanted to do something for myself. I found a window cleaning business for sale in Cambourne,” recalls Pierre. “After about a year and a half, I expanded into floor care and soft furnishing care, and realised that I really wanted to take it to the next level.” And so, in 2005, Pierre sold the window cleaning business, and Art of Clean was born. From there, the business grew quickly, with Pierre’s wife Laurence joining in 2006. The pair also began employing their own staff. “I was really hungry for business – to learn and grow – and I still am to this day. It’s been quite a learning experience,” Pierre says. He has always prioritised continuous education, ensuring that his team are always up to date with the latest changes in the industry.
“It’s the people that make the difference,” asserts Pierre. “If you’re helping to make your people as good as they can be, they can look after the business for you.” Art of Clean specialises in helping people get the most out of their floors, making them last as long as possible and, of course, ensuring they are as clean as the day they were installed. But for Pierre, it’s not just about the cleaning process. “We’re not in the cleaning business; we’re in the relationship business,” says Pierre. “We don’t just want to clean your floors, we want to know more about you. We want you to come and see us.” He highlights Art of Clean’s YouTube channel, which has more than 200 videos, as a prime example of this. “I have a lot of videos where I try to connect with and inspire people – the feedback we get is just great. I talk about what we do and how we can connect in the community – it’s all about relationships.” When asked why clients should choose Art of Clean over other services, Pierre produced a list of five reasons that the business is a cut above the rest. It even has its own acronym: GEARS. “G is for guarantee,” Pierre begins. “If you’re not happy with the service experience, we’ll come back and put it right. If we can’t, we’ll give you your money back.” E is for education, and Pierre continues to ensure that his team are constantly learning and improving. Meanwhile, A stands for achievements. Pierre explains:
IMAGES If cleaning is an art for this company, its team of artists puts the heart and soul into the process, always learning and growing
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