Cleaning may be a chore for most, but for this Cambridge-based company, it’s an art
“We don’t just go to clean a carpet because it’s dirty, we go to clean it because clients want a healthy home.” These are the words of Pierre de Wet, founder of the local family-owned cleaning company Art of Clean. After spending some time working in the restaurant business, Pierre decided to ditch the long hours and start his own venture. “I studied business management in South Africa and really wanted to do something for myself, and I found a window cleaning business for sale in Cambourne,” explains 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 coming on board in 2006, and the pair began employing their own staff. “At the time 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 recalls. Pierre 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,” says Pierre. “If you’re helping to make your people as good as they can be, then 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 that they are as clean as the day they were installed. But for Pierre, it’s not just all about the cleaning. “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, and its 200+ videos, as a prime example of this: “I have a lot of videos where I try to connect with and inspire people, and 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 as to why 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, and if we can’t, we’ll give you your money back.” E is of course for education, and Pierre continues to ensure that his team are constantly learning and improving. A is for achievements; “we have achieved so much in this time,” explains Pierre. “We’ve worked for many famous people, we’ve worked in Norwich cathedral, Bury St Edmunds cathedral, the University of Cambridge… those achievements are really important to us.” R is for reputation, with many retailers, interior designers, flooring shops, and estate agents referring people to Art of Clean as the place to go for your floor and soft furnishing care needs. “And S is for systems,” Pierre adds, “when a client calls us, we have a system that we follow, and it works because we maintain it.” This system includes a handy text notification, which lets you know exactly what time your technician will arrive, so you won’t be waiting around.
Looking to the future, Art of Clean is keen to cut their carbon footprint. “My plan is to really move into more eco-friendly ways of doing things,” Pierre says. “There’s a lot of changes coming in our industry, with machines moving more towards the electricity side rather than LPG.” The business is also striving to use locally sourced cleaning products going forward, in order to support the local economy as much as possible. And of course, Pierre is committed to ensuring his team continue to learn and grow, and credits them for Art of Clean’s success so far. “A big, big thank you goes out to my team; without them, we’re nobody. If we can keep doing what we’re doing, then we’ve got many happy years ahead.”
Denny Lodge Business Park, Ely Road, Chittering, Cambridge, CB25 9PH
artofclean.co.uk
