Member Profile: Mari Cerrato
Your Name: Mari (aka: Flower) Cerrato
Name of your business: Classic Touch Services
When did you open your business? October 2010
What services do you offer? Residential, Window, Upholstery, Move-in / Out, Model Home, Commercial Cleaning, and construction clean up.
Why did you start the business? My family has always been in the cleaning business. My mom who is the founder of the business and semi-retired has being cleaning houses and also working in the hospitality business since the 70's. I have management education background and also experience in the hospitality industry. I am a Flight Attendant Graduate and also am currently working towards a Bachelors degree in Business Adm / HR.
How many people are in your company? 5
What has been the biggest surprise, good or bad, since you started? Well since we come from a background of cleaning I have not seen any surprises up until now. I am very motivated to know that we are an active member of C4R.
What is the toughest part of running your business? I am a perfectionist person and I want all the jobs to be completely perfect and it's not possible to be everywhere at the same time.
What is the best part of running your business? Networking
Is there anything that you would have done differently? Not yet.
What is the most important thing you will be adding, doing, changing in the next year for your business? I really want to get into the commercial site of the business. Grow, Grow, Grow.
Where do you see your business in 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years? I want to open job opportunities for people who do not have a job. I want to be able to make a difference in peoples life, client wise, and team members life.
What advice could you give others and please don't hold back! I have always thought that their are no limits in life. You set your goals, "DREAMS". Work hard to achieve them and they will become reality.
How do you use MyHouseCleaningBiz.com to help you with your business? I read it a lot, I love the calculators for estimates but would appreciate if they would integrate a time clock that would let us know approximate time it would take a team member and add as many team on the category to come up with approximate time to complete the assignment for the particular estimate that you are creating or bidding.
School - high school, college, technical school: International Air & Hospitality Academy Vancouver, WA. Travel & Tourism. De-Vry Univ. B/S Bus Adm H/R still in progress
What are some of your prior jobs or businesses? Wyndham Hotels -
Housekeeping Asst. Director / Front Desk Manager / Reserv. Manager
Best Western - Front Desk Manager / Reservations Manager
Bollenbacher & Kelton - Property Manager
SMC - Leasing and HR Adm. Asst.
Is there a specific person or event in your life that made you decide to go into business for yourself? I have noticed that due to the bad economy lots of employment opportunities have closed, and they don't want to pay well for your experience and or education. Due to the amount of experience I have why not become an independent business owner and get a taste of the pie.
Website:
http://ClassicTouchServices.
Email address:
[email protected]
