Newsletter . Issue 1 . Summer 2013

As we come to the end of yet another financialyear, I’ll bet, like me, many of you are reflectingback on your business performance over the last12 months.

Rachael of Mrs.Bucket CleaningServices

As I was going through the figures with my accountant Icouldn’t help but think not only about our own and ourclients’ successes, but the bigger picture too.

The Swans will be heading to Europe next season aswinners of the Capital Cup; Cardiff will be making theirdebut amongst the Premierships’ elite next season; andWales won the Six Nations (despite a dodgy start).

The economic climate is showing signs of improving,though the recovery will be slow and bumpy for us inWales.

Going forward, at Mrs Bucket we’ll be looking toconsolidate on the 114% growth that we’ve enjoyed overthe past year. With the expansion of our CardiffOperations team, we’re planning to develop relationshipswith more of our clients and upping our Customer service,while going for Investors in People. So watch this space!

We’re also looking to introduce a specialist carpet andfloor cleaning service after receiving frequent enquiresfrom a number of clients. Can we help you improve yourpremises with these services?

With these plans in place, I thought the best way ofsharing our news and updates with you is through acustomer newsletter....so here it is!

I hope you find it interesting reading and yourfeedback and any contributions are very welcome.Just email me at rachael@mrs-bucket.co.uk.

We clean Dale’s offices in Cardiff andwe thought it would be great to findout a little bit more on his journey.

What am I doing now?I recently appeared on MasterChef 2013 and it turnsout I did ‘ok’. I’m thrilled to have had the opportunityto compete in Masterchef and I’m looking to furtherthe experience by pursuing opportunities in the worldof food. Currently, I own a recruitment agency calledYolk which I established in 2009, the business is ahuge part of my day to day life and I love beinginstrumental in it’s growth and development andbeing part of a successful business.

I’m currently working on the forthcoming MasterChefbook with Natalie and Larkin, we’ve put blood, sweat,tears and then some into making it the best book itcan be and we can’t wait for the launch later thisyear.

My Cooking BackgroundCooking doesn’t run in my family professionally,growing up in a traditional household my mum is theinspiration behind home cooked family food and thishas transpired into both my sisters and I being keencooks. Discovering my passion for cooking has been agradual process, mainly gained from sharing andspending quality time with family and friends in thehome from a young age.

This has been paired with a desire to spend my sparetime visiting new and exciting restaurants andtravelling to destinations renowned for their quality ofcooking and where food is considered a way of life. Inaddition my passion comes from within, a love oftasting food and that feeling of experiencing newflavours and food cultures. I think passion in anythingis sometimes hard to quantify in terms of its origin,with me it’s just there and food is centric to the way Ilive my life.

Cooking InfluencesI’m diverse in my approach to food and have a wideskill-set, however my two areas of passion are in the‘French Classics’ as seen on the program and heartyslow cooked ‘BBQ’. I’m passionate about newexperiences and with that I’m always chasing newflavour combinations or sensations. I’m passionateabout matching the right drinks with foods and I’mpassionate about sharing food with people. For mefood is social and my passion is socialising with peopleand food being an integral part of bringing thosepeople together.

Entering MasterchefI entered the competition to test myself, I thought, ‘Iwonder if I’m actually any good?’ Family and friendsencouraged me and a big factor was that if I actuallydid well, I might be able to introduce food into my lifeon a more regular basis in a professional sense.

Cooking for John and Gregg as a duo was fantasticbecause I thrived on the criticism as it drove me toimprove but I also lapped up any praise as ultimatelythat’s what you want to encourage you furthermoreas the competition continues.

It’s an emotional time throughout the competitionand you grow close to the other contestants, it’s adifficult thing balancing the emotional side whenyou’re working with these people and supportingeach other, yet also competing. I developed closerelationships with Larkin, Saira and Natalie as we wentthrough so much together but I also met some friendsfor life in earlier stages. You know who you are!

Cooking AmbitionsI hope to be kick starting some exciting food related

projects currently in development. I want to transfer my business

success into the foodindustry on a national

level and it’s excitingtimes.

Congratulations

to Masterchef

finalist

Dale Williams

Going GreenerBeing ‘green’ and environmentallyfriendly is now a huge issue acrossthe world; governments must achieve certain targets for recycling waste and large businessesand organisations are all expected to have theirown targets and environment policy in place. Thisis also true of all cleaning businesses.

Those in the contract cleaning industry, no matterif they focus on domestic or commercial cleaning,must ensure that all their premises adhere toenvironmentally friendly standards, but they alsomust extend these promises to the customers toensure peace of mind. A company with strongethics concerning the environment will always bedeemed more reliable.

So I thought you would liketo know that at Mrs Bucketwe are committed toensuring that all reasonable

steps are taken to deliveronly sustainable products and

services to all our clients and thatonly sustainable products and

services are purchased from our suppliers.

If you would like to know more about oursustainability policy or, more importantly, ifyou want us to supply you with informationfor your own Corporate Social ResponsibilityReport, please letme know.

Name: Peter UmblejaAge: A very young 60!!

Job: Managing Director of BPU Chartered Accountants

Joined: 1983

Responsibilities?I work for SME clients across a wide range ofsectors and disciplines and specialise in providingconsultancy services, identifying business issuesand advising on how to maximise growth potentialand tax efficiency. My MD job involves ensuringthat my team of 30 staff and co-directors achieveour business objectives.

What do you most enjoy about your job andwhat do you most hate? I enjoy meeting and advising like-minded businesspeople on a daily basis and getting involved ininitiatives in the local business community. I hatetimesheets!

If you could have any job in the world whatwould it be? An airline pilot.

Who do you most admire in business?My co-director Mike Bishop - we have been inbusiness together for 30 years!

What would you do differently career wiseif you had your time over again?Taken the time to learn Welsh.

What advice would you give to anyonelooking for a career in accountancy?Accountancy is not just about numbers - it isabout people and relationships. In any case obtaina relevant degree and ignore the stereotype -I have never met a boring accountant!!

Thank you Peter!

Buy1Get1FREEon all Commercialand Domestic CarpetCleans!Offer ends: 31st July 2013

We thought we’dhave a bit of

fun....so we’reasking youwhat you thinkthis picture is:

We’ll publishthe answer inthe next issue,

along with anew ‘What is

it?’ photo.

If you want to have a guess,email me at rachael@mrs-bucket.co.ukThe first correct answer will get a £10Marks & Spencer voucher.

Good luck!

� 01792 886 665EMAIL: hello@mrs-Bucket.co.uk

www.mrs-bucket.co.uk

MAXINE COLES-PARRYOperations Manager, Cardiff

Who’snew?

Buy 1Get 1 FREEon all Commercial and

Domestic Carpet Cleans!Offer ends: 31st July 2013

Meet Maxine Coles-Parry, the latest recruit tojoin our expanding Cardiff Operations team.

Maxine, who is originally from Pontypool comes on boardas Operations Manager for the Cardiff area, havingcompleted a Law Degree at Swansea University.

Her responsibilities include the management of the cleanersand supervisors, liaison with clients and conducting theregular spot checks at all contracts, which is unique to ourcommercial cleaning service.

We asked Maxine a few questions to get to know her better!

● Her favourite film:Jurassic park

● Person she would most like to meet: Magician Derren Brown

● Place she would most like to visit:Australia

● Which famous person would you like to be for a day and why?Alex polizzi- she is a strong business woman whoknows her craft inside out. She is creative, thinksoutside the box and is not afraid to take risks. She isan inspiration to women like me and I aspire to be likeher one day.

● How does cleaning compare to the world of Law?The cleaning world suits my skill set a lot more thanlaw. I love having daily interactions with clients,problem solving and how I am challenged on a dailybasis. I learn something new every day with MrsBucket; not just about business but about myself. Iimagine that I will be doing so in years to come.

She would also love to do a sky dive and one daywork towards starting her own business.

Thank you Maxine!

How do you spend yourwell earned holidays?

Dan, our Tender manager will bespending his summer holidays thisyear travelling from John O’Groatsto Lands End - by bicycle!!!

His journey will begin on Thursday 10th July in‘Sunny Scotland’ (well hopefully for him) andfinish 10 days and 1,047 miles later. Dan will becompleting this epic ‘personal’ challenge as asolo cyclist and camping alongthe way.

He has been traininghard for this so wereally do wish himthe best of luck(even though wethink he’s mad)...

Good luckDan!