Two stay-at-home dads will take over the White Glove cleaning service before the end of the month.
Ryan Oden and Chad Seidl have purchased the company from Kay and Craig Shandler, who opened White Glove in 1999. The Shandlers will end their ownership on Nov. 21, and the new owners will begin operations on Nov. 26.
“We’ll give our girls a little holiday,” Oden said. “We’re actually retaining the same staff.”
Oden and Seidl plan to become part of the cleaning team.
“Chad and I are going to be out there getting our hands dirty, getting things cleaned,” Oden said.
Purchase of the White Glove came about almost accidentally.
“We’re actually customers of White Glove, me and my wife,” Oden said. “We got a letter saying they were closing down.”
After five years, the Odens did not want the White Glove to disappear. They learned that the Shandlers felt they were too busy with their McDonald’s restaurant franchises to devote the time needed to the cleaning business.
“They just couldn’t work it the way they thought it needed to be worked,” Oden said. “They were looking for someone to take on that challenge. We’re both two stay-at-home dads who really understand the importance of having someone come in and clean the house.”
Oden and Seidl decided they were up to the challenge.
“I think it’s just a neat idea, the whole concept of the White Glove,” Oden said.
Households that currently use White Glove will see no change in rates or quality of service.
“There’s not going to be a dramatic price spike,” he said. “I don’t foresee that at all. I think the most important thing is the quality is going to be there.”
The men will do bids for cleaning both new residential and commercial customers. The size of the house or office, and what the customers want done, will dictate the cost of services.
“Everyone has special needs, special requests,” Oden said. “Any new bids, we’re going out and doing them right now.”
Oden said that the new owners will promote giving gift certificates for cleaning services for Mother’s Day, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and other holidays. They also plan to extend services to area towns.
“Those are things that we’re really going to try to market,” he said. “We have three employees now. We’re looking to add some more.”
The White Glove telephone number will remain 342-7767.
The company under new ownership will continue to be bonded and insured, Oden said.
create (anonymous) says...
So glad to hear this. I called once a few years ago to have my apartment cleaned before a new tenant moved in. When I asked how much it would cost, the answer I got from a very gruff voice was, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." Then he hung up. Needless to say, I called elsewhere. No Macdonald's for me either.
November 14, 2007 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )