The results are in and according to cleaning managers across the country, 44 percent agree the recession is over, up five percent from last year's results. This is one of many interesting facts resulting from the 2015 Cleaning Industry Insights Survey, released today by P&G ProfessionalTM, the away-from-home division of Procter & Gamble. The annual study reveals observations from cleaning industry professionals and key decision makers across Commercial, Healthcare, Hospitality/Lodging and Food Service sectors.

Respondents say that they expect their sector to grow over the next year, a result that has stayed consistent year over year, with 76 percent of all respondents agreeing in 2015 and 77 percent in 2014. Within Food Service, a full 85 percent of cleaning managers expect their business to improve over the next year, up six percent from 2014 (79 percent).

However, while many cleaning managers are optimistic about the future growth of their business, the number of managers under pressure to keep operating costs down has increased five percent from 2014, to 78 percent. Managers in Healthcare reflected the largest increase in cost pressures, up 11 percent over 2014, although they recorded the lowest overall percentage by sector (76 percent). 

“With labor costs accounting for almost half of overall operational costs, it is understandable that cleaning managers want effective products that get the job done right the first time, reducing the time it takes to thoroughly clean,” said Paul Edmondson, P&G Professional Americas Commercial Director. “Our multipurpose cleaning and disinfecting products are not only highly effective, they’re also very simple to use, so employees can eliminate steps and still get the job done right the first time. This helps our customers simplify training, reduce rework and reduce overall operating costs.”  

Efficiency Is Key

Most managers (76 percent) report keeping costs down by finding ways to be more efficient and only 15 percent say that they would prefer to raise prices for customers or clients. Almost half of all cleaning industry professionals report both retaining staff and reducing turnover (47 percent) and training staff (47 percent) are some of the top ways they have become more efficient in 2015, a significant 12 and 11 percent increase over last year, respectively.

Cleaning managers in the Healthcare and Hospitality sectors saw an even larger spike in retaining staff and reducing turnover as a way of being more efficient, with 50 percent of cleaning managers reporting these increases, 18 and 19 percent increases over 2014, respectively. 

“P&G Professional offers streamlined solutions specifically designed for each of our customer segments. This includes a team of dedicated service technicians, as well as easy-to-understand training, which can help businesses and managers be more economically efficient,” Edmonson continued. 

• Similar to 2014, more than half of managers across industries cite products that get the job done right the first time (51 percent) as the number one most helpful factor for performing cleaning services.

• High quality/effectiveness (39 percent) and versatility of use (33 percent) also continue to stand out when it comes to defining value with regard to cleaning products, as opposed to low-price point at only 14 percent.

• Product performance and ease of use also ranks highest (42 percent) for managers when deciding what to purchase.

Customers Reign Supreme:

• For the fourth consecutive year, cleaning industry professionals rank keeping customers satisfied (34 percent) as the top priority for their business, above growing the business (21 percent) and making a profit (16 percent).

• Customer dissatisfaction or complaints (52 percent) also tops the list of concerns about cleaning and disinfection when it comes to their business overall.

• Keeping Bathrooms Clean: Bathrooms again rank as the area where cleanliness is viewed as being most important to customers (34 percent). 

The P&G Professional 2015 Cleaning Industry Insights Survey, based on responses from 400 cleaning industry professionals and key decision makers, was conducted online (in English) in partnership with Ipsos Public Affairs in 2015 and these are some of its findings. The precision of Ipsos online polls are measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 5.6 percentage points the general population. For the full report, visit the P&G Professional website. P&G Professional released its first Cleaning Industry Insights Survey in 2011.