WEST BLOOMFIELD — Anago of Metro Detroit, a commercial cleaning company, has added 11 franchisees in 2014 and plans to add a minimum of 12 more units in the coming year.
“A lot of our growth has to do with the economy and the auto industry bouncing back,” says Deborah Arduino, head of sales at Anago of Metro Detroit in West Bloomfield. “We’re getting involved with a lot of (companies connected to the) automotive industry because manufacturers want to focus on their core business. So, like schools did in the past, these companies are looking to outsource their janitorial staff and are looking to us to be the experts.”
The Anago’s franchisees, part of an international commercial cleaning franchise system based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., clean commercial facilities that range in size from 1,000 to 200,000 square feet and include everything from auto dealerships and movie theaters to country clubs and surgery centers. The services vary from disinfecting doorknobs to cleaning carpets and hard floors.
“I have more clients than I have owners,” Arduino says. “But I’m starting to see those numbers line up.”
She notes that the recent cases of Ebola in the U.S. has prompted staff to change things up a bit. “We just changed the disinfectant we use based on what the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends the U.S. Army uses.”
Flu season also has an impact on the business’ methods, with staff opting to use hospital-grade cleaning supplies from September to late April, Arduino says.
Overall, Arduino sees considerable growth opportunities for the business in metro Detroit. “Looking at the five counties we’re developing, we’ll never over-saturate the market,” she says.
