DK’s Dustbusters and their professional home cleaning experts have been serving Houston and Greater Clear Lake for over 35 years with the best in residential cleaning / maid service. We recently sat down with Kathy Pritchard to learn more about her philosophy as a small business owner and what it means to give back to our incredible community.
As a small business owner, what do you attribute your on-going success to?
Over the years it’s become clear to me that our success is largely dependent on two things:
First, listening to the needs of the customer and delivering a customized service.
This sounds so simple but it can often be difficult to practice. We often think we know what’s important to people but if we’re not listening and adjusting our business as necessary, we simply won’t be successful. In a service field like home cleaning, taking care of our customers is our priority. Good listening, adjusting as required and delivering what our clients need has been critical to our success.
Second, and just as important, we’ve learned that to grow, we have to maintain a strong staff.
That includes taking care of our staff and making sure they know they’re appreciated. This also sounds simple but too often we get caught up in our work and we can forget to acknowledge and thank the people around us that are contributing to our success. We take this incredibly seriously and I think it shows in our dedicated staff and low industry turn-over.
What are some examples of ways you’ve given back to the community?
I serve and have served on multiple boards and charities, junior achievement, Webster Economic Board, Family Outreach, American Cancer Society, USO, and Therapy Dog Visits. It is important to me personally to give back. It is what we are called to do!
Which event are you most proud of?
There are two events that really stand out to me.
1 – The Marc Vandermeer Bay Area Golf Classic benefits Junior Achievement.
This incredible fundraiser promotes our children’s economic education through local businesses in Greater Houston and the Bay Area. I’ve proudly participated as co-chair for decades, raising money for programs and scholarships for kids in over 60 school districts in Houston and surrounding areas. We’ve raised around $200,000 each year.
2 – The Annual Clear Lake Chamber’s New Teacher luncheon.
This is a big undertaking that allows us to honor and thank our new, incoming teachers. These fine men and women have an incredibly important role in the community and are dedicated to the children that shape our future. They work tirelessly and give so much of themselves. We love supporting their efforts and showing our appreciation for all they do. Both of these programs have allowed us to give back to our community and to practice the values that we feel are important. As a local, small business our success depends on the community as well as referrals. We wouldn’t be successful without our loyal neighbors. Giving back is a natural extension of the effort we put into our daily work when providing a welcoming home environment. We’re simply extending that to the community as a whole.
How did you get involved in the CCISD teacher luncheon?
DK’s Dustbusters is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. We wanted to focus on one important event that really spoke to us and impacted an important segment of our community. We choose this event years ago and continue to support it.
What was the response?
The luncheon is a great way to kick-off the school year. The teachers and staff love this event and it is first rate. We donate a school year of housecleaning to one lucky teacher in the door prize drawing. It is very exciting and the lucky teacher appreciates having one less thing to do. It’s a simple gesture on our part but it’s one that we know reduces stress for a new teacher. The committee collects door prizes for months so that nearly every new teacher gets a nice welcome gift.
It seems that you also like to pamper your employees. Why is this important to you?
WE LOVE OUR STAFF! WE CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL, SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, OR THRIVE WITHOUT A HAPPY, PRODUCTIVE STAFF! Creating a successful small business means creating a healthy, fun work environment. We’re a community within our larger community and we work hard to build a strong team. When employees feel appreciated, they are content and put in extra effort which is a win-win for all! We want to regularly show our staff we appreciate them with outings, parties, and bonuses. We also constantly seek ways to improve and help streamline their duties.
What do you say to people that are reluctant to hire someone to clean their home?
Speaking for our company, we are extremely careful in our staffing and many have been with us for years. We do all we can to get to know our customers and their priorities so we can deliver and exceed expectations We promote team spirit with both customers and staff.
We’ve had the pleasure of cleaning homes in the Greater Clear Lake area for 3 decades. For some people, the thought of hiring a home cleaning company simply seems like a luxury. The reality is that having someone else take care of your routine cleaning tasks can really improve the time you have with your family. It reduces stress, creates a healthy home environment, and allows folks more time to enjoy what’s important to them. Of course, to really have peace of mind, it’s important to choose a company you can trust. If you’re looking for a professional residential or commercial cleaning service, check out our reviews and references and feel confident you are using a team serving our area successfully nearly 35 years!
Contact DK’s Dustbusters at (281) 286-DUST (3878) or Get Your Free Quote Today.
