SC woman's business aims to help cancer patients

Since she was a young girl, Danielle McCray knew she wanted to be a service-providing business owner. She had no clue exactly what type of service she would provide.

Now, at age 33, she is the owner of the Cleaning Bouquet, a cleaning company that she started two years ago to serve the Pee Dee area.

After serving eight years in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence specialist, McCray moved on to work in human services with the postal service.

"When I was at the postal service, I was sitting behind a cubicle all day," McCray said. "I knew that I didn't want to retire sitting behind that desk. Basically, I made a conscious decision to step out on faith."

McCray moved back to Florence, her hometown, from Greensboro, North Carolina.

"I moved back here because I knew I would have a little more support from my family," McCray said. "And I started the cleaning service, and it's been going really well."

If someone would have asked her five years ago about starting a cleaning business, McCray said she would have responded, "You are crazy. I'm not starting a cleaning company."

"But I'm glad I did, because I get to meet some really great people," McCray said.

The Cleaning Bouquet did not start out as such, however. Before there was The Cleaning Bouquet, there was ProAlliance Commercial Cleaning. McCray owned that company as well, and it focused primarily on office cleaning. Several of the ProAlliance clients wanted residential cleaning as well.

"I guess the stars were not aligned for me to do (commercial cleaning), so I switched it," she said, "and I'm glad I did."

What sets The Cleaning Bouquet apart from other cleaning companies in the Pee Dee is personalization.

"Even though I don't clean every day, they still look at it as Danielle's cleaning service instead of The Cleaning Bouquet," McCray said.

Something else that distinguishes The Cleaning Bouquet is its partnership with the Cleaning for a Reason Foundation.

Cleaning for a Reason is a nonprofit organization that partners with maid services across the United States and Canada to offer free professional house cleanings to help women undergoing treatment for cancer.

The foundation has been in existence since 2006 and has helped women with cancer receive more than $3.7 million worth of free house cleanings. Approximately 1,000 maid services partner with the foundation.

In South Carolina, 17 maid services partnering with Cleaning for a Reason. The Cleaning Bouquet is the only one in the Pee Dee area.

"I've partnered with Cleaning for a Reason since August of 2012," McCray said. "Last year we did about 13 or 14. This is probably a year where we didn't really have a lot of cleanings."

McCray said she believes the reason her company has not provided many free cleanings for women undergoing cancer treatment this year is because many people are not familiar with the organization.

"I know there are other women in this area who are receiving treatments and they need the service," McCray said. "I'm pretty sure if the word got out about the organization and what it does, the demand will be there for it."

Through Cleaning for a Reason, The Cleaning Bouquet offers four free cleanings to female cancer patients undergoing treatments.

"They can either do it biweekly and get two cleanings in one month, or they can get one cleaning a month. However they want to do it," McCray said. "If they or their families wanted to sign up for additional cleanings, they can do that as well, but it's only four free cleanings that we give."

Women can either call McCray directly or go to cleaningforareason.org to sign up for the free service. The foundation requests that patients provide them with a note from their physician confirming they are in treatment.

"Cleaning for a Reason then contacts me the same day and contacts the client," McCray said.

The type of free cleaning provided by The Cleaning Bouquet depends on the size and condition of the home.

"When we come in, the first time we try to do a really thorough cleaning," McCray said.

She said if it is a light day for the cleaning crew, they will clean the entire home.

"That's why we try to schedule those cleanings for lighter days, which are at the beginning of the week, to make sure that we can pay the house as much attention as it needs," McCray said. "Of course, we may not be able to get every room done, but we want to get their priority rooms cleaned."

Partnering with Cleaning for a Reason stemmed from a personal experience, McCray said. She has a family member who is a breast cancer survivor and had a chance to see what she went through daily.

"She was going through chemo treatment and not really having the energy to put into house cleaning," McCray said. "She barely had energy to feed herself. So I saw it as a great cause and a great way to give back."

McCray said she wants to provide the women undergoing cancer treatment in the Pee Dee area with a service that lets them heal and get better while The Cleaning Bouquet takes care of the house.

Florence woman's cleaning business in partnership to help cancer patients

 Since she was a young girl, Danielle McCray knew she wanted to be a service-providing business owner. She had no clue exactly what type of service she would provide.

Now, at age 33, she is the owner of the Cleaning Bouquet, a cleaning company that she started two years ago to serve the Pee Dee area.

After serving eight years in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence specialist, McCray moved on to work in human services with the postal service.

"When I was at the postal service, I was sitting behind a cubicle all day," McCray said. "I knew that I didn't want to retire sitting behind that desk. Basically, I made a conscious decision to step out on faith."

McCray moved back to Florence, her hometown, from Greensboro, North Carolina.

"I moved back here because I knew I would have a little more support from my family," McCray said. "And I started the cleaning service, and it's been going really well."

If someone would have asked her five years ago about starting a cleaning business, McCray said she would have responded, "You are crazy. I'm not starting a cleaning company."

"But I'm glad I did, because I get to meet some really great people," McCray said.

The Cleaning Bouquet did not start out as such, however. Before there was The Cleaning Bouquet, there was ProAlliance Commercial Cleaning. McCray owned that company as well, and it focused primarily on office cleaning. Several of the ProAlliance clients wanted residential cleaning as well.

"I guess the stars were not aligned for me to do (commercial cleaning), so I switched it," she said, "and I'm glad I did."

What sets The Cleaning Bouquet apart from other cleaning companies in the Pee Dee is personalization.

"Even though I don't clean every day, they still look at it as Danielle's cleaning service instead of The Cleaning Bouquet," McCray said.

Something else that distinguishes The Cleaning Bouquet is its partnership with the Cleaning for a Reason Foundation.

Cleaning for a Reason is a nonprofit organization that partners with maid services across the United States and Canada to offer free professional house cleanings to help women undergoing treatment for cancer.

The foundation has been in existence since 2006 and has helped women with cancer receive more than $3.7 million worth of free house cleanings. Approximately 1,000 maid services partner with the foundation.

In South Carolina, 17 maid services partnering with Cleaning for a Reason. The Cleaning Bouquet is the only one in the Pee Dee area.

"I've partnered with Cleaning for a Reason since August of 2012," McCray said. "Last year we did about 13 or 14. This is probably a year where we didn't really have a lot of cleanings."

McCray said she believes the reason her company has not provided many free cleanings for women undergoing cancer treatment this year is because many people are not familiar with the organization.

"I know there are other women in this area who are receiving treatments and they need the service," McCray said. "I'm pretty sure if the word got out about the organization and what it does, the demand will be there for it."

Through Cleaning for a Reason, The Cleaning Bouquet offers four free cleanings to female cancer patients undergoing treatments.

"They can either do it biweekly and get two cleanings in one month, or they can get one cleaning a month. However they want to do it," McCray said. "If they or their families wanted to sign up for additional cleanings, they can do that as well, but it's only four free cleanings that we give."

Women can either call McCray directly or go to cleaningforareason.org to sign up for the free service. The foundation requests that patients provide them with a note from their physician confirming they are in treatment.

"Cleaning for a Reason then contacts me the same day and contacts the client," McCray said.

The type of free cleaning provided by The Cleaning Bouquet depends on the size and condition of the home.

"When we come in, the first time we try to do a really thorough cleaning," McCray said.

She said if it is a light day for the cleaning crew, they will clean the entire home.

"That's why we try to schedule those cleanings for lighter days, which are at the beginning of the week, to make sure that we can pay the house as much attention as it needs," McCray said. "Of course, we may not be able to get every room done, but we want to get their priority rooms cleaned."

Partnering with Cleaning for a Reason stemmed from a personal experience, McCray said. She has a family member who is a breast cancer survivor and had a chance to see what she went through daily.

"She was going through chemo treatment and not really having the energy to put into house cleaning," McCray said. "She barely had energy to feed herself. So I saw it as a great cause and a great way to give back."

McCray said she wants to provide the women undergoing cancer treatment in the Pee Dee area with a service that lets them heal and get better while The Cleaning Bouquet takes care of the house.

"Going through chemo can be very draining," McCray said, "so if we're able to provide a service or make their lives a little bit easier during the process, then that is what we're here for."

New service cleans student apartments

Campus Enterprises, a student entrepreneurial group, has recently launched Maid My Day, a cleaning service for Duke students living in apartments. Currently, the service is offering cleaning packages for Central Campus apartments and off-campus housing such as Partners Apartment Complex or the Heights.
“Our goal is to have this be the most accessible and seamless service for our clients as well as to form a mutually beneficial relationship with our employees,” said Meredith Creighton, a sophomore and co-director of Maid My Day.
Creighton and Madyn Fields, a sophomore, took over Campus Enterprise's previous cleaning service this fall, creating a new business model. They partnered with an established cleaning service in Durham with upwards of 10 years of experience. Creighton and Field said the cleaners are insured, qualified and well-reviewed.
By partnering with an existing service in Durham, Maid My Day believes they are also engaging the local community.

“We really want to enhance the Durham community as well as provide the best possible service for students,” explained Madison Bradshaw, director of outreach for Campus Enterprises.

Residents can purchase cleaning services in a variety of packages at a flat rate, including weekly and biweekly cleaning or one-time cleans after events. Two packages are currently being offered to clients. The regular package involves cleaning services for all the rooms and bathrooms, excluding bedrooms. The deluxe package cleans the entire apartment, including bedrooms.

Maid My Day launched last week and already has 36 customers signed up for cleaning packages for the entire semester. Overall, clients said that they have been satisfied with the services.

“I was extremely impressed with the professional level of service as well as the efficiency of the staff,” said Alex Dubow, a sophomore.

In looking to the future, Field and Creighton want to expand their business to additional off-campus apartment complexes as well as to dorm rooms on East and West campuses. Maid My Day is looking to build a customer base before growing, but hopes to expand to new locations by mid-October.What do you think?

CMPD arrests cleaning service employee after jewelry theft

Cape May police arrested a cleaning service employee after a renter reported missing jewelry.

In a release issued Monday by the Cape May Police Department, they arrested Joseph V. Hogg, 27, of North Cape May, on Sept. 3, on charges related to a theft of property from a Cape May Point rental property/residence.

Det.D. Henderson, Det. J. Walker and Patrolman D. Murphy’s investigation began on Aug. 31 when the victim, staying in a rental house on Stites Avenue in Cape May Point, noticed her jewelry valued at approximately $1,100 missing after a cleaning service company departed the house she was renting.

The investigation led officers to a Cape May County pawn shop on Sept. 3, where officers recovered all the reported stolen jewelry and developed information leading to criminal charges being filed against Hogg.

Hogg was charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition, 2C:20-3(a), a 3rd Degree Offense, Conspiracy, 2C:5-2, a 3rd Degree Offense, and Hindering the Apprehension or Prosecution of Another, 2C:29-3, a 4th Degree Offense. He was released on a complaint summons and was scheduled to appear in Cape May Municipal Court on Sept. 10

Small traders In Buckhurst Hill fear for future as Waitrose offers cleaning service

Small businesses say they fear for the future after a nearby supermarket giant started offering the same dry-cleaning services.

Sew Select and Elegant Look, in Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, have raised concerns after the move by Waitrose, which has had a store in the street for 30 years, means there are now four dry-cleaners within a short distance.

Sew Select is situated four shops away from the supermarket and owner Warren Bartlett says the future is bleak.

He said: “This is going to massively take away our business. There will be a huge difference.


“They are not thinking about us, they’re going to put us out of business.

“A few hundred pounds lost a week in a small business like this and that’s it, we’ are done.”

Elegant Look owner Sohail Qureshi is also expecting tough times ahead.

He said: “I don’t think there will be any business left for us.

“There will be too many cleaners, it’s not good for anybody.

We are struggling already with the competition. This will be the end if it carries on.

“It should be stopped.”

Waitrose branch manager Amy Dexter said the shop is responding to demand.

 She added: “We introduced the service in response to customer requests from across the country.

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