(upbeat music)
- [Ingrid] We have always known
that our service was essential.
We're valuable to the ecosystem.
But in March of this year,
everything changed for Prospect Cleaning Services.
(upbeat music)
Prospect Cleaning Service Inc
is a building and maintenance service company.
I chose the name Prospect because we're located
right next to Prospect Park here in Brooklyn, New York.
First when we heard that
we realized it was a pandemic,
we didn't know it was gonna actually get here,
and then we lost 15 clients is one hour.
I was devastated.
Looking at my husband and I'm like,
"This is it. We're over."
And the very same day, I got a call from
a major transportation provider.
In the end, the contract was for over 700 locations.
I hung up the phone
and I just fell to my knees really,
and I just started to cry.
I'm getting emotional, literally
I don't wanna get emotional
(laughs)
And then we hit the ground running.
As soon as we got the call
that we were gonna do the contract
we had to revamp and employ more people.
When I hire someone, the first thing we always tell them
is how important they are.
If we don't do our jobs, the city can, in fact, close down
and that's the impact we have.
Having the team out there each day was very important to us
and we made sure we had everything that was required.
We made sure they were all in their proper PPE.
This includes masks, gloves and safety goggles,
making sure that they were safe because they too,
had to return home to their families.
With the expansion of my business,
it was a rapid growth and we mobilized the team.
Many of the resources on Stand For Small
has helped me throughout this expansion.
StandForSmall.com is a platform created by American Express
with over 100 companies currently providing resources
and special offers to small business owners.
These resources help us
to get contracts signed instantaneously.
Without a contract we can't provide a service.
As the opportunities started to roll in,
we got a lot of support from the community.
Thanks to a grant from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
the businesses within our communities
are able to benefit from my service
through the aid of the grant.
The plan we are making with businesses
to keep them in operation
will help them maintain cleaning standards
way after the pandemic is gone.
So now we are able to give back
to multiple day care centers.
We'll be donating cases of disinfectant
so that they are able to sanitize and disinfect
the areas for kids.
What we realized that the pandemic
has brought about drastic change.
Businesses who did not consider cleaning
as an essential service have now turned the tables.
They've realized that in order to function,
increase your productivity and all that
they do require cleaning.
Even though the times look uncertain,
small businesses have pivoted.
There is opportunity out there
for anyone who wants to go into business.
First think of a need and how you can fix it.
And if you look hard enough,
you'll be able to find that need and provide that service
or product to everyone around you.
All you have to do is just look a little harder
and you'll find it.
(upbeat music)