Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Bushrod.
Hi Brandon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My story is probably like some others as in when you have a vision; you act on it. I’ve also dreamed of owning and building a business of my own. Particularly due to my daughter and wanting to provide her as best I can so that she may see the possibilities of making her own staple in life, owning your own, and being self-employed. After my tenure at Bowie State University, I started a few businesses but didn’t get that feeling of satisfaction. I had been working as a coordinator at Baltimore City Community College. In my position, I enjoyed helping students, but I knew I could also be helpful in another arena. I had a grandmother who cleaned for a living at that time, and people loved her work. She had longtime customers and took on new customers if and when she could. While working at BCCC, I would still help my grandmother on cleaning jobs. In helping her, I was learning useful tools that I never realized mattered so much with cleaning. But as my grandmother told me, if ”Brandon, if you want to do a good job, you have to be thorough.” My grandmother was known for being thorough and detailed in her cleaning, so detailed that often she would be really tired after a day of work. She would pull dressers, chairs, and tables out and clean behind them, cleaning baseboards, making beds, and carefully tucking and folding the sheets, which looked very impressive. At the end of the cleanings, people could tell she had been there as they complimented the fresh scents that surfaced the hall and stairways. She just had that “granny’s touch.” I thought to myself cleaning would be a great business as I was already use to the experience of cleaning in and around my home and my grandparents’ home. I also learned that there were people who either did not like to clean, did not have the time, or just preferred to hire professional cleaning services. As I’m working my 8-5 – 40 hours a week job (of which I was grateful for), I decided to begin working on starting my own cleaning business. This business could afford me the opportunity to not only help others with their cleaning needs but to allow me to decide my own hours of work and to eventually build a business that may outlive me and create a family establishment to live on through my daughter. I stopped working at BCCC and started my cleaning company (A Grannys Touch, LLC). Within six months, I accepted my first cleaning contract for Mayflower Apartments in Baltimore City. From there on A Grannys Touch, LLC has serviced several businesses repeatedly and offered numerous referrals (Huey Brand, Euphoria Night Club, Papi Cusine, Ouftur Brand, Waaah Clothing, Bella Bliss Spa, Towson Nights Hooka Lounge, Unitz by Jaz, Rite Aids, Value City, Daikeara Hair Salon, BJ Mallards Bar, and grill, Purple Peach Nail Bar, Soul Source Restaurant, PYT Training Studio, Fresh Kicks Sneaker Laundry, Munchies Food Truck, LOM Tags and Title, Paparazzi Spa, UREE Real Estate, Style 4 You Boutique, TV Biddys, Elevated Towing Services, The Beauty Room Salon, Salontra Suites, Sashae Selections, 2021 Hooka Lounge, Hood Fellas Brisro, and Catering to name a few. In addition, during the initial COVID-19 epidemic, I also serviced many establishments in creating a fresh, clean, and sanitized environment. A Granny’s Touch LLC lives on! “Who doesn’t want a Granny’s Touch.”
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been many hurdles along the way; figuring out how to earn income while starting a business was most of it, but I just kept my eye on the prize and stayed persistent. A challenge that I’ve had to overcome was learning to navigate contracts and figure out what worked best for the business and the client. Striking a healthy balance to ensure that as a business owner, my prices reflect the value and quality of the work A Granny’s Touch provides.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
A Granny’s Touch is a full-service cleaning company that has over ten years of experience in cleaning services. We take an extreme amount of pride in providing the most efficient standards of cleaning services that surpass our competitors. All of our staff are trained professionals with integrity and take much pride in providing a great cleaning service.
A Granny’s Touch service is provided seven days a week at hours that support your needs. Our rates are comparable to or lower than those of other companies. We also provide special rates during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.
My other business is trucking, “Knockout Trucking, LLC. We transport government freight.
In the referrals, it is expressed that A Grannys Touch comes highly recommended, and the customer/s are pleased with my cleaning services and, even more, the smell that lingers after services have been completed.
I am very resourceful of which I rely heavily on. I’m super determined and persistent.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I would refer to people that you idealize, communicating openly and honestly. I remind myself that I don’t know everything, and it has helped me to build a network that fills the gaps. Every conversation you have is a networking opportunity, whether you’re at the store or at a park. These conversations give you the opportunity to provide necessary exposure for your business just by mentioning the work you do; it’s not a sale but a natural response to the “what do you do for work” question we often receive in casual conversations. In networking, I’ve found business owners that respect my drive and naturally have shifted out of the network of support to become my mentors in business.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: grannystouchcleaning
- Facebook: grannystouchcleaning
- Other: grannystouchcleaning (this is for tiktok)
