A COMMERCIAL window cleaning company is expanding by using Facebook to win customers.

Glassmatic has been in business since November, gaining more than 100 customers in its first three months. It is confident of increasing that number five-fold by the end of June.

The business, based in Howdon- le-Wear, County Durham, and run by Johnny Harrison and business partner David Stewart, attributes social networking as a significant influence in its rapid expansion.

Mr Harrison, who started the business after he was made redundant from his job in the construction industry last summer, said: “Facebook is proving to be important for us. We have got our own page and have well over 100 fans.

“It is a way for customers to get in touch with us and for potential customers to find out about us.

“If someone sends us a message they would like their windows cleaned, we will come round. It is a very good marketing tool and one we hope will help us to grow.”

Glassmatic has commercial and private customers in and around Bishop Auckland and Crook, and hopes to expand to other areas of the county.

Former construction manager Mr Harrison said that although window cleaning was not an area he or Mr Stewart – a former plasterer – have a background in, their investment in equipment, helped by a Business Link grant, and commitment to giving the best service were paying off.

He said: “When I was made redundant last summer, I had a few months to think about what I wanted to do next. I found I was turned down for a lot of jobs, mainly because I was too experienced, and it was really frustrating.

“Window cleaning is something David and I fell into really, but it is going very well.

We are both new to running our own business and set ourselves realistic targets, which we are confident of achieving.

Even though the weather stopped us from working for five weeks, we have still built up our customer base during that time.

“We both know the value and importance of professional service from our previous jobs, and I think that is definitely proving important in running Glassmatic.

“If you do it right, you get a good reputation, and with the start we have got off to, we are confident about the future.”