The Great Sell-Out And How It Affects You As A Hood Cleaner
This article gives me great pain to write. I believe that there has been a great injustice committed against hood cleaners every where and one of the parties involved, I would consider my friend. I have done videos about their products because I love them. I have sat on the board of directors of the Grease Police with this guy and know that he is an honest, hard-working, smart, cream-of-the-crop kind of guy. That’s why it makes it so hard to believe that he has sold out all hood cleaners in a big way. He’s probably going to hate me after this, but I can’t help it, for the sake of the industry, I feel that you guys – my readers- need to know what’s going on!
What am I talking about?
In case you haven’t heard yet, Driploc has sold out to BELFOR Holdings, Inc., The parent company of HOODZ. Now, I have nothing against HOODZ as a company, but they are selling franchise opportunities in YOUR backyard. Here is a press release from their website:
HOODZ, Nation’s Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Leader, Grows to 50 Locations in 4 Months of Existance
Ann Arbor, MI – HOODZ, the nation’s largest and most reputable kitchen exhaust hood cleaning franchise, has quickly become the nation’s largest and most reputable franchise in the industry by growing to more than 50 franchise locations in 26 states in just four months.
Having launched the franchise in July 2009, HOODZ has already opened locations in markets such as Atlanta, Tampa, Raleigh and Houston. With more than 50 HOODZ locations now in development as part of its strategic expansion, the company is anticipating even more explosive growth in 2010, and is poised to reach 150 total franchise locations by 2011.
They are planning on having 150 locations by 2011? If you thought you had competition before, just wait.
My problem with this is every time you purchase a Driploc product now, you will be feeding your competition. In my opinion, there is a HUGE conflict of interest in this setup. Every grease containment pad you get from Driploc, every magnet you buy, every hinge you put on will put money in the pockets of your competition. Unless of course you have a HOODZ franchise.
So what do you do?
Well, there are solutions. There are other grease containment systems out there that work well. I am in the process of setting up an interview for you all to hear with Jason Wellman, owner of The Grease Box. I believe that his systems are a GREAT alternative to Driploc’s. If you would like to send in questions for me to ask him, feel free to do so. That covers our grease containment needs.
What about magnets? Well, you can always go with the big square Harbor Freight magnets that I show in my first hood cleaning weekly tip. They’re $5 and strong.
Hinges: Good luck with that one. Driploc’s hinges are bombsheezy. They are so awesome, that the owner of the hood cleaning school I went to tried to claim credit for inventing them and was selling them as his. Captive Air hinges are good, but conditions have to be perfect for them to work. They’re fairly easy to install, but again, conditions have to be pretty much perfect. So, the jury is still out on hinges. If you have a suggestion, pass it along.
Unfortunately, Driploc didn’t ask my opinion before selling out. They are smart guys over there and they are good guys that is why this is so surprising and disturbing. I’m sure they made a wise financial decision for their company, but at what cost to the industry, did they do it? I, for one, feel betrayed.
who needs driploc I have been doing hinges for over 25 years, mine are just as easy and will fit most fans, just like there’s. plus like driploc’s there’s will not work on over size fans, i have made some that will. Thanks Mike
P.S. drip pans try greasecatcher.net little pricey. we also use just a drip pan with holes and add a pillow. cheap like 40 bucks
I have some pre sell out Driploc hinges left over in case anyone needs a couple
Thanks Ant for keeping us up to date on this. The last thing a business needs to do is feed their competition.
I used Omni’s Greasegutter product before Driploc came along. They have hinges also, but not the Driploc hinge, which is the bombsheezy. I’ve always used the Harbor Freight magnets, can’t beat them for $5. Too bad this is all going down. Hopefully the industry doesn’t suffer another setback from an oversized franchise hood cleaning company. Thanks for sharing Ant.
Kevin and Skip at Omni containment have some hinge kits that are similar but stronger than the drip loc hinge kits.
They also have better magnets and a better grease containment system.
877-226-6824 )Omni Containment
If you want to discus call me at 909-362-4907
Omni containment has some nice hinges and will custom build. Great customer service as well.
Well, I use the driploc products on most of my jobs…this is a real bad move for the industry. I, like Ant so understand the decision to sell. But to Hoodz??? they could have sold to another outfit I am sure. One concern is the cross training that hoodz will receive from the guys at driploc…lots of trade secrets to be let outta the bag there. Whats done is done…now, time to pull up our boot straps and move forward.
I can not say I’m surprised, I have not used driploc products doesn’t take a genius to put on a hinge. So I couldn’t see the point of purchasing a fancy Driploc hinge set. I do I justify the image before substance to my customers?
We also have been pushing Driploc’s hinges over the years. Well those days are over. And no, it isn’t had to come up with several ways to install your own hinge kit from some basic parts from Lowes or Home Depot, but Driploc for the price was hard to beat. Well time for change.
F- the cheazy HOOODZZZ fanchize. Ill kick there ass all around the block- like all one size fits all, they will be like Ecolab. Millions invested to only sell out like a bunch of little bitches. I have been in this game for 18 years- seem em come- seen em go. Omni Containment is the ONLY company I would ever consider. Kevin and CReW. If anything, There raising interest in hood cleaning, so it doesn’t bother me at all.
After spending all that cash on a fancy ass van with a bunch over priced equipment in it what do you ultimately have? Me with my PAID FOR equipment and truck. And, I get to keep ALL the cash I make except for the tax man, but theres no other dude with his hand out after i am done cleaning one of the
H O O D Z guys jobs. LOFL.
After they get all the work, they will start to eat each other like starving wolves eat there young……….
I think you right Pete, pretty cut throat out there.
Hey Ant good to see your sight up! It was down a couple nights back,good to see you up and kicking.
So how has H O O D Z done in your guy’s areas?
Anthony I lost track of you after I grew tired and quit going to our ‘old school’s’ chat room. Disappointing to see they have turned in that direction but not surprising whatsoever (but praise the lord they’d say). Didn’t know that about driploc but I’m done with them now. You’re not the only one to see the hoodz van in your neighborhood… but karma will get them soon enough. I will be checking back to your site often.. Wade
I need sharp tools to dig out a neglected chineese rest. Also need chemicals PLEASE HELP!