He has served prime ministers, risen through the ranks of the insurance sector and worked as a personal trainer, but Damien Owens is happier than ever running his own commercial cleaning company. INCLEAN’s Cameron Cooper reports.
Damien Owens will do anything to help customers of his cleaning company – with the possible exception of abseiling from heights of up to 20 metres for building wash downs and window cleaning.
Some tasks, he quips, are best left to specialist subcontractors that Owens Management Services uses for a broad range of cleaning jobs in retail centres, commercial buildings, factory and industrial sites, restaurants, hotels, hospitals and medical centres.
“I’ve attempted abseiling at the Kangaroo Point cliffs in Brisbane and done some internal rock climbing with my daughter, but I’ll leave that sort of cleaning work to the young fellows who are a little bit more robust,” said Owens.
The former insurance industry professional has found his niche running Owens Management Services, a South East Queensland commercial cleaning company that provides services across Queensland, but particularly in Brisbane, Ipswich and on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
While he may baulk at extreme heights, Owen is well aware that he needs to understand all the elements that contribute to successful cleaning services, whether it involves multi-storey office and body corporate buildings, schools, hospitality outlets, industrial warehouses or abseiling cleaning. He works with a panel of vetted subcontractors and continually updates his knowledge on the latest trends regarding equipment, processes and pricing.
“The better I understand it, the better I can explain and sell it to my clients,” said Owens.
Silver service
During the past three decades, Owens has worked in a multitude of roles, including a long stint in the insurance sector; serving former Prime Minister John Howard as part of silver-service catering work at gala events; training as a real estate salesman; and running his own business as a personal trainer.
“Weirdly, they all are customer oriented, so it didn’t surprise me that I enjoy that aspect in the cleaning industry,” he said.
A strong service ethic is at the heart of his business relationships. To build trust, he regularly catches up with clients for a chat or a beer so he can better understand their operations and any requirements. If they have an urgent cleaning need, he drops everything to help them out.
“I find a way to make it happen,” said Owens. “Business is not just about the dollars; it’s about relationships and I’m very proud of that.”
This article first appeared in the November/December issue of INCLEAN magazine. Click here to continue reading.