Marcus Richards
TidyChoice is an online platform for housekeeping services. We launched in London, expanded to other UK cities and have been growing steadily ever since.
Our mission is to help people find trusted, reliable cleaners easily online. We also want to ensure that housekeepers are fairly paid for the hard work that they do.
Tell us about yourself?
I grew up in Barcelona. As a little girl, I was fascinated with machines. I was passionate about figuring out how they worked and whether they could be made even better. This led me to pursue a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering and Computer Science.
I lived and worked in France and the US before moving to London 10 years ago. When I moved to London, I needed to hire a reliable cleaner and had lots of problems. Then, I decided to use my technical skills to create a seamless online solution.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
I would tell myself to be more patient. Starting a business is a marathon, not a sprint which requires endurance and resilience. I would then be prepared to experience the start-up roller coaster!
What problem does your business solve?
It is difficult and time-consuming finding a reliable, trustworthy cleaner. We solve that problem through an online booking platform where people can choose and book a vetted professional in minutes.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
I started the company because I needed to find a reliable cleaner quickly and could not find one. I decided to leverage my technology know-how to create an easy way to find reliable cleaning professionals online. Domestic cleaning is a very fragmented, traditional sector with old practices, so I was motivated by the commercial opportunity as well.
What is your magic sauce?
Our magic sauce is our matching algorithm and real-time booking. Our technology allows customers to browse profiles and reviews online before choosing their preferred professional.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
We have already expanded to all major UK cities. Over the next 5 years we want to expand to major European cities and help more customers find trusted, reliable cleaners.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
The biggest challenge so far was the covid lockdowns. Our activity levels fell by around 80% immediately after the first lockdown. We needed to create Covid-secure services and rebuild customer trust.
How do people get involved/buy into your vision?
To see how easy it is to find a reliable cleaner, customers can book a cleaner on our website at www.tidychoice.com.
We also would like to reach out to all professionals looking for flexible work with great compensation. Register at https://www.tidychoice.com/register.
