#84: How Handwritten Letters Built a Thriving Cleaning Business, with Lucy Spencer

Not every successful cleaning company starts with Facebook ads or a huge budget. In Lucy Spencer's case, it started with $10 and a stack of handwritten letters 💌

 

In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Lucy, who owns River Girl Cleaning in Boston, Massachusetts. Lucy shares how she built her business from the ground up, starting with nothing but grit, family, community, and the belief that “there’s enough for everyone.” Together, they discuss the art of keeping clients for decades, why human connection always wins, and how going back to basics can cut through the digital noise and bring in real, loyal customers.

 

📌 What You’ll Learn:

— How Lucy started River Girl Cleaning with $10 and a letter-writing campaign

— Why working with family (not for them) can be a business superpower

— The timeless marketing trick that still brings Lucy new clients today

— What to do when fear of confrontation holds you back as a leader

— How to fire clients (or employees) with tact and confidence

— Why “there’s a client for everyone” is a business strategy

 

Resources Mentioned:

— River Girl Cleaning: https://www.rivergirlcleaning.com

— ZenMaid Scheduling Software: https://get.zenmaid.com

— ZenMaid Mastermind Facebook Group (free): https://www.facebook.com/groups/zenmaidmastermind

 

👉 Try ZenMaid free for 14 days: https://get.zenmaid.com

📞 Book a Consulting Call with Stephanie: https://serene-clean.com/consulting-services/

 

🎙️ Listen to the Podcast:

📖 Read the full transcript: https://www.zenmaid.com/magazine/how-handwritten-letters-built-a-thriving-cleaning-business-with-lucy-spencer/