One of the fastest growing and most successful cleaning businesses in Arizona got its start in – of all places – a garage.
“I know – a garage is not what comes to mind when you think clean,” laughs Casey Ashdown, who started what is today Zerorez of Phoenix in his garage in 2004. “It was a very different kind of place to launch an office, but we wanted to be a very different kind of cleaning company.”
Ashdown first got into the idea of launching Zerorez in the Valley from his brother, who worked for a Zerorez sister franchise in another state.
“Unlike traditional carpet cleaning companies that use a method of hot water extraction using soaps, detergents and harsh chemicals that get left behind in the carpet fibers, we saw firsthand how Zerorez used this ‘Empowered Water,’ a water-based, non-toxic cleaning agent that leaves no soil-attracting residue behind,” said Ashdown. “And we don’t just focus on carpets. In fact, we offer tile and grout cleaning; upholstery cleaning; area rug cleaning; pet odor treatment; hard surfaces cleaning and even mattress cleaning in addition to carpets.”
Ashdown couldn’t believe no one had launched the concept in Arizona – and jumped at the chance, bringing in his brother-in-law Nathan Perrins as a partner and to assist with marketing.
“Thankfully, we weren’t the only ones who liked the idea of this Empowered Water, and the business grew by leaps and bounds. So much so, we expanded into Deer Valley two years ago,” said Ashdown. “Moving here allowed us to alleviate some of the commuting hardship that our employees living in the North Valley experienced as they traveled back and forth. Now, nearly 20 members of our team are working out of this location and doing a fantastic job at servicing the area.”
Zerorez growth under Ashdown and Perrins over the past decade-plus has not been just swift, but responsible.
“We didn’t want to just add bodies to our business – and we didn’t just want to provide service to communities then be done with them until next time,” said Perrins. “So, we made a conscious effort to find ways to give back, not to mention ways for our rapidly expanding team to work together for the greater good.”
One of the most effective programs they put into place – The Rezoteer Volunteer Program.
“The Rezoteer Volunteer Program provides our Zerorez staff and their family members a way to get involved with volunteer projects in their local communities and to share in the benefits of giving back alongside their co-workers,” said Perrins.
Ashdown and Perrins also developed Zero 2 Hero Program, which helps to raise critical funds for organizations serving children throughout the Valley.
“March was a big one for Zero 2 Hero. Throughout the month, we collected a portion of all of our proceeds to benefit the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, raising $5,800, which we donated in April,” said Ashdown. “Altogether, we’ve been able to collect a total of $26,000 for PHC over the past five years, with all the funds being used to directly impact research and care for the children at the hospital.”
For Ashdown and the Zerorez team, many of whom are fathers and mothers themselves, the cause is especially personal.
“One of my daughters was born at just 24 weeks, weighing only one pound and ten ounces. I have seen firsthand the tireless work that doctors, nurses and the rest of the staff at Arizona’s amazing hospitals do each and every day,” said Ashdown. “The fact that we can – even in just this small way – help these heroes and their tiny patients is among the proudest accomplishments of being small business owners in this community.”
A 2015 Better Business Bureau Ethics Award Winner for work like this, today the business has more than 70 employees and 31 vans Valleywide.
“And we’re just getting started,” said Ashdown.
