When Pookie Bristowe (left) and Aman Singh (right) first met online to discuss music, they had no idea it would lead to a fast-growing cleaning business. 

But their shared love of music eventually led them to talking about business opportunities, and the chance to offer a high-quality, technologically-savvy cleaning operation. 

That business, Advanced Facility Care, has grown since its formation two years ago into a business that employs 92 staff and which has commercial and residential cleaning contracts in Auckland, Wellington, Manawatu, and Hawke’s Bay. 

“We just connected on Facebook over hip hop and we made some music together,” Pookie said. “That led to us talking about life, and led to this business.” 

When they first met, Aman worked as an executive general manager in Auckland, while Pookie was working in finance in local government in Horowhenua. 

“There were challenges in previous roles where decisions couldn’t be made and executed by me. I had to go up the chain, which took time,” Aman says. 

“So I asked Pookie about whether we should start a company. She had experience with accounts and understands the client side of things, while I had the experience with cleaning, sales, and in managing large geographical areas.” 

Pookie, who by this time was with the Parks and Property team, overseeing contractors, says she had her own stresses to deal with. 

“At this time my son was sick a lot and was diagnosed with ADHD, so I was having to work from home a lot. It was tough and the work-life balance was not there,” she says. 

“When Aman suggested we start our own company, I thought ‘yes, we can make a big difference’. 

“We knew there would be a lot of work, stress, and sacrifices, but it has been worth it.” 

Pookie and Aman began with residential cleaning jobs. They often worked 12-hour days, spending time sorting out documentation to gain more clients. There was a lot of physical, mental, and planning stress, and they took jobs that weren’t necessarily that rewarding at the start in order to build their profile. 

“Once we got a job in Waikato, drove up, cleaned the site, and spent $600 to do that job and we got paid less than that. But we did a good job and we’ve had a lot of people recommend us as a result of what we did,” Aman says. 

Eventually Pookie and Aman began tendering for major commercial cleaning jobs, and started to win some contracts. Now, 95 percent of their work is commercial. 

A big part of their success comes from their use of technology. They had their own app built for them by an Advanced Facility Care developer based in India, and it has proved very helpful. 

“We’ve worked closely with the developer, and our relationship is such that if we want to add some features, it can be done very quickly.” 

Among the app’s features is live reporting, and the instant addition of before and after photos, to show that they have done their jobs. 

“It means that rather than clients calling us or emailing, we can show them the exact time, before and after, that the job was done, who was the cleaner, and the standard of the work. It makes the clients’ life a lot easier,” Aman says. 

“We also can use machines for cleaning. Sometimes, rather than mopping, we can bring a machine, which can cut a two-hour job into a 45 minute one. The results have been good enough for clients to keep coming back to us.” 

The cleaning industry has had some bad press in the past 12 months, with some franchise contractors reporting problems with promised guaranteed incomes not being honoured, contracts cancelled without notice, and having to pay themselves below minimum wage. 

However, as shown in the recently-released Ringa Hora Services Workforce Development Council report, Making the Invisible Visible: Addressing the Needs of Cleaning Industry Workforce, there are plenty of opportunities in the industry. 

Pookie and Aman are strong supporters of fair business in the cleaning sector, and as such have worked to become verified by the industry peak body, Building Service Contractors of New Zealand. 

“They do a great job for the industry,” Pookie says. “We like to be transparent, to make sure we are doing everything correctly, and their accreditation is really important for that.” 

Cleaning may not be everyone’s idea of a glamorous job. But it’s always needed, and Aman says he loves it.  

“It’s really satisfying. When you do a great cleaning job and the client is happy as a result, you get a sense of achievement. I love seeing a shine on the floor and a clean location – it makes me and the client happy.”