The Business of Fabric and Carpet Cleaning

Since the age of 12, I’ve had a hand in the business of cleaning fabrics and carpeting. I would accompany my dad when he would visit clients to give estimates and when I was old enough, I worked on my own. Visiting big businesses and law firms in downtown Los Angeles became common for me. Some of my fondest memories include the times that I worked at such establishments as Wyman Bautzer, Gipson, Dunn & Crutcher, Bank of America, Arco towers, E.F. Hutton, the Playboy Club in Century City, and the Jonathon Club downtown. I met and worked for greats like Frank Sinatra, Sidney Poitier and Jimmy Stewart.

Here I am, over 40 years since my first visits with my dad, and still, my company is blessed with long term, ongoing client relationships, as well as many new clients each day. We are in the cleaning business, but we also know that the service we provide is essential to our clients and our livelihood. If you’re a client, it’s a safe bet that you know we aren’t the least expensive option in town, but they also know that you are choosing to hire the most trustworthy and knowledgeable cleaning firm in the area.

What makes us stand apart is the way we work. We stand behind everything we do. We search tirelessly for the cleaning solutions that you need and then we help you with your cleaning needs. We are problem solvers! We believe that there is nothing more important than our integrity. Our clients know that we won’t make a promise without delivering and we’re always keeping our clients in mind. Our clients trust us and rely on us!

In 1963, my father, Joe Goodman founded Mark the Carpetbagger. While he was attending UCLA, he made money cleaning the carpets of tenants moving in and out of two buildings my grandfather owned in Westwood, CA. When he completed school, he realized that he really enjoyed the mental and physical aspects of his cleaning business. We often use his phrase, “using your hands as well as your head,” in our ads seeking employees. With time, my father – and his business – became known as the cleaning top company to call, and much of his business came from strong praise from one client to another. In fact, in sticking with tradition, over 90 percent of our work continues to come from word of mouth.

In 1986, I started Fibermark out of my apartment. It was only a few years until I had relocated the business to a building that I found in West Los Angeles. In just a short amount of time, I found myself busy every day. In fact, I would often find myself working seven days a week, as well as many evenings.

When I think about it, I realize how funny life is sometimes. I always wanted to make my way into the family business, but when I was forced to go it alone, it wasn’t what I would choose. Despite this, I managed to do it myself and make a name for myself and my company. It took time, but I didn’t want Mark the Carpetbagger anymore because I had made my own business my way. Ultimately, it is funny how life sometimes makes decisions for you. When my father passed, I bought Mark the Carpetbagger and putting both companies together is now FibermarkMTC or Fibermark Mark the Carpetbagger, Inc.