Exploring Life & Business with Janet Schultz of Blue-J Cleaning Solutions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Schultz. 

Hi Janet, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today? 

Former Special Education teacher, Janet Schultz, turned entrepreneur began Blue-J Cleaning Solutions in November of 2012. The first year, the biggest struggle and frustration was finding employees who would clean to a process, were dependable, committed, detail-oriented, and routine driven. Then the Epiphany came. Individuals on the Autism Spectrum had those attributes coupled with a strong work ethic. Hiring Eric in 2013, being Blue-J’s first employee on the spectrum, marked the beginning of the solution to the problem of finding a reliable employee base. After some investigation into this idea, it was found that the high unemployment rate of those on the spectrum, was and still is the current platform and focus of Autism Speaks and other said groups. It all began to come together and make sense. Blue-J joined the ranks as a social business. “The Blue-J Idea” is a win-win for all involved. 

 

The name of this company, “Blue-J Cleaning Solutions”, is not a reference to birds. In the company name, ‘Blue’ stands for Autism awareness and ‘J’ stands for Janet. When the company was initially founded, the color “blue” represented “clean”. I founded this company because I was faced with a forced life-changing event in October 2012 and as a result, I needed to support myself. Being in the classroom was out of the question. I would be like a bird in a cage in that setting. I had been given a taste of being a small business owner in my previous marriage and knew that I was in my zone with that. During those years as a business owner, I discovered capabilities about myself that I did not know I had. Sales and marketing became my “thing”, and having been a teacher, I certainly knew management skills. Finally, with that experience, I learned what to do and most importantly, what not to do. The entrepreneurial spirit within me was ignited and it drove me to venture out on my own. Having been a single mother and a teacher for many years, I would supplement my income from teaching by cleaning houses on the weekends and during the summers. I had found I was good at it. Praying and processing through my situation, The Blue-J Idea was born and a vision reborn. 

 

One of the many benefits of being a small business owner was the opportunity to offer employment. I derive tremendous satisfaction and reward in being positioned to do that. As a special education teacher of an OCS classroom in prior years, where the emphasis is on job skills, I recognized that I enjoyed that part of educating those students in my care. I especially was drawn to those on the Autism Spectrum and it was reciprocated. We “get” each other. 

 

Employing those on the spectrum did not come right away. It would take a year into my business for me to discover that those on the spectrum were a great fit for Blue-J. We now had a solid reputation of being a detail-driven and consistent cleaning company. Internally, however, maintaining an employee base that would fulfill those qualities and clean to a process was becoming increasingly difficult. We had carved out our niche by primarily cleaning small offices. That’s when the epiphany came. Those on the spectrum had those attributes and so much more. The small office concept was perfect for them. That setting was less overwhelming and easier to manage. In the early part of 2014, Eric became Blue-J’s first employee on the spectrum. Eric would work his way up to team supervisor and “keeper of the keys” before leaving Blue-J in 2016 to relocate to South Carolina. Hiring Eric was a turning point and set the stage for how Blue-J would move forward. Today, Blue-J has an employee base of twelve. Five of these employees are on the spectrum. 

 

By intentional design, Blue-J was set up to be a duplicable cleaning company. I did not know how or what that would look like in the beginning. Over the course of seven years, I have developed a prototype that is now ready to be passed on to others to do what I have done. I love being an entrepreneur. I am a supporter of small businesses. I am an encourager; a teacher and I love to help people. Passing on the Blue-J Idea is where my dream lies. Being able to partner with other Blue-J startups allows me the opportunity to utilize the talents and strengths I have been given. Together we become “more than cleaning company; we are a movement creating change in the marketplace” 

Thank you for joining the movement. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome? 

Not a smooth road at all. Cash flow has been the most difficult to manage and is a common problem with all businesses large and small. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Blue-J Cleaning Solutions. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand? 

Blue-J is more than a cleaning company. We are advocates, offering employment opportunities and mentoring to those on the autism spectrum. Our ultimate goal is to help our employees to reach their full potential. Blue J is not just another cleaning company in Charlotte, NC; We are a social entrepreneurship enterprise that treats Autism as a parallel track of thinking 

Blue-J is a social business offering eco-friendly cleaning services in Charlotte NC. We are committed to conserving the environment by using eco-friendly cleaning products. However, Blue-J is also a social business in utilizing people on the autistic spectrum by providing them employment through janitorial services in charlotte NC. We do this because we understand Autism to be a parallel track of thinking in most cases rather than a disorder or a disability. The word disability itself implies a lack of abilities where Autism is known to give some unique abilities. Thus, to call this circumstance a disability would be a misnomer. Consider the consequences of labeling a parallel track of thinking a disability. 

We are an eco-friendly, detail-driven company which offers our clients consistency in cleaning. Blue-J is more than a cleaning company. We are advocates, offering employment opportunities and mentoring to those on the Autism Spectrum. Our ultimate goal is to help our employees to reach their full potential. 

“Our currency is trust and that currency is backed by people” 

We are more than a cleaning company in Charlotte, NC., We are a movement creating change in the marketplace through socially responsible and ethical cleaning services to offices. in North Carolina 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.bluejcleaning.com/