What does diversification mean in your business?
Over the past few years, I’ve seen diversification take on numerous forms for restroom contractors. I recall one portable sanitation contractor who bought a rolling rib smoker and started providing barbecue for summer parties. Another contractor — set to be featured later this year in PRO™ — will soon open his third restaurant, where he is transferring employees during a lull in the construction sector.
With a drop in construction accounts in parts of the country, I’m hearing the “D” word more often. In an effort to curb employee layoffs or boost profits in new ways, clever PROs are looking for new products and new markets to explore.
Perhaps some of you were on the lookout for new revenue ideas at the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo, which wrapped up a month ago in Louisville. Maybe you looked for the latest restroom trailer to park at outdoor weddings or other high-end parties. Maybe you considered site services beyond portable sanitation for special events and construction sites.
Some predictable offshoots from portable sanitation, like fencing, power washing services or party supplies, might work in your region. If you already experience intense competition for that business, you might turn to something more unorthodox, like opening a restaurant or preparing a big ol’ mess of ribs on your rolling smoker.
As you ramp up for the busy season, I’d like to hear what diversification efforts you’ve made. Sharing your ideas might just help a struggling PRO halfway across the country weather the storm of economic uncertainty prompted by a flat residential construction market.
There are a few ways to communicate with the PRO community. First, you can send me an e-mail with your diversification story. I will compile the ideas I receive in a future column. If you want to speak directly to others in the portable sanitation community, go to our Web site, www.promonthly.com, and click on PRO Online Discussion Forum.
A new version of the PRO Forum is conveniently split into several topic areas: General Discussion, Business, Chemicals & Deodorizers, Parts & Accessories, Portable Restrooms, Portable Restroom Trailers, Portable Restroom Service and Trucks. Simply register with a user name and password to start the discussion. Selected posts from the reader forum are compiled and published in this magazine.
Other ways to get involved
While I’m giving one pitch for reader participation, I’m going to throw out a few more pleas.
A trend I’m hearing from readers is that special event coverage will continue to play a greater role in their businesses this year. Landing an account for a county fair, rodeo or music festival this summer can go a long way toward offsetting construction losses. That being the case, I’d like to hear about new and interesting special event work you’ll be doing this summer for our On Location feature. The monthly profile examines how a PRO meets special event challenges, and gives the events a shot in the arm at the same time.
My experience is that event organizers enjoy seeing their festival featured on the cover or an inside photo layout in a national magazine. We realize that hitting the cover of PRO™ doesn’t necessarily draw bigger crowds to their event, but being featured in a glossy publication — with a layout that can be framed and put on the wall — is a pat on the back all the same.
Let me know about the event you’re covering and we can schedule an interview and arrange for photos to run with a story.
Pride in your ride
I’d love to have more new, shiny portable sanitation trucks to show off in our PRO Rides feature. If you’re thrilled with the look of a new or restored service truck — and want to give a shout out to the company that built it or provided accessories — e-mail me a digital photo of you or one of your crew members and the truck. We’ll give you a call and compile all the facts and figures concerning your favorite rig.
Where credit is due
I enjoy working on our occasional Take 5 features, where we introduce a creative or influential businessperson in the world of portable sanitation. It’s rewarding to get the word out about a contractor who’s contributing to an important industry initiative or whose high degree of professionalism raises the bar for the rest of us. I relish the chance to talk to the pioneers of the industry, those entrepreneurs who started building restrooms out of plywood and 55-gallon drums. The feature provides a great opportunity to learn the customer service secrets from successful PROs.
If you know someone who fits any of those descriptions and deserves recognition for their industry contributions or professionalism, I want to hear from you.
As always, you can reach me at the phone number or e-mail at the top of this page. I pledge to return phone calls and e-mails promptly.
