Welcome to our October newsletter!New studies, a new sweeper manufacturer, the scoop on a national aggregator and pre-employment testing; the sweeping industry is on the move!by Ranger Kidwell-Ross
There are several studies we're reporting on in this issue. Clearly, how sweeping may be used to assist in pollution reduction is a topic that's heating up. We're glad to take part in, er, 'clearing the air' on what's currently going on regarding this area. An increasing emphasis on pollution removal seems to clearly be the future of street sweeping, and I predict it won't be too long until EPA types figure out that some amount of the 'bad stuff' is running off parking lots into the streets, too. We offer coverage on what has to be the most anticipated sweeper making startup in recent years, Mark Schwarze's new Victory Sweepers, Inc. His parking lot sweeper debut was met with an enthusiastic response at the company's recent open house, and word on the lot is that his decision to provide the first 5-year warranty ever on his new parking lot sweeper already has made his old company plan to match that warranty length on at least some of their models. This past summer seemed to be one of the busiest ever for contractors, so I decided to include as one of our articles a humor story about business info they don't teach in college courses. I encourage all of you reading this to think about what you may have experienced during the course or running your business that we can add to our store of 'It's a Funny Business' topics. I know the stories are out there, so just let me know what kinds of funny situations you've run into, eh? Also, if you're a contractor and haven't yet gotten an account in our Contractor Locator section, you're missing a bet. Our Yahoo and Google PPC ad campaigns are bringing lots of traffic into that area of the site, mostly property managers that are letting their keyboards do the walking instead of using the more traditional yellow book for that task. For as little as $70 a year your company can have a listing in that area of the WorldSweeper.com website. Just choose 'Compare Memberships' to see what each level gets you. It's a great value and, importantly, helps keep the lights on here at WorldSweeper.com. Clearly the national sweeping service aggregators are changing the marketplace. That's probably the hottest topic I now get calls on. Most are contractors calling with questions or stories about working with the companies who have gotten retail store chains to sign a national or regional contract for sweeping services. As you'll read with the Symbiot article, all is not rosy in that regard. In the coming weeks we plan to interview some of the other players in this market, as well. As always, if you have a sweeping-related need just let me know. I'll try to assist in any way I can. I routinely reference WorldSweeper.com articles and studies, provide information from my "Fundamentals of the Power Sweeping Business," manual and put contractors and city officials in touch with others who may have answers to their information needs. If you have additional information on any of the topics we cover -- or need more -- let me know. I'll be glad to help if at all possible. By the way, if you're not yet a naPSa member, we are still offering you an incentive to do so. For a limited time, when you become a member you'll get a $50 discount on any Contractor Locator listing here at WorldSweeper.com. If you like what you read in this newsletter or on the website, be sure to thank the advertisers who sponsored it. The only way for them to know you appreciate their support of WorldSweeper.com is to tell them!
Good Sweeping!
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Whew, I find myself sliding this month's newsletter in under the wire. Although it was all but completed two weeks ago, I was felled by an ailment that turned out to involve goings-on under a crown molar. Now that I'm back in the saddle, so to speak, it's almost November. Funny (not!) how things can be going so smoothly one minute and become so different the next!
