[View Point] Be a Good Neighbor

If a friend stopped by your home to lend a helping hand with some yardwork would you thank him for his thoughtfulness? If a fellow church member dropped you a note upon learning that you had recently lost your job, would you acknowledge this gift of compassion? If you’re like most people, the answer to each of the above questions is "Yes." Then why doesn’t the same hold true for many of our business relationships, particularly as it relates to the basic manufacturers serving the pest management industry? These folks invest hundreds of thousands of dollars every year in a variety of "outreach" efforts ranging from training programs and conference sponsorships to sales and marketing support, all designed to strengthen our industry. Yet too often their efforts are overlooked or underappreciated.

Over the years, we’ve come to expect that manufacturers will invest whatever is necessary to secure the future of the industry and provide us with the technology necessary to provide high-quality, environmentally sound pest management services. After all, as multi-national corporations they have substantial financial resources at their disposal, don’t they? While that may be true, it ignores the fact that these "specialty" businesses are relatively modest operations in the big scheme of things, often run by a small group of dedicated professionals with limited people and financial resources.

Now, I’m not naive enough to think that these outreach efforts are completely altruistic in nature. The fact of the matter is these companies are interested in selling you product, so they’re going to do whatever they can to endear themselves to you and your company. That’s simply good business. Yet that doesn’t mean that we should expect these value-added services. The fact of the matter is they come at a financial and people cost to the basic manufacturers — a cost that is not insignificant. And just because the industry has always benefited from these outreach/stewardship efforts in the past, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re always going to be provided in the future.

So take a moment to reflect on the longtime contributions of the industry’s basic manufacturers and offer a sincere "thank you" the next time they sponsor an industry event, underwrite the cost of a speaker, provide training to your employees, or assist your company’s sales and marketing efforts. In other words, be a good "neighbor." It’s the least we can do given the critical role manufacturers play in protecting the health and well-being of the pest management industry.

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I’d like to express my appreciation to Editor Jodi Dorsch, Internet Editor Brad Harbison and Art Director Andrea Vagas for the role they played in making PCT one of the most honored industry trade magazines at the Press Club of Cleveland Awards competition. I couldn’t be prouder of each of them, key members of a talented staff that boasts more than 50 years of combined industry experience.

The author is publisher of PCT magazine.