My business model for the PWNA

[PressurePros]

I'm going to post this in a few spots to see what type of feedback comes of it. I have a vision for what a good org can be. Anyhow, this is how the pipe dream goes.

It definitely makes more sense to rebuild an existing infrastructure with more qualified management than for a new group to try and haphazardly put something entirely new together.
I'm still of the same mentality that others have mentioned. The US was built colony by colony, state by state. Three and four subchapters could be setup in each state with regular meetings. I would get involved with and pay dues to something I could participate in locally. I wouldn't mind meeting in someone's shop once per month. You get 15 guys per chapter that pay $195 and multiply that out and now you are talking about taking $350,000+ per year in membership dues.

Who Benefits?

The founders of the local chapters will probably have shops that sell products. These should be guys that are established and have enough customer count to recruit new members. If I am somewhere once a month that sells what I need, chances are I am going to buy my stuff there. That in itself would motivate local vendors to become involved and stay on top of their chapter. Everyone benefits and it’s done innocuously.
Small groups are manageable, marketable and are easy to organize.
Flood in New Hope PA? That's Tom Vogel's ACR group from Southeast PA. Tom calls a meeting to see how his group can get in there and mobilize cleanup efforts. The PWNA uses its national status to make the right connections. When word gets out that PressurePros billed $30,000 in 7 days as part of this endeavor solely because they were a PWNA contractor, that is wicked publicity that will drive membership and will not cost a dime. The flood gates (no pun intended) for Tom open up. He can sponsor training, schools, certifications etc. Now imagine, there are 120-200 PWNA chapter presidents around the country doing the same thing and all kicking back money to the parent organization. Tom's making money, so guess what? He can offer his members that new rig they need for much less money. Now I don't have to scan the internet looking for the best price and, a local businessman thrives. The PWNA is making the money it needs survive. It’s WIN/WIN

The Hierarchy

Now with local branches established and self-supporting, the PWNA has funds for its leadership to make maneuvers. They can now launch campaigns in key cities with mass direct mailing. They can take out newspaper ads. They can help fund local campaigns put together by the chapters. They can integrate with other industries and set national standards that homeowner's and management companies will follow. Soon, it becomes almost crazy for a pressure washing contractor not to join. PWNA members get all the jobs. This can work for residential as well as commercial. Management companies and corporations want to push the easy button. They would naturally gravitate towards and trust a national org name.
How will it be organized? The top level management will have short terms in position that have to be voted upon by all members. If you have been in a position for six months and cannot perform.. see ya, we have 150 local chapter presidents waiting in the wings to fill your shoes.
Fifteen local companies in a chapter can dominate a market. I'm not talking about price fixing. I'm talking about an organized message parlayed to the world that we are the guys to hire. Each group can have a member that specializes in certain arenas. Marketing, business planning, selling etc. Having that alone will make the $195 membership fee worth its wait in gold. I'll teach you how to market if you teach me how to hire and keep employees. That sort of thing. Anybody that has been to a round table knows how valuable networking and talking to other contractors is. John Tornabene, you were on the right track when you asked if an org could form its roots with round tables. I say, definitely.
The PWNA as a parent org has to be kept accessible. No more back room clandestine meetings. No more questionable theories about the internet being evil and the BBS’s only making up small share of the overall market. Ever hear the saying 80% of your business comes from 20% of your clients. The people on the BBS’s are the ones that care about their businesses. These are the people that would first join and lead something like this. There needs to be a strong informational portal. That portal is a website. If something cannot be discussed openly and with debate in public, there is something sneaky or questionable about it. That’s my opinion anyway.

How Do We Get It Started?

BABY STEPS. I'm not knocking anybody past, present or future. There is noone out there in this industry or any other that is qualified to build this thing from the top down. Don Phelps mentioned it on PWI and he is right. Celeste for CPW has taken the first action. I'm sure she will stumble, as there is no business model for her to follow.
The other alternative for the PWNA is to forge ahead with the same modalilty as previous. Someone better be willing to infuse a tremendous amount of money and time or, unfortunately, history will be repeated.

[Ron Musgraves]

Thats never happened because we have had one dist in control the entire time.

When I was involved with the PWNA I created the banner program and got 32 dist signed on.

After the BBS closed there was no reason and no support for the dist members.

The plan above is very good and its the most logic.

Now, how do they get out from under dist rein, Yet rely on them to be involved and benifit also.

In todays economy dist reach out further. The problem is none of them want to share are be apart.

[Ron Musgraves]

The round tables was also anther avenue I started that they have never done correct.

I think the round should run independant and involve the support or the PWNA and recruit members through the meetings.

Allow the round supporters to Involve the org and stilmulate the education. Possible a rep from the PWNA speaking and bringing something to each round table thats valuable.

[Beth n Rod]

Originally Posted by Ron Musgraves

When I was involved with the PWNA I created the banner program and got 32 dist signed on.

After the BBS closed there was no reason and no support for the dist members.

We did this as a committee, chaired by Mike Hinderliter. There were a number of us involved in it...



Beth

[Beth n Rod]

Originally Posted by Ron Musgraves

The round tables was also anther avenue I started that they have never done correct.

I think the round should run independant and involve the support or the PWNA and recruit members through the meetings.

Allow the round supporters to Involve the org and stilmulate the education. Possible a rep from the PWNA speaking and bringing something to each round table thats valuable.

Round tables were started by Robert Hinderliter, and were around for years....I will agree that you were the one who tried to get multiple cities to hold them the same time, and you did help to stimulate interest quite a bit. But Robert H began them. In fact as I recall from discussions, the PWNA spun off a round table event....


Beth

[Ron Musgraves]

My video response

[Don Phelps]

Miscon"screwed"???
Is that anything remotely like misconstrued?


For the record, here are some definitions of a "roundtable."
roundtable - definition of roundtable by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

In my opinion, the host of a roundtable can more or less dictate the definition of it on his/her own. It's their gig and no one else's.

[CarolinaProWash]

When I first started the Contractor Events concept in my head a year ago, I was trying to actually come up with a common definition of the various get-togethers, kind of categorize them. I actually sent the list to someone, just don't remember who? LOL

By memory MY (personal thing, I know how important that is!) definitions were:

Round Table - group of contractors meeting to discuss similar issues, no cost involved to contractor other than transportation, lodging & food if any were involved. No agenda, just talk.

Networking Event - Contractors, vendors, experts - a learning, seeing, networking event. Vendors foot larger portion of bill, minor expense to contractor to attend (if necessary). Everyone responsible for lodging, transportation. Food provided at event.

Educational Event - Same groups but with certifications or semi-certification or no certification but darn good class content, demos, networking, food. Cost to be determined by course content. Portions to be sponsored more financially by other than contractors.

What it all comes down to is networking and learning from each other is never a bad thing and whatever you want to call it, we just need to keep doing them.

Just my .02.

Celeste

[Ron Musgraves]

great points. it s all preference an opinion . thanks for confirmation .

[Ron Musgraves]

Originally Posted by CPW

When I first started the Contractor Events concept in my head a year ago, I was trying to actually come up with a common definition of the various get-togethers, kind of categorize them. I actually sent the list to someone, just don't remember who? LOL

By memory MY (personal thing, I know how important that is!) definitions were:

Round Table - group of contractors meeting to discuss similar issues, no cost involved to contractor other than transportation, lodging & food if any were involved. No agenda, just talk.

Networking Event - Contractors, vendors, experts - a learning, seeing, networking event. Vendors foot larger portion of bill, minor expense to contractor to attend (if necessary). Everyone responsible for lodging, transportation. Food provided at event.

Educational Event - Same groups but with certifications or semi-certification or no certification but darn good class content, demos, networking, food. Cost to be determined by course content. Portions to be sponsored more financially by other than contractors.

What it all comes down to is networking and learning from each other is never a bad thing and whatever you want to call it, we just need to keep doing them.

Just my .02.

Celeste

Its a great start for something larger, people need to pull together to make more of the profession.

[Beth n Rod]

Ron,
I'm not going to argue with you. I just gave some clarity to your context. It's pretty simple. There was a committee, it was not just one person working on the banners on the PWNA forums, and so it is fair to mention that. There were at least 5 of us, and I may be forgetting someone. This was back when the PWNA had some solid committees with members who cared doing good work as teams.

As for the round table beginnings, thanks for adding clarity, but as I said it was Robert H., and PWNA did spin off such an event. I am not sure how many there were prior to that, but my point was he was the creator - I was correcting your statement where you said it was you. (see post #3 in this thread) No one is discounting what you have done, in fact, I gave you props for all you HAVE done. You did quite a bit to revive them and to mass promote them. I simply felt it was important to clarify a couple of things.

Beth

p.s. Yes there are lots of things going on behind the scenes with PWNA right now. The office is moving. Vacant BOD seats are being addressed and a new ballot is being prepared by the nominating committee. A letter explaining what has transpired is being drafted by Paul H for distribution. There was a phone call ( 2 hours in length) that took place a couple of weeks back with Past Presidents and many former BOD members to help advise the association on its current challenges. Many of those who were invited to or participated on the call are involved in assisting the organization at this time. (yes - I was on the call)

[Beth n Rod]

Wow....talk about a blast from the past! I found an old email and a copy of some old minutes. It shows that work really does happen on committees and I for one hope that PWNA will see this type of help from members again in the future.....

Beth
p.s. see attached....

[Beth n Rod]

Originally Posted by Ron Musgraves

Now, how do they get out from under dist rein, Yet rely on them to be involved and benifit also.

I am not jumping on you Ron but making a point to every single person who has ever made the mistake of saying what you just did and the shortsightedness of what it entails.
This is the mindset that keeps things from working in the first place!!
There is no way an org will ever work without the backing of distributor/manufacturer participation. Contractors for the most part themselves are not willing to give as much time and most importantly $$$ without the ole "what's in it for me" and wanting everything handed to them without putting in the effort.
I have seen it in the past and this is a bone of contention for me when I see people say "lets get the vendors out of it". We have a symbiotic relationship and it is in our best interest to wake up to this fact quick! Without the vendors, we have no products, no equipment and no innovations to help us in our business to support our families.
I keep hearing "Oh, their making money off of it so I am not going to put any more money in to their pockets." This is ignorance at it's best. Since when is making money a problem to those of you who align with that statement? You have no problem making money but you are not willing to support those that made the means to do it possible?
The sooner we dump that attitude the better the results will be for all and the more an org will benefit all who are members of it.
We need the vendors and they need us, it is as simple as that. Anyone having a problem with a vendor making money off of them is a fool. Vendors offer us discounts and incentives to get our business and we repay them with "lets keep them from having any org control". As if we "the contractors" are impressing them with our control over it now.
Vendors own large successful forward moving corporations and make money off of more than just the small pw'ing companies. They make money off of large industry businesses who use their equipment, parts and accessories to make $$$$ and in the comparison, we are just a fraction of their business. Most see the distributor as an enemy who is making money off of them when in reality, they are offering us availability, convenience, and lower prices with their buying power. Things they pass onto us and to tell them they can't call any shots in a sandbox we are deluded into thinking is only ours?
Wake up people. We need each other and we should be able to work with each other on a level playing field otherwise, they have every right to take their toys and leave us to play with the sand we hold so dear. (which is exactly what they have done)

I would rather trust in a few large successful corporations to have a modicum of control over the org than the entire countries worth of small pw'ing companies where the attrition rate is around 20% a year. Ask the distributors and vendors how much comes back as "undeliverable" "vacant" "unable to forward" each year they try to reach out to their "customers".


Rod!~

[Ron Musgraves]

Rod, If i'm not mistaken? I was saying that.

Dist are needed, balance has to be assured.

[Ron Musgraves]

I would rather trust in a few large successful corporations to have a modicum of control over the org than the entire countries worth of small pw'ing companies where the attrition rate is around 20% a year. Ask the distributors and vendors how much comes back as "undeliverable" "vacant" "unable to forward" each year they try to reach out to their "customers".

Thats a true statement, I have purchased over 15 units from guys out of business in the last five years.

Our dist put two guys a week in business on average. I'll bet more than that are leaving.

Those numbers are any business, People go out of business all the time.