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30 easy ways
to cut costs without cutting service
BY MATT MICHEL
It’s impossible to save your way to prosperity.
It’s dangerous to even try since it creates an atmosphere of scarcity.
Instead of looking for opportunity, you start defending against loss,
practically guaranteeing it.
Nevertheless, when your costs rise and your customers act frightened,
it’s not bad to patch a few profit leaks. In truth, you should patch
profit leaks in good times as well as bad. It’s like weeding your
garden. It requires constant attention.
Just make sure you don’t cut back on the fertilizer. Don’t cut your
marketing. Don’t cut your sales force. Don’t cut your moneymakers.
In fact, when sales are hard to find, you should invest more in finding
sales.
Based on a Service Roundtable checklist of 129 simple ways contractors
can boost the bottom line without changing the top line was referenced
to prepare this list of 30 easy ways to cut costs without cutting
service. Some suggestions you will already do. Some may not apply.
Yet others will.
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Plumbing
industry forms research coalition
BY ROBERT P. MADER
WASHINGTON — Five major industry groups and
associations have joined forces to conduct basic research on water
conservation, addressing issues such as drainline carry research for
high efficiency toilets, non-water-using urinals, sizing of water
efficient plumbing systems, and safe applications for re-use of water.
The Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors – National Association,
International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials,
International Code Council, Alliance for Water Efficiency and the
Plumbing Manufacturers Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding at
the Offices of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
Stephen Johnson at the beginning of January.
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Plumbing
forecast dreery, but green is cheery
BY CANDACE ROULO
CHICAGO — The 2009 business forecast for many plumbing
companies is bleak — plumbing contractors will continue to cut costs
in 2009 in order to weather the worsening national economy. However,
despite this economic downturn, plumbing companies with green products
and technologies have forecasted a steady and possible increase in
business this year.
"Like many companies, we had hoped that 2008 would be the bottom of
the cycle, and we would see slow and steady improvement in business
conditions in 2009,” said Don Devine, chief executive officer of
American Standard Brands. “Unfortunately, the credit crisis and the
ensuing drop in consumer confidence suggest that the first half of 2009
will be weaker than the first half of 2008, and we won't be able to call
the second half of 2009 until we see more progress in the markets and
understand the full agenda of the new administration.”
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for the full story
GreenPlumbers
introduce training program
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — In early 2009, GreenPlumbers will
launch its Train the Trainer program, which is a five-part, 40-hour
course, enabling participants to become certified GreenPlumber program
trainers.
Open to associations, universities, technical schools, unions, trade
groups and other organizations, the Train the Trainer program is an
effective way to deliver GreenPlumbers training courses faster and more
frequently to areas throughout North America.
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for the full story
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