BY AL SCHWARTZ
When you run a business, any business, it sometimes seems like you are being nibbled to death by ducks. We are always on the lookout for the "big things" that will bring us asunder; cash flow, late payment, insurance increases, fuel costs, material cost increases, payroll issues and the like. The reality is that the little things that can go wrong, consistently, are a much greater cause for concern. Why? Because they bleed profit and operating capital at a slow rate and, because they do so at that slow rate, we don’t pay much attention to them.
As an example, while we might be worrying about that $10,000 check that is due on the first of the month, not paying attention to the inventory in your service trucks can cost you that much or more annually. Have you ever had a service mechanic sell an item off his truck at a price less than it cost because he didn’t have pricing information for it?
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MORTON, PA. -- During an economic crunch and the warmer-than-usual heating season this winter, why is Oliver Heating, Cooling & Plumbing giving away free heaters this winter? And why would the employees volunteer their valuable weekend time to install these units?
The answer lies in their company’s purpose statement: To Treat Others the Way They Would Like to be Treated. They take the Golden Rule seriously and in fact, this timeless core belief is their company’s mission statement.
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ONTARIO, CALIF. – The RPA (formerly known as the Radiant Panel Association, Inc.) will officially be joining the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) effective this month. The move, along with an official name change to the Radiant Professionals Alliance, was formally and officially ratified by RPA membership by a strong majority of affirmative votes on Dec. 5th.
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BY CANDACE ROULO
TRENTON, N.J. — Fire sprinkler systems could soon be required in all new homes built in New Jersey. Just this past November, the New Jersey Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee passed Bill A3278, requiring fire suppression systems in one- and two-family homes. Now the bill heads to New Jersey’s Full Assembly. Senate bill S-2287 is also up for consideration.
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CHICAGO — In January the Plumbing Efficiency Research Coalition (PERC) is undertaking a research study on building drainline performance that will analyze the potential for blockages resulting from the use of reduced flow water closets in commercial buildings and evaluate the use of higher volume flush valve discharges at intermittent intervals as a way to effectively clear drainlines. The research will be done at an American Standard testing facility under the supervision of PERC.
According to Charles R. White, PERC member and vice president of technical and code services at Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors — National Association, it is important this study is done because the industry will gain practical knowledge of efficient flow applications.
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