Roundtable results

Mike Hughes

Former Board Administrator
So, how did the meetings go?? I was unable to attend ours because my two year old had a 103 degree fever and fun stuff like that. I was bummed. See you in October.
 
The Stockton meeting went very well, we had 32 people at the event-we ran out of donuts. The real number was 3-The Wizard-Bryan Stamos and myself. We just talked about common issues. Some of those issues were workers comp., employee situations, equipment and other concerns.

We decided to meet again in a few months and each will bring one more company. This is just a start of a local network that can benefit all that on the same page.


David:p
 
Scottsdale in my opinion was a good start, 9 total interested guys there, that includes Ron.

Strange thing about this group is all of us do flat work for a living, not one there did any other type of PWing.

I look forward to more meetings and more productive ones on a larger scale, hopefully the PWers in So. Calif. will be a bit more trusting of each other and come out of hiding.

Would I go to AZ again if none held here, YES, why, because none of the guys had any fear of their competitiors, and for all doing the same type of work that is a big plus.
 
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Who's hiding?
 
Hiding??

Not hiding, just very busy.

As for my competitors, LUV'EM ALL............
 
Grant and Chuck,

You two are out in the open, as is Kendra and a couple more here but let's face facts, there are perhaps 200+ pressure washers in the Greater Los Angeles area alone.

How many are fully legal is anyone's guess they lurk on the boards yet would never join or post on any board, why is beyong me, I feel the more we all know and work together in some ways the better, what in part this whole Roundtable thing is about, NETWORKING together for many things. (That is my opinion anyway and I would like to see these more then twice a year).

I believe you scratch my back I scratch yours. Someday someone in the same line of work as each of us might need some help and I would help that person knowing he/she would return the favor someday.
 
Jon

The beauty of any bulletin board is it offers a place to share knowledge and ideas and sometimes there's actually something you see on here that will help you immensly.

I may be naive but I never really give much thought to people (competitors) who come as guests and take whatever they can get without contributing anything. I actually posted the names of 2 places I wash at on this board early on and a member emailed me with some reasons why he thought I shouldn't have done that. After thinking about it for a few minutes I decided this guy was right and I edited that post and came away with a lesson.
Guests coming onto the BB and taking ideas and maybe hoping to get somebodies account is just a byproduct of the BB and there's not much that can be done about that.

As for being in the same room with 11 Flat Washers lol I wish I would have been there now. I had my very first experience with Flat work friday night and what a mess it turned out to be. To make a long story short, I completely shorted out the electricity of 2 businesses (part of the work was the storefront), had water going EVERYWHERE, had the wrong soap, and a cop tripped over my water hose which I had to run right accross the front of a busy 7-11. I don't know how you guys do it LOL.

Glad you enjoyed the meeting Jon. I want to go to Vegas in October and see the PWNA show.
 
Hey Chuck, If you go to Vegas in October you will have about four months to wait - the fall show is in Pittsburg.

The Philly show went well, we had five companies represented with a total of 12 people. We shared Ideas and had a good time. We mostly discussed deck cleaning and house washing - chemicals used, marketing, procedure and helpful tips. As I expected, Beth was the marketing expert - She had a great deal to offer.

Though the event was a success the venue was not a good choice (I can say that because I picked the place - sorry gang). The next meeting should take place at less crowded place - maybe even a meeting room.

I would say it was very worth the while to attend and everyone should plan on attending the next event.

Tim
 
photo from phoenix meeting

From left to right. Donnie(ABC) Mike(sergents)Tim(propowerwash)Trace(propowerwash) Ron M.(Propowerwash) Jon (oasis)Adam(arizona Mobile)

we had a total of 9 in attendance. Scott & anotehr good friend wanted to attend one had jobs call and the other mother was hospitalized.

Two others where present and chose not to be in the photo.
 

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Tim and all those that pick meeting places, ask also if the music and other noises would be heard in the area you will meet. It does distract from the talks and I say that not just because of my deafness but even those that hear perfect are distracted by it.



Chuck,

If you have a large account that wants the concrete cleaned give me a call, we can work it out and both make $$.

Jon
 
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Hell I was all set to go to Vegas in October until Tim set me straight.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for you Jon, or should I start calling you "Paladin"? ha!!!
 
Hi all!
Rod and I thoroughly enjoyed the Pa. meeting. It was great meeting folks, and talking about the business. It's very energizing to do that this time of year.

Tim you are far too kind.... I enjoyed hearing what others are doing about marketing and advertising too. It's a great way to come up with new ideas and improve things you are currently doing.

It was great meeting Tim, Shawn, Tom, and seeing Alex again.
Mike, we all missed you but look forward to seeing you next time. You were certainly where we would have been under the circumstances. Hope the fever has gone down.

Beth & Rod
:) :)
 
Beth,

Thanks, but actually, we had to take him to the emergency room early Sunday morning, and he was then admitted to the hospital. Just brought him home an hour ago (Monday afternoon). He'll be fine.

Thanks again,

Mike
 
I attended the St. Charles (St. Louis) round table and it was Great! It was nice to meet others that are in the business. I find this industry to be extremely exciting. Its like the industry is on the ground level - example, Landscaping business 20yrs ago. With these meetings, we can help determine the image of this industry.

I would like to see a set agenda for all round tables the next time and all data compiled and distributed by email to all that attended. I would like to form a local organization here in Missouri and work toward common goals. This will give us a voice. Our local organization could work with PWNA. Why rebuild the wheel. What I have learn about the PWNA and their new direction, I would be glad to join if there are benefits to my business. Example - if the PWNA could offer liability insurance, health insurance, etc. I would like the PWNA advertise more, where as if I was a member, I could put the PWNA logo on my mail-outs, business cards, etc and people would recognize the logo and say "This is a professional organization if they are a member of PWNA". I am a member of ASHI (American Standard of Home Inspectors) and when people see their logo on by business stuff - it means that my company is Certified and follows a Standard of Practice (Ethics).

This round table is an awesome idea! Sharing information will bring everybody on the same page and increase what a pressure washing contractor can make.

Think about it - It would our benefit to bring in our competition and teach them about quality chemicals and processes. If they are playing by the same rules, the playing field is equal. If an individual gets 4 or 5 estimates and all the estimates are in the same ball park except for that one low baller, then the customer is willing to pay for quality and that low baller is consider to be a fly by night monkey with a water hose and his estimate is thrown in the trash. The more contractors that are performing quality work and representing the industry in a positive manner, the more we all can charge. This is Marketing 101 & Business 101 all wrap up in one. I am not talking about Price Fixing, thats a loose term - I am talking about standardization. Different parts of the country is different - thats why local organizations under one national organization can make a difference.

The more we organize, the stronger our voice. Either big business controls us or we control big business. Its like politics, if one voter calls in a complaint or would like to see something happen vs an organize group full of votes (Votes being our $ spent on equipment, chemicals, insurance, etc) - Who will get the most attention on their issues? Example - If a chemical manufacture gets a call from me expressing my concerns - when it comes down to it, if the maufacture does not want to hear it, they loose one customer, that if I can find what I need somewhere else. If a represenative from a organize group calls, the manufacture can loose the business of 20, 30, 100, or thousands. Bottom line, the contractors of this industry will benefit.

Once again - I say lets rally around the PWNA - Just have more say in whats going on.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall! The good ole American way.

Thanks
Tim
 
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It was good to put names and faces together at our meeting in St. Louis. Randy and I enjoyed the interaction and the discussion about an eclectic collection of PW topics.

In October (though that's our 2nd biggest month and it'll be really hard for us to get away then) I'd like to see a set agenda based on the interests of the folks who'll be there.

Dave Olson, thanks for taking the time to drive all the way to St. Louis. We enjoyed spending time with you and picking your brain about the commercial side of the business and industry history.

Laurie
 
Hi Laurie,

Glad we had the chance to meet at the St. Louis roundtable.

Hope I can get more folks together closer to home for the next meeting! Round trip was just under 500 miles!

Dave Olson
 
Hi Ron,

I'm kinda out in the sticks, but sure I could host a meeting.

Dave Olson
 
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