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Kevin Gilbride is the Exec Director of ASCA Organisation in the US which represents Contractors performing ice and snow management services. He recently wrote an article which appeared in magazines etc talking about the top 3 recurring challenges/pressures being seen by their members.

Forget the service being performed and just read his views. The parallels are there - he could be talking about any of us in the UK. These are topics that WE need to understand and discuss in The Hub:

1/ The state of contractors... right now
The perception out there is that there are two types of contractors operating in our industry. There are those who expect things to happen, and those that make things happen. (italics mine - Gary)

Yes, you need to have snow and ice to perform our service. But in the interim, what are you doing?

Complaining? Streamlining your operations? Closing up shop? Furthering educating yourself, your crew and your customers? Letting dust settle? Updating -- or better yet, creating -- your long-term business plan ?

Remember, those who remain idle stay right where they’re at, while those in constant motion end up somewhere.

2. Pricing
This is maybe the No. 1 complaint in the market -- any market, for that matter.

First, let me say that in my years working in the snow and green industries I can’t remember a time when contractors haven’t had a beef with the current pricing structures.

Has anyone ever uttered the phrase, “Wow, we really should give some of this money back... We’re charging way too much” ?

Margins will always be tight for small business owners and entrepreneurs; it’s the reality of what separates you from the big corporate entities and/or the small newcomers you battle against each and every season.

This is not exclusive to the snow industry. However, when successful business people tell their stories, nearly every time they say something to the fact that it’s their competitors who push them to be better. (italics mine - Gary)

Don’t let pricing be a convenient excuse or debilitating crutch.

3. Liability
It’s a catch-all for insurance, slip-and-fall and frivolous lawsuits. Yes, they are the bane of our industry. They are unjust. They are out of control. I don’t think I’ve meet a single professional snow and ice manager who doesn’t have story about one or all of those issues.

However, don’t let this be your snow operation’s Achilles’ heel. You can fight back through education and proper documentation procedures. (italics mine - Gary)

Now, it may sound like I’m beating a dead horse, but here it goes... join the ASCA (ascaonline.org)... get certified (ASCA-C)... get involved.

Okay, you know how to get a hold of me (kgilbride@gie.net) if you have more questions.

Summary

No one has the power to make it snow. If we did, well, we’d probably be dangerous.

Seriously, though, what you can do is empower yourself to be more proficient and efficient business leaders.

You can take actions today that can have a profound effect on your ability to be successful in the future.

First published : January 2013 | SnowMagazineOnline.com