Take in the old, send out the new Use safety promotion to sell replacement decks

fN ronev's BUSTNESS ENVIRoNMENT, every retailer is lookling for an edge on how to achieve added value. This month presents a stellar opportunity to present yourself to the community as the lumberyard that cares. Get picked up by local media without big advertising bucks.

How? May is Deck Safety Month. You can reach out to the community and offer some inspection and building tips along with an incentive for homeowners to choose this month to undertake that deck repair, replacement, or even a new project.

In an effort to save lives and prevent injuries, the North American Deck & Railing Association declared May as Deck Safety Month in 2006. Now in its fifth year, the Deck Safety Month program helps increase public awareness of the necessity for regular inspection and maintenance of existing decks, and proper installation of new decks.

To take advantage of Deck Safety Month, you will need to line up a few things, but it's not difficult. First, you will need a really big, freighrsize trash bin.

Next, a nice little press release announcing your event.

Let the community know that you are offering to take their demolished deck materials off their hands for free, and even better, you will present them with a coupon for 5Vo to lOVa off decking materials in your store.

Not only are you helping the consumer, but you also have an opportunity to help your contractor base and the local economy. You can invite your trusted deck contractors to be present at your event to be available to advise your customers and solicit business.

A deck can be the perfect place to spend time enjoying the weather with friends and family. A well-built and maintained deck offers a safe haven for outdoor living. However, an improperly built or deteriorated structure can mean disaster. A deck collapse can cause avoidable, often serious injuries, and even death. Between 2000 and 2008, there were at least 30 deaths reported as a direct result of deck collapses. More than 75Vo of people on a deck when it collapses are injured or killed.

With 40 million decks in the U.S. that are more than 20 years old, it's important for homeowners to check their deck. The reasons for a deck collapsing range from age of the deck, poor maintenance, exceeding load capacity, to improper building methods. Deck failures can be avoided. It's a matter of making the consumer aware of the necessity of choosing a professional deck contractor, regular maintenance and inspection, and knowing the limits of the deck structure.

Your event will kill two birds with one stone-you will gain customers and customer loyalty, and also help rid your community of potentially dangerous decks. As a plus, your lumberyard gets to be in the media as the good guy for supporting deck safety through this special offer. You might even be able to get one or two of your deck industry suppliers to cough up a little discount on their end to help out. Everybody can use a little good PR now and then. By participating in Deck Safety Month, you are performing a huge public service at minimal cost.

By MichaelT. Coergen f r. Society of American Foresters