North American Sweeper - December 2022

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• No CDL required to operate

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• Backed by strong and established dealer network LEARN MORE TODAY

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SWEEPER GUYS:

Eco-Friendly Street Sweeping with a Technological Edge

There are many street-sweeping companies across this great nation, and all of them have their own unique value propositions, even if it’s just a matter of presentation style. Sweeper Guys of Costa Mesa, California are completely unique in their industry. In the early days of their rise to prominence in the Costa Mesa street sweeping business, they made a name for themselves as the go-to sweepers for homeowners associations. Naturally, this placed them in high demand among a dedicated and very demanding demographic.

But the corporate demographic has long been the most dedicated and most appreciative client type for street sweepers. This is due to the fact that local businesses and corporations have a direct and vested interest in the appearance of their building exteriors. Of course, you may be thinking that HOAs do as well, and they certainly do. But the corporate sector is far more

willing to pay for clean parking lots since there is a measurable benefit to their bottom lines. So, like any good business, Sweeper Guys turned their attention to their most appreciative clientele.

Founded in 2014, the history of Sweeper Guys could be represented by an arc with a sharp curve in it. In a short amount of time, they transformed from the HOA sweepers to their current primary value proposition: ecologically sound street sweeping.

ECO-FRIENDLY STREET SWEEPING WITH A TECHNOLOGICAL EDGE

Sweeper Guys have leveraged some very innovative tools and techniques to make them oe of the greenest street-sweeping outfit we’ve ever heard of.

On the surface, it sounds simple. They use mobile technology and specialized apps to manage all of their dispatching in the most efficient way possible. It’s a form of information technology that was actually perfected in the city streets of places like Las Vegas, Singapore, Charlotte, London, Barcelona, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

When applied to traffic control on a city level, this

In a short amount of time, they transformed from the HOA sweepers to their current primary value proposition: ecologically sound street sweeping.

tech is used to reduce traffic congestion and emissions. The Juniper Research group estimates that by 2025, this type of tech could save cities like the ones listed above as much as $277 billion each.

All of their trucks are equipped with two sets of GPS from two different companies. That way, if one breaks down, they can still track and manage their routes for optimal efficiency. Their main objective is to mark where they have swept and where they have not so that they don’t repeat their work. Sure, it sounds pretty simple, but the estimated cost savings in fuel and supplies alone is enough to fund some smaller street-sweeping companies.

But that’s not where their tech assets end. Sweeper Guys also equip all of their trucks with 360 onboard camera surveillance. They use these for quality assurance and for safety. As you can imagine, a single incident with a street

sweeper could result in litigation costs that could put the average street sweeping company out of business for good. Not surprisingly, this also saves them on the cost of their monthly insurance premiums. At the end of the day, it is all about efficiency, and that contributes to their eco-friendly status.

The apps they use are monitored on tablet computers tied to the locations of each truck. Each crew sees a full-color map of the entire service area. The streets on the map that have been swept are marked in red and the streets that still need to be swept are marked in green. As you might imagine, some trucks probably occasionally sweep locations that other crews have swept. But not so, because their tablets and apps are all interconnected, when one crew sweeps a street, the street gets marked and displayed so that all the other crews can see it.

This gives them the ability to plan and coordinate routes in the most efficient way possible. A single contract location, for example, might be halfway in between the service area for two different crews. By following dispatch instructions, they might even split a neighborhood between them and still never duplicate their work! But the tech doesn’t even stop there.

PROTECTING COSTA MESA’S RESPIRATORY HEALTH

Sweeper Guys also carry advanced dust control systems, and the reasons for it might be somewhat startling. It is a poorly understood fact that automobile emissions are chock full of heavy metal dust that is highly toxic to breathe.

When you see your neighbors using leaf blowers and kicking up clouds of street dust, it’s full of platinum, aluminum, and steel. Once those substances settle into

your lungs, they don’t come out. Ever. So Sweeper Guys don’t let their machines kick up dust. It’s a level of common courtesy that goes above and beyond to better the environment.

Sources

https://sweeperguys.com/street-sweeper-st-clean/ https://blog.goodvisionlive.com/6-smart-cities-that-get-trafficcontrol-right https://www.linkedin.com/company/sweeper-guys/about/

Equipment Financing Advice: 25-Years in the Making

It’s a new year, and we’re cautiously optimistic that 2023 will bring a more stable approach to business. What do we mean by that? 2020 and most of 2021 kept us knee-deep in changes due to the pandemic, and 2022 brought no less than nine interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, including price increases at the grocery store, gas pump, and everywhere else. The aftershock of this shake-up certainly took a toll on businesses.

We’ve learned over the past few years that our customers are resilient and smart business owners, overcoming challenges some retired owners didn’t experience throughout their lifetime. Since Oakmont Capital Services (OCS) is celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, we’re here to offer a few tips we’ve amassed over the years to help you thrive in 2023.

WHY CONSIDER COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT FINANCING?

Financing equipment is a savvy way to build commercial credit, increase cash flow, and ensure you get the equipment needed to run your business today, especially amid shortages and inventory backlogs. For 25 years, Oakmont Capital Services (OCS) has helped small-to-medium-sized businesses with equipment financing, and we’ve seen it all. In some industries, like paving and sweeping, where cash is often king, we advise customers to take out a business loan because building commercial credit is critical to long-term longevity and success.

Let’s consider two real-life scenarios that have come across the desks of OCS’ finance professionals:

For 25 years, Oakmont Capital Services (OCS) has helped small-to-medium-sized businesses with equipment financing, and we’ve seen it all.

SCENARIO A: PAVING ABC

Paving ABC has been in business for 20 years but utilizes cash for most used equipment purchases. The owner is now ready to expand operations and needs newer equipment to build their fleet. The cash reserves aren’t available to purchase multiple new pieces of equipment, plus keep money in the coffers. So, Paving ABC is considering financing for the first time.

The challenge is that Paving ABC has little to no credit history. When applying for a commercial (or business)

loan, a history of payments is necessary to secure a loan and credit history impacts the interest rate – the better a business’ credit, the better the terms. Although Paving ABC might still qualify for a loan, the owner will likely encounter less desirable terms than expected for a company in business for two decades.

including understanding realistic terms and ensuring your lender reports to a credit bureau (not all do). Even if your business didn’t start building credit on day one, it’s never too late.

HOW CAN FINANCING BENEFIT MY BUSINESS COME TAX TIME?

SCENARIO B: SWEEPING 123

Sweeping 123 has been in business for ten years and began with one piece of used equipment financed through OCS. The owner began building a commercial credit profile with his first piece of equipment. Over the course of the 48-months he paid off his machine, he began to build business credit, which was reported to a credit bureau (Paynet) by OCS.

When Sweeping 123 landed a contract with a local school district, they needed to purchase a newer sweeper. Working with OCS, the owner secured a lower-rate loan based on their credit history and negotiated payment terms due to his geography and the seasonality of his work. Using equipment financing, Sweeping 123 built business credit, obtained the equipment needed to expand operations, and kept cash flow for expenses like payroll, fuel, maintenance, utilities, and more in the black.

Moral of the story? Creating a solid credit profile is attainable, but expectations must be managed,

OCS works with many small-to-medium businesses, so we’re always considering what our customers can do to run a more efficient and profitable business. Did you know that purchasing equipment (and utilizing financing) can help your business’ bottom line? One way to offset costs is to utilize Section 179 during tax season. This section of the IRS Tax Code allows small to mediumsized businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment bought or financed during the tax year, subtracted from the businesses’ gross income. Although your business might not be eligible for Section 179 for this year’s tax returns, consider a purchase before the end of 2023 to offset next year’s taxes.

Section 179 allows businesses to buy both new and used machinery and vehicles. The deduction limit and spending cap have increased over the years, and the bonus depreciation stands at 100 percent. If you’re interested in learning more, contact your tax advisor regarding the specific impact on your business and whether this write-off makes sense for your bottom line. Want a quick “back of the napkin” calculation on how Section 179 can work for you? Check out OCS’ Section 179 calculator: https://oakmontfinance.com/section179-calculator/

HOW CAN OCS HELP?

We want small-to-medium-sized businesses to succeed in today’s often uncertain, always competitive landscape. OCS offers a streamlined equipment financing process, and we understand the machines used in the sweeping and paving industries. Our dedicated finance professionals specializing within your industry will gladly guide you through the finance

Creating a solid credit profile is attainable, but expectations must be managed, including understanding realistic terms and ensuring your lender reports to a credit bureau...

process or answer any preliminary questions you have before applying for a loan. With over two decades of working with business owners, we know your time is valuable and that excellent service matters. Reach out to us anytime. We Make It Possible.

Keara M. Piekanski, MBA, is the Director of Marketing at Oakmont Capital Services (OCS), a direct commercial equipment finance lender. She has nearly two decades of experience in B2B and B2C marketing, working in both the agency and corporate worlds. She has developed strategic plans, implemented multi-media tactics, and built marketing teams that have driven business growth. At OCS, Keara leads, manages, and directs the overall corporate marketing strategy. Keara can be reached at kpiekanski@ oakmontfinance.com.

Michael McElroy, CLFP, is Director of Business Development at Oakmont Capital Services

Michael has established multiple national manufacturer financing programs and created unique solutions to help vendors sell more equipment. His customers appreciate his commitment to personal service and his desire to form long-term relationships in the industries that he serves, including sweeping and paving. Michael can be reached at mmcelroy@oakmontfinance.com.

The OCS team in both Pennsylvania and Minnesota are passionate about helping fuel business growth for their customers and partners. For 25 years, Oakmont Capital Services (OCS) has helped owners across various industries – including sweeping and paving – finance the equipment needed to run small to medium-sized businesses. OCS provides fast, easy, flexible, and reliable commercial financing with a streamlined, tech-forward approach.

International Sweeper Summit a Success in Tampa

The International Sweeper Summit & Equipment Expo concluded October 28th at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa and was the largest attended event to date. This year’s event was open to all contractors, municipalities, and professionals in the sweeping industry. Schwarze Industries, the Title Sponsor for a third year as well as this year’s Title Sponsor for the annual golf outing, continues to be a major supporter of the Summit. Joe Hendrickson, VP of Sales & Marketing for Schwarze says “We are honored to be included in the Sweeper Summit. Although we are a sponsor, we are treated like a partner. Schwarze believes this business model is positively contributing to a sustainable future for the sweeping industry. As a manufacturer, it is very important that we are welcomed into the meetings during the Summit and can apply what we learn to future innovation for our industry.”

There were some new features added to the show this year. The most impactful being the introduction of the Sweeper Summit App which was a valuable tool during the 3-day event. Attendees and exhibitors were able to view the schedule of events, receive live updates on sessions, as well as communicate with each other. The App will be accessible all year as announcements and updates on next year’s Summit in Las Vegas will be communicated via the new tool. “We are really excited to roll out our new App, it has been a great organizing tool for everyone attending the Summit”, says Carolyn Bell, Program Director of the International Sweeper Summit. “The App not only allows everyone to access the event schedule, and receive announcements, but it also provides resort maps, exhibitor information and a photo wall to post pictures from the event. We see this as a tool that we can utilize throughout the year, not just for the Sweeper Summit.”

Another new feature at this year’s event was the addition of the Summit SWEEPstakes; a game promoting attendees’ interaction with exhibitors, accessible from the App. Attendees completed a series of entertaining activities and engaged with exhibitors in a competition to earn the most points, with the winning contestant taking home a $1000 cash prize and 2nd place taking home $500. “The Summit SWEEPstakes was a fun way for attendees to interact with all the exhibitors.” says Ben Steyer, Executive Director of the show. Participating in these activities not only improved attendee engagement with our exhibitors but brought out the competitive spirit in an entertaining way”. This year’s 1st Place winner was Nikki Serafino of Air Sweep in West Springfield, MA and 2nd Place went to Morgan Harrod of Atlantic Sweeping in Chantilly, VA. Congratulations to both ladies! The Summit kicked off with the annual golf outing on Tuesday, October 24th, with over 40 golfers. The winning foursome was Lee Ott - Asphalt Enterprises, Gib Tschudy - OPOC.us, Andy Williams - 800SWEEPER and Timm Morrison - Sweeper Man. Prizes were awarded at the Welcome Party on the pool deck that evening where

“The Summit SWEEPstakes was a fun way for attendees to interact with all the exhibitors.” says Ben Steyer, Executive Director of the show.

food, drinks, a DJ, and Aqua Golf were enjoyed by all attendees.

The educational sessions began promptly at 8:00am on Wednesday & Thursday, October 25th and 26th. Guest Speaker Matt Garrett (TGG Accounting) started off Wednesday by providing an energetic presentation about creative ways that contractors can combat inflation. Garrett’s presentation was followed by a contractor-led Best Practice Round Table session that provided attendees the opportunity to discuss common issues they are faced with in their sweeping operations. With today’s challenging hiring environment, the Sweeper Summit’s content emphasized recruiting, training, and retaining top talent. To assist in promoting this message, Kathleen Quinn Votaw, an HR expert and business owner with over 30 years of recruiting and

culture-building expertise, provided great insight on Putting Your People First and leading your team with trust. Thursday’s educational session started out with a Manufacturers’ Panel that included panelists Nick Bruhn of Schwarze Industries, Mike Higgins of Elgin Sweepers, Mirek Byczynski of ODRA Sweepers, and Frank Chulick of Stewart-Amos. A Veteran Sweeping Contractors’ Panel followed, as the audience heard from contractors Carl Barton of Aardvark Memphis, Mitch Armstrong of Armstrong Sweeping in Arvada, Colorado, Mike Kirchner of Clean Sweep of Orlando and Jay Presutti of East Coast Industrial Services, Inc, in Pine Bush, New York. In the final educational session of the Sweeper Summit, the audience heard from Sara Best and John Broer of Real Good Ventures and co-hosts of the Bosshole Chronicles Podcast, about simple proven actions you can take

With today’s challenging hiring environment, the Sweeper Summit’s content emphasized recruiting, training, and retaining top talent.

right now to hire with certainty, lead with purpose and keep your people engaged to help you crush your goals! Our speakers and sessions were informative and interactive and kept the crowd engaged over the 2 days. Our Equipment Expo and Exhibitor show was a hit with 30 vendors on display. The Cocktail Reception, sponsored by Kimball-Midwest, on Wednesday evening was held in the Exhibitor’s area as well as outside in the Expo area. We finished with a group dinner on Thursday night on the 18th Green of the Saddlebrook Golf Course complete with a caricature artist. We made it through dinner before a heavy rain shower made everyone retreat from the golf course and into the bar for night caps. Everyone was wet, but all in good spirits!

It was a great show, and we look forward to seeing everyone next year, October 24-27 at the JW Marriott in Las Vegas.

AGREEMENT

SPOTLIGHT INDEX

Toronto, Ontario (November 28, 2022) – Wajax Corporation is now the exclusive official dealer of Hako Citymaster line of outdoor cleaning machines across Canada. The Citymaster product line offers an increasing range of cleaning products that can take on outdoor and municipal cleaning tasks (properties, sports fields, greenspaces, etc.).

Citymaster also offers sweepers and machines made for municipal use, with a compact design and turn radius that allow for simple driving and navigation. The Citymaster product line is also built for customization and flexibility through a wide inventory of easily installed attachments.

products” says Brian Kolthof, Vice President of Material Handling at Wajax. “The Hako Citymaster line is a great example of the type of machines we want to be able to offer to our customers. These machines are sustainable, safe, and still operationally effective, and that’s a perfect fit for what we are looking to accomplish here at Wajax.”

“We are extremely excited that Wajax has agreed to distribute the Hako Citymaster product range across Canada.” says Jack Hill, President & CEO of Minuteman International. “We started doing business with Wajax back in 2019 with the PowerBoss industrial brand and they have proven to be a great partner. Wajax has not only proven they can produce outstanding sales results, but their commitment to after sales service is what has been most impressive.”

The Hako Citymaster outdoor cleaning machines offer operational flexibility, efficiency, and a wide range of attachments and superstructures. Wajax looks forward to providing customers with these effective cleaners and is excited to see what the future holds as a Canadian dealer of Citymaster.

Wajax is proud to be able to offer these Citymaster products to their customers, as they fall in line with Wajax’s continued efforts to market and sell brands that are environmentally and worker safe. The Citymaster lineup is known for low emissions, low consumption, low noise, and the machines are recognized for their safe, ergonomic operator setup.

“Wajax firmly believes in working with companies and organizations that can offer sustainable, user-friendly

Wajax Corporation  Founded in 1858, Wajax (TSX: WJX) is one of Canada’s longest standing and most diversified industrial products and services providers. The Corporation’s goal is to be Canada’s leading industrial products and services provider, distinguished through its three core capabilities: sales force excellence, the breadth and efficiency of repair and maintenance operations, and the ability to work closely with existing and new vendor partners to continually expand its product offering to customers. The Corporation believes that achieving excellence in these three areas will position it to create value for its customers, employees, vendors, and shareholders. Details regarding Wajax’s products and services can be found on its website: www.wajax.com.

ASSOCIA TION INSIDER

TOP 6 TIPS AND TRICKS To Optimize Payroll for Your Business

SPOTLIGHT INDEX

Managing payroll can be daunting when trying to ensure employees are efficiently paid, laws are followed, and accurate records are kept. As Entrepreneur.com states, it’s not easy, but there are ways to ease the stress. These 6 tips can help make your business’s payroll process run more smoothly.

Utilize a Payroll Calendar

Creating a calendar can not only help keep your payroll department on task but will also allow employees to know when to turn in time cards. A payroll calendar allows everyone to see which dates are covered during a pay period and when to expect payments. It also allows both parties to identify any payment dates that may be altered due to holidays.

Classify Workers

Will your employees be full-time or part-time? Will they be hourly, salaried or contract workers? It is important

to correctly classify all employees to ensure proper IRS forms are filed, appropriate taxes are paid and withholdings are correct.

There are a few considerations to take into account when deciding if employees will be paid hourly or will be salaried. Paying employees on a salary can make payroll easy since the employee will be paid a consistent amount each pay period. However, paying employees hourly allows for more flexibility when it comes to scheduling.

Their classification — either an employee or a contractor — determines whether any taxes must be withheld and paid. If you are unclear about which tax laws your employee may fall under, you can use the IRS’s tax classification guide to help you determine what, if any, withholdings will be required on your end.

Know State and Federal Tax Laws Employers and employees are responsible for understanding payroll taxes.

At the federal level, Social Security, Medicare and income tax are set by the IRS. Knowing the percentages

that your business is responsible for and what each employee is responsible for will allow you to deduct the appropriate amount each pay period.

Each state, with the exception of a few, dictates its own tax rates. Understanding tax expectations for your state will allow you to prepare your employees to choose and prepare for withholdings as necessary.

Allocate Funds Properly for Payroll

Payroll is often the greatest expenditure a business has. It is essential to plan and prepare for how much revenue should be allocated to payroll to keep your business afloat.

So, how do you know what percentage of revenue should be allocated to payroll? It is important to look at

the industry standard for your type of business. Service industries, such as street sweeping and paving, can often have higher payroll percentages compared to industries that must also account for costs related to their business, such as food products and manufacturing parts.

Use Direct Deposit

Setting up direct deposit for employees can ensure they are paid on time each pay period. Funds will automatically be deposited into their accounts. Moving to direct deposit can save employers and employees from the risk of losing paychecks or delaying funds from clearing in an adequate time frame.

Most payroll programs also allow employees to access electronic payroll stubs, which is a modern convenience

for the workforce to have at hand. Employees can track their pay, taxes withheld and any other deductions they may have. Many payroll programs will also display accumulated and used time off.

Keep Up-to-Date Records

It is vital to keep accurate payroll records, whether in digital or hard copy format. Per the IRS, these records should be kept for at least four years. Planning ahead to collect this information, as well as any necessary tax forms and direct deposit information during orientation, can streamline the payroll process and make it successful for both employees and employers.

free digital version of North American Sweeper Magazine

Sources

https://fitsmallbusiness.com/payroll-tax-rates/  https://secondwindconsultants.com/resources/whatpercent-of-your-revenue-should-be-spent-on-payroll/ https://www.netsuite.com/portal/resource/articles/ accounting/payroll-tips.shtml

ASSOCIA TION INSIDER

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-selfemployed/independent-contractor-self-employed-oremployee

https://www.patriotsoftware.com/blog/payroll/payroll-taxrecord-keeping-irs-requirements/ https://www.entrepreneur.com/science-technology/apayroll-service-made-for-small-businesses-to-love/345678

SPOTLIGHT INDEX

These 6 tips can help you optimize payroll for your business. Through thoughtful planning and preparation, you can set up a successful payroll process that will run smoothly. For more tips on effectively running your street sweeping or paving business, subscribe to

the

3 Highlight Topics In The

Commercial Pavement Sweeping Industry

It’s the season to celebrate, anticipate the new year, and reflect on the past one. On that last note, it also seems like a good time to revisit some highlights from some of this year’s North American Sweeper magazine issues. So much has been covered. Here are just a few key points shared in sweeper industry business articles, announcements from manufacturers and other featured information we’ve published in 2022 and related information from prior years. Here are three topics from this past year that stand out for us as ones that especially bear revisiting at this time.

Green Initiatives and Pavement Sweeping Businesses

(2014 - February 2022) The Georgetown Climate Center published its report of the institution’s broad research study “How Prepared Are U.S. States for Climate Change?” It features a tool you can use to see what many states and cities are doing to prepare for climate change. See www. georgetownclimate.org.

Reportedly climate research scientists have advised Chicago government officials that by 2050 the city’s climate can be expected to become similar to that of New Orleans! Chicago is reportedly taking preparatory actions including cultivating plants and trees indigenous to warmer regions.

According to the Georgetown study, the HoustonGalveston Area Council reportedly has made numerous

INDEX

recommendations, including adopting and implementing a water and energy conservation plan, planting trees, installing green roofs, and upgrading building standards for hurricane resistance in high-risk areas. The two Texas cities are also reportedly looking at initiatives for wetland preservation and greater protections of riparian zones for flood management strategies.

But, currently, under 30% of U.S. states have climate change plans. Nearly all of those are located on coastlines. Some cities have created plans in states that still have no plans for dealing with climate change. (FEB, 2022) So, what can sweeping business owners do? Go green! How? For one big way to help you do that, a new all-electric sweeper truck rolled off the Schmidt production line and onto the streets in August 2021. The eSwingo 200+ is the world’s first fully electric pavement

INDUSTR Y NEWS

sweeper truck. City and county governments, HOAs, and private businesses are sure to begin seeking contractors who have converted to this sweeping technology. It’s 100% electric and generates zero carbon emissions. Don’t assume that the electric sweeper truck must not be very powerful or that it must lack conveniences and comfort for drivers. The high-voltage eSwingo 200+ features a fully-electric drive, with a total 75 kWh set of two battery packs for up to 10 hours of running time without recharging, and an integrated on-board charger that fully recharges in only 4 hours.

The electric sweeper truck is available in a pushed 2-broom (33.5” brush diameter) or pulled 3-broom system. Water for the brooms can be applied from the cab. The eSwingo has a large 528-gallon hopper and 55” dumping height, and the vehicle boasts exceptional

comfort for drivers. Aebi Schmidt CEO, Steffen Schewerda commented, “Now, public works departments can utilize environmentally friendly technology without sacrificing cleaning performance.”

Diversifying Your Business Model

(October 2022) Diversifying services can help build a stronger and more durable business model for a commercial pavement sweeping business. Of course, the pros and cons must be weighed before investing in resources for new service channels.

ASSOCIA TION INSIDER

SPOTLIGHT INDEX

Some popular options for new revenue lines in sweeping businesses are very inexpensive to add. For example, portering has been recognized as a “cash cow” for some sweeping companies. Many also add trash bins, ash urns, power washing, gum removal, signage maintenance, asphalt repairs, fencing repairs, signage repairs, storage

container rentals, roll-off dumpster rentals, interior rental unit clean-outs, painting, and/or other additional services. Diversification provides a hedge for income stabilization in seasonal slumps and unexpected economic downturns.

4 Economic Hedge: Having additional revenue lines can help shore up profitability if one or more of your other channels goes dry due to unforeseen external economic issues.

4 New Synergies: New channels and your primary services can reciprocally promote each other to help increase your market share.

4 Growth Generator: More offerings mean increased sales and more cash flow. That can form a stronger financial base on which to build more ambitious growth strategies.

Of course, managing Multiple Revenue Channels

brings increased complexity. Quality issues can arise if the team is overwhelmed and the new channel detracts from support for a business’s core products and services. Supporting new offerings can cause large losses quickly. Multiple revenue lines may also require more accounting staff to maintain compliance and accuracy. Even confusion about the brand’s identity can spread if the integration of new service lines is not handled effectively.

But, when managed well, diversification offers rapid growth opportunities, expanding your team, providing local jobs, and increasing the role of your business as an increasing contributor to the financial health of your community.

Giving Back

(March 2022) It can be easier to assume that there’s not enough we can do as small business owners to bother

continued on page 34

INDUSTR Y NEWS

trying to improve the world. So much is just not within our control. However, our small businesses can be an immensely powerful force for positive change, if we choose to take advantage of some of the over-abundant opportunities around us to be of service.

Conflict

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the concept of giving back through one’s business in ways that can mutually benefit the community and the company. For example, your company may opt to participate in charitable events occasionally, such as a holiday food drive, collecting donations for disaster aid, etc. Or, you may choose to be a part of an ongoing service cooperative with a charitable organization, such as becoming a regular supporter of the Humane Society or your local food pantry, etc.

ASSOCIA TION INSIDER

SPOTLIGHT INDEX

Whatever your company does to be a part of the solution to the world’s ills, there are natural benefits for your team in that effort. For example, there are statistically measurable increases in employee satisfaction, improved retention numbers, and elevation of your employer brand. It further improves your workplace culture, strengthens team and community bonds, and even reduces stress. It also delivers important tax benefits.

However you decide to have your business give back, implementing a CSR program in your firm is invaluable for projecting your personal and company values to your staff, customers, and the larger community around you.

What’s Important in 2023 for Small Business Owners

Team leadership, such as effective Conflict Management (November 2022) is a core management skillset needed to build a strong team of collaborators and a winning

workplace culture that is conducive to customercentric operations. These and other soft skills in small business leadership contribute to building a Resilient Business (November 2022) that can weather economic storms. For example, building a profitable client base, prioritizing healthy cash flow, and smart inventory management, along with focusing on the future, leaning toward growth and healthy risk-taking are all strategic priorities.

Further, careful Contract Management (2020-2022) to ensure fair dealing and protect yourself from losses is essential. Critical local SEO (Oct 2022) gives your business a strong web marketing presence and generates revenue by optimizing your site for people looking for the kind of service(s) your company offers in your local market area.

But, What About the Softer Initiatives Just Discussed?

The three we’ve featured here contribute to greater long-term profitability, growth, and economic stability for a small sweeping business. They also serve well to help attract, inspire, and retain top talent who want to

Team leadership, such as effective

Management (November 2022) is a core management skillset needed to build a strong team of collaborators and a winning workplace culture...

be a part of a company with such values. These business leadership choices also help build the future in the quality of the world we collectively choose to develop.

INDUSTR Y NEWS

Potential Diversification (Oct 2022), at least to some conservative experimental extent, is the a kind of need that smart small business owners intuitively prioritize or at least strongly consider for growth. But, it qualifies as a social initiative as well, because of its inherent job creation benefits, especially when scaled.

The often much less intuitive needs of a business team, such as more subtle priorities in Green Operations (Feb 2022), and just Giving Back (March 2022) are business initiatives that go beyond the benefits they offer a business directly today. These are environmental and social impact initiatives that are so good for the world that that may seem to be the only value they can have, but they’re also just good business when managed properly.

For perspective, the small business sector employs around half of the national workforce. That makes us one of the

two most powerful money-generating forces in the United States. So, we decide the kind of business environment and larger society we’re going to influence together. For 2023, you can strengthen the economic, environmental, and social force of our industry’s impact by participating in industry cooperatives for knowledge sharing and mutual peer support. Encourage impact initiatives as part of your peer group. Cultivating a better industry helps cultivate a better society and world.

ASSOCIA TION INSIDER

You can view the issues of North American Sweeper magazine that are indicated throughout the article text by the month in parentheses for full discussions of the topics featured in 2022.

SPOTLIGHT INDEX

1-800-SWEEPER 23 1800sweeper.com

Bensink 33 704-658-1333 / buchermunicipal.com

Bucher Municipal ........................................................................ 11 704-658-1333 / buchermunicipal.com

Pat’s Pump & Blower 20 800-359-7867 / patspump.com

The ODB Co. 39 800-446-9823 / www.odbco.com

Safety Vision ................................................................................ 29 800-851-4764 / safetyvision.com

PRODUCT WA TCH

Buffalo Turbine 32 716-592-2700 / buffaloturbine.com

Carolina Enviromental Services 32 800-239-7796 / cesrefuse.com

Eagle Eye Tracking ...................................................................... 37 855-338-7225

Elgin Sweeper Company 7 elginregenx.com

Global Sweeping Solutions ........................................................... 2 909-713-1600 / globalsweeper.com

Gregory Highway 31 866-994-4929 / gregoryhighway.com

KeyStone Street Sweeping Brooms 10 800-635-5238 / kpbrush.com

Multihog ....................................................................................... 37 443-852-1842 / multihog.com

National Pavement Expo 2023 15 nationalpavementexpo.com

Nescon 25 480-505-0001

Nite-Hawk Sweepers ............................................................... 6, 12 800-448-9364 / nitehawksweepers.com

Nomad BC 450-530-9873 / balaisnomad.com

Oakmont Capital Services LLC ..................................................... 3 320-844-8800 / oakmontfinance.com

ODRA Sweeper ............................................................................ 13 844-888-6372 / odrasweeper.com

Schwarze Industries Inc. 5 800-879-7933 / schwarze.com

SEALMATE

................................................................................... 27 sealmate.com

Sharpco Sweeper Shoes............................................................... 4 313-343-4328/800-372-5007/sharpcosweepershoes.com

Skavin’jer Street Sweepers 38 888-652-2137 / skavinjer.com

Stewart-Amos Equipment Co. ...................................................... 4 800-482-2302 / stewart-amos.com

Street Smart 35 888-653-6800 / streetsmartrental.com

Superior Tire & Rubber Corp 29 800-289-1456 / superiortire.com

Sweeper Parts Sales ..................................................................... 6 877-695-3060 / sweeperpartssales.com

Trinity Highway 28 888-323-6374 / trinityhighway.com

Tymco ........................................................................................... 22 800-258-9626 / tymco.com

United Rotary Brush Corporation ................................................. 3 800-851-5108 / united-rotary.com

Victory Sweeper 17, 36 844-479-3373 / victorysweepers.com

World Insurance .......................................................................... 19 866-793-9999

Xpress Sweeping Inc 33 401-523-6116 / xpresssweeping.com