North American Sweeper Magazine is published by Phoenix Global Media Inc.
Copyright 2025 by Phoenix Global Media Inc. All rights reserved.
CREATIVE
Melissa Kennelly
EDITORIAL
Heidi Karpinich
CIRCULATION
Noah Aiden
SUBSCRIPTIONS
POSTMASTER:
THE LEGENDARY POWER BEHIND SWEEPING
• Non-CDL version available
• Mechanical sweeping to handle heavy applications like millings
• Independent broom control for in-the-cut precision
• Single engine for fuel economy and less maintenance
• Simple start-up procedure with easy-to-operate controls
SPOTLIGHT
CONNOR SWEEPING, INC. Newark, DE
“A unique and diversified family-owned company providing street sweeping services to multiple industries in Delaware and surrounding areas.”
Connor Sweeping is a family business in Newark, Delaware. It was launched in 2005 as one of a group of companies operated by the Andrews-Connor family in between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Over the past two decades, the organization has built a strong local brand on its reliability, performance quality, and ability to meet the unique needs of local builders and other clients. The company is further known in its market for exceptional
responsiveness and flexibility when called upon to help contractors with emergent issues.
The company serves the residential construction industry, commercial and industrial property management, municipal governments, and road construction and milling contractors. The Company’s service area covers the state of Delaware and extends to parts of Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The Connor crews operate from the shop and
The company is further known in its market for exceptional responsiveness and flexibility when called upon to help contractors with emergent issues.
headquarters in Newark, Delaware, and a satellite depot to the north, in Milford Delaware. Here, we’re fortunate to have RJ Andrews, President, Connor Sweeping, Inc., share his company’s story with NAS readers: CONNOR SWEEPING LEADERSHIP
The company was founded in 2005 by three brothers, my uncle Mike, uncle Pat, and my grandfather Paul. They also started an excavating company in the 1980s. I own that company now too. They discovered
SPOTLIGHT
there were no sweeper companies to clean up the sites they worked on. My uncle Pat was retiring, so he started the Connor Sweeping business with the other two.
Pat was the president till 2018. Then, I started getting involved, running the daily operations, and Pat was overseeing things. In 2021, I bought the company from the three brothers. Today, my brother, Connor Andrews, and I own Connor Sweeping. Connor is my mom’s maiden name, which the business is named after, not to be confused with my brother’s first name, Connor.
HIGHLY DIVERSIFIED FAMILY BUSINESS MODEL
The larger organization under RJ Andrews’ leadership
is multifaceted, crossing a range of related industries. The business has expanded across a wide range of heavy construction services. RJ talked briefly about the various companies he and his family operate and the kinds of services they provide.
The other business I mentioned we own is Christiana Excavating, a general contracting business. I started with that company in 2009-10 while I was still in high school. I worked in the field till 2013. Since then, I’ve been working in the office. Two partners and I took over Christiana from Mike and Paul officially in 2021.
In addition to Christiana Excavating Company and Connor Sweeping, Inc., at age 30, RJ Andrews also owns a third business, Sussex Materials. This most
recently added company performs rock crushing and sells topsoil and fill dirt.
We’ve purchased over a million dollars in equipment in the past two years. We’ve got the total revenues to back our building stage, and in addition to building up the business in Maryland, we’re ready for added operations here in Delaware. In this area, from the river to the bay, many job sites are required to increase the grade of their ground because they’re so low to the sea level. We bid for those.
Sussex County is parallel, and on the coastal side, flooding does happen. Fortunately, we haven’t had any major coastal flooding from hurricanes in recent years (since Jose, 2017) or any extensive damage in the area (since Hurricane Sandy 2012). But, if a big
hurricane hits the region, then, yes, there is flooding in our area.
THE ANDREWS’ LONG HISTORY OF PROMOTING FROM WITHIN
The two remaining partners that transitioned the business to us were getting older by the time we became ready to assume management. They had started with the company as laborers and worked their way up through the ranks to ownership. My uncles and grandfather were looking to retire, so they promoted them as skilled and trusted people who were competent to keep the business running.
For Connor Sweeping, I run the day-to-day operations. We have a good company structure, with a foreman, 3 full-time drivers, a full-time mechanic,
SPOTLIGHT
Connor administration is all digital.
Everyone
on the team knows everything that’s going to happen on any given day up to two weeks in advance.
Our foreman has superintendent responsibilities with full reins to run the schedule as needed, order parts as needed, etc. He started in about 2006 as Connor Sweeping’s first employee. He still loves getting in the truck. But, in management, there is less driving for him now.
and a bookkeeper/secretary. So, we have a total of 5 employees in the pavement sweeping business. That’s not including anyone working at separate real estate in other operations. At Christiana, our crews work on customer sites. At Sussex, the rock and soil service, our equipment stays on our site, and clients come to us, and we fill orders for them. We do have delivery that we manage in that business, but not with our own trucks. We deliver 100 to 2,000 loads at a time in that operation. Business is very strong there.
Overall, we cover everything from construction sweeping for national builders, residential site work, general contracting, industrial site work for warehouses, the City of Wilmington Port, and other construction, and miscellaneous parking lots. (AJ clarified that Connor does sweep parking lots in some cases, perhaps associated with other work on a site, but that they generally do not handle routine commercial parking lot sweeping accounts.)
RJ ANDREWS CREWS
Managing the day-to-day operations at Connor and Christiana are my responsibilities. Running Connor takes only about 1% percent of my time each day, and Christiana takes up to 90% of my day. Connor administration is all digital. Everyone on the team knows everything that’s going to happen on any given day up to two weeks in advance. Many functions are, to a large extent, self-managing. Whereas, for Christiana, all the bids, insurance, payables, and everything else you can think of goes through me in the office.
My brother Mikey and my secretary provide critical support. In the field, Kenny and my brother Connor run the southern part of Delaware, and Donnie runs northern Delaware. We have 3 lead guys for our work crews throughout the companies. That includes 2 concrete crews, 2 pipe crews, and 2 general work crews. The general work crews do various jobs,
continued on page 14
SPOTLIGHT
SWEEPER TRUCKS AT CONNOR SWEEPING
Our Connor Sweeping fleet currently includes pavement sweeping trucks — an Elgin Broom Badger, an Elgin Broom Bear, 2 Stewart-Amos trucks, an MT4H ODRA, and 3 other ODRAs.
Asked what he looks for when buying sweepers and paving and milling equipment, RJ considered his recent purchases. We look for reliability in a sweeper truck. We want to make sure you can depend on the truck to complete the task and that no major breakdowns are likely. We look for a truck that is
efficient at the work it is doing, and at the satisfaction level of the drivers with the truck.
continued on page 16 like sediment and erosion controls, bulk grading earthwork, and utility work, like water mains, sewers, building roads, building storm water management systems, etc.
Drivers like the ODRAs. At first, they were hesitant, given the size of the truck. But, once they were in operation and saw what it could do, it was almost no different than what an XL-sized truck can do. Since I bought the first one of the ODRAs, I’ve already bought a few more. They’re smaller and easier to work on than others made for the same use. My drivers and mechanics like them. They also hold their value on resale.
It’s important in milling to have a good street sweeper. On milling, and on tar & chip areas that we sweep up, I’ve had certain clients request only an ODRA be sent because they could see the difference in what’s being picked up.
SPOTLIGHT
We are well equipped and organized to serve our
customers efficiently.
With two locations in Delaware (northern and southern)...
All our trucks are new and are the best of their kind for their purpose. We use heavy-duty mechanical brooms for various environments. The trucks are equipped with water systems for dust control. That produces more thorough sweeping results and promotes a healthier work environment by avoiding generating the dust clouds you see on sites where contractors are using traditional street sweeping equipment.
The big hoppers on our pavement sweepers hold large quantities of surface dirt and debris for dumping at approved sites. Our sweeper trucks are also equipped with high dumps for depositing into onsite trash containers or trucks if that’s the arrangement. Our powerful equipment is ideal for taking up sand, dirt, and debris common on paved areas in industrial and municipal environments.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AT CONNOR SWEEPING
It’s fair to say that the Andrews-Connor leadership stays up to date on new and emerging industry technologies. RJ explains, Connor Sweeping was the
first of the three businesses to use digital timekeeping.
The employees clock in and out that way. The digital system auto-generates paystubs, and it drives the general accounting system.
Everything is done on phones. Connor is a paperless business. That includes our fleet management program. It’s also wireless. We use QuickBooks for the larger accounting work, and Fleetio for our fleet management.
GROWTH AT CONNOR SWEEPING, DELAWARE
We are well equipped and organized to serve our customers efficiently. With two locations in Delaware (northern and southern), we are in good positions to help customers in many areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and, of course, throughout Delaware. We’ve been working for some of the same clients forever, and we’ve developed strong working relationships over many years.
Connor Sweeping is a member of the 1-800-SWEEPER organization, the Home Builders Association of Delaware, and NAPSA. Our memberships in those associations help us adhere to industry best practices and guidelines and support our commitment to quality.
The new website does what it needs to do, and we’re satisfied with its performance. So, besides the website, we do not do any marketing. To answer the question
continued on page 18
WE CAN CREATE A RENTAL PROGRAM TO ALIGN WITH SWEEPING CONTRACTS YOU HAVE WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS
SPOTLIGHT
of how many contracts/customers we routinely serve weekly, AJ simply replies — plenty.
The growth we’ve experienced has been mostly from word of mouth. I don’t want to stress about the growth of Connor or Christiana. Our growth plan is just to stay the course. If more clients in the region come in and I need to cater to them, fine. But, if we keep it at the status quo, we’ll continue to be plenty busy.
ADVICE FOR INDUSTRY NEWCOMERS FROM RJ ANDREWS, NEWARK, DE
We asked, what ae the most challenging aspects of your business and industry that you would warn new business owners about, or what general advice would you give them? RJ offers the simplest and most encompassing advice:
The biggest advice I would say is — when called upon, show up.
We asked about the competitive environment in his market, and RJ reflected on the history. We have two primary competitors. We really haven’t had issues with each other. We don’t need to be aggressive on pricing.
We asked if competitors did come into the market and started undercutting prices, what his solution would be. RJ again responded in plain and certain terms that he would double down on quality and not compete on price.
THOUGHTS ON CONNOR SWEEPING, INC.
The Connor team clearly takes pride in their dedication to excellence. The company has grown through the reputation they have established job-by-job, year-by-
year, and continues to develop daily, backing up their commitments with a full 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
RJ Andrews is a proven success as a calculated risk taker, building his organization through the complex engagements of the heavy construction industry. In the Connor, Christiana, and Sussex group of businesses, the Andrews-Connor group offers Delaware and the greater northeastern US region a compelling bundle of services, well-experienced project management, and moneyback quality guarantees.
Further, based on the Connor leadership team’s consistent performance over the past 20 years and RJ Andrews’ bold approach to expansion through service channel diversification and digital maturity
in his businesses, the Connor Sweeping division of the family enterprise is one to watch for growth in the northeast US through future new revenue lines and innovation.
Sources
R.J. Andrews | 302-547-5587
Connor Sweeping Inc. 2016 Sunset Lake Road, Newark, De 19702 Office: 302-368-2210 | RJAndrews@cecde.net
BUSINESS CORNER
HOW TO MANAGE AND REDUCE DOWNTIME FOR YOUR PAVING PROJECTS
DOWNTIME DURING PAVING PROJECTS
COSTS MONEY, TIME AND CLIENT TRUST. FOR PAVING CONTRACTORS, MANAGING AND MINIMIZING DOWNTIME IS CRITICAL. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN REDUCE DISRUPTIONS AND KEEP YOUR PROJECTS RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
1. Plan Every Detail
Proper planning is the backbone of any paving project. Before breaking ground, assess the job site. Drainage issues, traffic patterns and buried utility lines can all cause unexpected delays. Once you have a clear picture, create a schedule that aligns subcontractors, suppliers and your crew. Coordination is key, as one delay can cascade into many!
And don’t forget to plan for the unexpected. Lousy weather, equipment failures and other surprises are common in this line of work. A good contingency plan can turn potential setbacks into manageable challenges.
Good planning helps you anticipate problems instead of reacting to them.
2. Invest in Quality Equipment
Equipment breakdowns are a leading cause of downtime. To avoid this:
4 Check your machinery before and after every job. Keep a log of service dates and upcoming needs.
4 Invest in high-quality, well-maintained machines. While cheaper options may save money upfront, they often lead to expensive delays.
4 Keep essential tools and smaller equipment on hand in case of unexpected failures.
Efficient, dependable equipment will reduce your delays and guarantee a steady workflow.
3. Optimize Crew Management
Your crew is the backbone of your operation. A welltrained team works faster, makes fewer mistakes and handles challenges with confidence. Clear delegation of roles also helps avoid confusion and keeps critical tasks from being overlooked. Monitoring productivity on-site can prevent bottlenecks from slowing you down. If you notice an issue, address it quickly. Open communication and proactive management keep the team focused and productive.
4. Communicate Clearly With Clients and Stakeholders
Miscommunication can derail a project just as quickly as equipment failures. Setting clear expectations
with clients and stakeholders from the start is key. Be upfront about the project timeline, scope of work and any potential challenges.
Throughout the project, regular updates keep everyone informed and aligned. If unexpected issues arise, address them immediately. Transparency builds trust and prevents misunderstandings from turning into bigger problems.
5. Stay On Top of Supply Chains
Materials not arriving on time can grind a project to a halt. Ordering materials early reduces the risk of hold-ups, especially for items with long lead times. Partnering with reliable suppliers who can handle urgent needs adds extra peace of mind. Stay on top of delivery schedules so everything arrives when you need it. A well-organized supply chain keeps your crew and equipment running smoothly without unexpected delays.
6. Leverage Technology
Technology can streamline processes and reduce downtime:
4 Use project management software: Tools like Procore or Buildertrend can help you schedule tasks, track progress and communicate with your team.
4 Monitor equipment with GPS: Many systems allow you to track machine locations and performance in real time.
4 Utilize weather apps: Plan around bad weather using accurate, real-time forecasts. The right tech can save time and help you stay organized.
7. Focus on Preventive Maintenance
Neglecting preventive maintenance can lead to
significant downtime later. Inspecting equipment daily for signs of wear or damage can catch problems early. Sticking to maintenance schedules (even during busy times!) keeps your machinery reliable.
Work sites also play an important role in this. Clean, organized job sites improve safety and efficiency, reducing the risk of accidents or delays. A little upkeep goes a long way toward preventing disruptions.
8. Review and Improve Processes
Once a project is completed, take the time to evaluate. What went well, and what could have been better?
Gathering feedback from your team helps you identify weaknesses in your process and adjust workflows for the next time.
Documenting lessons learned creates a valuable resource for future projects. Continuous improvement helps you avoid repeating mistakes and makes your operation stronger with each job.
KEEP YOUR PROJECTS ON TRACK
Managing downtime in paving projects requires proactive planning, reliable equipment, clear communication and a focus on efficiency. By applying the strategies we talked about, you’ll reduce delays, improve productivity and deliver projects on time. Not only will this save costs, but it will also improve your reputation with clients — and that’s worth every effort.
WANT MORE TIPS AND INDUSTRY INSIGHTS?
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IN THE NEWS
SCHWARZE WELCOMES DAN FEDERICO AS NEW SOUTHEAST REGIONAL SALES MANAGER!
Federico as New Southeast Regional Sales Manager!
Dan Federico has joined Southeast Regional Sales experience in sales development, Dan brings a sweeping industry.
success and building the manufacturer and include doubling revenue focused solutions while enhance business
drive market share growth for Schwarze in the Southeast, market reach and service delivery for our customers. His focus on development, and long-term client relationships aligns with our goals. in expanding our presence and addressing the needs of our
We are pleased to announce that Dan Federico has joined Schwarze Industries as our new Southeast Regional Sales Manager. With over 20 years of experience in sales management and business development, Dan brings a notable track record within the sweeping industry. Dan is known for leading team success and building strong client relationships at both the manufacturer and dealer levels. His achievements include doubling revenue growth and developing customerfocused solutions while promoting strategic initiatives that enhance business value.
want to extend our gratitude to our clients, partners, and support our growth and success. With Dan's expertise and our team's looks forward to achieving new milestones and providing to our industry. Join us in celebrating this exciting new chapter
9001:2015) is an Alamo Group (ALG:NYSE) company and the premier sweeper manufacturer. For over 50 years, Schwarze Industries has exceptional level of customer support and offers one of the most sweeping business. Applications include parking area cleaning, shopping center sweeping, airport ramp and runway sweeping, street cleanup, and stormwater (MS4) management.
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In his new role, Dan will continue to drive market share growth for Schwarze in the Southeast, overseeing strategies to improve market reach and service delivery for our customers. His focus on channel management, team development, and long-term client relationships aligns with our goals. Dan’s leadership will be important in expanding our presence and addressing the needs of our customers in this region.
As we welcome Dan aboard, we want to extend our gratitude to our clients, partners, and community for continuing to support our growth and success. With Dan’s expertise and our team’s dedication, Schwarze Industries looks forward to achieving new milestones
Dan is known for leading team success and building strong client relationships at both the manufacturer and dealer levels.
and providing unparalleled service and solutions to our industry. Join us in celebrating this exciting new chapter for Schwarze Industries !
About Schwarze Industries LLC
Schwarze Industries LLC (ISO 9001:2015) is an Alamo Group (ALG:NYSE) company and the premier parking lot, airport, and street sweeper manufacturer. For over 50 years, Schwarze Industries has been committed to providing an exceptional level of customer support and offers one of the most comprehensive lines in the sweeping business. Applications include parking area cleaning, industrial sweeping, mall and shopping center sweeping, airport ramp and runway sweeping, street sweeping (PM10), asphalt milling cleanup, and stormwater (MS4) management.
Looking Back at 2024 Forward to 2025
Again, it’s December, the natural time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next one, to think about lessons learned, and form expectations and plans. Taking stock of 2024, consider your best business decisions, worst mistakes, milestones reached, targets missed, and how it all shook out in the year-end financials. Looking ahead, what are your best plans for improving on the past year in the new one coming up? How does your experience over the past several years compare with the plans you had made? And, how do your plans for 2025 align with the realities of the industry?
Reflecting on the most recent years leading to 2025, since 2022 and the weakening of the economic effects of COVID, operators whose commercial sweeping businesses had taken a serious hit from COVID were more cautious. Some were even concerned about how their companies would stay afloat going into 2023. Others, whose sweeping companies were treated as essential services during the pandemic experienced growth and very bright outlooks for the future.
I don’t think of negative conditions that may arise. I take it one day at a time, and ensure that I do my part, and focus on what I have some control over.
In the past couple of years, as throughout the several years before 2020, sweeping business operators we’ve met with have shared very optimistic projections for upcoming periods based partly on a sense of what can be expected across a stable sweeping industry and larger external economy.
2024 AND EARLIER YEARS
So, how did we get here? What has shaped our collective perspective in and about the pavement sweeping industry as it is now, going into 2025? Here are some sweeping business owners’ comments from recent years since 2022 and one from even well before that, to help us gain perspective on their alignment with our own attitudes about predictions and planning for the upcoming year and beyond:
2023: Philip La Manna, Owner, EP Milling & Sweeping, Farmingdale NY
As the founder of his 17-year-old Long Island pavement maintenance company near Massapequa, LaManna has grown his business to such an impressive level that his service has become an integral regional resource.
“We don’t set goals for growth; it happens organically. We stand out because we work with paving contractors to help them achieve their goals in a timely fashion. About 95% of our new customers come by word of mouth. Around five percent come from contractors seeing my logo on my equipment or tractor-trailer, which leads them to google my company and gives them a way to get in touch with my office. Working with 125+ contractors per year keeps me informed. My operators tell me about contractors with new and upgraded equipment and practices, and contractors will let me know what they will be doing differently next year and how that may or may not affect us. I don’t think of negative conditions that may arise. I take it one day at a time, and ensure that I do my part, and focus on what I have some control over.” (from December 2023)
“If our work is excellent, people will be willing to pay for excellence. From the beginning, we weren’t the cheapest company. We were priced pretty high at first. People would not call us when they heard that. But, we were actively handing out cards on job sites and people saw how well our trucks were performing, and it kind of exploded. This year has been very busy. We work with teams as they do paving, sealing, repaving, milling, striping, etc. All our trucks can do trackout. We probably pay the most for skilled people. The customers can rely on a good job being consistently done. Plus, we answer our phones. Prompt response makes a big difference in what the customers are used to for service quality. … Our employees say they don’t want to work for some big company — to be just a number. They want to be part of something. And, to inspire people to start small businesses, that’s a very satisfying accomplishment for us.” (from December 2022)
2018: Ken Hohlt, Sr. Co-Owner, Crown’s & Curbs, Inc., St. Louis MO
One of the St. Louis area’s leading power sweeping service providers, Ken Hohlt, talked about growing his company over the years in the dynamic greater St. Louis region.
2022: Marie Miller, Western Sweeping LLC, Phoenix AZ
From 2020 to 2022, Miller achieved an astounding growth rate at Western Sweeping in Phoenix. The new entrepreneur, with her new commercial pavement sweeping company, created soaring growth from zero to five new sweeper trucks and a field staff consisting of her husband and 5 drivers — all in just two years.
“Our customers don’t call us because they have a pressing desire for sweeping services. They contact us because they have a pressing need for that service. They need us, and we need them. So, we know we’d better respond reliably and provide quality service. You could say that we passively market our business by simply keeping an eye on our future business well-
being, and letting ourselves be motivated by our need to have satisfied customers who will continue doing business with us and refer their associates to us too.”
(from May 2018)
2024-2025 AND BEYOND
Talking with sweeper truck manufacturers, sweeping business owners, and related financial services experts at the 2024 year end about their perceptions looking back at 2024 and forward to 2025, we gained some insights into their experience of the past year and their knowledge-based expectations for this new one — for their own companies and industries, and for the associated industry of commercial sweeping businesses that constitutes some or all of their customer base.
Here are some of the comments we received from these professionals to help inform a general perspective on the outcome of 2024 for operators and a practical outlook for 2025:
2024-2025: Joe Hendrickson, VP of Sales and Marketing, Schwarze Industries, Huntsville AL VP, Joe Henderson, looks back on 2024 milestones, at the close of Scwharze’s 50th Anniversary year, and ahead toward a new era of innovation.
“2024 was the year of celebration and reflection for Schwarze. 50 years in the industry is something we wanted to celebrate with the people that got us here.
With involvement from our partners at 800 Sweeper, NAPSA, AEM: I Make America, Schwarze Dealers, and the numerous vendor and marketing companies we work with, Schwarze was able to make our 50th year in business one to remember. FOR 2025, we have an amazing customer base and an amazing team of people building our product. These are the people who make this business special. Our motto for 2024
is “We Didn’t Come This Far To Only Come This Far”. I think this is a testament to our resiliency and our commitment to our customers. We will continue to pursue product excellence and superior customer service. 2025 will prove this commitment as we reveal 3 new product innovations at the upcoming PAVE/X.”
(from December 2024)
...we have an amazing customer base and an amazing team of people building our product. These are the people who make this business special.
2024-2025: Alex Byczynski, Vice President, ODRA Road Sweepers, Grand Forks ND ODRA sweepers, with the debut of the famous MT4H, has disrupted a significant segment of the pavement sweeping contractor market with its ultra-streamlined alternatives to traditional heavy equipment for a variety of construction applications.
“At ODRA Sweepers, we’re riding a wave of incredible momentum as we are not only finding new customers but also existing owners continue to discover that we are the trusted manufacturer behind the highperformance sweepers they rely on. (Even if it has competitor badging). We’d like to thank all our customers, and we’re excited to look forward to the year ahead; the best is yet to come.” (from December 2024)
2024-2025: Jayme Gerads, CLFP, Business Development Officer, Oakmont Capital Services LLC, West Chester PA Inc. Magazine has listed Oakmont Capital Services as one of the 5000 Fastest Growing Companies.
“2024 proved to be a challenging economic environment for many industries, including equipment finance and commercial sweeping. Financing equipment has let our customers move quickly to take advantage of opportunities in the market. We are focusing our efforts on providing an outstanding customer experience to help businesses grow in 2025.” (from December 2024)
2024-2025: Giovanni Recalde, President, Atlantic Sweeping & Cleaning, Inc., Sterling VA Giovanni Recalde leads a rapidly growing enterprise.
The company has grown throughout Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, West Virginia, and Delaware, and has even started providing service in Tennessee.
“We’ve been striving even more this year to build a team for the long-term future and have been putting the right resources into place to do that. We have been building our team as we’ve grown the business over the past 10 years. In the last six months, we’ve hired more office staff to get things precise. Businesses have growing pains, and to remedy that, you need the right people in the office to meet your goals and vision. We just hired a new billing person, bookkeeper, dispatcher, additional account manager, and operations people. We’ve also just brought in an
HR Manager and a Marketing Manager. Marketing will collaborate with HR on employee retention strategies. My advice is to keep in mind that you don’t know it all and never stop learning. Keep your ears open for advice on operations and follow up with good work. That is the key to success. It may not all happen right away, but learning and improving will prepare you for your future when you do encounter those opportunities to realize new growth for your business.”
(from November 2024)
We want to help make the industry here work for everybody. .
2024-2025: Mark Schwarze, Marketing and Product Development Manager, Victory Sweepers, Huntsville AL
Mark Schwarze is the industry’s most experienced and knowledgeable expert on quality sweeper manufacturing, to the great benefit of today’s Victory Sweepers organization.
“Looking back at 2024, we set records in almost every quarter. We had a bad October, but after the election, we saw a very significant boost. We’ve got the Mark 6 to complement our Mark 3 coming out soon. That requires us to do a lot of stuff and none of it is very easy. We’re bringing in a model for India. I think it will be called the Mark 8. It’s all air-machined. That’s exciting. We also broke ground on our new building not far from
our current factory in Huntsville. It’s about 87,000 sq ft. Huntsville is booming right now. So, it was difficult to get the right building. We appreciate the contractors with the 1-800 group we’ve been working with. They’ve been very productive for us. Other stuff we’re working on for the contractors’ side include a municipal product line. Our corporate leadership is very optimistic about the future.” (from December 2024)
A FUTURE IN THE PAVEMENT SWEEPING INDUSTRY
Per Marie Miller, Western Sweeping (from the December 2022 Spotlight), “We want to help make the industry here work for everybody. We really have that excitement about wanting to work together with our peers. We’ve gotten to know each other and we give each other work. It’s very satisfying to see that our hard work is providing opportunities for other families in the community as well as ours. Hiring local workers and seeing the rewards of that rolling out to my community so that people can maybe afford to buy a home in the future or raise their standard of living is very rewarding. To have a business that does well enough that we can do that means a lot to us.”
Further, as the EP Milling & Sweeping company owner pointed out in December 2023, “The street sweeper is 100% essential to milling operations to remove the finer materials near curbs and edges that other equipment can’t clean as efficiently.”
Likewise, of course, effective sweeping is necessary on construction sites, commercial properties, and municipal streets. It’s a necessary industry for maintaining the quality of modern life. However, it’s a very expensive business to be in, and it’s fraught with contingencies in the B2B market, employer
market, and larger external economic environment.
As you see, the post-2022 theme is decidedly positive in the outlooks of anticipation among decisionmakers in commercial sweeping and related industries, although there is a notable emphasis on the need for modernized operations and service/ product innovations for optimum competitiveness.
Overall, it appears fair to suggest that the future of the industry belongs to the well-informed, the tech investment inclined, the most fiscally savvy, the most organized, the most team-culture inspiring, the most quality committed, and the best calculated risk takers. So then, nothing new really? Perhaps nothing new.
However, the challenges within all these standard parameters, of course, continue to increase in magnitude and complexity with each new year. So, to help ensure market share, multiply your efforts in thorough planning, creative solutions, lean operation, collaboration, and service-culture-building for 2025! Best wishes to you and your team for great success in this New Year 2025!
BUSINESS CORNER
HOW TO OFFSET INFLATION’S IMPACTS ON YOUR SMALL BUSINESS THIS YEAR
IF YOU WORK TO SCALE YOUR PAVEMENT SWEEPING BUSINESS IN 2025, AMONG OTHER CHALLENGES YOU CAN EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER, YOU WILL NEED TO OVERCOME THE EFFECTS OF HIGH INFLATION. THE SKYROCKETING INFLATION RATE OF RECENT YEARS (THE RATE OF CHANGE IN PRICES) MAY OR MAY NOT DECREASE APPRECIABLY OVER THE NEXT YEAR UNDER THE NEW FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION. IT IS CONTROVERSIAL TO PREDICT WHETHER IT WILL OR WILL NOT. HOWEVER, WHAT IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL IS THE CLEAR NEED TO OFFSET THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF INFLATION (WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO EXIST THIS YEAR) ON YOUR STRATEGIC GROWTH PLANS.
Inflation remains among the toughest challenges for commercial sweeping
businesses going into the new year.
Inflation has gradually decreased while interest rates have increased, and the erratic pricing of consumer goods and energy since the onset of the COVID crisis has very slowly stabilized somewhat. Translated into terms of what that all means to your business growth goals for the coming months, realistically, even withstanding any potentially significant Fed action and reactive fuel pricing, it’s well to be prepared for continued inflated costs as you strive to scale. After all, your book of business can keep expanding and your service routes growing while your P&L Statement reflects flat net profits over the growth periods, or even net losses. Especially if you are a startup or are undertaking capital investments as part of your growth strategy. You can be busier than ever and find your financials are revealing little or no positive movement in the margin, or even showing a loss. What to do?
IMPACTS OF INFLATION ON SWEEPING BUSINESSES
Inflation remains among the toughest challenges for commercial sweeping businesses going into the new year. Fuel costs have come down but are still high. Other inflation-related cost increases over the past few years include, for example, equipment purchases, parts replacement costs (including shipping costs), payroll costs (including health insurance costs), liability insurance, property insurance, interest charges, utilities, and so on and on.
These increases in operating costs, some extreme, have caused financial strain on many, many businesses, small and large, across the entire national economy. Service providers, as in the sweeping industry, are left with no option other than to accept losses and/or passing on at least some of the added cost to customers, which can impact revenues and thwart growth plans.
The most flexible growth planning position is to accept that inflation is most likely going to persist and affect your company’s profits throughout this year. Then, identify the most meaningful things you can do to mitigate the cost effects of ongoing inflation, to nudge the margins back in the right direction.
SUGGESTIONS FOR OFFSETTING COSTS OF INFLATION
Among the multitude of suggestions published on reducing the impacts of inflation, consider these recommendations. Some are basics and others are less intuitive options for helping minimize inflation’s effects on your business’s growth:
1. Reduce your budget and cut unnecessary discretionary spending on unneeded office
supplies, other extras, outdated ads, etc. Pay bills within the discount period, prevent late fees, and replace vendors of high-cost routine expense items, if necessary.
2. Include a minimum of a 4% to 5% costing cushion in your bid prices to account for unexpected inflationary expenses, such as suddenly escalating fuel prices, or parts, shipping, repair, and maintenance costs, etc.
3. Put expiration dates on price quotes you send in your proposals. Use a CRM or manual system to remind prospective customers to act before those dates. This will help ensure that the price you quote is still appropriately aligned with the current costs of providing the proposed service.
4. Inform your customers of any plan to raise prices to give them enough time to adjust their budgets. Explain why you must raise the price of their service, and soften the impact by implementing price increases in phases over coming periods. Consider offering temporary discounts, if feasible.
5. Maximize the effectiveness of your web resources by upgrading your website and social pages. Extend your online presence to popular platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and others. Produce appealing content to attract prospective customers and workers.
6. Invest in better equipment to help cure problems attracting and keeping top talent. It can increase efficiency, enabling you to do more work in less time with higher quality outcomes for customers. It can also be cheaper than buying equipment later, at higher prices, effectively further compounding the effects of inflation.
BUSINESS CORNER
7. Build your employer brand by paying employees well. The minimum necessary to retain talented and highly productive workers is to pay them appropriately. If your budget allows, pay them more, and provide incentives to help your business thrive.
8. Cultivate a healthy internal company culture to increase retention and inspire talented workers to collaborate on problem-solving, innovate, and become long-term team members who support the company’s mission and leadership’s vision.
9. Set up an incentive system for employees to reward them with an attractive bonus, fee, or commission for bringing in leads that convert to new accounts and/or for exceeding service performance expectations.
10. Maintain an employee development program. Talented and proven reliable workers should be provided with more than basic job security while you are controlling the company. They should have opportunities for their own professional growth. So, encourage and promote job-related learning and skill-building.
CONCLUSION
By now, inflation may seem relentless. But, frankly, so are growth-motivated American entrepreneurs in the commercial pavement sweeping industry. The strong successes of so many hard-driving startups and longestablished operators over these inflation-plagued years since 2020 have been no less than incredibly inspiring. This new year offers abundant new opportunities for progress in the US market for those willing and ready to meet the challenges of the times. We hope you can benefit from some or all of the suggestions above to help mitigate the impacts of inflation as you are growing your business in 2025. We further hope you will contribute to strengthening the industry and the greater US business sector by sharing this list of ideas and other information to help peers develop insights that promote their success this year.
1-800-SWEEPER is a nationwide service network of independently owned power sweeping companies. Our organization brings sweeping companies from coast to coast under a unified marketing and service structure. Participating 1-800-SWEEPER partner companies provide parking lot sweeping, street sweeping and a variety of construction sweeping. Booth # 1203
ELGIN SWEEPER COMPANY
Elgin Sweeper Company is the leading manufacturer of sweepers for municipal, contractor, airport, and industrial sweeping needs. Elgin Sweeper offers the world’s broadest selection of street sweepers including mechanical, vacuum, and regenerative air models. Since introducing the world’s first motorized mechanical sweeper in 1914, Elgin Sweeper has brought its sweeping technology to customers worldwide. Booth #1116
NORTH AMERICAN POWER SWEEPING ASSOCIATION
NAPSA is a community of power sweeping professionals. We network, educate and facilitate benefits that will improve the members bottom line and help their business grow! Booth #1006
OAKMONT CAPITAL SERVICES, LLC
Oakmont Capital Services, LLC, headquartered in West Chester, PA, with an office in Albany, MN is a fast, affordable, reputable solution to financing. Founded in 1998 by Joe Leonard, CLFP and Megan Zoba, Oakmont Capital Services (OCS) is an independent lender, providing commercial equipment financing and working capital throughout all 50 states. Booth #921
ODRA ROAD SWEEPERS
At ODRA, we manufacture chassis mounted mechanical road sweepers. These road sweepers are robust and reliable machines that feature high fuel efficiency and low operational cost. Our sweepers have been improved and perfected for over 15 years and have shown extensive success with both municipalities and private contractors as being reliable, simple build, easy to operate and very versatile. Booth #1329
SCHWARZE INDUSTRIES
Schwarze Industries has been committed to providing an exceptional level of customer support, offering one of the most comprehensive sweeper lines in the sweeping business, including models for parking area cleaning, industrial sweeping, mall and shopping center sweeping and stormwater runoff management.
Booth #817
STEWART-AMOS SWEEPER CO.
Stewart-Amos Equipment Co. builds a fleet of “effectively simple” street sweepers both mechanical and regenerative air. With 9 models to choose from, many with non-cdl ratings, we can provide you with sweepers that are easy to troubleshoot and maintain. Our rugged and highly maneuverable sweepers offer maximum up time and a low operating cost. Booth #1300
TYMCO
TYMCO Manufactures of Regenerative Air Sweepers. Environmentally friendly sweeping on paved or concrete surfaces. This true Regenerative Air System is equally efficient in wet or dry conditions. TYMCO’s are designed for low maintenance. This allows them to maintain your sweeping schedules.
Booth #429
CHATTANOOGA CONVENTION CENTER, CHATTANOOGA, TN
UNITED ROTARY BRUSH CORPORATION
United Rotary Brush Corporation has over 80 years of combined experience in rotary broom design, manufacturing and sales. We repeatedly set the industry standard for quality, value, and service. United Rotary Brush Corporation is headquartered in Olathe, Kansas. Booth #1229
VICTORY SWEEPERS INC.
The ROOTS MULTICLEAN, Inc. VICTORY SWEEPERS DIVISION was established in 2017. For over 25 years the parent company, ROOTS MULTICLEAN LTD., India, which manufactures & sells a complete range of roadway and floor cleaning solutions, has emphasized products that help build a more hygienic and cleaner world. Booth #1101
WORLD INSURANCE ASSOCIATES
A Pavement Maintenance Specialty Insurance program, specifically for contractors who perform pavement maintenance-related services.
We offer all lines of coverage and have over 30 years’ experience in Underwriting, Loss Control, and Claims Services tailored to your industry. Booth #1004
PAVE/X Pavement Experience heads to Chattanooga! This new, exciting event is designed to enhance your business through a full three-day schedule. Our agenda covers fun and engaging networking opportunities, ample time on the show floor to view new products and equipment and over 60+ hours of educational offerings to learn from industry experts.
JOB
MECHANICAL ENGINEER:
KENT, WA.-DESIGN equipment for the street sweeper industry. CREATE detailed component part and assembly drawings. CREATE Bills of Materials for design layout and component part/assembly drawings. PROVIDE technical service to clients regarding products. OVERSEE the production of design prototypes by technicians. TEST prototypes. CREATE technical documentation for production and customer use.
REQUIRES:
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
• 12 months’ school or work experience using solidWorks software to produce detailed 3D and 2D design drawings required.
• Occasional weekend or evening hours and overnight travel by company car to client sites required.
• Driving record, if any, must have no more than two moving violations, and no DUI or reckless/negligent driving citations, within the last 5 years.
