North American Sweeper - September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021

INSIDE TOP 5 BRAND DEVELOPMENT TIPS p.8 5 WINNING LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES p.10 4 WAYS TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED WORKERS p.14 IN THE NEWS p.18 1-800-SWEEPER’S NEW MENTOR PROGRAM p.20 UNDERSTANDING GUTTER BROOM TERMINOLOGY p.22 MOTIVATING EMPLOYEES IN CHALLENGING TIMES p.24

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SEPTEMBER 2021 | VOLUME 16 | ISSUE 9

CONTENTS

F E AT U R E S 8

Top 5 Brand Development Tips

10 5 Winning Leadership Strategies 14 4 Ways to Attract Qualified Workers 18 In The News 20 1-800-SWEEPER’s Announces New Mentor Program 22 Understanding Gutter Broom Terminology 24 Motivating Employees in Challenging Times 26 Staying Busy with BZ & Son’s Sweeping and Washing 38 Index of Advertisers/Classifieds

CEO & PUBLISHER Gideon W. Smith

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Melissa Kennelly

SENIOR EDITOR Katherine Nolan

EDITORIAL MANAGER Heidi Karpinich

ADVERTISING Tracy Rodean

CIRCULATION Noah Aiden

Phoenix Global Media Inc. P.O. Box 235, Stockton New Jersey 08559 866-418-4400 phone 973-532-0319 fax sales@nasweeper.com North American Sweeper Magazine is published by Phoenix Global Media Inc. Copyright 2020 by Phoenix Global Media Inc. All rights reserved.

SUBSCRIPTIONS $15.00 per year, or by eligible request.

POSTMASTER: Please send changes to North American Sweeper Magazine P.O. Box 235, Stockton New Jersey 08559

Opinions expressed in editorial submissions contributed to North American Sweeper Magazine are those of the individual authors exclusively and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of North American Sweeper Magazine, its staff, its advertisers, or its readership. North American Sweeper Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility toward independently contributed editorial submissions or any typographical errors, mistakes, misprints, or missing information within advertising copy.

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Financing a New or Used Sweeper Can Be a Challenge…

WE MAKE IT POSSIBLE! With Oakmont Capital Services, we understand the industry and sweeping equipment. We offer customers: * No Money Down * Virtual Financing via E-Docs and Remote Online Notary * Application-Only Up To $500,000 * Delayed Payment Options * Municipal Funding Available * Private Sale Transactions * Terms Based on Credit Approval * Structured Terms for Troubled Credit

AdamDomke, CLFP (320) 844-8721 adomke@oakmontfinance.com

EliseLinn, CLFP (320) 844-8802 elinn@oakmontfinance.com

We finance new & used: parking lot sweepers, street sweepers, milling machines and more!

“

oakmontfinance.com/sweeper JaymeGerads, CLFP (320) 844-8803 jgerads@oakmontfinance.com

I have never had a bad experience with

Oakmont. I switched over from a different

lender to Oakmont Capital Services because I enjoyed their cooperative and friendly

attitudes. I didn’t feel like I had to jump

through hoops to get loans for sweeping

equipment. I plan to continue to work with Oakmont and Michael McElroy (my go-to guy!) in the future.

Lisa James, Big Easy Parking Lot Maintenance, LLC

MichaelMcElroy, CLFP (612) 251-0804 mmcelroy@oakmontfinance.com

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BUSINESS CORNER

I N D U S T RY N E W S

TOP 5 Brand Development Tips A S S O C I AT I O N I N S I D E R

You Need to Be a Successful Street Sweeping or Paving Contractor

SPOTLIGHT

INDEX

As a street sweeping or paving contractor, it is easy to focus on the everyday operations and aspects of your business. Meeting the needs of clients, ensuring your employees have good working conditions and staying on top of operational expenses are just some of the things you probably think about daily.

H

owever, do you ever focus your time on the

4 Your personality

intangibles? Your business’s brand — often the

4 Your story

first identifying piece of your business encountered

If your brand is already hitting the mark on all of

by potential clients — should be something that

these areas, great! If not, sit down and think about

is reflected in more than just your logo. Read on

each aspect of your brand. If you are honest and send

for the top five brand development tips you need

a cohesive message, you’ll attract loyal customers.

to integrate into your street sweeping or paving

2. Update Your Visual Identity

business today.

1. Create Your Identity

When you have consistent branding, more people will recognize your business. Recognizable brands like

Whether you are a new street sweeping or paving

UPS, Coca-Cola, and Apple have consistent branding.

business or an established company, your brand has

Don’t just use a logo on advertising materials. Instead,

to have an identity. Make sure that your brand, not

use your street sweeping or paving logo on social

just your logo, targets the following:

media, uniforms, correspondence, your website —

4 Your purpose

the more places people see your logo, the more

4 Your ideal consumer

recognizable and memorable it will be!

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in some way from your help? Think about partnerships

Look at the strategies employed by the competition.

as another way to develop your brand.

Maybe you figure out a way to help promote sustainability or inclusivity. Many consumers are

How are they attracting

invested in social issues. Corporate responsibility is

customers?

Partnering with an organization to make the world

somewhat or very important for 70% of Americans. a better place will increase brand recognition and

3. Research Competitors

Yes, thinking about your brand is paramount. However, you need to remain cognizant of what your street sweeping or paving competitors are doing.

Look at the strategies employed by the competition.

How are they attracting customers? Are they targeting the same audience? How are consumers responding to their tactics? When you examine what competing contractors are doing, you can learn how to make your street sweeping or paving brand stand out from all the others.

4. Integrate Brand with Content

According to Forbes, 68% of consumers report that they have raised their expectations of companies’ digital capabilities since the pandemic. What does this mean for

promote goodwill, making your business more attractive to consumers.

PAVE YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS BY USING BRAND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Brand development might not be on your shortlist as an important task in your street sweeping or paving business. However, taking the time to get it right will increase brand awareness and help you build your business. Learning how to use your brand effectively will help you reach more people in the long run.

Don’t be afraid to put your brand out there. Taking the time to develop and nurture your brand will build trust and create loyal customers. Use these tips to help you develop the brand of your street sweeping or paving business. Benefit from more helpful tips to grow your business by checking out the North American Sweeper Magazine today.

your street sweeping or paving business? Make sure you are integrating your brand with your online content.

Online content doesn’t all have to be business-driven.

You can use memes, gifs, and video clips to engage customers and drive interest. Blogs, social media posts, and emails are good ways to weave your brand into relevant content.

5. Utilize Partnerships

Sources https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2021/05/23/5-trends-indigital-brand-management-to-watch-out-for-in-2021/?sh=5687f1b27e6f http://www.nasweeper.com/ https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/corporate-social-responsibility-statistics

Think about your brand for a moment. Is there another business that could help you further your business goals? Is there another organization that could benefit

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BUSINESS CORNER

I N D U S T RY N E W S

A S S O C I AT I O N I N S I D E R

5

SPOTLIGHT

INDEX

Winning Leadership Strategies to Surpass Competing Street Sweeping or Paving Contractors As a contractor, you have to find methods to distinguish your business from local and regional competitors. With so many similar companies, though, standing out becomes a challenge. With these five strategies, you will strengthen your business and eclipse your competition.

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1. Invest In Your Team

The people you bring on to your team represent one of your strongest assets as a company. From your marketing team to your workers, you should hire dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled employees. Their experience and understanding of the contracting industry will show through their work, leading to well-done projects. As you consider how to stand out from the competition, look at the people you hire and how they add value to your company as a whole.

2. Provide Great Customer Service

The more knowledge you have about your industry as a whole, the better you can conduct business...Researching your industry also gives you an advantage, because you will better understand your competitors.

In the same vein, your company should aim

price of street sweeping and paving services will

to provide the best customer service possible.

allow you to determine if your company’s prices

Customer satisfaction will lead to positive feedback,

accurately match the value of its services.

returning business, and more referrals, all of which

Researching your industry also gives you an

grow your business. The more positive, memorable

advantage, because you will better understand

experiences your customers have with you, the

your competitors. You can assess the business

more loyalty you foster.

models, prices, and qualities of similar businesses

Employees who interact with potential and

to discover what you want to emulate or avoid. This

existing clients should behave with courtesy and

helps you with the next strategy.

respect while using a problem-solving approach.

4. Define Your Brand

However, customer service goes beyond answering customer inquiries. You should strive for effective, sincere communication with customers during the ups and downs of every project.

3. Research Your Industry

Every contracting business has distinct qualities.

Taking the time to think about what defines your company and its services will make you more memorable. You can approach this by considering your company’s unique persona, values or story.

The more knowledge you have about your industry

Addressing this on your website helps your business

as a whole, the better you can conduct business. For

stand out when someone searches for street

example, the price of offered services contributes

sweepers or pavers online.

to your competitive edge. Researching the average

You can also define your brand through the

continued on page 12

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BUSINESS CORNER

I N D U S T RY N E W S

To optimize your business’s local SEO, you should create and verify a Google My Business page for your company. This profile will help potential clients find

If your contracting business serves multiple locations, then location pages on your website can also improve your local SEO. This helps your business appear on search pages for people looking for street sweepers and pavers in specific areas. You should provide all relevant information concerning the areas

A SasSwell O CasI AT N I Nyour S Icompany.

DER you serve, how ItoO contact

Lastly, potential customers are more likely to find and engage with your business if you ensure your website

you when they type relevant

has a mobile-friendly version. People use their mobile

keywords into Google’s

benefit by having a neat and professional mobile site.

search bar.

You deserve recognition for your street sweeping and

SPOTLIGHT

devices to search for needed services, so you can

I N DBUSINESS EX TAKE YOUR TO THE NEXT LEVEL paving services. These five strategies take time, but

specific services you offer. Is there a particular gap or

starting with them will benefit your business in the

need in your industry that your services address? Does

long run. A solid foundation built with these strategies

your company have a particular selling point to attract

will keep your company stable and allow you to excel,

new customers? If you do, customers will recognize

ultimately surpassing your competition.

the benefits of employing your services, and business will improve.

5. Focus Locally

People will most likely find your company through local online searches. 46% of all Google searches seek information about local services. Therefore, if you want to surpass competitors, you will find it

Sources https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/local-seo https://www.constructconnect.com/blog/12-tips-grow-construction-business https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanrobinson/2019/09/08/ how-to-differentiate-your-brand/?sh=be9a4a374795 https://www.business.com/articles/5-ways-to-beat-competition/

worthwhile to improve your local SEO. To optimize your business’s local SEO, you should create and verify a Google My Business page for your company. This profile will help potential clients find you when they type relevant keywords into Google’s search bar. In addition, customers can leave their reviews on this page, and your responses to these reviews can help build your credibility.

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BUSINESS CORNER

I N D U S T RY N E W S

4 Ways to Attract Qualified Workers to Your Small A S S Oin C I AT ION INSIDER Business 2021 The labor shortage brought on by the

S P OCOVID-19 T L I G H Tpandemic and economic shutdown has left many big and small businesses alike struggling to come up with creative approaches to attract

But, there are indicators that the labor shortage is easing.

The INDE Xrecommendations offered below are from LinkedIn management and other sources of updated information for improving the success rate of attracting qualified applicants to small businesses.

new workers. In a poll just taken (Q3

4 TIPS FOR ATTRACTING THE BEST APPLICANTS TO YOUR SMALL BUSINESS IN 2021

2021), half of the small business owners

Small businesses typically cannot keep pace with

reported that it’s harder for them than

large wealthy corporations when it comes to wage

it was at the same time last year to

and benefits packages. But, many can succeed in the

find qualified people. Below are a few often-overlooked fundamentals for attracting good workers in the extremely competitive 2021 employment market.

Around 31% of businesses said they still have open

currently difficult labor market by adding these basic proven methods to their strategies for attracting good job candidates:

1. Do more than just post the job opening.

Small businesses need a digital presence that

positions they have been unable to fill in the last

helps build their brand not just to attract potential

three months or longer. That’s nearly double the 16%

customers, but also to appeal to talented workers.

reported in Q1 2020. There are still a million more

LinkedIn data reveals that many people looking for

open jobs than people looking for work. There are

work engage online with prospective employers’

currently over 10 million job openings in the U.S.,

brands for months before applying for a job with

which the Labor Department says is a new record.

them.

The hiring problem is costing the U.S. American businesses lost sales and revenues.

By all accounts, it’s clear that even at the lower ranks of the employment market, good workers

continued on page 16

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Celebrating

10 Years Of

Sweeping Excellence

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BUSINESS CORNER

currently have a strong sense of their freedom to

information about their employee experience. No one

their job hunts. But, small businesses IbeNselective D U S TinR Y NEWS

in your company can relate better and reach their peers

can compete more effectively by having a basic web

more effectively than people openly talking about how

presence in place.

they genuinely feel about their jobs.

A small business needs a website that reflects

So, present a refreshing image compared to the typical

its purpose, social mission, values, and workplace

employer brands, by featuring your employees in your

culture. Give local workers an impression of what the

job ads, on your social media videos and other posts,

experience of working for your company is like.

and in your other job outreach activities.

Today’s best workers are looking beyond pay rates and basic benefits, often prioritizing company culture in their decisions to apply. Making your workplace culture stand apart from others is a major asset for small-business employers. When job seekers begin to perceive your business as more

SPOTLIGHT

than just a typical employer brand, they can appreciate your thought leadership and management.

2. Aim your message at the right potential candidates.

A S S O C I AT I O N I N S I D E R

3. Build an engaged online community.

For some busy entrepreneurs, developing a truly

impactful online community around your small business may seem like just an

INDEX

...it’s worth the time investment to use

your virtual space to connect with your target audience.

excessive notion. They may write it off as advice from people who are out-of-touch with realities on the ground for small business owners. Consider that just having a Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram page is important.

But, it’s just a first step toward all

Effectively communicating your

you can accomplish by robustly

message to the right segment of

using these modern tools to your

the employment market is the most basic principle for posting a successful job opening. However, too many

business’s full advantage.

Social pages are where people are these days. Being

businesses miss this mark entirely. (Small businesses

active in the places where the people you want to

very often have the same problem of wasting precious

attract are already spending time is a powerful way

resources by failing to market their products and

to showcase your business’s personality, values,

services to the right targets in the consumer market as

commitment to the community, and more. It’s an

well.) The key here is using your business’s employment

ideally convenient and popular place for people to get

marketing resources to communicate the truth of your

to know and like your business and engage with it. So,

company’s values, instead of whatever you sense they

it’s worth the time investment to use your virtual space

most want to hear.

to connect with your target audience.

One way to accomplish this is to let people in

The concept is simple. Just be routinely active on

your business other than just the top management

your social sites by having people from your company

communicate with your potential applicants and share

engage with your visitors there. Occasionally, pay

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this, share it with your target audience in your local

Job seekers are interested in talking about this key aspect of employment with a company. It’s no longer a non-priority point for later discussion. Employment industry experts now recommend including it in your job postings on your company’s public pages

employment market, and welcome their feedback.

COMPETING SUCCESSFULLY IN THE EMPLOYER MARKET IN 2021-2022

The good news may be that a recovery in the U.S. employment market might be budding here in Q3 2021. After all, Q2 saw July hiring totals that were the second-highest of the year. Still, small business owners may face additional obstacles competing with major corporate employers like Walmart, McDonald’s, and Target. Those and other major employers are currently throwing massive financial resources at solutions for drawing new workers.

However, applying the basics discussed above and taking advantage of your superior familiarity with your local area and its sources of talent can help

for inexpensive boosts to vastly multiply your page’s exposure. With each post you enter on your social page, you have raised awareness of your consumer and employer brand.

4. Be transparent about having staff work from home.

significantly in appealing to the best job candidates.

Additionally, using your technology to tap additional resources like Monster, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, your local unemployment office, school job fairs, and others can further help you succeed in attracting good applicants to your small business.

A sizzling hot topic in the job market these days is what employers plan to do to enable working from home, or a full return to working at the business’s location, or hybrid arrangements mixing the two. This is the time

Sources https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/12/how-to-post-jobs-on-linkedin-amid-tightest-labor-market-in-history.html

to be transparent about your company’s intentions to migrate to more at-home work options or to bring all operations onto your business site.

Job seekers are interested in talking about this key aspect of employment with a company. It’s no longer a non-priority point for later discussion. Employment industry experts now recommend including it in your job postings on your company’s public pages and even adding commentary about the policy from your top leadership. So, if your business has a clear policy on

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IN THE NEWS

A S S O C I AT I O N I N S I D E R

INDEX S P FAYAT O T L I G ENVIRONMENTAL HT SOLUTIONS

ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SANDHAUG AS

BORDEAUX - France, 6th September 2021 – Fayat

delighted to partner with such a professional and

Environmental Solutions (FES) announced today

committed organization as Sandhaug. They will

an agreement with Sandhaug AS, a well-established

undoubtedly deliver the highest level of expert advice,

dealer of sweepers in Norway. Under this agreement,

service and care throughout their presence and various

Sandhaug becomes the exclusive FES distributor of

workshops across Norway. Our common values and

MATHIEU sub-compact and compact, RAVO mid-size

goal to deliver sustainable solutions for a cleaner future

and SCARAB truck mounted sweepers for Norway

creates the perfect fit for both our organizations. It will

nationwide.

guarantee the best combination of the most advanced

FES is a true global player operating in more than

technology and fullest range of sweeping equipment with the highest level of service and professionalism”

With over 150 years of combined experience, a global network and proven technologies, Fayat Environmental Solutions offers a full product range of innovative sweepers 45 countries through its worldwide network of certified dealers who provide a second to none level of service and after sales assistance to thousands of municipalities and contractors worldwide. With over 150 years of combined experience, a global network and proven technologies, Fayat Environmental

said Frédéric Lallemand, Chief Commercial Officer at FES. ABOUT FAYAT ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS As a sub-division of the FAYAT Group, a leading Construction group and a worldwide leader in Road Equipment, Fayat Environmental Solutions, with over 750 employees, designs, manufactures and markets a full-range of complementary Sweeping Solutions under the brand names Dulevo, Mathieu, Ravo and Scarab, out of its multiple production facilities across Europe. For more info: www.environmentalsolutions.fayat.com ABOUT SANDHAUG AS Founded in 1996, with locations in Hunndalen and Olso Norway, Sandhaug AS is a professional supplier and maintenance provider for sweepers, tool carriers, graders and road maintenance equipment. For more info: www.sandhaug.no

Solutions offers a full product range of innovative sweepers caring for a clean future and creating wellbeing in urban environments.

“In the context of our sustained growth and the expansion of our coverage across Europe, we are

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1-800-SWEEPER Announces

NEW MENTOR PROGRAM

1-800-SWEEPER continually looks for programs

kicked off in May with 15 Partner participants, both

and opportunities to help our Partners grow

being mentors and mentees. “You’re never too old to

their business as well as grow professionally.

learn, everyone has ideas on how to do things or can improve in areas, the mentor

We launched the National Pavement Maintenance

program allows Partners to talk

Leadership Academy in 2019

...our Mentor Program

and graduated 2 classes of 24.

provides Partners the

says Ben Steyer, Executive

The program has since been

opportunity to learn

Director of 1-800-SWEEPER.

on hiatus due to the pandemic and is expected to resume in

from each other, the best

2022. We are now offering our

in the business.

and share their experiences”,

The Mentor Program is not set up to be a traditional mentorship program. “Our

Partners another program that

program has a group format.

enables them to learn from

Each group is made up of

each other.

Our new Mentor Program offers Partners the

Partners with different levels of experience and company size. It works very well for everyone.”

opportunity to learn and grow as businessmen/ women. The goal of a mentorship program is to accelerate the personal and professional

The Mentor Program is just another benefit of being a

development of mentees. This is achieved by

1-800-SWEEPER Partner. If you’re interested in learning

providing mentees with guidance, advice, and

more about 1-800-SWEEPER, contact Ben Steyer at

feedback from mentors with more experience than

bsteyer@1800sweeper.com.

themselves.

Whether you’ve been in the sweeping business for 20 years or 2 years, our Mentor Program provides Partners the opportunity to learn from each other, the best in the business. This new program was

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UNDERSTANDING Gutter Broom Terminology Gutter brooms go by many names with

terminology to identify the different styles of gutter

different sweepers using different style gutter

brooms, which are now commonly used throughout the

brooms. Most gutter brooms are filled with a

industry.

steel wire while some have a polypropylene bristle for less aggressive sweeping needs or where wire breakage would be hazardous.

These brooms are used on mechanical and vacuum sweepers. Whether the sweeper is digging out debris from the curb line or sweeping up millings, the gutter brooms sweep the material towards the centerline of the sweeper within reach of the rear broom or vacuum head.

Years ago, when there were only a few sweeper

Here is a breakdown of the different styles of gutter brooms and the sweepers they are used on.

150KP GUTTER BROOM (4 SECTION)

The 150 gutter broom is a 4-section gutter broom. Each section or block has 32 bristle holes that take the standard 26” wire. All gutter broom wire is bent in half before being stuffed into each hole making the wire 13” in length. This is measured from the bottom of the wire to the top of the gutter broom head and applies to all gutter broom styles.

The diameter of the 4-section 150 gutter broom when mounted is 44”.

This gutter is commonly called a Wayne gutter broom

manufacturers, understanding gutter broom terminology

which refers to the old Wayne sweeper. Today this broom

was easy. If you had an Athey Mobil sweeper you

is used on all Global Environmental Vanguard sweepers,

would call your supplier and ask for a couple of Mobil

Stewart Amos sweepers, and the old Johnston 3000/4000

side brooms. If you had an Elgin, you’d order an Elgin

sweepers.

4-segment or Elgin 5-segment side broom.

250KP GUTTER BROOM (4 AND 5 SECTION)

Today, there are many different sweeper manufacturers

The 250 gutter brooms can be used as 4-section or a

and models with a variety of gutter broom options.

5-section gutter broom depending on the sweeper make

Over the years, Keystone worked to come up with the

and model. The 250 gutter broom is the most common

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of all gutter brooms and is used on a variety of sweeper models. The 250 gutter broom has 31 holes in each

and a combination of poly and wire.

The 650 is used on the Elgin Crosswind and Whirlwind,

section. The 4-section has a 36” completed diameter and

the Johnston 605 and 650, and Nitehawk sweepers.

5-section has a 46” diameter.

There are several Caterpillar sweeper attachments that

All Elgin sweepers use the 250 gutter broom with some

have a gutter broom option, these take the 650 brooms.

using the 4-section and others using the 5-section. The

Broce and SB Manufacturing road construction sweepers

Crosswind and the Whirlwind come standard with a

also have an option for certain models that use the 650

2-section 650 block but do have an option for the 250

brooms.

gutter broom. Schwarze, Stewart-Amos, Tymco, the Nite-

750KP GUTTER BROOM (2-SECTION)

hawk Supervac, the Tennant Centurian, and the Xbroom

The 750 gutter broom is a 2-section broom with 24 holes

all use the 250 gutter broom. The section count (4-section

in each section. The diameter of the finished broom is 13”.

or 5-section) varies depending on the sweeper model.

The 750 broom is commonly used as an option for Bobcat and Sweepster attachments.

1100KP GUTTER BROOM (12-SECTION)

The 1100 gutter broom is a 12-section broom with 12 holes in each section. The diameter of the finished broom is 44”. The 1100 is commonly known in the industry as the SureGrip.

Today this broom is an option for all of the Global Environmental Vanguard sweepers and the old Johnston Allianz 3000/4000 sweepers.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

The Tymco 210 and Schwarze SuperVac air sweepers can use a 10” x 36” sloped wafer as a gutter broom. The poly The 4-section 250 is available with the standard 26” wire as well as a 22” wire for the SuperVac S-Series sweeper and the Tymco 210 air sweeper.

bristle of these wafers is set on an angle to replicate a traditional gutter broom.

Many of the smaller imported sweepers use a 1-piece

350KP GUTTER BROOM (4-SECTION)

gutter broom. Some of these sweepers include the Ravo,

The 350 gutter broom is a 4-section broom with 35 holes

the Dulevo, the Multi-hog, the Johnston 651, and the

in each section. The diameter of the finished broom is

Tennant Centennial sweepers.

43”. The 350 was originally designed for the Athey Mobil

While different sweepers can use a different style gutter

sweeper. Although Athey has been out of business for

broom, at the end of the day they all have the same basic

more than 20 years, there are still some refurbished

construction: wire bristle in a plastic block that’s bolted to

Mobil’s in use today.

the drive plate on the sweeper. You just need to find the

The Tymco 600 also uses the 350 gutter broom.

650KP GUTTER BROOM (2-SECTION)

one that fits your sweeper.

Happy Sweeping!

The 650 gutter broom is a 2-section broom with 30 holes in each section. The diameter of the finished broom is 16”.

The 650 is available with the standard 26 wire, 26” poly,

w w w. na sweeper.co m

Mike Santos, Sales and Marketing Manager at Keystone Plastics, Inc. m.santos@kpbrush.com

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 N O R T H A M E R I C A N SWEEPER 23

MOTIVATING EMPLOYEES in CHALLENGING TIMES Labor shortages across the country are creating tremendous challenges, and small businesses have been some of the hardest hit. Now more than ever, a focus on retaining current employees is essential to keeping your business stable and successful. If you are struggling to keep employees motivated and excited, we’d like to help! Over our years working with countless NiteHawk customers, we’ve observed that there are three primary reasons an employee will be unmotivated to perform the way you need them to. Here we discuss each reason and provide insights on how to keep your team strong, happy, and successful.

do better, and they may not even realize how or why they are stuck.

The key to motivating these individuals is straight forward and frequent communication, followed by action. In private meetings, or with others when appropriate, highlight the positive things this person contributes to the work. Reward forward thinking, and when an idea doesn’t fit in the overall strategic plan, follow up to explain. If possible, change pay structures to incorporate bonuses for real improvement based on measurable metrics. Show them you recognize their contribution to the team and take a genuine interest in their wellbeing. If you don’t feel like this toward your team, look in the mirror and find a way, because you are one of the obstacles blocking their motivation.

GROUP 2: READY TO GO, BUT NOT SURE WHERE

GROUP 1: STUCK IN THE PRESENT

The second group of unmotivated employees can see

Sometimes an employee loses enthusiasm for their

a future with the company, but the overall structure is

work because they have trouble seeing a future.

not in place to appropriately reward them. There may

Their thinking is this: without a great future ahead of

be a lack of training resources or procedures to help

me, does what I do now even matter? This individual

them grow into new roles. Or perhaps you have the

has usually faced discouragement, either personally

resources, but other projects have taken priority over

or professionally, and has lost belief in himself.

this individual’s growth. Not only does this dampen

Perhaps they presented a good idea that was never

employee motivation, but also it prevents a company

implemented, or maybe promised opportunities

from achieving its objectives in the long run.

for advancement never materialized. Maybe health

As Cuba Gooding’s character Rod Tidwell said in Jerry

challenges or problems at home are keeping them

Maguire, “Show me the money!” To confront your

down. These are good people looking for a reason to

company’s internal barriers to employee motivation,

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for whatever reason, demonstrate that no matter what

...start by reviewing the compensation structure of your sales team, supervisors, or whoever seems to be losing steam.

structure is in place, they are not going to give you any more effort. If you’ve given them a chance with some of the above suggestions, and their behavior doesn’t change, the solution is simple: fire, replace, and focus your attention on the people who really want to do better.

While each employee’s situation will be a bit different, this is your key takeaway as a leader: you’ve got to

start by reviewing the compensation structure of your

know your people. Take time for one-on-one discussion,

sales team, supervisors, or whoever seems to be losing

explore how people feel about their jobs, and ask what

steam. Find ways to reward for performance, not for

would motivate them to improve. Get to know them

potential. As you increase available rewards, keep your

not just as employees but as people, and find out what’s

expectations clear. Holding the line can be difficult, but

going on in their lives besides work. Understanding and

it will weed out the team members that don’t want to

identifying your employees and what motivates them is

perform and provide a spark to the ones that do.

the key to developing a productive and efficient team.

GROUP 3: NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE

The last type of unmotivated employee may be the most

NiteHawk Sweepers 1-800-448-9364

disappointing but the simplest to deal with. Some people,

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 N O R T H A M E R I C A N SWEEPER 25

SPOTLIGHT

INDEX

STAYING BUSY

with BZ & Son’s Sweeping and Washing

Now entering its third and fourth

generation, his son, Bob Stumpf Jr., and

generations, BZ & Son’s Sweeping and

his wife Connie, along with their sons and

Washing Inc. is a Texas company solidly

grandsons. This change of ownership took

based on the premise of service. Started in

place as Bob Jr. retired from an honorable

1986 by Bob Stumpf and his wife Zuella,

22-year Navy career, as the family settled

it’s now being managed by the second

in Paris, Texas.

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 N O R T H A M E R I C A N SWEEPER 27

STAYING BUSY WITH BZ & SON’S SWEEPING AND WASHING

As Bob Sr.’s health began to fail, he called his son, who was overseas in Spain with the Navy. After a discussion, Bob Jr. and Connie decided that it was time to leave the Navy behind to set sail on another adventure, running and expanding the sweeping business that he’d learned running sweeper trucks on hot summer days in high school. He’d enjoyed the experience in the past and felt it was an industry he was at least somewhat familiar with, so he retired from the Navy in 2003 to start taking over the business. Starting with only two trucks and still working out of his dad’s house with a two-bay garage for maintenance, which was handled by a mechanic friend of his, he quickly added a third truck.

the business, along with his three sons, Michael, Nick, and Shane, turning the company into a true multi-generation business. But the change of ownership wasn’t the only change that happened

Returning to Paris with Connie and his son Zach,

to the company. Seeing the potential for additional

the company saw another change a few years later

services, Bob Jr. and Connie added a wide range of

when it was incorporated as his son Mike joined

other services to meet the community’s needs. continued on page 30

SEE US AT BOOTH #2200

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5

things you must know BEFORE buying a STREET SWEEPER

SCAN CODE for your free report

we make it easy to buy! co-op purchasing

financing

Contract # 122017-JTN

Bucher Municipal 105 Motorsports Road Mooresville, NC 28115 T 704.658.1333 WWW.BUCHERMUNICIPAL.COM w w w. na sweeper.co m

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 N O R T H A M E R I C A N SWEEPER 29

INDEX

SPOTLIGHT

EXPANDING OPTIONS TO LEVERAGE GROWTH

Among the services that were added to make the business more resilient to various market forces are mowing, landscaping, winter deicing, tree removal, weed abatement, pothole patching, pavement striping, and many other services upon request.

Moving into a larger business model, they stepped up to eight sweeper trucks as well as Connie and another employee in the office handling the paperwork. The company also employs a full-time mechanic to keep the trucks running effectively.

Though the company was seeing a constant 6% growth annually, there was a point where it had begun to plateau. As large businesses such as Walmart

a much larger range of sweeping services as well as

expanded, so did their sweeping business. Though

other services mentioned above. These services were

they started strictly working on sweeping parking lots,

offered only to their parking lot customers, providing

their operation has expanded significantly to cover

the customer with a one-stop-shop for bundled continued on page 34

Your Broom Source for Municipal & Contractor Sweeping ...any sweeper, any attachment gutter brooms strip brooms tube brooms wafer brooms hard parts too!

www.united-rotary.com

800-851-5108

urbsales@united-rotary.com 3 0 NORTH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R S EP T EM BER 2021

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WE CAN CREATE A RENTAL PROGRAM TO ALIGN WITH SWEEPING CONTRACTS YOU HAVE WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 N O R T H A M E R I C A N SWEEPER 31

Replacement Brooms You Can Rely On.

Quality. Performance. On-Time Delivery Keystone Plastics has been manufacturing the industry’s leading replacement brooms for street sweeping and road construction since 1954. At Keystone we believe in reliable quality and strive to make the heaviest, longest lasting brooms in the industry. We also believe the only good broom is the one that arrives to you as promised. Contact us to find a distributor near you.

Visit kpbrush.com | Call 1-800-635-5238

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 N O R T H A M E R I C A N SWEEPER 33

SPOTLIGHT

INDEX parking lot maintenance, making it much easier for these companies to get everything done while only paying a single bill. This is part of the reason why the company currently executes approximately 30 contracts monthly.

“The buzzword is bundle and it works,” Bob Jr. mentions.

MARKETING MATTERS

When the company was started, it was just Bob Sr. running the small sweep truck in parking lots only, with Zuella managing the office and phones. When Bob Jr. took over the company, he added a mid-grade sweeper to add city sweeping, starting with one little city and then growing from there, establishing the company in that market, and it’s lead to 18 years of successful operations.

To continue growing the company, whenever Bob Jr. wasn’t in the sweeping truck, he was acting as a salesman.

He’d knock on the door at a commercial business and had a great 15-second elevator speech ready to go to grab their attention, asking for 15 minutes of their time to sell the service. Though many would initially say he was out of continued on page 36

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NAPSA XL - Single Page .pdf

1

1/8/21

2:43 PM

Attention Members of the Sweeping Community!

NAPSA is proud to present our Exclusive Health Plan designed by industry experts

• Multiple plan options making it easy for you to find the right fit for your company • Plan options available in all 50 states • Major Medical Coverage for businesses of all sizes • Group Association Plans allow members to purchase healthcare benefits at competitive rates

Individual Rates Starting as low as $390

Compare your current plan to the NAPSA Plan today by contacting one of our agents:

866-793-9999

Joseph Mango ext. 338 & John Monico ext. 337 NAPSAhealth@worldinsurance.com w w w. na sweeper.co m

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 N O R T H A M E R I C A N SWEEPER 35

INDEX

SPOTLIGHT

their budget range, he’d convince

Bob Jr. mentions the EPA and Clean Water Act as big selling tools for the sweeping business because sweeping is the best maintenance practice to maintain clean drains and natural water sources for municipalities

them to continue the conversation.

That has lead to a great amount of referral business, with some business coming off of their website. Bob Jr. mentions the EPA and Clean Water Act as big selling tools for the sweeping business because sweeping is the best maintenance practice to maintain clean drains and natural water sources for municipalities

TRUE REGENERATIVE AIR SWEEPING !

Model 600® COMDEX ® Street Sweeper

Model 500x® High Side Dump

KEEPING BUSY IN DAILY OPERATIONS

The company runs practically 247, with the night shift sweepers starting between 9:30 and 10:00 P.M., and the city sweepers and day shift starting between 2:00 and 6:00 A.M., depending on which city is involved and what needs to be done. Bob Jr. has formed a good partnership with a solid waste company that provides dumpsters, Bob Jr. has seen a range of different sweeper trucks over the

Model 435® COMDEX ® Mid-Sized Street Sweeper

Model 210® COMDEX ® Parking Lot Sweeper

years, but he’s sold on his brand.

“I run various kinds of sweepers from the Tymco 600 to the Tymco 210. Tymco, solely Tymco man here. They are the best sweepers ever made. The IDS company I buy them from has service beyond

Because swept is not always clean, call TYMCO. Our Regenerative Air Sweepers blast into pavement cracks with up to a 250 mph controlled jet of air, forcing up even the finest sand and particulates into a totally enclosed system — never exhausting dirty air as do vacuum sweepers. All with only a few moving parts, reducing maintenance cost and downtime.

belief.”

Schedule a Demonstration Today !

1-800-258-9626 www.tymco.com

Model 600 Illustration

FROM THE PEOPLE WHO INVENTED REGENERATIVE AIR SWEEPING! 3 6 NORTH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R S EP T EM BER 2021

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 N O R T H A M E R I C A N SWEEPER 37

INDEX 1-800-SWEEPER..........................................................................15 1800sweeper.com

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

Bucher Municipal.........................................................................29 704-658-1333 / buchermunicipal.com

Safety Vision.................................................................................32 800-851-4764 / safetyvision.com

Buffalo Turbine.............................................................................21 716-592-2700 P R O D/ buffaloturbine.com U C T W AT C H

Schwarze Industries Inc........................................................3, 7,28 800-879-7933 / schwarze.com

Curbtender Sweeper s LLC........................................................BC 319-266-1721 / curbtendersweepers.com

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

Carolina Enviromental Services...................................................21 800-239-7796 / cesrefuse.com

Eagle Eye Tracking.........................................................................3 855-338-7225 Elgin Sweeper Company..............................................................33 elginregenx.com Global Sweeping Solutions............................................................2 909-713-1600 / globalsweeper.com Gregory Highway..........................................................................27 866-994-4929 / gregoryhighway.com KeyStone Street Sweeping Brooms............................................32 800-635-5238 / kpbrush.com NAPSA..........................................................................................35 866-793-9999 Nite-Hawk Sweepers................................................................6, 25 800-448-9364 / nitehawksweepers.com Oakmont Capital Services LLC......................................................5 320-844-8800 / oakmontfinance.com ODRA Sweeper.............................................................................19 844-888-6372 / odrasweeper.com Pat’s Pump & Blower....................................................................34 800-359-7867 / patspump.com

3 8 NORTH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R S EP T EM BER 2021

SEALMATE....................................................................................21 sealmate.com

Skavin’jer Street Sweepers..........................................................34 888-652-2137 / skavinjer.com Stewart-Amos Equipment Co........................................................4 800-482-2302 / stewart-amos.com Street Smart..................................................................................31 888-653-6800 / streetsmartrental.com Superior Tire & Rubber Corp.......................................................13 800-289-1456 / superiortire.com Sweeper Parts Sales......................................................................6 877-695-3060 / sweeperpartssales.com Trinity Highway.............................................................................13 888-323-6374 / trinityhighway.com Tymco............................................................................................36 800-258-9626 / tymco.com United Rotary Brush Corporation................................................30 800-851-5108 / united-rotary.com Well Made Manufacturing............................................................37 609-323-2655 / wellmademfg.com Xpress Sweeping Inc....................................................................38 401-523-6116 / xpresssweeping.com

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ODB Has the Parts to help SWEEP America !

For ALL makes and models of street sweepers!

Tennant - Elgin - Sunvac Mobil -Wayne - VacAll Vanguard - NiteHawk Schwarze - Johnston - Tymco OLD DOMINION BRUSH COMPANY

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BRUSHES, BROOMS & SWEEPER PARTS DEBRIS COLLECTION SYSTEMS

BROOMS Wafers Main Brooms Gutter Brooms

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and much more...

COAST to COAST

www.odbco.com CALL 800-446-9823 Today! w w w. na sweeper.co m Alamo Group

Replacement Parts for all makes and models of street sweepers Johnston, Elgin®, Tymco®, Tennant®, Wayne, etc..

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 N O R T H A M E R I C A N SWEEPER 39 052419 TMT

the path is always clear High performance, durable products that offer customers a lower total cost of ownership.

the

sentry a sweeper with standards as strong as your own the sentry regenerative air sweeper uncommonly high standards

Under CDL platform with over CDL performance. Incab control of gutter broom speed, pressure, and angle.

Hopper and fan are made entirely of Hardox® 450 abrasion resistant steel designed to stand up to the abuse of debris.

Crescent shaped pick up head funnels debris to the center of machine. On-screen diagnostics keep information at your finger tips and makes it easier to maintain your sweeper.

PHONE: 4 0 NORTH AMERIC AN(319) S WE 266-1721 E P E R S EP T EM BER 2021

701 PERFORMANCE DR. CEDAR FALLS, IA 50613

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