Pest managers attend Pest Controllers Academy refresher

On 5 April pest control managers attended a one-day refresher seminar following the very successful Pest Controllers Academy originally held on 6 & 7 October 2008.

It may often appear that pest control is a vocation rather than a business. Yet to run a successful and profitable business, pest control is no different to any other business. Last October nearly 50 keen and enthusiastic pest control entrepreneurs responded to this need and attended the first UK Pest Controllers Academy at the Novotel near Nottingham, sponsored by Killgerm and Sorex.

On 5 April the group met again to review the progress they had made since the earlier meeting. Perhaps the most visible change had been implemented by Rickie Browning of Bournemouth-based Prevent Pest Control. Rickie had taken to heart the message of clear and strong branding – since last October he had rebranded his business, updated his website and clearly visible for all to see was his shiny new van strategically placed outside the main entrance. Well done Rickie!

Also new since the previous Academy meeting is the launch ofPestmagazine and thePest+news service.

However, since the previous meeting, the world economic climate has substantially shifted. Course leader, Ross Smith from Mindshelf, said: “Delegates should not fear the current recession – now is an ideal time to refocus your business – to be flexible and to take on new ideas. He who dares, wins.”

To help all those in business, Ross has come up with his six ‘Rules for Recessionaries’.

Create a lot of perceived value at not much cost i.e. add value
Revitalise your brand, language and image. Refresh, renew and rejoice
Look at your business through the eyes of your customer – do not become complacent
Be an authority in what you do – provide as much evidence of this as possible
Develop ‘zero cost’ added value to your proposition
Banish “we have always done it this way” thinking