Operational Success
and learning from my fellow operators in an open forum how they have made changes to the way they do business. In the long run I think that this economic downturn can have a silver lining, if we as operators look more closely at even the little expenses and find ways to manage sharper, cleaner and leaner (Continued from page 16)
when the economy turns around (and it will) we will be in better shape as long as we con- tinue to practice “sharpening our pencils” as we look at our businesses. Remember: “everything matters.”
PC&D: Given the current state of the
economy, how are you encouraging
owner/operators to attend?
WH: By offering educational seminars, and a trade show floor filled with profes- sional vendors and suppliers who want to work with this industry. I remember one of my college classes when a professor told the class the best time to advertise is when things are bad. When sales are down don’t cut your ad budget, increase it. Since my earliest NRCC conven- tion I had the philosophy that if I walk away with one good idea, which paid for the trip, I have yet to be disappointed. To borrow a line from Tom Hoffman Sr. founder of Hoffman Car Wash (who has been in the industry for 44 years), “I’ve learned I still have a lot to learn.” If you attend the NRCC you will take some- thing back to your operations that will make you a better operator. The network- ing opportunity to get answers to your questions is unequaled.
PC&D: What does the future hold for
the NRCC?
