At times many tire of the long string of ‘bad news’ that seems to flow endlessly towards our Industry from Washington DC, our state capital or locally. Many working in our businesses today never knew the glory days of the late 90s, when 372,000+ manufactured homes were sold by HUD Code builders in 1998. Even in more robust times, the media or government officials have never been particularly bashful about our homes. But with an 85% drop in business since 1998, it seems like just another example of kicking a man who is down…
…but who do we have to blame for it? Why should we even be looking to pin blame, when the facts show us that we are perhaps 2.3 years away from the next big housing boom in the U.S. History? Amazing, but true! In fact, our Industry could get the jump on the on-site ‘stick builders’ – if we made some basic adjustments.
Please see this weekend’s Inspiration Blog post for an eye-opening example.
Then plan on coming to the free business building seminars available at the Tunica Manufactured Housing Show next week.
The Manufactured Home Show season is underway. The Great Southwest Home Show is coming in late April, billed as the largest indoor home show in the U.S. A dozen manufacturers, 50+ exhibitors, Industry mixer and more are all in centrally-located Tulsa OK. For those in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic states, check out the PMHA’s (Pennsylvania Manufactured Housing Association) HOMExpo 2011 in York, PA.
We believe in the future of our Industry. We will be at three major events in person in the next 40 days. We will show you how to Dominate Your Local Market, the free business building seminar that drew about 100 attendees in Louisville in January 2011, and that George Allen introduced with the words: “These guys are the future!” of manufactured housing!
Ending the Downturn for Manufactured Housing? I get calls and messages from firms who have troubles, but also from those who are ‘making more money now than ever before.’ Henry Ford was correct:
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you are right.”
The future is in your hands, my hands and those of our colleagues. How do we stop the kicking of a man – or industry – that is down? It starts with the realization that every problem is an opportunity in disguise for those willing to roll up their sleeves and work for it. # #
