I. Return of the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show in 2011
Hats off to Dennis Hill at Showways Unlimited, as well as to the bold, forward looking manufacturers, exhibitors and others who are lining up rapidly behind the return of the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show, coming up quickly in 2011! My understanding from recent conversations with Dennis suggests most of the region’s manufacturers have already bought in, literally and figuratively. The few remaining ones are considering what model(s) would make the most sense for them to display. Exhibitor space is also filling up nicely, with more vendors coming on board, calling for details or already in the pipeline.
Plans are also underway to promote the returning show in positive, new ways so as to attract more manufactured housing industry members to attend this big event. These signals bode well for the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show’s success in 2011.
Let’s take a quick look at some additional background details.
For 50 of the 51 years of its history, word has it that this has been a profitable show. The concerns caused by the MH Industry’s long slide – which contributed to the show’s suspension – have diminished, for multiple reasons. First, the decline of recent years has flattened out; perhaps even a bit of a rise may occur in 2010 vs. 2009.
Despite clear Industry challenges still to be navigated, near future projections are reason to believe that the future for our MH Industry is bright. Those who step out now are those who will benefit from the market share growth the factory built housing Industry can capitalize upon.
Let’s take a snapshot of two recent studies that tell me that this is a great time for savvy, forward looking Industry players to line up behind Dennis Hill and the Louisville Show.
- At this year’s International Networking Roundtable, Cornell University’s Dr. David Funk provided an in depth look at what he projects will be the next housing boom. This boom will begin in about 3 years, is based on growing population, aging housing stock, as well as other factors. Dr. Funk’s objective study and research concludes that various economic and demographic factors can position the manufactured housing industry for serious growth for decades to come. This research is so compelling, that Dr. Funk will be presenting this same information to the Urban Land Institute at an upcoming meeting. Let me note that Dr. Funk has indicated he will share his research with our readers here at Manufactured Home Marketing Sales Management (www.MHMSM.com) in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned for that important article.
- Charles Shinn made an equally compelling public case last week for what should be a future boom for manufactured housing. Shinn, a respected consultant who has deep ties with the conventional housing industry and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), presented very similar statistics to Dr Funk’s at the Manufactured Housing Institute’s (MHI) annual meeting last week in Denver, CO. Shinn has been referred to as “the profit doctor” in the housing world. So when Shinn speaks, smart people in the housing industry listen. As noted with Dr. Funk, we plan to reach out to Charles Shinn asking him to share his research with our readers here at MHMSM.com.
The point is that here are two respected professionals with no axe to grind. Both of these experts are saying that the manufactured housing Industry’s best days can and should lie ahead! Frankly, they cited similar thinking to what we presented in our recently released book, The Manufactured Housing Revolution. These are three of many powerful reasons for forward looking manufacturers, suppliers and vendors to attend and get behind the Louisville Show. They are also the same reasons for community operators, retailers and other Industry professionals to attend.
We plan to share more reports on the good news of the return of the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show in the days ahead. Kudos to Dennis Hill and all who are making the return of this great event happen!
II. George Allen to sell INR?
During a committee meeting of the Manufactured Housing Educational Institute, chaired by Joe Adams, an interesting personal and professional revelation was shared with those in attendance. George F. Allen revealed that he has been approached to sell some of his current operations, including, but not necessarily limited to, the respected and acclaimed International Networking Roundtable (INR) and other aspects of his consulting practice to the land lease community business and manufactured housing industry in general.
This was mentioned in the context of MHEI’s possible interest in George F. Allen’s work. Given the informative nature of the INR, and the mission of MHEI –
The MHEI® Mission:
To support the educational purpose of the Manufactured Housing Institute by creating and delivering professional programs and resources for the manufactured housing industry
– it is certainly an understandable concept to consider. Allen also referred to his client mailing list and other aspects of his profitable operations as part of his phased retirement planning.
George has certainly floated in his own blog hints of his looking ahead to retirement, so this is certainly no secret. But this statement in front of 30 or so of his peers at the MHEI meeting in Denver last week might cause a ripple among Industry pros. As one committee member later came to me and asked me, “You aren’t going to report on George’s statement are you?” I felt it wise to confirm with George his thinking on the subject. Here is part of his reply:
“As I told you, I have no ‘prob’ with you mentioning my informal intention to begin planning for personal and corporate retirement, expressing sincere concern about how to perpetuate the dozen or so ‘work products’ the MHindustry and LLCommunity asset class have come to count on month by month and year by year.” – from George F. Allen via email
III. Thayer Long joins www.MHMSM.com as a contributor. More to follow.
Thayer Long from the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) will be joining us this week on a periodic basis in our Industry Voices Guest Blog. As regular readers of www.MHMSM.com know, we already showcase news from both MHI and MHARR, as part of our effort to provide fair and balanced information and perspectives from a variety of manufactured housing industry leaders.
In our current issue, as in previous ones, we have presented interviews with various manufactured housing industry leaders, including our periodic – and well read – A Cup of Coffee with interviews. In the current issue, we have two A Cup of Coffee interviews with the Iowa and Arkansas respective State Association Executives, Joe Kelly and JD Harper.
In conversations with Industry pros at Denver and Phoenix, we expect to see more interviews and articles by respected business and association leaders in the future.
So let me personally welcome Thayer Long to our growing online Industry news and views forum!
Let me also take a moment and invite professionals like you to join in the Industry conversation here at www.MHMSM.com.
This media platform is for and about supporting the efforts of professionals like you. Even a brief look at the incredible feature articles content generated by our writers every issue, or the business daily podcasts of Factory Built Housing News at Noon with our Erin Patla, or the reports our exclusive Industry In Focus reporter Eric Miller delivers to readers with a free sign up – all of these are excellent reasons for you and your team members to log on 15 minutes a day at www.MHMSM.com. This is where you can learn the latest tips, and read the most news from our varied sources.
That is why these and other Industry leaders say what can be found at:
http://www.mhmarketingsalesmanagement.com/what-our-readers-say
This is your invitation to:
- Send in news, articles and topics for discussions. Please see the about us page.
- Provide documents and research of Industry interest.
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Thank you for allowing our team to serve you and the factory built housing industry here at www.MHMSM.com. # #
