Before getting into some housekeeping items and some serious industry business, let's tarry for a few moments over Thanksgiving. Maybe you want to pick up your favorite brew and sip it while you read this.
We are ever so fortunate to be in America. Being a bit of a history buff, it is easy to let the mind wander back to what caused people to sail those
treacherous seas and the Atlantic to come to various parts of North or South America. Many came for religious freedom. Others wanted economic or political freedom, just a chance at a better life.
There were no guarantees for those who made the journey except danger or hard work.
Some died at sea, others starved or fell prey to disease or new dangers. If some today think we have it tough now, they need to think again.
But those who boarded the Mayflower, or one of hundreds of other wooden ships of that era, they did it for a better life. Speaking for myself, such courage and determination are inspirational!
Let's give thanks for all that we have, enjoy and for all that we can still accomplish in this great land.
Housekeeping
Did you grab that favorite brew? Was it perhaps…A Cup of Coffee?
Our readers all have their favorite features here. Tens of thousands come to read the Daily Business News. Thousands of others come to read the Featured Articles, MHI or MHARR News or one of the blogs like this one. You can find them all on the MHProNews.com home page and navigation menus.
Still others want to read the latest 'Cuppa,' which this month is A Cup of Coffee with…Randy Rowe. The reasons to read this column with Green Courte Partners Chairman Rowe – or dozens of others linked here – are many!
First, for every chance I could get to sit down for 10-15 minutes with some of the industry's leaders, pioneers, movers and shakers, or those good folks in the trenches, I'd take it!
Now imagine if you could do that anytime, day or night!
That's our A Cup of Coffee with…periodic published interviews series.
You can find them all archived and linked here. We appreciate all of those who have shared their time, wisdom and experiences through these one-on-one exclusive and published interviews.
If you are like me, you will find nuggets of gold in every one we've done. The Randy Rowe “Cuppa” interview is no exception!
Next month we will have at least one, maybe two new A Cup of Coffee with interviews. One is already in hand, and it's another biggie! Don't miss this one and those upcoming.
So when you aren't gobble-gobbling or out Black Friday shopping in the next few days, why not pick up your smart phone, table or computer and read
a few Cuppa interviews. Gain insights from those pros who know!
Do a few and you'll be hooked too.
Let me share a SECRET! When Joe Kelly graciously said last week: “Tony…Your belief in and knowledge of the industry is profound.”
Guess what? Part of the secret are in these “Coffee” articles!
Along with our readers, I learn from the wisdom of others, like the November interview with Chairman Rowe. I learn from the news and Featured Articles module content, which this month features over 15 more business-building gems.
If you have someone you'd like to nominate for an upcoming Cuppa interview, please do let us know, you can email it to us at this address, with A Cup of Coffee with in the subject line. You can use that same email address for news tips; thanks to all who share them with us!
Last but not least!
Bringing in New Blood! Growing the Industry's Base.
For 13 out of the last 14 years, we in manufactured housing have endured a long downturn. For 13 of the last 14 months, we are seeing a steady uptick in new home shipments.
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There are good reasons why Warren Buffett, Sam Zell – or Randy Rowe! – and so many others are bullish on our industry's future!
There are reasons why Clayton has enjoyed strong growth in their bottom line – as have other other companies – some of which we track in our Daily Business News market report.
I get calls, messages or share a meal with those who are shopping for more MHCs. Pros and investors who are looking to expand their market share in manufactured or modular housing.
They are not alone. Some on the outside of our industry need to be looking in!
Some on the outside of our businesses ought to be the new blood and the new opportunities for even more future growth. The fact that some are profitable and successful means others can be too.
There are many reasons to bring in the new blood. It is arguably good for everyone in the mix. Let's take a look at why all of us – and some new blood leaders – ought to nod and wink when we read the headline grabbing stuff IBISWorld published last year, because we have many good reasons to bullish on our Industry's future.
20 million reasons
There are over 20 million reasons why we should raise our heads and plan ahead vs. focusing on the the mud that may be at your feet.
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There are 20 million new housing units we will need between now and 2030.
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There are 10,000 baby boomers who retire daily.
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Incomes are down, but expectations for home ownership are not.
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Stick builders watched countless scores of their subs vanish during this 2008 mortgage bubble downturn.
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Investors are looking for a place to put their money that makes sense.
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Manufactured Home Land Lease Communities have overall performed better than many other real estate sectors.
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Many community owners want to retire or exit. Others are shopping and wanting in.
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We are quality, affordable housing!
We need to proudly and pro-actively seek that new blood.
Now, thanks to the leadership of forward-looking pros at Clayton Homes, MHI the NCC and others, we will.
On January 22, 2013 – the day before the Louisville Show – we will have a special event. We are purposely limiting its size for this premier happening so we can get this right, systematize it and do more of these pro-growth events in the future.
We've dubbed this:
Introduction to MH Opportunities Day
To learn more about this event, we have a mocked up page at this link here. As noted on that page, this line up is likely to morph as plans are finalized.
If you'd like to be a sponsor/presenter at this historic event, please go to the link above or click on the Clayton animation below. Scroll to the end of the page and just below the mock up of the 'register' button, click and download the Intro to MH Opportunities Day Sponsorship Opportunities PDF.
We will wrap these up in the next 10 days, then update and finalize that linked page accordingly. The more who jump in, the more outreach we can do on this forward looking initiative.
My sincere thanks to all of those who are working behind the scenes to make this event a reality!
Just in time for Thanksgiving. Isn't it appropriate! We live in a great nation and are in a great industry. Pulling together like professionals, the best is yet to come. ##
L. A. "Tony" Kovach
MHLivingNews.com = Re-
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