One of the great parts about last week's Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) 2012 Congress and Expo or the Louisville, Tulsa and other manufactured housing shows and events this year has been the upbeat mood among most attendees and exhibitors. I'm seeing a group of 'young lions' as well as seasoned veterans that are ready to take their businesses to the next level. They know the problems, and are turning lemons into lemonade. Many know that problems are opportunities in disguise. Sometimes I hear the term 'survival of the fittest' at such meetings too.
In short, these meetings are routinely attended by professionals who are focused on growing their business and profits.
In the last year of the now sadly defunct Manufactured Home Merchandiser magazine, Marty Lavin and I had 'dueling columns' (FYI, Marty and I get along fine! We see somethings similarly, others differently, and that's what makes the world go round). Marty brilliantly spelling out why the industry was doomed in his column, and I replied with 'Two Words' as to why the Industry was going to survive and then prosper. We need a healthy discussion on key industry issues, and written perspectives that agree, disagree or do both from what you read here are welcome for our Industry Voices Guest Column.
What I will say today is that the future – the Road Ahead – is entirely in our hands. That means YOUR hands and that of your staff, team, colleague and peers.
We've made it very easy for Industry pros to contact their Congressman and Senators regarding the technical fixes needed for SAFE and Dodd-Frank to not be a job and a business killer for manufactured housing. I take my own medicine. I went to my Congressman's office, and did the follow up with staff. My Congressman is on board, how about yours? Go to the home page, put your mouse over the Alerts and Resources tab and under Alerts go to HR 3849. We made it as easy as possible. Send the document or email the link. Put your cover note with it. Follow up. One gent I know has dug in, lent his time and their entire state's congressional representatives are committed to being on board, Rs and Ds alike!
This type of personal advocacy can and will make a difference. Then see the new resource described in the Cutting Edge blog post today, and please set that wheel in motion too. All together, this can work.
New Manufactured Home Shipments are rising at double digits nationally. Some are saying we could hit 60,000 to 65,000 shipments this year. When we use Ron Thomas' idea of 50,000 shipments being our Industry's 'new base line,' we can see that we are moving in a better direction! But with 60% of all sales new MH sales being chattel, we need to be pro-active and protect chattel financing with HR 3849.
I'm working on my Senators to do a Senate version of the bill, please do the same. FYI, word has it that there are some Democratic Senators in play in favor of the bill. There are also Republican Senators who have said, get a Democrat to sign on, and we will too. Help others see the point.
The Road Ahead is in our hands.
The demographic numbers crunchers tell us that with lower incomes, growing population and a host of other factors, the Manufactured Housing Industry is well poised for the future. The rising shipment numbers suggest the same. I truly believe our Industry's best days can lay ahead of us! But we have to do the common sense things, even if they aren't the most fun. Just Do It. The revisions are good for manufactured home owners, home owners, good for businesses, it is a win-win. The effort will be worth it. # #
Post by
L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
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latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
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Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right. – Henry Ford
