PPC111 | Opinion

Sam Thorpe, Managing Director of BPCA member company, Predator Pest Solutions, dares to think the unthinkable: the potential for declining wasp management revenue.

The old saying ‘don’t put all of your eggs in one basket’ is a proverb that has stood the test of time. But have you considered not putting all of your financial hopes in one wasp nest?

It’s 2023 and the trusty coffer booster known as wasp season is upon us. This means early starts, late finishes, more stock, more phone calls, more office coordination, and of course, more wasps. Or does it?

Our industry has shown great buoyancy over the past few years of pandemic and uncertainty. However, as the industry has chugged on discreetly in the background (as we do) the variability of seasons has also continued. 

Last year, according to the Met Office’s annual summary, the UK recorded the warmest summer in a series dating back to 1884 and noted mostly below average rainfall in the same period. This lottery of weather conditions could be good or bad for total wasp volumes, and in turn numbers will have the same effect on businesses who are heavily dependent on this type of work.

However, while the researchers and biologists among us consider and monitor the effect on insect species, we pest controllers will want to keep our businesses moving and continue to remain active this summer.

How can we keep busy when we aren’t sure if the wasp season will be busy or lucrative?

Increasing your product type and service offering for your loyal or prospective customers could help. Those of us who would more readily shy away from hard sales will be groaning at the thought of having to push through a sale on items or services that a customer has not requested. This doesn’t need to be the case. 

Use the tips below to change your mindset and your business this year to avoid the pitfalls of a slow wasp season. And, whether you choose to adopt any of the ideas explained here, or just cross your fingers and hope for the best, remember to work safely and enjoy the summer months ahead.

There are times when guidance and advice may not be landing correctly with your customer in the written form, or is not then being communicated to staff who aren’t around at your inspection times.

If the customer is not following up on actions, could you offer your services for an hour or so to brief the onsite teams on what is required of them, to support an environment with good practices around their pest control?

You may find that these sessions can fill your diary, reduce call backs and even reduce the complexity of your following routine inspections.

There are some incredible solutions and products out there but most products in our industry still require some level of professional monitoring or maintenance. Offer services across the year that cover routine maintenance and monitoring, and always offer what is genuinely needed.

This will cement your place with customers as a reliable supplier and should mean that downtime or defects with kit are found and resolved proactively.

This could be a new EFK unit to replace an outdated zapper type, some additional bird proofing to protect that shutter at the front of the shop from dangerous bird guano or even just some fruit fly traps ready for those long summer months of Pimm’s and lime slices ahead.

Offer services that solve problems, and they will sell themselves and keep you busy through summer.

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