Improving Your Business
Is Our Business

The Home Improvement Economic Summit is upon us. April 1^st and 2^nd are rapidly approaching when the movers and shakers from the Home Improvement Industry will be gathering in Chantilly, VA at the Westfields Conference Center to discuss the current state and the future of this major economic force in our global economy.

This is no insignificant gathering of colleagues for the purpose of socializing and swapping war stories. The Home Improvement Industry annually represents an amount of revenue equal to nearly 50% of the amount of money the U.S. Congress recently authorized under the “Economic Stimulus Plan.

According to a recent release by the joint center of studies at Harvard University, The Remodeling Market in Transition – 2009, this giant industry has stimulated the market for home ownership, and created millions of jobs for manufacturers and those who install and service the products manufactured. The home improvement industry uses more building products then the new construction industry.

The US government and the media have taken scant notice of the issues and concerns of this great industry and therefore its future will be determined by the pioneers, innovators and creative marketers who have brought new products and ideas to the largest homeowner base in the world.

Highlighting the Economic Summit will be the presentation of the information contained in the Harvard Studies, regarding the remodeling industry.

Speakers at the Summit include:

Dr. Robert Geneski, internationally known economist,

www.classicprinciples.com will lead the discussion on the economic issues which face the US with projections for the balance of 2009.

D.S. Berenson, senior managing partner of Johanson Berenson,

www.johansonberenson.com will chair two panels introducing information regarding new tax laws, opportunities in the “green market” and new forthcoming legislation on the control of independent contractor status.

Additional panels on a wide range of economic issues will be chaired by industry leaders. Some of the topics include:

Energy Tax Credits and Marketing Them

Retail Financing in a Changing Market

Growing You Business in a Changing Economy

Internet Marketing

Diversity in a Changing Marketplace

I will act as the host of the Summit. It is my position that retail financing is a ‘must’ for those who labor in this industry at the behest of homeowners who require the ability to make sensible loans which enable them to keep their property maintained and energy efficient. Further, I believe that the ability to market products is severely impaired by the abundant negativity replete with doom and gloom expressed by congressional leaders and a sorely misguided media.

Those attending the Summit represent the most successful dealers, installers and manufacturers, all with an eye to strengthening the industry through creative and innovative new approaches to assist their customers in maintaining and improving the investment in their homes and increasing energy efficiency as part of a global initiative.

The Summit is being recorded by Oakhill Press and the proceedings will be available in CD format. Watch for complete details on this blog. And, stay tuned to the blog for a lot of great information and ideas to help improve your business and the economy as we release them.

Best regards,

Dave Yoho

Thank you for checking out the inaugural posting of this new blog created specifically for YOU, the Home Improvement Professional. Read on and learn how this blog is going to assist you and your business not only to survive, but to thrive during these challenging times.

This blog is your way to keep up to date on important issues, concepts and information that can impact your business. There is no need to belabor the fact that we’re going through an unprecedented economic event. The event has been called a crisis, a recession and some economists are even referring to it as a depression. Well, those are all just words. Another word that is just as relevant to you during this economic event is opportunity. As Napoleon Hill stated, “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.

So, through this blog you can expect to read powerful ideas and concepts you can put to work in your business. You’ll learn about events, seminars, conventions, shows and training programs that will increase your effectiveness and that of your people. There will be quick tips and techniques that we’ve used successfully at Dave Yoho Associates as well as proven ideas and tips from other business leaders both from within and outside our industry. You’ll read excerpts from interviews with successful home improvement business owners, sales managers, salespeople and other industry professionals. Our legal beagle, D.S. Berenson, will keep you on top of the law.

There may be days when several entries will be posted here. There may be a few days that pass without any new postings. But, rest assured, you will learn from the leaders – and – the movers and shakers in this great industry. We solicit your contributions, too. You’ll be able to make comments on what you read in the postings. You will find a place below each blog posting to leave a comment – please do so. We can’t encourage you strongly enough to participate. Your experiences, opinions and thoughts are important to everyone reading this blog.

You may also have some important information that is valuable enough to be a posting in itself, Don’t hesitate to contact our blog editor at admin@daveyoho.com and we’ll evaluate it and post your information as a guest contributor.

Finally, you will soon receive a notice about the new podcast we’ll launch in the very near future. The podcast will be available on a weekly basis and, once again, it will be targeted directly to you and your business in the home improvement industry. You’ll hear from me and many others including our blog contributors and other industry leaders. You’ll even be able to hear the actual recorded interviews with the people we excerpt and feature in blog postings.

What is the value of one great idea? You’re getting on the idea and information express track. You can count on current, up to the minute, cutting edge information that will not only help you weather this economic event, but reveal the opportunities to grow your business at a time when many around you will fall by the wayside. These information tools will benefit you most if you read the blog and listen to the podcasts regularly. When you APPLY them in your business, you’ll avoid many pitfalls and experience amazing growth while other businesses around you are floundering. I can’t emphasize, enough, the value of subscribing to this blog and to the podcast for FREE, so you have it delivered directly to your computers as soon as the latest postings and podcast episodes are released. We’re doing our part to help you grow your business. We can throw the ball to you. YOU have to catch it or you’ll miss the value!

Dave Yoho
Dave Yoho Associates