The Masthead

As our faithful readers know, we are all about improvement for the Manufactured Housing Industry. For about six months, we have been discussing internally at Manufactured Home Marketing Sales Management (MHMSM.com) what would be a new and improved site for our readers. How can we improve navigation? What new look and feel would work best? What features, services and information would you like to see? What would support businesses, associations and professionals the most? Don’t get me wrong! We are thrilled that over 48,000 of you logged on in April! You voted with your browsers when you made 266,000 page views, thank you! Nearly a million ‘hits’ were logged for the month.

But we also know and hear from you and others that it is time for an update.

It is Face Lift time for Manufactured Housing news and views!

Your input on what the new site might look like is appreciated. You can email me at Tony@MHMSM.com or you can post a public comment.

Here are some examples of what the new site might look like and navigate like:

http://www.nlpress.ca/

http://1aggies.net/News/

http://www.joomlart.com/demo/#templates.joomlart.com/ja_teline_iv

There is always plenty of news to cover in the manufactured and modular home Daily Business News Blog. There are plenty of practical tips in our monthly feature articles or our blogs.

How would YOU like to see this site enhanced for your use?

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful comments. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and to all of your mothers, too. # #

May is traditionally thought the merriest of months when the promise of spring is kept and summer is just around the corner. May 1 is celebrated as International Workers’ Day in over 80 countries across the world. So let’s hear it for all workers, but especially – in our context – for the hands-on folks in the Manufactured Housing Industry: the manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, land lease community personnel; office personnel in finance, advertising, marketing and sales; the IT/Web tech folks who work those 0′s and 1′s to facilitate communication within the Industry and to the media and public about our unique-value, budget-friendly housing options. (I would have said affordable, but George Allen’s feature article made me aware of the many controversial nuances of this term, so I’ll use other adjectives for the moment.) Well, hats off to ALL OF YOU who serve the Industry in so many countless ways, public or behind-the-scenes.

An old nursery rhyme goes:

In the merry month of May
When green leaves begin to spring,
Little lambs do skip like fairies
Birds do couple, build and sing.

Even the birds get that May is home-building time, and the 2011 Show Season that has just concluded demonstrates the vitality and resilience of the Manufactured Housing Industry to “get it” as well. Louisville… Tunica… York… Vegas… Tulsa – five giant beacons lighting the way for Industry professionals, manufacturers, retailers and home buyers to get together to make 2011 the “Great Turn-around Year” – IF – or is it WHEN? – we implement the consistent message of “evolve or die,” “adapt, migrate or die,” “change and adapt or risk extinction.”

“Evolve or Die” is what Robin Crow (Dark Horse Recording), Featured Speaker at the MHI Congress and Expo in Las Vegas, Thursday, April 28, told the industry professionals. “We find ways to reinvent ourselves to serve our customers.” Read more Evolve or Die – Seven Steps to Rethink the Way You Do Business in our Inspirations Blog.

George Porter is in the midst of a Feature Article series entitled, “Adapt, Migrate or Die.” Read Adapt from April and Migrate .

And in The Masthead Blog, L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach wrote, “… what is certain is that WE MUST BE WILLING to adapt to the changing times…. Those who fail to change and adapt risk extinction, as IBISWorld reported.” Read more at Why Buffett Bets Against IBISWorld on Manufactured Homes.

The message doesn’t go away. Change is the essence of life. So whatever domain or niche you call your own in the Industry, what detail, what attitude, what procedure, what product, what anything can you change or adapt in order to better serve the needs of our customers… and exceed their expectations? Better-served customers = better business = better profits more housing and more jobs a better economy. That’s a win-win-win-win-win-win!

Here to help you are twenty-some pros who generously share their expertise with our readers each month. Joining them is new contributor Scott Stroud with a tribute to Industry icon Jerry Rouleau.

Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 2, No. 8, 2011

Alphabetically by Category

BOOK REVIEW

Tracey C. Jones
• True Blue Leadership

COMMUNITIES

Edward ‘Eddie’ Hicks – Investing in Manufactured Home Communities
• A Primer on How to Make Nice Returns with Community Investments

Chrissy Jackson – Land Lease Community Management
• Standard Sections of Guidelines for Living

Joanne Stevens – Manufactured Home Community Value
• Working with Realtors to Sell Mobile and Manufactured Homes in Communities

Don Westphal – Manufactured Home Community Planning
• Extreme Makeover, Community Edition – aka Ryder Park, Milford, Connecticut – Part One

FINANCE

Chad Carr – Company Financial Evaluation
• By the Numbers – Part 3: Identifying Problems in your Business

Kenneth Rishel – Manufactured Housing Industry Finance Commentary
• Collateral Performance Can Make or Break You

Dave Shanklin Manufactured Housing Industry Financing
• Low Rates Extended and Popularity Cycles of MH Communities

GENERAL INDUSTRY/COMMENTARY

George F. Allen – Manufactured Housing Industry Commentary
• The Bugbear of Defining ‘Affordable Housing’

Michael Barnabas – Manufactured Housing Industry Solutions
• Manufactured Housing Businesses and Homeowners Working Together?

L.A. ‘Tony’ Kovach – Manufactured Housing Industry Perspective
• Invite Involve Include – A Light Mantra for Manufactured Housing Progress

George Porter – Manufactured Housing Retail and Media Education
• Adapt, Migrate or Die – Part II, Migrate

INSPIRATION/PEOPLE SKILLS

Tracey C. Jones – Manufactured Housing Leadership
• The Judas Principle

Greg McClanahan – Soft Skills and Personal Development
• Just Stay…

Zig Ziglar – Motivation & Inspiration
• ZigOn… Personal Discipline

LEGAL

Nadeen Green – Legal, Fair Housing
• Logging Can Preclude Flogging

MANAGEMENT

Tim Connor
• Are you hiring the right people?

MARKETING

Bob Stovall
• Learning Never Ends

SALES

Tim Connor
• Maintain Control of the Buying Process

Mark Hunter
• Are You Giving Away Your Profit?

Mike Moore
• Salespeople Infected with ‘Sales Repellent Virus’

TRANSITIONS

Scott Stroud
• The Housing Industry Loses an Icon

Attention getting headlines vs. a true analysis.  This sums up what many in the factory-built home world believe is the heart of the issue with the IBISWorld report on the ‘top ten dying industries’ in America.  IBISWorld named manufactured home dealers as one of the top ten, and publications such as The Atlantic , Huffington Post online, Business Insider are among the many that picked up the story line.  If IBISWorld is correct, why does Warren Buffett, the sage of Omaha, bet against them?

Because the future of homebuilding is in factories.

So called conventional ‘on-site stick building’ is already a misnomer in the majority of cases.  Production builders get their name in part because they source their components from factories, and assemble factory-built components on site.  Manufactured housing, modular, panelized or core-building takes that a few steps beyond, by doing most precision work in the controlled environment of the factory.  By doing the work in a factory, the process is greener, the home built is more precise and can save money as well.  The factory-building process is greener, the home built is more precise and can save money as well.

As we have cited many times here at MHMSM.com, experts such as Dr. David Funk from Cornell University’s Real Estate department and Chuck Shinn, a consultant with ties to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), both project growth for manufactured homes.  Does anyone seriously think that those experts know something that Warren Buffett and his associates do not?

The essence of Dr. Funk’s study is the fact that once the foreclosure glut passes, there will be a strong pent-up demand for new home construction.  With incomes in the U.S. down, manufactured homes are priced right.  Population growth in the next 50 years is going to continue.  Manufactured housing is well poised to take advantage of these factors.  While building today is at record lows, the demographics suggest this must reverse in the near term, perhaps starting in the next 24 months.

Knowing the advantages of factory-building and the looming housing boom is doubtlessly what keeps Berkshire Hathaway purchasing companies in the manufactured and modular home building sectors.  Similarly, why else would Joe Stegmayer who leads Cavco Industries purchase first Fleetwood’s homebuilding enterprise and then more recently move to acquire Palm Harbor Homes?

As Thayer Long from the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) recently said in an exclusive interview with MHMSM.com, “It is kind of like this whole IBIS thing; who are they?…Okay, fine, they [IBISWorld] publish this report. Okay, it makes a headline; it will circulate around the Industry for a while.”

Long added: “That said, for ‘a dying industry,’ the numbers for Vegas [the annual MHI Congress] are looking outstanding. We are looking great. For ‘a dying industry,’ I heard from manufacturers that the Tunica [Manufactured Housing] Show was good. Show me ‘a dying industry.’” (Editor’s note, see the entire Industry In Focus report, with all of Thayer Long’s comments here. If you are not registered for premium content to access this excusive and in depth report, please click here for a free sign up.)

Long’s point on the uptick in event attendance and activity and its meaning has merit.

Information from the MHAO’s Deanna Fields about their 2011 Great Southwest Home Show in Tulsa, OK suggests they will have their best show ever.  There are more attendees registering, more exhibitors and more homes on display.  They have a robust line up of seminars.

The PMHA’s 2011 HOMExpo in York PA is set to return in style as well.  The numbers from the Louisville and Tunica Shows both suggested that there is plenty of interest among retailers and manufactured home community operators, even in these challenging times.  With some 970-1100 attendees at these two prior shows, the forecast for HOMExpo 2011 and the  2011 Great Southwest Home Show look bring indeed.

What this IBISWorld report underscores is the fact that the Manufactured Housing Industry needs to do a better job in working with the media!  Industry veterans already know about the 12 year industry slide.

Manufactured Housing retailers, communities, manufacturers and others in our business need to do a better job of communicating our message to the public at large!  While it would be grand if we had a national campaign, there is every reason for individual firms or perhaps state associations to make such a local or regional campaign a reality.

MHMSM.com in conjunction with the respective associations has organized two image and business building workshops for industry professionals with such goals in mind.

The first pair will be held in Las Vegas at MHI’s annual Congress.  The next set will be at the 2011 Great Southwest Home Show in Tulsa OK.  Here are the locations for our booths and the schedules for the workshops:

MHI Congress & Expo, Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, Nevada – BOOTH 610

>“Engaging the Media” Workshop, Thursday, April 28, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

>“Dominate Your Local Market” Workshop, Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 1:00-2:30 PM

-    -    -    -    -

Great Southwest Home Show, QuikTrip Center, Expo Square – Tulsa, Oklahoma – BOOTH 101

>“Dominate Your Local Market” Workshop, Friday, April 30, 2011, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

>“Engaging the Media” Workshop*, Thursday, April 30, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

(* Editor’s note, the speaker lineup for the free “Engaging the Media” workshop in Tulsa will be somewhat different than in Vegas – stay tuned for final speaker details.)

Which brings us back to the question…

Why does Buffett or thousands of other professionals and owners bet on manufactured housing?  Think about it.

MHMSM.com strongly believes in the future of this industry.  We are betting on it the same as independent and corporate manufacturers, retailers, community operators, lenders, vendors and suppliers do.  If the ‘big boys’ keep investing in factories and communities and other parts of our industry, why shouldn’t we?

I get calls and  messages from some who lament the fact that others in the biz still say things like, ‘but that is the way we have always done it.’ The way we always made phone calls in the 80s was with a land line, not a cell.  We adapted.

We used to type with typewriters, then word processors, followed by computers, then laptops, notebooks and iPads.  We changed.  We adapted.

We didn’t text a few years ago. Email has been around for a dozen plus years.

So what is certain is that WE MUST BE WILLING to adapt to the changing times.

Look at the newer, nicer retail centers and communities.  They are looking more and more ‘residential.’  That’s a clue.  We still offer – wisely – ‘entry level’ HUD Code home product that is VOG style, but we also see more and more designs that are ‘residential.’  Another clue.

Those who fail to change and adapt risk extinction, as IBISWorld reported.

Likewise those who fail to serve their customers properly are at risk.  But there are those who have and will adapt successfully.  They will be the ones to enter a bright future.  Those who do not, will not.

It is our mission to provide you with the tools, information and resources to be successful.

Our tag line says it:

Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

For those who refuse to change or adapt, the gloomy IBISWorld report could be their future.

But for those ready to be informed, inspired and innovative, the future can indeed be bright.  Stay informed here every day at MHMarketingSalesManagement.com.   But also go to the upcoming events.  Attend business building seminars, including our seminars, and see for yourself why you can not only survive, but thrive during these challenging times.

We are betting on it, Buffett is betting on it – why don’t you bet on it, too?  # #

The Business Insider headline “Don’t Show this to Warren Buffett…” was just one of many private or public messages that came into my email in the days following the IBISWorld Report that forecast the manufactured housing dealer as a ‘dying industry.’  Many calls came in on this and related topics in recent days as well.  Is this report and our latest drop in shipments on manufactured housing industry professionals’ minds?

You bet.

Last week, Thayer Long sent a message to manufactured housing state execs and the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) Board of Directors with a copy of Paul Bradley’s insightful IBIS Report analysis.

Retailer Doug Gorman and manufacturer Otis Orsburn have also sounded off on this manufactured home news topic on our Industry Voices Guest Blog.

Off our site, George Allen and commentary on LinkedIn is ongoing regarding the causes of the Industry’s downturn and what manufactured housing Industry professionals plan to do about it.

We will bring you a story soon with exclusive quotes from Thayer Long at MHI and Danny Ghorbani from MHARR (Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform) on this topic of IBIS and the latest drops in Industry sales levels.

For the moment, let me echo a statement made by one leader who said that we believe in the future of our Industry.  MHMSM.com believes in the future of this industry, too!

We also believe ignoring the facts can be done only at our own peril.

It is at least as important to work for pro-growth efforts to

promote our Industry as it is to

defend the Industry from legislative issues such as the

SAFE Act or Dodd-Frank.

In fact, arguably, the pro-growth efforts can help fund efforts such as getting needed change with respect to SAFE or Dodd-Frank.  Our great nation repealed slavery and prohibition; surely we can pull together enough to get a regulatory climate that fosters business and job growth while protecting consumers.

The IBISWorld report puts the media’s role regarding our Industry on center stage.  IBISWorld has successfully used the media to cast more doubt over manufactured housing.  This poses two questions:

1.    How can we get more favorable media coverage for manufactured housing?

2.    How can we get the media to use proper terminology that doesn’t sound like a put down every time they report on our Industry?

These will be some of the topics covered in the Engaging the Media panel discussion in Las Vegas on April 28th.   For those going to MHI’s Congress in Vegas, we hope you will plan to attend this crucial topic of “Engaging the Media” – because it impacts every business in our Industry multiple times a year.  We may also present that topic in Tulsa the following day.

For you and your area, the lessons from Engaging the Media could be a nascent precursor to a national image and educational effort for the manufactured housing industry.  Private companies and associations can work together to engage the media to successfully advance the Industry’s image and thus manufactured home sales results.

Thayer Long is correct in saying that attendance and factory orders from shows at Louisville, Tunica and sign-ups for the Congress, PMHA’s HOMExpo 2011 in York PA and the 2011 Great Southwest Home Show in Tulsa OK are all positive signs.

Information I’ve seen indicates that the 2011 Great Southwest Home Show registration is running well ahead of last year.  Attendance was good at Louisville and Tunica, and is expected to be good for HOMExpo 2011 in York PA as well.

After a long night, any sign of dawn’s first light is anxiously awaited.  That is human nature.  We want to see positive signs where we can find them.

But unlike dawn or the seasons, business results can be influenced!

Sales results can be measured – but also increased – through sound analysis, planning and follow through.  Shows and educational efforts are tools to boost business that we believe in.

What is critical is that we not get bogged down in politics or bickering that fails to advance our personal, professional, business or broader Industry advancement and growth.

Every manager or executive is held accountable for RESULTS.  Should we not hold ourselves and others accountable as well for getting results?

George Allen and Doug Gorman come from different parts of the MH Industry world.  Each has won their share of awards, and each has professionals who cheer for their positive efforts.  Entirely unbeknownst to each other, Doug and George decided this weekend to include in their writings musing about ‘conspiracy theories’ regarding the Industry’s downturn.  Each has a different take, George on his Community-Investor Blog and Doug on our Industry Voices Guest Blog.

Quoting in part from George’s Blog post earlier today:

“It’s the well known but embarrassing phenomenon of self – immolation (Webster: as in ‘killing oneself – or industry – as a sacrificial victim’). In the case of manufactured housing, this self – defeating state of affairs is characterized by ‘resistance to change’ (e.g. Like automobile plants, we count our ‘shipments’, not homes ‘sold’, & cling to vestigial trade lingo like it’s Biblical writ); greed (e.g. Think, ‘Bigger boxes = bigger bucks!’); and, frequent lack of product (installation) responsibility (warranty) once the house leaves the factory (e.g. Remember ‘DAR’? It’s the industry’s continuing mantra, in some circles, as in ‘Drop (that house) And Run!’).

“And there’s more. How ‘bout cyclic short term abuses of chattel and realty finance sources, followed by reaping self – sacrificial long term consequences of going without (e.g. Only 50,000+/- new HUD Code homes ‘shipped’ during years 2008, 2009 & 2010)?

“Of course, there’s also the perennial, not – so – private, lobbying – defeating, internecine squabbling between our national advocacy trade bodies inside the Washington, DC beltway. Will it ever end?

“Plus, landlease (nee manufactured home) communities are not without blame! Too many still deserve to be viewed as nothing more than ‘trailer parks’, awash with negative societal mores and perpetuating a very poor public image of an otherwise desirable, affordable lifestyle.  And in the same breath, do we dare mention the nefarious (in some eyes) or business risk – mitigating (in other eyes) practice of ‘churning’ our (property owner) self – financed homeowner/rental homesite lessees? And the list goes on….

“Is there a solution? I believe there is. But we need a charismatic, respected, well known, successful businessman or woman leader, to step forth and publicly announce, ‘The HUD Code manufactured housing industry is at an impasse! And if we’re to move forward together, and profitably, during the next decade, we’ve simply got to Get Our Act Together, the sooner the better!’”

(Editor’s Note: The wording quoted above is copied verbatim from GFA’s blog,  but paragraph spacing and bold emphasis are ours).

Let’s sum up.

Here are our links to the IBIS related stories and blog posts on our site:

• Paul Bradley
• Doug Gorman
• Otis Orsburn
• Daily Industry Business News
• our download on the IBIS report

Industries are made up of thousands of businesses and professionals.  The presence of big players in our Industry is a good reason for us to continue to believe in our Industry.  The presence of far more ‘mom and pop’ independents who are hanging in and working hard to effect their own turn around are good reasons to believe that we can individually respond to local trends and opportunities. But we do have to be willing to change and adapt to the times.  Failure to change and adapt in positive ways will mean that more retailers, communities, manufacturers and others fall by the wayside.

Business Insider’s “Don’t Show this to Warren Buffett…”? Come on.  IBISWorld Report? Come on.  They may get some attention and headlines.  But do not let those self-serving naysayers get you down.

If we don’t get stuck in a rut, we can move ahead.  Ideas like Randy Rowe’s 5 Point Program for the Industry’s turn around are important concepts for us to consider.

Let’s sum up:

• Educational efforts (inside and outside) our industry are of value.  Association and other events and shows can be a very useful part of this process.
• MHAO‘s and PMHA‘s promotional efforts such as their public days in their respective home shows are useful tools to show the public at large that today’s manufactured homes are a quality, safe, durable energy saving home value, with the ability to attract both ‘entry level’ and ‘upscale’ home customers.
• There is a need to boost business and our public perception.  Some of this can come through Engaging the Media.  if you are planning to be in Las Vegas for MHI’s Congress,  please plan on attending this workshop and panel discussion.
• There should be accountability for results.

The bottom line?

We need to be willing to change where and as needed, or risk becoming the dinosaurs that the IBISWorld Report predicts we will become. Let’s make the IBISWorld Report and dropping industry shipment numbers the wake up call to change what and as needed. # #

Seven topics this week, one that is pure fun, others more serious, so let’s dive right in.

1. Manufactured Housing: Endangered Species or Phoenix Rising?

If you listen to the likes of consultant Chuck Shinn or academic Dr. David Funk, you would think Manufactured Housing is poised for a potentially bright future.  In fact, as one manufacturing source said in Tunica this past week, “The future is so bright, we need shades.”  On the other hand, there are those who see reports like the IBIS study we reported last week in our Daily Business News blog that puts the manufactured home ‘dealer’ (retailer) on the endangered species list.  Which is it?

We will have a compelling article next week by Paul Bradley, one of our Featured Writers, who will tackle part of this subject of the IBIS study.  Other new April Issue Featured Articles will deal with elements of this subject as well.

 

2. The early numbers are in from the 2011 Tunica Manufactured Housing Show.  Some 1083 attendees joined hundreds of exhibitors for the largest indoor/outdoor event of its kind.

The attendees came from Retailers, Builder/Developers, Community Owner/Managers, Installers and other vendors/suppliers representing 444 companies.  When you include exhibitors, the Industry total at Tunica Show would be 2001 manufactured housing professionals representing 638 companies!

 

 

 

Sources from factories gave us a range of results from so-so at the Show to very encouraged by the orders taken and expected.  The mood of attendees was often upbeat.  I personally met with individuals with 40-50+ years experience, such as retailer and manufactured home community owner Dick Moore – who just keeps on truckin’ – to newcomers to our Industry.  I spoke with individuals from both coasts, border states on the North and South and many states in between!  We will have more post-Tunica Show info in the days ahead, including photos and videos.

Hats off to Dennis Hill and the South Central Manufactured Housing Show Committee for a well attended event.

 

3. MHARR and MHI members and leaders were present in Tunica.  We will watch for news and views from them, and of course we will keep you posted.

 

 

4. The Pennsylvania Manufactured Housing Association (PMHA) will be having their HOMExpo 2011 at the York Center in York PA.  This promises to be the largest event of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic and North Eastern states.

5. Speaking of events during this busy Show season, The Super Symposium held in Albany, New York unofficially had 148 attended and 3 model homes with a number of exhibitors and well received speakers.  This was a land lease community oriented function, but other industry segments were represented as well.  Sources at the event touted Nancy Greer and her colleagues’ work in pulling off this well received meeting.  More on this event in the days ahead.

 

 

 

6. The news from Oklahoma is that they expect the best attendance and record numbers of exhibitors for the 2011 Great Southwest Home Show at the QuikTrip Center in Tulsa.  This is billed as the world’s largest indoor manufactured home show in the United States.  Early registration and attendance patterns at Louisville and Tunica suggest this could be a very popular event.  Doug Gorman, Deanna Fields and Don Miner all call the Public Days of GSWHS ‘the home show with homes in it.’  The Public Days website is live and can be seen at:
www.greatsouthwesthomeshow.com or http://tulsahomeshow.net.

 

 

7. There will be some tweaks to our MHMSM.com format next week with our new April Featured Articles, too.  Your feedback, as always, is welcome and appreciated as we do this all for Factory Built Home Industry professionals like you.  Download or read our current articles now that you enjoyed, want to share or haven’t had the chance to benefit from yet.

What is clear so far from the Louisville and Tunica Manufactured Housing Shows is that attendance tends to attract much larger numbers than other association sponsored events.  The strong attendance at Louisville and even larger numbers at Tunica provide good reasons for optimism for similar results for the PMHA’s 2011 HOMExpo in York PA and the MHAO’s 2011 Great Southwest Home Show in Tulsa OK.  We will have more Tunica Show wrap up information and photos soon, so stay tuned.

We started this blog post with the question, is manufactured housing a Phoenix rising out of the ashes?  Or is it an endangered species?  The answer, my friends and colleagues, is in your hands and mine.  Please see the INspirations Blog post today for additional insights.

We are scheduled to present in Tulsa and Vegas in the last week of April, we hope that you will pick the event that fits your needs the best, and attend.  These are great opportunities to not only see the latest in new homes, products and services, but also to network and learn how to grow your business in these challenging times.  Please feel free to stop in and say hello at our booth. # #

At times many tire of the long string of ‘bad news’ that seems to flow endlessly towards our Industry from Washington DC, our state capital or locally.  Many working in our businesses today never knew the glory days of the late 90s, when 372,000+ manufactured homes were sold by HUD Code builders in 1998.  Even in more robust times, the media or government officials have never been particularly bashful about our homes.   But with an 85% drop in business since 1998, it seems like just another example of kicking a man who is down…

…but who do we have to blame for it?  Why should we even be looking to pin blame, when the facts show us that we are perhaps 2.3 years away from the next big housing boom in the U.S. History?  Amazing, but true!  In fact, our Industry could get the jump on the on-site ‘stick builders’ – if we made some basic adjustments.

Please see this weekend’s Inspiration Blog post for an eye-opening example.

Then plan on coming to the free business building seminars available at the Tunica Manufactured Housing Show next week.

The Manufactured Home Show season is underway.   The Great Southwest Home Show is coming in late April, billed as the largest indoor home show in the U.S.   A dozen manufacturers, 50+ exhibitors, Industry mixer and more are all in centrally-located Tulsa OK.  For those in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic states, check out the PMHA’s (Pennsylvania Manufactured Housing Association) HOMExpo 2011 in York, PA.

We believe in the future of our Industry.   We will be at three major events in person in the next 40 days. We will show you how to Dominate Your Local Market, the free business building seminar that drew about 100 attendees in Louisville in January 2011, and that George Allen introduced with the words: “These guys are the future!” of manufactured housing!

Ending the Downturn for Manufactured Housing?  I get calls and messages from firms who have troubles, but also from those who are ‘making more money now than ever before.’    Henry Ford was correct:

“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you are right.”

The future is in your hands, my hands and those of our colleagues.  How do we stop the kicking of a man – or industry – that is down?  It starts with the realization that every problem is an opportunity in disguise for those willing to roll up their sleeves and work for it. # #

The monthly stats are in for Manufactured Housing shipments. They have declined again. A double digit drop.

In our premier issue in 2009, we featured the message, “I’m madder than hell and I am not going to take it any more!” That was a famous refrain from the 1976 movie Network.

If you do not remember the scene or if you never saw the movie, here is the video clip below:

Why don’t we do the same today? Why not make a call for positive change in the manufactured housing world?

In the movie, the first thing that newscaster “Howard Beale” does is simply call for an expression of frustration. No letter writing to Congress, no protest marches, etc. Just express your anger!

Take a moment to share this link. Tell your manufactured housing industry friends and associates to pass it on. Cut and paste this link below:

http://www.mhmsm.com/blogs/tonykovach/madder-than-hell-and-manufactured-housing

At www.ManufacturedHousingMarketingSalesManagement.com (www.MHMSM.com) we are solution oriented, as our regular readers know, but sometimes you just have to GET MAD!

Ask your peers to view the video, read this post and pass it on. If you are tired of taking it, let’s get a ball of anger rolling! # #

Events Calendar
Dominate Your Local Market Seminar at the MHI Congress & Expo and the Great Southwest Home Show
Great Southwest Home Show 2011 in Tulsa OK
HOMExpo 2011 in York PA