Industry Professional Suggests Service Opportunities to Grow Business

Industry Professional Suggests Service Opportunities to Grow Business
Robb Barnes and his wife traveled to Peru to help a farmer install a septic system. (Photos courtesy of Robb Barnes)

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While marketing is essential to growing your business, so is showing consumers how septic systems work and why they are necessary. Knowledgeable customers recommend knowledgeable septic professionals.

Robb Barnes, Oregon Onsite Wastewater Association (O2WA) president and owner of King’s Pumping in Dallas, Ore., takes teaching seriously. Barnes and his wife recently took consumer education to another level, and another country, when they travelled to Peru with a mission group to put in a septic system.

“We converted a 675-gallon water tank into a septic tank and built the baffles all in place on site,” says Barnes. “When we got there, the toilets went to a pipe to the river. When we left, it went into a septic tank and a drainfield.”

They made an impact on more than the family in need of a septic system. “While we were there, farmers from farther out in the jungle came and saw how it was done,” he says. “And then we went out to their farm and helped them pick a site and explained how they could do this. So hopefully there are some more septic systems going in out there instead of just latrines.”

Barnes realized what little effort it takes to help people in need. “It takes so little compared to what we have here to make such a huge impact,” he says. “I’d love to see our industry look at service opportunities, not only here, but beyond our borders. The skill sets and experience that our people have is so transferrable and could be taken anywhere.”

Industry professionals can reach out and help families in need by contacting local organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross or United Way.

King’s Pumping also goes into local high schools and speaks to economics and science classes about running a small business and how septic systems work. They use a model septic tank the company built for the presentations and for O2WA events.

“We’ve got all sorts of opportunities our members nationwide could do to grow their business and to provide service,” says Barnes. “They just have to be willing to get off the equipment and talk to people. Be a little proactive about it. At the same time, help others.”

GET INVOLVED!
How are you getting involved in your community? What does your company do to help others? Drop me an email at kim.peterson@colepublishing.com



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