Category

Pest Business

May 28
1

Integrated Pest Management Tips for Re-Opening

By | Insects, Mosquitoes, Pest Business, Rodents, Tips & Inspirations | No Comments

Integrated Pest Management Tips for Re-Opened Accounts

Learn how to be at the top of your game with these top 5 integrated pest management tips for re-opening. With people heading back to work and accounts opening their doors the opportunity for pest professionals has increased. Without regular maintenance there is a chance the pest pressure at previously closed businesses may be at an all-time high. Think about a re-opened account as a lake that has not been fished in awhile or a well-beaten deer path in the woods. Opportunity abounds, but where to start? Keep these 5 integrated pest management tips in mind when first visiting a re-opened account.

Top 5 IPM Tips for Re-Opening

Top 5 Integrated Pest Management Tips for Re-Opening - House

  • Exterior inspection – like any good pest detective your work in a re-opened account will start with the exterior. As a result, a thorough inspection is vital. If the business or property has been closed for an extended period of time it is likely that basic property maintenance has been neglected. Look for any piles of debris, like trash, leaves or lawn clippings that may have accumulated. They may provide food and harborage to pests. For mosquito prevention look for any standing water. Inspect the structure as well as cracks in foundations for gaps in doors may have grown. Exclusion work is likely to be required. Here is a helpful article with the top 5 areas for exclusion in a home: https://catchmasterpro.com/blog/top-5-areas-for-exclusion-around-the-home/
  • Don’t miss the forest for the trees – as a pest pro you are trained to look for minute details in an account but now the reverse might be true, and the bigger details may be more prominent. This may be especially relevant for rodent activity. With months of unimpeded activity, telltale signs of rodents are more likely to emerge. These signs include:
    • Droppings
    • Strong Odors
    • Gnaw Marks
    • Tracks or Rub Markings

Be mindful of conducive conditions

  • Drains and water systems – if an account has been closed for awhile chances are the water has been drained. Therefore, the presence of moisture around drains or other water systems may be an indication of an underlying condition, like a leaking pipe or clogging. Here’s a pro tip – to monitor for small flies found in many commercial accounts use one for our 100FF Fruit Fly Glue boards inverted above a drain. This will allow you to diagnose any flies that have found a food source during closure.
  • Sanitation opportunities – with fewer people at work there is a possibility that normal, everyday sanitation has been neglected. This could include examples like leftover trash to floor and surfaces that have not been mopped or swept for some time. Look for signs like mold or staining and provide sanitation recommendations. Not only will this educate your customer it may provide the opportunity for add-on surfaces.

Don’t forget your toolbox!

  • Use the right tools – install monitors, like our 100i & 288i Insect Monitors in areas where insects and rodents might be. A lot has likely changed since you were last in the facility and monitoring will allow you to establish a new baseline. Monitoring will not only tell you what species have flourished but they will also tell you where they are at. If pests have flourished, consider utilizing a tool like our Catch Zone Pest Boundary Roll. With 60 feet of catching power it is ideal for hotspots and clean outs.

In a lot of ways, visiting a re-opened account may feel like a regular maintenance check, just on steroids. Therefore, it may feel daunting but focus on the basics first. With pests flourishing in the absence of human activity the key is to look for the basic signs, both small and large, that will inform your integrated pest management program.

Integrated Pest Management in Re-Opened Accounts – Additional Resources

Get more content like this daily when you follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catchmasterPRO/

Sign up for our mailing list here: https://catchmasterpro.com/join-email/

Learn more about mosquitoes from the National Pest Management Association here: https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/mosquitoes/

Finally, get COVID-19 updates from the NPMA here: https://www.pestcontrolcoronavirus.com/

Apr 18
0

National Pest Management Month

By | Pest Business | No Comments

April marks National Pest Management Month.  The designation highlights the professional pest control industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, property and food from the diseases and dangers posed by pests.  Each year is a reason to celebrate pest management but in these extraordinary times we have even more reasons to give thanks.

National Pest Management Month - IPM

6 Reasons to Celebrate National Pest Management Month in 2020

  1. Pest management is essential.  Especially with Americans spending more time at home the need to protect living spaces is more important than ever.  It’s no wonder service vehicles continue their routes, undoubtedly the protection they provide is essential for our way of life.
  2. Pest management professionals are tenacious.  Even with uncertainties they continue to rise each morning and provide peace of mind in the services they provide.
  3. Pest management is versatile.  With the need for disinfecting services clearly on the rise, many pest control organizations have adapted to work this into their service offerings.
  4. Pest control organizations and their employees are generous – as evidenced by donations of personal protection equipment to front line healthcare workers.
  5. Many pest control organizations are local businesses.  With over 20,000 organizations nationwide the industry accommodates companies of all sizes.  With uncertain economic times ahead it stands to reason that support of local businesses will be important.
  6. Pest management professionals protect the future.  As our times change so to will the challenges pests present – like rodents in large cities.

These are just some of the reasons to celebrate the pest management industry during National Pest Management Month.  We are proud to salute all of the hard-working individuals that go to work everyday to protect our homes, schools and businesses.  Thank you for all you do.

And this month we would also like to extend that thank you to the production and shipping team at Catchmaster.  They continue to amaze us everyday with their commitment to produce the quality products that pest management professional rely upon.  Without a doubt, they do this even in the face of adversity.  Thank you!

Bobby Kossowicz is a content creator for the Catchmaster brand, learn more here: https://catchmasterpro.com/blog/bobby-kossowicz/

Additional Resources

Get more content like this daily when you follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catchmasterPRO/

Finally, sign up for our mailing list here: https://catchmasterpro.com/join-email/

 

Apr 03
0

Pest Maintenance – 6 Things You Can Do Right Now to Service Accounts

By | Mosquitoes, Pest Business, Rodents, Tips & Inspirations, Trapping Tips | No Comments

Even without access to customers’ homes there are steps to maintain pest maintenance.  Certainly nothing replaces getting access to a commercial or residential account.   However, pest maintenance helps you bridge the gap.  Undoubtedly, this shows your customers value once access returns.

6 Pest Maintenance Tips to Service Accounts

  • Provide glue boards to your customers along with instructions on where to place them.  Hot spots include kitchen sinks, attached garages or basements.  Not only does this help ward off unwanted invaders, you now have a blueprint for how to service once you have access.  Pro tip – if you have extra office time get started with private labeling.  Here is an article on some of the benefits of private labeling: https://catchmasterpro.com/blog/private-label-pest-products-your-marketing-secret-weapon/
  • Conduct a thorough exterior inspection.  Let your inspection dictate your schedule to systematically address identified issues either immediately or over time.  Even if your customers do not move forward right away it provides a road map for continued service when things eventually return to business as usual.  Perform proactive exclusion services.  Here is an article that identifies some external hot spots: https://catchmasterpro.com/blog/top-5-areas-for-exclusion-around-the-home/
  • Consider your exterior trapping options.  Use weatherproof snap traps like our 605 Easy Set Snap Traps in bait or trapping stations around the  perimeter of homes to head off pests.  Additionally, our 611 Dual Action Twin Catch is a great tool to install in sheds and attached garages.  The trap heads off both crawling insects & unwanted rodents.

Don’t Forget the Mosquitoes!

Pest Maintenance - Fun Facts

Undoubtedly, nothing replaces a thorough inspection as part of your IPM plan.  However, even without a thorough internal inspection there are plenty of steps you can take to keep lines of communication open with your customers.  Building up goodwill can go a long way once business returns to normal.

Pest Maintenance – Additional Resources

Get more content like this daily when you follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catchmasterPRO/

Sign up for our mailing list here: https://catchmasterpro.com/join-email/

Learn more about mosquitoes from the National Pest Management Association here: https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/mosquitoes/

 

Mar 20
0

Top Target Markets for Your Mosquito Service

By | Mosquitoes, Pest Business, Tips & Inspirations | No Comments

If you are a pest control organization that would like to get in the game of mosquito management it can be tough to know where to start – that is why we compiled this list of top target markets for your mosquito service.  The key is to remember look beyond your usual current customer base.  There are some unique niches that are in need of mosquito control. Consider the following targets:

7 Top Target Markets for Your Mosquito Service

Residential Targets

  1. Residential, single family homes – upsell mosquito control to your current pest management contracts. A good target is a single-family home, with higher income and those with children or pets. Homes with a water feature like a small pond or lake nearby, pool or a hot tub. Be sure to also target those who use their outdoor spaces often.  In addition, consider customers that have a deck or patio.  They will be particularly vulnerable to mosquitoes.
  2. Communities with retention basins and ponds – apartment complexes, condo associations and homeowner associations often times have shared ponds or retention basins.  Communities with these features need mosquito control services. Contact the property manager or homeowner association to be considered for a proposal.
  3. Landscapers, pool companies and other outdoor service companies – consider targeting other service companies who do work on lawns and landscapes. Oftentimes they are asked to do mosquito work but will look to sub work out or recommend another local mosquito company. Consider targeting those types of companies and build a partnership.

Business Targets

  1. Businesses who offer outdoor venues – any business with an outdoor space for their clients to enjoy is in need of mosquito protection. Some businesses like local event halls and restaurants may want to protect their clients from the annoyance of mosquitoes.  In addition, schools, daycares, nursing homes and health-care facilities have medical reasons to protect their clients.
  2. Wedding and event planners – consider forming relationships with event planners. Attending wedding shows and networking with planners will help to keep your service top of mind when clients are considering mosquito control for their events.
  3. Municipal mosquito control – while mosquito control districts often do mosquito control work using licensed employees there may be times they will not be able to keep up with the need for treatment and may need support. Consider forming a relationship with the decision maker within the municipalities to be on-call for overflow work as needed.
  4. Tire retailers and auto shop – tires make for a perfect breeding spot for mosquitoes as they capture and hold rain and other water. These businesses are in need of your service.  In fact, they may even be mandated by law to control mosquitoes if nearby homes or businesses are experiencing a mosquito problem.

Top Target Markets for Your Mosquito Service - Fun Facts

As you can see the top target markets for your mosquito service can vary from your usual targets.  Remember to adapt your pitch to each market to make your offerings more personable and better address the needs of each target.

Bobby Kossowicz is a content creator for the Catchmaster® brand, learn more here: https://catchmasterpro.com/blog/bobby-kossowicz/

Additional Resources

Get more content like this daily when you follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catchmasterPRO/

Sign up for our mailing list here: https://catchmasterpro.com/join-email/

Learn more about mosquitoes from the National Pest Management Association here: https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/mosquitoes/

Finally, discover more about the Catchmaster® brand’s mosquito management tools here: https://catchmasterpro.com/collection/mosquito-management-tools/

Mar 17
0

Get in the Game of Mosquito Control with a Dynamic Mosquito Reduction Program

By | Insects, Mosquitoes, Pest Business, Tips & Inspirations | No Comments

Mosquito Reduction Program - Mosquito

Mosquito Reduction Program – Get in the game of mosquito control

A mosquito reduction program can be a key service for your pest control business.  Driven in part by fears over Zika, West Nile and other vector-borne diseases, mosquito control services are in increasingly high demand.  In fact, the rise in demand has corresponded with an increased presence from pest control organizations focused solely on mosquito control.  Yet, despite the opportunity, mosquito control is one of the most under-utilized revenue streams for established pest management companies.

Why is that?

There are several possible reasons for the hesitancy to add mosquito services:

  • Inability to fully eliminate mosquitoes on a property
  • Difficulty managing customer expectations
  • Available products on the market are limited
  • Products on the market may produce unpredictable results
  • Frustration with previous mosquito service protocols

Whatever the reason for staying on the mosquito control sideline, now is the time to get in the game!  For example, in the latest year available, PCT Magazine reported 78% of PMPs expected their mosquito revenue to grow in 2018.  PMPs can take advantage of this opportunity with an integrated mosquito management program from the Catchmaster® brand.  Our products are effective, eco-friendly and safe to use around people, pets and animals.  Most importantly, our products are backed by peer-reviewed, published science.

Mosquito Reduction Program – What products can help?

The Catchmaster® brand’s new mosquito bait, Final Feed™, attracts and kills. It is the first mosquito bait on the market and is classified as a 25B exempt minimum risk pesticide by the EPA.  In fact, the dual-action formula is made up of natural sugars that attract mosquitoes to the bait.  Once ingested, the micro-encapsulated active ingredient (garlic oil, 0.4%) reduces mosquitoes’ appetite for blood and then kills them. In fact, it’s a key component in a true integrated mosquito management program.  In fact, Final Feed™ mosquito bait stops the breeding cycle and reduces mosquito populations by over 90% within 2-3 weeks.

Final Feed™ mosquito bait joins the Catchmaster® brand’s expanding mosquito line which currently includes the Ovi-Catch™ mosquito trap.  Used together, both products offer the ability to “kill & catch” on a single property in an eco-friendly manner.

About Ovi-Catch

The Ovi-Catch™ mosquito trap uses mosquitoes’ breeding habits against them.  Research has shown that some of the most invasive mosquito species seek out containers to lay their eggs.  The Catchmaster® R&D team utilized this knowledge along with technology that was developed and tested at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) laboratory in Puerto Rico, to develop an economical, environmentally-safe and effective tool that works to catch female mosquitoes during their breeding cycle.

The Catchmaster® Ovi-Catch™ uses only organic matter, a container and a glueboard to attract and capture mosquitoes. The tool uses no pesticides, making it safe for use in everyday environments.  This includes areas like backyards and businesses where children and pets may be present.  For each female mosquito caught, up to 1,000 future mosquitoes may be prevented.

Bobby Kossowicz is a content creator for the Catchmaster® brand, learn more here: https://catchmasterpro.com/blog/bobby-kossowicz/

Mosquito Reduction Program – Additional Resources

Get more content like this daily when you follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catchmasterPRO/

Sign up for our mailing list here: https://catchmasterpro.com/join-email/

Learn more about mosquitoes from the National Pest Management Association here: https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/mosquitoes/

Finally, discover more about the Catchmaster® brand’s mosquito management tools here: https://catchmasterpro.com/collection/mosquito-management-tools/

Feb 24
2

Private Label Pest Products – Your Marketing Secret Weapon

By | Pest Business, Tips & Inspirations | No Comments

Did you know private label pest products are an effective way to gain a competitive advantage in your service area? Without a doubt, growing the awareness for your company and brand is a top priority for most pest professionals. One secret weapon to help you achieve that advantage is through private labeling. Undoubtedly, having your mechanical traps and glue boards labeled with your business name and contact information can have many advantages:

Private Label Pest Products - Multi-Catch

3 ways private label pest products help build your business

  1. Separate yourself from your competitors – differentiate yourself from your competitors from the start! Take your branded tools of the trade along with you on your sales pitch. Having your traps and glue boards carry your company name and contact information will set you apart from your competitors.  Undoubtedly, this may move your level of professionalism ahead of your competitors.
  2. Strong Marketing identity – private labeled traps and glue boards can build a powerful visual identity for your business. Imagine having mini billboards in every account you service.  Indeed, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.  When consumers see your logo in commercial accounts, it is a great testimony that the business believes in your services and trusts your business to protect theirs.
  3. High-quality products – every business owner wants his name to be synonymous with quality. Pest professionals have trusted the Catchmaster brand for over 65 years! Catchmaster products are field-tested under the harshest conditions to ensure maximum reliability for any level of pest control expert.

Contact us today and learn more about our private label opportunities.  Getting started is as easy as contacting your regional rep or sending us an e-mail info@catchmasterpro.com.

Additional resources from the Catchmaster brand:

Get more content like this daily when you follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catchmasterPRO/

Sign up for our mailing list here: https://catchmasterpro.com/join-email/

Finally, Learn more about our private label products.