ASPA BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE'S 

Management Letter 

Vol. 11-Dec. 15, 1982

To discourage employees from stealing gas... possibly consider 

selling gas to employees at or a little above cost. In this way they 
get a break and might be less inclined to "midnight requisition". 

An employee morale builder... send a gift to the spouse when 
the employee is promoted. This recognizes the importance of the other 
person in the worker’s success. 

Scheduling your off-season maintenance is a wise move. It gives 

incentives to maintenance personnel to meet deadlines instead of setting 
their own pace with resultant possiblity of wasted time. Inventory list 
of all equipment and then list after all maintenance and repair work that 
must be done in the off-season. Draw this up with your maintenance people 
and they’ll be more inclined to meet these deadlines if they have a part in 
making the decision. 

Off-season gives opportunity for promotion! Now is the time to 
begin organizing and outlining your various promotional and advertising 
programs aimed at increasing sales. Inventory your supply of promotional 
brochures, radio spots, audio-visual presentations and so forth. Set a 
schedule for beginning your advertising and various promotional activities. 
Again, establishing goals and deadlines by utilizing sales people in the 
planning will give everyone a comfortable feeling in that there won’t be 
many "surprises" in aiming at early season sales. The economic situation 
is TOUGH and much more sales promotion is needed. 

Consumer price index has modest increase... an annual rate near 
5% is projected at the present time. Grocery prices to hold reasonably 
steady - 3% to 4% up at most. 

Banks and Savings & Loans will have money market accounts 

available. Minimum $2,500, but highly liquid with withdrawals anytime. 
Limited checking. Most will pay about the same as money markets - now 
about 8% or 9%. Insured by the government is special incentive. Will 
represent a good investment vehicle for idle cash that maybe needed on 
short term. 

Year end report from Washington... indicates that business is 
about to start turning upward. Inflation will stay a little bit below 
5% for this year and a little above 5% for next year, they report. 
Business profits to improve nicely, but unemployment slow to recover.

(OVER)

American Sod Producers Association  

Assn. Bldg., 9th & Minnesota  

Hastings, Nebraska 68901  
Phone (402) 463-4683 

Postage rates up??? Postal service will ask for higher rates 

probably next spring. Don't know if you've had the experience we've had, 
but the other day we were called by the Post Office to come down and take 
bulk permit mail out of trays (which had been provided to us by the Post 
Office) and put this same bulk permit mail into mail bags while postal 
employees watched! Fortunately no postal rate increase forecast until 
possibly 1984. 

10¢ to 15¢ drop... in gasoline and heating oil prices is expected 
with wholesale price to be $26 to $30 a barrel as compared currently to 
$33. Oil producing countries are having a great time competing with each 
other and can't get together. 

Advertising budgets up for businesses that are looking for ways 
to increase their business as things gradually improve. Reports indicate 
that the most aggressive firms and the ones likely to benefit are those 
who are busy now working on advertising plans and doing both individual as 
well as business promotion activities. Most efficient utilization of the 
advertising dollar and one-on-one contacts are productive. Wintertime is 
a good time to be making presentations at garden clubs, service clubs, 
securing newspaper, radio and television interviews. The sod industry is 
regarded as "unique” and thus subject for news stories in many areas. 
Individual aggressiveness is the key. 

Company priorities for management needs... are you spending too 
much time on daily concerns rather than long-range planning? Suggested top 
priorities include cash management, pricing strategies and cost reduction.

Know-how... savvy... shrewdness... knowledge... that gives an 

edge to the successful businessman... these are the elements to be 
presented at the ASPA Financial Management Seminar "TURFGRASS PRODUCTION- 
WHAT DOES IT COST?" Dates of the Seminar are February 15-16, 1983 (just 
prior to the ASPA Midwinter Conference) at the Hilton Palacio del Rio, 
San Antonio, Texas. The Seminar will be limited to 40 ASPA members... 
be among the lucky ones... mail in your registration form and payment 
immediately!!!

May the blessings of the Christmas Season be with you and yours 

now and throughout the years to come. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

Note: This monthly newsletter is compiled and published under the  

auspices of the ASPA Business Management Committee to serve as a helpful  
business update for all ASPA members. We invite your comments and  
recommendations. 

 AL GARDNER, Chairman 
Business Management Committee