{"id":51258,"date":"2021-08-24T01:45:48","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T01:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/?p=51258"},"modified":"2021-08-24T01:46:37","modified_gmt":"2021-08-24T01:46:37","slug":"is-your-pallet-company-a-good-neighbor-superhero-in-your-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/2021\/08\/24\/is-your-pallet-company-a-good-neighbor-superhero-in-your-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Your Pallet Company a Good Neighbor Superhero in Your Community?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Originally published on palletenterprise.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to attract the right attention, then having a good reputation in your community can help attract workers as well as customers. Keeping peace with your residential neighbors is sometimes necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has your company found itself in the news for the wrong reason? Taking a proactive approach to community outreach can turn the public perception of your company from villain to superhero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can help build strong bonds with neighbors and enforcement agencies, enhance employee growth and retention, and help prevent bad publicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to managing a successful pallet business, the last thing you want is to end up in the local headlines in a way that tarnishes your reputation. Experts and successful business owners alike recommend a proactive approach to community engagement activities to aid in building strong ties with local residents and officials. And in case you need persuading, here are some examples of pallet companies that have hit the news in a negative light over the past few years, resulting in unwanted publicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nightmare Scenarios Involving Pallet Companies and Community Concerns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Canadian recycler operated in a city with very high real estate costs. After a six-month search for a new base, it found what it thought to be a suitable location. Unfortunately, local residents expressed outrage about the large volume of trucks hauling pallets on community roads and started lobbying the local government. \u201cThe neighbors were able to exert the most pressure on us, and we were losing so much money that we moved. We had no choice,\u201d said a company co-owner at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that they lost customers, not due to lack of service, but because their company reputation had been tarnished by the bad publicity. \u201cThis whole debacle down there,\u201d he said, \u201cit literally cost us the value of the company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes issues with neighbors become a bigger deal with local authorities getting involved. Around three years after a major fire, a pallet company in the South, caught the interest of local officials. Fire officials were called after a report of inadequate fire lane access at the pallet plant. During the investigation, fire officials identified several other code violations. While the fire access problem was remedied, the other violations were not corrected, and City Council suspended the company\u2019s business license until correction of the violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery time our firefighters go out there, and I\u2019m responsible for those firefighters, you put their lives in danger… That\u2019s the problem I have,\u201d said the local fire chief in news reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city cut off utilities to the pallet company after it failed to resolve fire code violations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pallet company in the Great Lakes Region found itself without utilities after unsuccessful efforts by the city to have it correct fire code violations. The local fire marshal reported that the company\u2019s interior and exterior continue to be littered with stacks of pallets and mounds of dust, violating requirements for height, width and separation. Fire engine access was also inadequate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you blatantly overlook violations, I have no other choice,\u201d a fire official said. \u201c(The owner) made countless agreements with us to bring in equipment to correct the yard, but nothing came to fruition. We gave him every opportunity and every chance.\u201d He added that it was remarkable how much work the pallet company owner did to correct issues once closure was imminent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all of the cases above, they were covered by local media, which didn\u2019t help these company\u2019s when it came to their local reputations. There are common threads in these situations, such as complaints from neighbors and failing to adequately address code violations. The good news is that many pallet companies have successful outreach programs to engage with the local community, including residents, other businesses and regulators. Pallet Enterprise is grateful to Hay Creek Companies and Nazareth Pallet for sharing some of their best practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Is It Important To Be A Good Neighbor?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe give community engagement a very high-value rating,\u201d explained Ken Laga, sales and marketing manager of Nazareth Pallet Co. \u201cIt is important for a company to position itself as a community participant,\u201d he said of the Pennsylvania-based company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cIf you look at it selfishly, you can say that by doing this you create a positive image about your company with the intent of creating community respect and appreciation for yourself,\u201d he continued. \u201cThat, in turn, leads to brand awareness. Positive brand awareness garners calls from potential customers who want to do business with us over someone else. Even vendors seek us out knowing we are well respected in our community.  It also generates new job seekers, even in today\u2019s world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, being a good neighbor is written into the Nazareth Pallet mission statement, which pledges \u201cto preserve a strong, cooperative relationship with our surrounding community by reciprocating their goodwill in whatever way we can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from purely the business case for community outreach, Laga noted that because Nazareth is a family-held and family-run business, connecting with the community is the right thing to do. \u201cWe all live in this community, we do our best to hire within our community, bank in our community, and participate in community events,\u201d he said. \u201cIn my past, I personally have been with a fair number of corporate world companies who, if they do anything at all within their community, look at it as a burden of doing business. There is no joy in it. We at Nazareth Pallet enjoy participation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pallet companies can make a powerful difference, especially in smaller communities. \u201cWe\u2019re in a small town,\u201d observed Tom Gardner, owner\/president of Pittsville, Wisconsin-based Hay Creek Companies, \u201cso it\u2019s pretty easy for us to have a positive impact in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting Your Outreach Program Started<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Tom Gardner of Hay Creek, his shift in thinking began in earnest when he joined C12 (www.C12group.com<\/a>), the nation\u2019s largest peer advisory network of Christian CEOs, business owners, and executives. The group has networking groups across the United States and internationally. For Gardner, C12 helped him change his business and articulate why he was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another step Hay Creek Companies took was engaging a company called His Way at Work (www.hwaw.com<\/a>). His Way at Work is a faith-based nonprofit that provides consulting and coaching services for Christian CEOs and business leaders around the world who want to impact their organizations with the love of Christ. The program is scalable to meet the needs of various-sized companies. His Way at Work helps provide the tools and the guidelines and substructure to know that when we\u2019re helping our employees, we are also affecting their families and the community, Gardner stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cThey help set it up and give you some metrics on how to measure what you\u2019re doing and who gets affected,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing engaged with a company that\u2019s willing to help you work with your program, it\u2019s not entirely expensive, and it is very worthwhile to be able to just take some ideas and start building on that. Just find a place to start and get going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pallet companies can also reach out to other companies that have successful outreach initiatives. In the case of Hay Creek, Gardner reached out to James Ruder of L&R Pallet in Colorado. You can start your company\u2019s community outreach program inexpensively, Gardner admitted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some experts recommend low-cost strategies such as partnering with local organizations to sponsor events or groups, donating obsolete equipment or materials, or allowing a community group such as a Toastmasters club, for example, free use of your board room for an evening or weekend meeting. One great low-cost way of getting going is to promote community groups or upcoming community events through your social media platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community Outreach Ideas and Programs for Pallet Companies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Tom and Ken stress that there are a lot of ways to get involved. For example, Hay Creek Companies has sent care packages to deployed military personnel, inspired by the appreciation of military veterans working at Hay Creek who received similar packages while serving. Other efforts include the support of youth teams, especially those that have a connection to a Hay Creek employee. The company also supports Jeremiah\u2019s Crossing, a therapeutic horse-riding ranch dedicated to helping horses help children and adults with diagnosed physical, cognitive, emotional and academic special needs at no cost to the riders or their families. Hay Creek also supports the local community\u2019s Fourth of July Heart and Sole Road Race run\/walk event, a fun run that raises money for the local fire department and EMTs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decisions about donations are made collaboratively at Hay Creek. Gardner stressed that the company\u2019s caring team calls the shots regarding where their support is directed. \u201cThe cool thing about the caring team is it\u2019s not a decision I make, it\u2019s a decision that my people make,\u201d he said. Shawna Bratlie, the Hay Creek office manager, is in charge of the caring team. Over time, Gardner noted, community outreach has become part of the company\u2019s DNA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nazareth Pallet also actively supports many charities and sponsors events. It has affiliations with the Triple A baseball Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, sponsoring special nights such as Hispanic Heritage Night as well as contests and seat giveaways. One recent addition to Nazareth\u2019s outreach efforts has been to introduce a superhero mascot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cThis year we introduced our own Mascot, \u201cThe Palinator,\u201d into the mix,\u201d Laga explained. \u201cHe shows up at sporting events, community fairs and any number of other venues, to where he is now requested to be there.\u201d Simply put, he said, the Nazareth Pallet focus is to be a good neighbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both companies emphasize that it is not enough just to sponsor events and activities. It is important to become involved directly. \u201cWe not only sponsor many local events,\u201d Laga stated. \u201cWe also participate. They get to know who we are on a personal level.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gardner agreed. \u201cSure thing on that,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s one thing about us in a small town, not being there and\/or working events is never not an option. It\u2019s expected.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outreach to Local Officials and Regulators<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nazareth Pallet is particularly mindful of its impact on its local neighborhood. \u201cIn that our facility is in close proximity to a residential community, we have gone out of our way to surround our property with landscaping that fits in with the community,\u201d Laga said. The company has created its own internal rules designed to ensure that it meets local zoning laws. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cWe are well equipped beyond what the fire regulators require,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe have our own water tanker hose trucks which can be moved immediately to any location even before the fire department gets here. We run spontaneous fire drills during the year to ensure the safety of all.\u201d The company also employs a full-time safety manager on site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hay Creek also takes a proactive approach to working with officials. \u201cWe go out of our way to build strong relationships with those people,\u201d Gardner stated, noting that the local fire chief lives across the street from his pallet company. He is very active in training, and recently Hay Creek assisted in training by having one of its old semi-trailers tipped on its side at the plant and placed on top of a car so firefighters could practice dealing with such a situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cWe invite him into the plant. And obviously, he does his inspections, but we want to take a proactive approach with him and the department,\u201d Gardner said. \u201cSo, I think that puts us in a different spot, just opening our doors and being willing to work with local officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gardner has also partnered with another local business leader to start a community business group, brainstorming ideas about how local businesses can help grow the community, as well as sharing best practices. \u201cWe meet once a month to share ideas about business, maybe even mistakes that we\u2019ve made in the past to bounce ideas around like what we can do to help grow the community,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat can we do to help grow the business? What can we do to help employees?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For both companies, community outreach is not only a successful business approach, it is integral to their corporate and community roots. \u201cCommon sense prevails throughout this organization,\u201d Laga concluded, \u201cand to participate in community outreach, for us, is a no-brainer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Originally published on palletenterprise.com If you want to attract the right attention, then having a good reputation in your community can help attract workers as well as customers. Keeping peace with your residential neighbors is sometimes necessary. Has your company found itself in the news for the wrong reason? Taking a proactive approach to community…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17258,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pallet-industry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51258"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51263,"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51258\/revisions\/51263"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citypallets.ca\/cpwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}