Way back in 1991, carpet manufacturers approached the IICRC with a complaint. I’m paraphrasing, but here’s the gist of it:

When you were a child, did you ever play the game “What If…?” What if I made a million dollars per year? What if I were a famous person? What if I had different parents? What if I lived in another country? What if I married a different person? Remember?

OK, so what’s the difference between IICRC-approved certification courses and other courses being offered in the industry?  And why should anyone care, for that matter? 

On my way to the airport the other morning I saw a sign in front of a church that read “It’s About Relationships.” It struck me that no matter who you are or what business you’re in, developing and maintaining successful relationships is extremely important in every aspect of your life.

I often hear through the grapevine that there is a lack of communication from the IICRC.

What does the future hold? That’s a question every company or organization should be asking (and answering) for itself, and the IICRC is no different.

I was invited to attend a luncheon of the Middle Tennessee Flooring Association the other day. The guest speaker was Brian Warren with Mohawk Floor Care, and his topic was “Branding Your Company.” Although he was talking to flooring retailers, his message could have easily been directed to professional cleaning companies as well.

I performed an interesting carpet inspection the other day. It involved spin-finish residue on some commercial carpet in a fire department training center. The problem was very obvious: streaks of soil-attracting, oily residues throughout the installation on a light-gray nylon, level-loop, direct-glue installation.

There’s a new marketing approach that’s literally being handed to professional carpet cleaners on a silver platter as I type. I just spent two days with board members of the World Floor Covering Association, a 5,000-plus-member organization representing primarily carpet retailers and allied trades, especially installers.

By now, many of you may have heard that at its September meeting, the IICRC board of directors bestowed upon me the privilege of leading this fantastic industry organization for the next year.