PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE New Year, New Business I wanted to know how many of you read my February 2016 message about learning a new part of your trade. “No, don’t run. No, don’t hide. Em- brace this new technology and learn how to grow your business with it. Access con- trol and CCTV are new areas for us, and we must learn them to grow our shrink- ing business.” The cutting of keys is not going away, but today’s technology is making it easier for consumers to get a key made just by taking a picture of it, sending the picture off and receiving a cut key that’s guaran- teed to work — or it will be replaced with one that does. New unmanned kiosks are popping up all over, and some of the companies are coming to ALOA to find a way to work with our locksmiths. The main reason is that they are limited as to what keys they can cut. They want to be assured that when they recommend a locksmith to their customers, they are not recommending a scammer. They have also offered to place the kiosk in or just outside of the locksmith’s shop, and then the locksmith will get a percentage of each key cut. This frees the locksmith up to do business that he gets paid more for. If you think this isn’t important for your business, look around at all of the new keyless cars and new home locks with button combinations. Even video intercom systems for residents are becoming a big business. Times are changing fast, and if we don’t embrace it and learn how to grow with it, we will be leſt behind. Perhaps you aren’t sure of that next step to acquire financing to grow your busi- ness from two or three trucks to five or 10 trucks. How many in-house people doe it take in relation to the number of truck on the road? Want to know more abou managing staff, AR, AP, dispatching getting rid of paper and moving out o 1990 and into 2017? Your next step should be to attend the Security Leaders Busi- ness Conference directly following SAF- ETECH at the same venue. That is where you will get these answers and learn all about how to grow your business. It’s a new year! Get up, get out and go get it. A special Valentine’s Day wish to all the women in locksmithing: Please be ALOA’s valentine and get more involved in this wonderful organization! Tom Foxwell, RL, CAI, CFDI President ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc. [email protected] HELP A VET. HELP ALOA. HELP YOURSELF. Hire a veteran taking classes through our GI Bill-funded retraining program and get some great incentives in return. For more information, please email [email protected]. WWW.ALOA.ORG FEBRUARY 2017 KEYNOTES 5
