Safeguarding Customers in a Tough Market

In an uncertain economy where customers debate every discretionary purchase, the last thing you want is for them to question the value of your service.

Getting called back to retreat an account? That does not play well. Today, people are inundated with offers for pest control ser-vice at every turn (or door knock), which makes it very easy for unhappy clients to switch providers. “It’s a tough market. You really have a razor-thin margin for error with customers,” says Chris Gigley, marketing communications lead for Professional Pest Management (PPM) at Syngenta. “If your customers’ lives are being interrupted by an ant problem or clouds of mosquitoes out by the deck, then they’re going to go to someone else,” he says.

You can’t afford not to use the best products for the job. The PestPartnersSM 365 Program from Syngenta can make them fit within your budget.

Portfolio of Trust.

The first step in protecting your customer base is using products that deliver results. This is essential when your company’s reputation is at stake, and callbacks are increasingly expensive. Being able to purchase premium products at an affordable price is especially helpful. That’s where the PestPartners 365 Program has a significant impact.

The program lets you earn rebates all year long on premium Syngenta products that have been proven effective in the lab and the field time and again. The rebates aren’t just available on select items, but the company’s entire product portfolio. These are the tools pest management professionals (PMPs) count on every day, from gel baits and residual sprays to granular products and rodenticides.

“There’s value in knowing you can get products you can rely on,” says Kristen Oakley, market manager for PPM at Syngenta. And when challenging pest situations arise, it’s also reassuring to know you’ll get the technical expertise you need to help solve these problems.

Jaime Pilbeam, owner of Superior Pest Control in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who has participated in PestPartners 365 for the past eight years, agrees. “Not only do the products we use work, but we’ve got great support whenever we need it,” he says.

Significant Savings.

Getting cash back on product purchases is a good thing, especially with higher inflation and labor costs pinching profit margins. Last year, Superior Pest Control earned notable rebates from the program.

“The rebates are great. They’re nice incentives that come in periodically throughout the year from buying all the products we use,” says Pilbeam.

Small or large, companies of every size can earn rebates by participating in the program. “As long as you buy products generating $200 in base rebates, you’re in. The more you buy during the qualifying period, the higher the rebate level and the greater the rebates earned throughout the year,” explains Marshall Gaster, head of marketing for PPM at Syngenta.

There’s no need to submit receipts or fill out rebate forms. Syngenta-authorized distributor partners track your orders; Syngenta sends you checks.

Lots of Flexibility.

In addition to earning rebates on any and all Syngenta products, the PestPartners 365 Program lets you use rebates however you choose.

While some PMPs use the cashback to improve margins, such as by offsetting product costs, others buy or maintain equipment or host company events to boost employee retention.

At Superior Pest Control, Pilbeam uses rebates to reward his team members. He typically buys them gift cards or has lunch or breakfast catered for his 10 employees. They appreciate the recognition, he says.

Another way the 2024 program is flexible: extended payment terms. SummerPay™ terms let you prebuy products in fall and winter – typically slow months – and defer payment, interest-free, through June 2024, when cash flow tends to pick up.

“PMPs can get the peace of mind knowing that they are well stocked with product and ready to go when spring comes around, but have the reassurance that they can pay later without penalty once peak season hits,” says Oakley.

Strategic Planning Support.

The off-season is the ideal time to develop your company’s growth plan. The PestPartners 365 Program helps do this by mapping out product expenditures for the year so you can buy products strategically.

“If you take the time to plan ahead, you can maximize savings,” explains Gaster. “You’re not chasing a coupon or trying to remember when the best time is to buy certain products during the busy season. Instead, you can focus on meeting customer needs and executing your growth strategy.” This may include expanding your territory, increasing route density or improving the customer experience.

The easy-to-use rebate calculator at PestPartners365.com can help you figure out product purchases/chemical costs for the year. It provides an estimate of rebates and suggests ways to maximize refunds. Syngenta territory managers and distribution reps also can provide guidance.

The goal of PestPartners 365 hasn’t changed since it launched in 2015: to help you provide pest-free environments that make customers happy so your business can grow.

“We’re really excited about the 2024 PestPartners 365 Program. I think it will benefit a lot of PMPs like it always has,” says Gaster.

For more information about the PestPartners 365 Program, visit PestPartners365.com

All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission.

© 2023 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties and/or may have state-specific use requirements. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration and proper use. For Life Uninterrupted™, PestPartnersSM, SummerPay™ and the Syngenta logo are trademarks or service marks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective third-party owners. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368).