PMPs Optimistic Heading into 2024

CLEVELAND – As the calendar gets ready to flip to a new year, PMPs are mostly optimistic about 2024. Fifty-nine percent of those who responded to a recent PCT reader poll said they anticipate 2024 being “significantly better” than 2023, while 29 percent indicated 2024 will be “slightly better” than last year. Only nine percent believe 2024 will be “slightly worse” and just 3 percent indicated it would be “significantly worse” than 2023.

Dauphin Ewart, CEO of the Bug Master, said interest rates and economic factors have him nervous for 2024, "but I think 2024 will be better for us, because I believe in my team and I think they are going to kill it anyway." 

Aaron Owens, president of U.S. Pest Control, Richmond, Va., said he is optimistic 2023 will be “significantly better” than 2023, in part because this winter is off to a mild start in his region. "There is still currently a lot of pest activity going on,” he said. “We also feel like we have our digital marketing dialed in in 2023 which will help us even better in the coming year with understanding how customers interact."

Tim Francis, field operations manager, Food and Drug and the Bug, Portland, Maine, said 2024 has some uncertainties because of possible forthcoming regulatory changes to second generation anticoagulants rodenticides. “Right now, everyone is talking about rodenticides, plus in Massachusetts there is talk about every town having its own set of rules, which would be an absolute nightmare for us. Our focus in 2024 will be on these issues with training, with talking to our customers and with continuing our push for exclusion services.”

Still, Francis remains optimistic about 2024, noting that Food and Drug and the Bug experienced 33 percent growth in 2023. “And with the food, FDA rules and USDA rules getting tougher and tougher…people need us to protect their stuff and prevent them from being shut down.”

Kenneth Raff, account manager, Terminix Commercial, Dallas, Ga., posted on LinkedIn that his values heading into 2024 are to have courage, accountability and passion to match products and services that will help enhance, and protect all of his business partners: I’ve committed to the idea I may not win every day but as long as I learned through every work day, and stayed humble. I will continue to grow. I know I will have more days that I win than lose and you can’t lose if you’re always learning and helping. Let’s tackle 2024 together!

Participate in PCT’s newest poll question: Before making a cockroach application, do you assess the infestation level visually and/or by using monitors (e.g., glue traps)?