Pest Management Professional, May 2016

AZ edes 2016 Mosquito ManageMent survey to ika active promotion leads to sales Clarks mosquito management marketing nets add on business and new clients By Diane Sofranec Managing Editor Photo Clarks termite Pest Control M ost of the pest management companies in South Carolina offer mosquito management services and Clarks Termite Pest Control in Irmo is no exception Entomologist and Technical Director Alan Wilson says its an add on service that pays in more ways than one If theyre a current customer its a service we can add on so they can see immediate results It just bolsters that customer loyalty he says If theyre not current customers and they sign up for mosquito services youve got opportunities to offer them other services if you do a good job Clarks technicians performing general pest management are trained to give current customers fliers that detail the companys mosquito management services and the different treatment programs available Exhibiting at home shows helps the company attract new customers Clarks leverages social media to let customers know which local events staff will attend For those who surf the web to learn more about the company a page on its website is dedicated to its mosquito management services Wilson says the majority of the companys mosquito management services are for residential customers Business has really taken off over the past five years and has been steadily growing every year since Will the recent news reports about the Zika virus translate into more sales this year Perhaps Wilson says Being out in the field and giving presentations to different groups I am getting questions about Zika he adds It remains to be seen how much of an effect its going to have on the number of mosquito services we do Typically the most prevalent species in the companys service area are Aedes aegypti which transmits the Zika virus yellow fever dengue and chikungunya and the Asian tiger mosquito A albopictus Along the Carolina coast the floodwater mosquito A vexans and the salt marsh mosquito Alan Wilson entomologist and technical director for Clarks Termite Pest Control are also common Wilson says During mosquito season Clarks technicians break out their backpack blowers for adulticide treatment Customers choose either a one time service a three service program or a five time plan with one free treatment that brings the total to six services Treatments are guaranteed for 30 days Wilson says the company is careful to tell customers that treatment provides a suppression not an elimination service We tell them were not going to eliminate mosquitoes he says Youre going to see some We just want you to see fewer Because you never know what the problem might be the neighboring property or a patch of vegetation for example Clarks requires its technicians to use smartphones to take pictures of conducive conditions We want pictures of the yard to try and determine what might be the cause of a callback Wilson says An important part of the treatment is education he adds Technicians are trained to walk around the property to seek out standing water that would hinder treatment and bring it to the customers attention A lot of customers know about the bigger items like birdbaths and tires that hold a lot of water Wilson says But they dont realize that the smaller things like a can or a knothole in a tree can hold enough water to produce mosquitoes Wilson predicts that last falls heavy rains and flooding could mean more mosquitoes this season Wet weather in South Carolina is a common challenge Youre always watching the weather trying to get treatments in around the rain he says PMP you can reach Sofranec at dsofranec@ northcoastmedia net or 216 706 3793 MM14 May 2016 Pest Management Professional mypmp net