Spring is finally upon us; well… officially, March 19th. Our weather this season has been less than predictable; frigid one day and record highs the next. Here in the south, trees are beginning to bloom, allergies already flaring, and peaks of color springing forth everywhere. Spring has always been one of my favorite times of the year. I’m a diehard turkey hunter and for those of you who’ve also been bitten by this bug, there’s nothing like the excitement and hair-raising experience of hearing your first gobble at daylight. Spring has also been traditionally a time for getting things back in order. Whether we’re “Spring Cleaning”, working through your list of “Honey Do’s”, or just saying our goodbyes to Jack Frost; Spring brings forth new life and new beginnings.
For many of us, we’ll be closing out another quarter. Spring can be a time to reorganize our workspaces, our workflows, and perhaps an opportunity to assess our strategies; what went well and what still needs to be addressed. Some have said that Spring is the most important time of year for your business to grow. We can certainly attest to historically strong Springs sales, much of which could be closely tied to tax returns and our consumers finally spending more time outdoors. Either way, we know what’s likely just around the corner. The reality of our industry is that summer can sometimes come early. Mid to late April will certainly be a good indicator of whether we’ll realize our normal summer slowdown or perhaps the chaos and unknowns of an election year might keep consumers spending.
Likewise, NASGW is also getting things in order for this year’s Expo. When we meet back in Kansas City in October, it will officially be the 50th NASGW Expo. That is a big milestone to celebrate, and our team is working on some fun ways to commemorate the anniversary. Spring also marks the opening of the Expo registration which will be here before you know it. Be on the lookout for future communications and don’t wait until the last minute to book your badge or your hotel. Room blocks typically fill up fast so don’t be left out of the headquarters hotel this year.
As we begin our final month of Q1, I encourage you to embrace the ideology of Spring; bring forth new life and new beginnings for your team, your company, and your customers. One way you can proactively do this is by using the insight and data provided by SCOPE; utilize the quarterly reports, review the commentary, and download the 2023 Year-end report. We are a data driven society and operating data driven businesses, let’s ensure our teams are fully using all the tools at their disposal.
Until next time,
Bill Sumner
NASGW Chairman