Category: Industry News

As many of you saw last month, we had a note from our colleague here at VGM Live at Home Jessica Barber, in which she let the membership know she was moving on to another position here at VGM. Jessica has had a role here at LAH from almost the very beginning. Her father, Jerry Keiderling, was the original leader here, and together they were able to develop a role for her to help the department grow. When Jerry stepped down and I was asked to come in, Jessica was the teammate I was given to help the...

We have hit the middle of summer, and here’s hoping you are able to find time to enjoy your family, take in a concert or ballgame, experience a theme or water park, get in a round of golf, go see a great movie, or cook something amazing on your grill like Robert G. from Bestbath does! (Friend him on Facebook if you want to see what I mean). We believe that even when you are very busy, it’s important for everyone to get that mental break, do something fun, and smell the roses. At Live...

Heartland 2022 was a big success! It was great seeing so many members, colleagues, and partners new and old in-person! The educational components were spot on, we had some excellent networking, and a lot of fun and laughs. Sending out a big shout out to our home access speakers, Jim Bland from Seniors Home Services for his great retail sales training double session, Jared Cheveaux for his sharing how JTEK’s award-winning showroom has transformed his business, and Robert G. from Bestbath...

Let’s start out today just saluting VGM Live at Home members and the corporate manufacturer partners we work with. We have a fast-growing industry that is challenging in normal times (whatever “normal” is anymore). With the current climate, constant adjustments, and daily challenges that you encounter every day, we marvel at your resiliency and ingenuity to still get the job done. I can assure you that the fortitude shown and the extra efforts put forth does not go unnoticed by...

We have heard loud and clear that employee recruitment and retention are high-priority pain points for the home access industry. We have an industry that is slowly starting to mature but has a ways to go. Many companies struggle to provide a career path for their field technicians and, in some cases, their customer-facing representatives. We also hear of companies finding great potential employees, but they lack the skills needed to work as a tech in the field, and training is challenging when the...

As April comes to an end (already?), we have a few things to report on industry happenings. Home Accessibility Bill Update The final touches are being put on the home accessibility bill about to be introduced. The score (cost estimate to the government) on the bill is the major holdup to date, but we expect the cost to be neutral when the Congressional Budget Office releases it. If the score comes in neutral or very low, there are numerous members of Congress ready to sign...

By Brooke Kraft, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, VGM Group, Inc Everywhere we look, we see the signs: now hiring, help wanted, please be nice to the staff that did show up today (that one is my personal favorite and a good reminder). Our favorite restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, menu items are limited, and our coworkers are leaving for possible greener pastures. Regardless of how you are internalizing the current labor market, you can likely relate...

Happy Spring, everybody! For everyone in the northern U.S., it’s time to come out of hibernation and get some vitamin D! This month, I have some quick key announcements to bring your way as we have a lot of projects in the works. Welcome new corporate partner SanSpaUSA! We are happy to announce a new partnership with SanSpaUSA, wh make a swing open, walk-in tub that is best in-class quality and priced right for your customers. SanSpaUSA offers marketing support...

We are excited to release our latest member-exclusive resource, “Succession Planning: Identifying What Is Next for Your Business and How to Make It Happen,” written by Mark Higley, vice president of Regulatory Affairs, VGM Government Relations. Members may download this guide under in the Resources section of the members-only portal. “By numerous requests from my friends and colleagues in the industry, I am honored to have had the opportunity to coordinate and develop the...

It’s here! 2022 has arrived, and we are excited for a new beginning to what promises to be another turning-point year in the home accessibility market. There is much optimism regarding the easing of the pandemic in late spring, and with that, hopes that we will be able to go full force with some great events for our members as we move through the year. Highlights to note: April 4-8 - Building Opportunities Installer Summit in Ravenna, Ohio: We return to Access to Independence...