ACSP ‘Planning Guide' Unveiled in Austin

Correct me if I am wrong! Most of the closet and storage companies that have survived this depression have done so primarily because of referrals and repeat customers. I doubt anyone survived by finding all new customers. So let’s analyze this.

Old customers, or ‘Raving Fans’, come back for more because they realize the benefits of having an adjustable, flexible, changeable, interchangeable, expandable storage system. When you first sold this customer, you touted the benefits, short term and long term. As my customers in Savannah and Hilton Head rave, “once you have one of these closets….YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK”. They love their closets so much, they tell their friends, neighbors, co-workers & relatives about their treasured closets. A Raving Fan Club is the best marketing plan your can have.

Imagine if we at ACSP could get the word out to the general public and our partners in the home construction industry and let them help us sell closets & storage systems.

Our entire industry can be summed up in one word…..32mm system.

As most of you (don’t) know, this system was developed in post war Germany when Europe was attempting to rebuild its economy. Most of the skilled laborers were killed during the war and the cabinet industry needed a jump start to rebuild its destroyed cities. The 32mm system allowed unskilled labor to create storage solutions by making it standardized and compartmentalized.

It amazes me that this simple technology, around for 65+ years, is our greatest asset, yet we as an industry, can’t seem to get the word out. What if we could spread the word not only to the customers we are trying to convince to sign the dotted line, but also to our local architects, remodelers, residential designers, interior designers & decorators, real estate agents, homebuilders, general contractors & the general public.

This is exactly the direction ACSP will go in 2012. At the CLOSETS Conference & Expo in Austin, ACSP will unveil its Planning Guide. This effort will replace the previously published ‘Design & Construction Techniques’ booklet of 2007. The publication will be printed, downloadable (so members can print it themselves) and available on our website www.closets.org.

The table of contents will read:

• Introduction to Closet & Storage Planning
• The 32mm Adjustment System
• Obstacles to Avoid While Planning New Construction & Remodeling Projects to Maximum Storage Space
• Planning for Future Alterations & Additions Using Storage Universal Design Strategies (S.U.D.S.)
• Architectural Section Drawings, Details & Profiles
• Innovative Hardware & Accessory Options
• Why Choose a Closet & Storage Professional

I will unveil this exciting ACSP program during my opening remarks in Austin on Wednesday, February 15th. As we turn the corner and set sail for the future, Austin is the place where all the closet industry survivors will rally and regroup. See you there!

Guest Blogger: Jeff Klein, President of ACSP and owner, Closet Specialist

For more information about becoming a guest blogger, contact Managing Editor Michaelle Bradford at mbradford@vancepublishing.com