April 11, 2023
Rob Potter
Hello, American Rental Association (ARA) Region Ten members. I hope your business is off and running to a strong spring rental season. No matter how busy we get, there is one thing we absolutely must keep our eyes on: equipment theft. It’s a problem that seems to be getting worse for many as crooks get more emboldened. Fortunately, ARA has a few resources to help us with the risk:
- Preventing and Handling Theft — This newly-released video is part of ARA’s Prioritize Safety monthly video series and provides information on how to prevent and manage theft within the equipment and event rental industry. This and other entries in the Prioritize Safety series are two-minute, animated videos that address a variety of safety topics for rental businesses. Each video is accompanied with two questions to test the knowledge of the viewer. These equipment- and event-specific videos can be viewed in RentalU, ARA’s online learning platform.
- Manage Your Risks: Equipment — This downloadable document, also available through RentalU, details proper security measures to have in place to protect your inventory from theft and other criminal activity.
- ARA-Westland Insurance partnership — This new program, detailed in this issue of In Your Region, includes risk management solutions that are tailored to the rental industry.
Now for something a little more pleasant.
Among other important observances, the month of April contains “Community Spirit Days.” It’s a time for small businesses and citizens to give back to their communities by supporting local charities. We can do that any time of the year, of course, but this is a good opportunity to shed light on the good work being done through the Community Impact Program.
The Community Impact Program is a joint initiative of the ARA Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation and is designed to improve the communities where rental members work and live. It involves the foundations partnering with local nonprofit organizations to coordinate community service projects, with an emphasis on assisting underserved populations.
The purpose of the program is twofold: to allow those in the rental industry an opportunity to give back to their community as well as build public awareness and demonstrate the advantages of rental.
Is there a nonprofit organization in your area that could benefit from a day or two’s worth of equipment and hands-on labor from the rental community? Click here to view Community Impact Program project criteria and to submit that organization/project for consideration.
By the way, April is also Volunteer Appreciation Month. ARA’s success is due largely in part to the work of members who volunteer their time to help drive the industry forward. If you’re interested in learning more about ways to get involved, you can find more information here. From my experience, I can tell you that it is extremely fulfilling.
Best wishes for a safe and prosperous month.
Rob Potter
Regional manager, Cooper Equipment Rentals
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
604-244-0617
rpotter@cooperequipment.ca
