Spring and summer are traditionally the most active time of year for building service contractors (BSCs) looking for new clients. However, BSCs trying to build new business need to know that many office and facility managers now look at more than just prices and services offered when considering a new BSC. Managers are now much more focused on one more component: value.
 
For this reason, the "Tornado Business-of-the-Business" is focusing on value propositions. A value proposition is essentially the benefits the customer will see if they select your service. And benefits typically translate into dollars saved.
 
For instance, the following are commonly used (but very weak) value propositions:
• We are the best when it comes to saving you money
• Customers tell us worker absenteeism has gone down since we started cleaning their offices
• Our staff is well trained

These weak value proposition statements lack punch, along with verifiable cost savings. They should be replaced with strong value propositions similar to the following:
• One of our clients has saved $10,000 a year since we took over their cleaning responsibilities
• At one office, they have had a 20 percent drop in absenteeism since we started cleaning their office
• All our workers are CIMS certified (or GS-42 Certified), meaning they have passed a state-of-the-art, best practices training program that helps them clean more effectively and efficiently

According to Michael Schaffer, a senior executive with Tacony's Commercial Floor Care division and president of Tornado Industries, when presenting value propositions, BSCs should "keep them short, precise, true, and focused on how you can help deliver value to the customer."