This morning, my oldest daughter and I were taking our dog for a walk. And, in our discussion about Fido's need for a new dog leash, we came across a moral dilemma. I readily admit that moral dilemmas and dog leashes don't often occur in the same conversation in our house. But, all the same, here was the conundrum, should we purchase our beloved dog's leash from a store that is active and engaged in our community, or do we patronize a store based on price alone?
This moral paradox can easily be translated to other industries. And, in my case, I quickly made the jump to pest control.
Homeowners looking to hire a pest professional often do so on price and convenience alone. However, pest control companies are often critical contributors to local communities. Many sponsor children's little league games, offer food/book drives for local causes and raise money for worthy charities. Should this play a role in buying decisions just like price and convenience?
For my oldest daughter, the decision was clear. Companies offering quality service at a fair price desire her business if they can also demonstrate community involvement. More than any other generation, this sentiment is probably true of the 20-somethings, and any company doing business today will soon have to recognize their power and influence.