Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator Instructions) Your first question comes from John Healey - FTN Midwest Securities.
John Healey - FTN Midwest Securities Corp.
You continue to post better organic growth rates and your margins continue to show a really nice pick-up despite the more challenging cost environment. When you look at how you’re managing the business today, is there any difference in how you’re managing it today compared to a year ago, and maybe any ways you see how you’re managing the business and you’re able to achieve these successes, than your competitor? What is different from how your competitors are managing their business?
Ronald D. Croatti
I don’t think so, John. I think it’s just that we have been focusing on a lot of operations and then the sales side. The automation of the sales force has helped us. That’s really driven a lot of the growth. I think as far as the structuring, you know, we made some minor changes on responsibilities for the sales. It’s certainly back at the regional vice president level and the corporate people, who are the support role. But that’s really the only structural change we’ve made.
I think the margin has improved because we’re focused on a couple of the operations that weren’t doing well.
John Healey - FTN Midwest Securities Corp.
When you look at 2009 and you look at the challenging environment, in your past experience with the industry, I was hoping to just get your thoughts as how you see this slow down compared to slow downs we see in the past. Maybe you thoughts on how it compares or how it’s maybe dissimilar to what we’ve seen in the past.
Ronald D. Croatti
About an hour ago I went and checked some numbers and the wearer numbers we’re forecasting to basically be at the 2002 and 2003 levels. So at this point we’re saying it’s going to be comparable. It’s that type of slow down as far as we’re concerned.
John Healey - FTN Midwest Securities Corp.
And lastly, you guys talked about acquisitions, just your thoughts there on what type of opportunities you’re seeing. Are you seeing more kind of small operators saying the business is getting tougher and they don’t want to deal with the downturn? Are you seeing more opportunities than you’ve seen in the past and how does the competitive environment look for those acquisitions?
Ronald D. Croatti
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