Every year at this time, the staff of Locksmith Ledger gets together in an exercise we call “Long Term Planning.” One of the goals is to find that next great idea to help our readers to get the necessary information to prosper in coming years. As the industry evolves, Locksmith Ledger wants to remain the leading source of information for forward-thinking locksmiths, whether they read our print magazine, view www.locksmithledger.com content or visit our social media channels.
Many of our ideas focus on education, and we’re likely to start with a series of webinars. We already posted our first Bench Time Webinar with locksmith and industry influencer Wayne Winton. Check it out in the video section on our website to learn his innovative method to install a continuous hinge without removing the door.
Down the road, additional Bench Time webinar topics might include installing automatic door openers, walk-throughs of new key machines and exit device installations. Additional reader suggestions are appreciated. These will be hands-on installations that can be viewed live and then again online.
Every locksmith business is different, so we don’t want to leave out any segment of the industry. Yes, electronic access control tends to be cutting-edge, requiring extensive training and certifications. Automotive also is increasingly high-tech and requires pricey transponder programmers and key machines. But there’s a good living to be made on the mechanical side as well. And running a small business effectively takes a whole other set of skills.
Additional topics we’re considering include: Getting into Electronic Access Control, How to Stand Out Amid Scammers and Other Competitors, Keep Your Inventory Under Control and Increase Recurring Monthly Revenue.
Eventually, with the help of some of our contributors, we want to branch out into sponsored video training, with students earning continuing-education credits. We hope to have exciting news to share in early 2023.
We also will look at industry trends in our November issue, when we present our comprehensive research results, State of the Industry 2022. Our Readers’ Choice awards will debut in the Winter 2022 Big Book, which mails at the end of the year, along with our 2023 Security Register. In early 2023, we will launch a fun locksmith van contest.
Of course, we will continue to cover all segments of the locksmithing industry in our print issues as well, just as we have for the past 83 years. We couldn’t do any of this without the input of our loyal readers. Let us know your preferences, and we will adjust our coverage.
Stay tuned for an exciting ride.
