28 WESTERN PALLET
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Preparation is key. Once a visit is confirmed, identify the purpose of the tour. Do you want to showcase recent investments, highlight sustainability practices, or build support for a pending issue? Having a clear focus ensures the visit is more than just a photo-op.
Assign a point person to lead planning and be the day-of guide. Draft a short itinerary: an overview of your facility, a walk-through of key operations, and a brief sit-down conversation.
Make sure your facility is clean and safe for visitors. Review basic safety protocols and ensure hearing protection, safety glasses, or other gear are ready. Plan for a few visuals, a plant map, production metrics, or photos of finished pallets in use to help tell your story.
What to Do During the Visit?
Start with a warm welcome and a quick explanation of who you are, what your company does, and why you invited them. Stick to big-picture points, your workforce size, market reach, and any unique features of your operation.
As you walk through the facility, highlight processes that showcase your strengths. If you’ve adopted automation, improved safety, or implemented sustainability initiatives, now is the time to share those.
Give your team a chance to shine. Introduce line workers or supervisors who can briefly explain their roles. This gives the official a human connection to your business and shows off your team culture.
During the discussion portion, you can raise any specific policy issues affecting your business. Be concise, respectful, and solutions-focused. Offer to be a resource for future questions or testimony. Provide a one-pager with key facts and contact information to leave behind.
How Should They Follow Up After the Visit?
After the visit, send a thank-you email or letter. Express appreciation for their time, recap one or two key takeaways, and reiterate your openness to future conversations.
If they showed interest in a particular issue, provide a follow-up link or document that elaborates on it. Share any photos from the visit (with permission), especially if you're posting them to your company's LinkedIn or website—this increases visibility for both your business and the official.
Finally, keep in touch. Hosting a visit is the start of a relationship, not the end. Reach out when legislation is pending or when you’ve hit a milestone worth celebrating. Over time, elected officials who’ve seen your operations up close can become champions for your business and your industry.