It is “beach blanket beauty” as described in a recent issue of USA Today. The story was about a recruiting effort of spring break students in Daytona Beach by the American Association of Cosmetology Schools. The goal of this group is to recruit students into cosmetology by offering special tips and tricks of the trade to both high school and college students who plan to visit the legendary spring break location.

During a two-day stretch from March 18-19, pros from the schools provided free manicures and make-up applications at a local hotel in an effort to recruit new students to the cosmetology trade. The school’s executive director, Jim Cox, was quoted in the USA Today newspaper article saying that these future cosmetologists will not be hit by automation, globalization, or recession, adding, “These jobs aren’t going to be shipped overseas. And even when times are bad, people still want to look and feel good.”

What does this have to do with HVAC you ask? Cox could be saying the exact same thing about the service technician occupation. Just insert a few tweaks and close your eyes - he could be talking about the need for HVAC services.

Maybe the HVAC trade needs to organize a massive recruiting tour during next year’s spring breaks, all across the country and in warm climates. I will volunteer to organize it and do the lead research. Hmm, I wonder how many bikini-clad future HVAC techs I can recruit. It would be a tough job, but I think I could do it.