In November of 2023, co-Pingmaster Paul texted me about a link he found on the AI Garage Sale that offered a free subscription to PRO Magazine. What does “PRO” stand for?
Portable Restroom Operator.
And, of course, before Paul could finish his sentence, I was filling out the form for a free subscription.
I was a bit thrown by the question “Please indicate your primary service,” as I didn’t want to lie and say that I was a distributor or that I managed portable sinks and hand wash stations. That would be stolen valor. Instead, I was truthful and in the “Other” field I wrote “Fan.”
For the past year, I’ve been receiving PRO and dutifully putting it in our downstairs bathroom as reading material for anyone that may wish to partake. And can I tell you something? As a frequent partaker, I’ve been enjoying it. Like, legitimately.
I’ve found it really engaging reading about an oft maligned or teased industry reckoning with how to serve the public in what is, admittedly, a very important role. As gross as portable restrooms can be, can you imagine how gross it would be without them? I truly am a “fan.” I won’t lie: more than once I thought to myself wistfully, “It might be fun to run a company that rents out portapotties,” a term I suspect is looked down upon in the industry. “Maybe this is the career change I’ve been looking for.”1
Even the advertising is whimsical and self-aware. Like, the Thanksgiving catalog from J&J Portable Sanitation Products that had a competition to find all the turkeys they’d hidden in the catalog. I found at least one:
“Fits inside for easy transport,” indeed!
So, in honor of my favorite new subscription of the last year, here are some articles I wish to share with you (note that you will need to sign up for a free account to read):
- Your Portable Restroom is on Fire. Now What?
- This feature on a company called Throne Depot – I don’t know how they have avoided a lawsuit, but I’m glad they have because what a great name.
- Creative Naming Tips for Your Portable Restroom Business – I think Paul (and I, to a lesser degree) would excel at this.
- Adapting Your Business to Changing Cannabis Laws
- TV Game Show Puts Drop Zone Septic and Portables On the Map
- No Business Like WWETT Show Business – An honestly pretty fascinating introduction to the wastewater industry’s tradeshow.
- 7 Facts About Portable Sanitation for World Toilet Day
There have been a number of articles about AI, but none have really hit for me yet. I think there’s probably some value there in terms of using AI to help to determine efficient routes or predicting restocking needs based on past usage, but only if they give the assistant a name like “Flushy.”
I’ll be keeping my subscription, reading regularly and non-ironically while anxiously awaiting next year’s edition of the vacuum pump directory.
1 It is not lost on me that my last Ping in 2023 was also about toilet-related trade groups and publications. I may be meant for this industry.
Posted in Toilets
