8 November 13.

2008

Secrets of ,heir success

PestsBug-otfbutcustomers
andtraineeskeepcomingback
Expanding a business beyond the obvious
- ..----
by Do,kys Ramos

It's a good bet there's not a roach or

mouse within a mile of the Bug Off Pest
l_' ~

.
-Fh'i':~'f
/"..,_1. ~'
' ~~"- ~c up to three specialty workshops a year.
Private companies and agencies also
hire Linares as a consultant, to customize
programs for their employees, some of
Control Center on W. 165th Street and
.

(" which have included the New York City

St. Nicholas Avenue. The storeuont may
not look like much, but behind the glass
fa~ade of this shop packed to the ceilings
with boxes of bait stations and buckets
of rodenticide is a force to be reckoned
with.
"We don't need a huge space," said Bug
Off president Andy Linares. He runs the
shop with an assistant, David Lopez.
"We don't need to be in every borough.
If you can't come to me, I'll send it to
you. And our versatility allows us to do
things bigger than you would imagine we
are.n
Linares took over his uncle's pest
control business in January 1987 after
getting a graduate degree in international
affairs and finding difficulties breaking
into that field. He already had experience
working for his uncle, nicknamed "EI
Matador," while in high school. So upon
taking the reigns he renamed the company
and refocused the business to give it a
better chance among larger competitors
by selling products and providing both
home services and training courses. "It's
a one-stop outfit at all of those areas at a
very high degree," Linares said.
Their website (www.bugoffpccenter.
com) has helped Bug Off forge a national
presence as it allows customers nationwide
to access technical articles, video archives
from past events and training courses as
well as to buy products. "People come to
us not just for what we sell, but for what
we know," Linares said. "And that's a
beautiful combination."
~.:-~ .,.~
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. .
1 products, green options, guidelines and
"'f~.~ ,
tr
..
Andy Unares took over Bug Off and expanded Its mission beyond eradicating pests. (photo Dorkys
Ramos)
Most of this knowledge comes uom
doing research. Although Linares never
took a training course, he received his
license based on his experience. And.
with an advanced degree, becoming more
knowledgeable in the pest control field
wasn't too difficult, he said. Linares is
a member of the Entomological Society
of America, reads trade magazines
such as Pest Management Professional
and Pest Control Technology and has a
large circle of associates, professors and
entomologists he can calI upon to sound
off new ideas.
#
f1.~.' ~
Linares' training courses makes him
more than just an exterminator. With a
state-approved certification course, he
provides training for those who would
like to become licensed in New York
and New Jersey. The 30-hour course
costs $399 and covers topics like
safety, environmental protection, pest
identification and laws and regulations.
They also offer recertification courses
for licensed professionals who need the
continuing education. These classes are
provided year-round with up to four basic
training courses, six specialty courses and
Housing Authority, the Department of
Education and the Wildlife Conservation
Society. "People come to me and trust
me and you can't put a price on that," he
said. "The only way you accomplish that
is by solving people's problems and not
cheating. So one of the great strengths we
have is that level of trust."
On Tues., Nov. II, Bug Off hosted
its annual all-day New York Pest Expo
at The Armory on 216 Ft .Washington
Ave. between W. 168th and W. 169th
Streets. This training and exposition
program attracts hundreds of attendees
and exhibitors not only uom across the
nation, but other countries as well, all of
them wishing to learn more about new
business management. "I always like
to do a program or project myself as
offering more than you would expect,"
Linares said.
He also likes to project his business
uom Washington Heights and demonstrate
that positive things can come out of our
neighborhood. "The message is we're
a success right here," Linares said.
"We're doing above and beyond just
selling a bag of poison. We're changing
lives and creating new generations of
skilled individuals who can make their
own success. We're giving guidance
to people throughout the country and
it's all emanating uom a little store
on St. Nicholas Avenue. That's very
impressive."

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