Winter 2007

TGI Members Keep
More Green Stuff
By David Wylie

If you have clients in the green industry, tell them about the Texas Green Industry (TGI) purchasing group. The group helps wholesale and retail nurseries, landscape contractors, growers, irrigation contractors and other businesses trim their workers’ comp premiums.

Texas Mutual Insurance Company introduced the TGI purchasing group in February 2004. Within a year, TGI had established itself as one of the fastest-growing purchasing groups offered by the company.

The group’s growth is not surprising when you consider the economic clout of the industry it represents. The green industry is one of the top three agricultural producers in Texas, pumping $9.7 billion into our economy every year.

“We want to capture the increasingly sophisticated small-business owner in this group,” said Ken Hotchkiss, vice president of Hotchkiss Insurance Agency’s Houston location and TGI group program manager. “Our goal is $16 million in premium in five years.”

Like most powerhouse industries, the green industry has a strong trade association looking out for its interests. The Texas Nursery and Landscape Association (TNLA) is the only association representing all segments of the state’s green industry. After a rigorous application process, TNLA agreed to endorse TGI.

Every new TNLA member gets a TGI promotional brochure in their welcome packet. TNLA also promotes the group on its website at www.txnla.org, in its magazine and membership directory, and at trade shows and regional chapter meetings.

TGI does its part by developing an annual, comprehensive marketing plan. The plan includes advertising, direct-mail pieces and tradeshow appearances.

TGI is an open purchasing group, which means any licensed Texas agent can submit clients for consideration.

Client benefits:

• Each member gets a 10.9 percent premium discount.
• Members can adopt an industry-specific safety plan to help control their losses.
• Group members may qualify for potential individual policyholder dividends and group dividends. That’s right; they may qualify for two dividends. We have paid about $445 million in individual policyholder dividends since 1999. We have paid more than $1 million in group dividends to TGI since 2005.*

Agent benefits:

• Increase your market share.
• Generate higher premium volumes.
• Maintain renewal stability.
• Score points with your clients by helping them save money.

More information
For more information about the TGI purchasing group, including a list of qualifying class codes, click here or call (800) 859-5995.

Other purchasing groups
Texas Mutual Insurance Company offers purchasing group opportunities for a wide range of industries. Any licensed Texas agent can submit qualifying clients for consideration. Click here for a list of purchasing groups.

*Past dividends are not a guarantee of future dividends. The Texas Department of Insurance must approve all dividends.

MUTUAL INTERESTS - Winter 2007
Purchasing Group Spotlight: TGI Members Keep More Green Stuff
Reminders
More Group Opportunities
Ken's Corner: You Asked, We Delivered
Texas Mutual Expands Network Service Areas
Workshops

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Texas Mutual Insurance Company.