Archive for Business Related
Belcher Bits
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Belcher's T-33 Sheet
Its always good to meet up with fellow niche manufacturers at shows and conventions. I chatted with Michael Belcher owner of Belcher Bits. He shared some of his latest products with us. I’m informed that Mike has expanded access to his product line by bringing on board new retailers such as MidTenn Hobbies which is a supporter of the Squawkbox.
Note: The video’s I shot while at the IPMS Nationals were done with a very inexpensive setup. I used a Kodak Zi8 camera ($119) and a Audio-Technica microphone ($19). I shot these in 720p, but the camera has the ability to shoot in 1080p HD as well. I edited the videos with the software included with (in the camera) camera.
IPMS Nationals-Day 2
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We rose before the dawn to get ready to head south to Tucson to visit the Pima Air Museum and AMARG…Boneyard. The tour was good, spent some time with a couple of visitors from Australia who were at AirVenture last week and on their way to Seattle next.
As the day progressed so did the temperature upward. By the time we had returned from Tucson around 2pm the temps were already at 114F!
Upon our return we headed straight into the convention center to roam the vendors room and model room. More models on display and the density of visitors to the vendor room had also increased.
Finished off the evening atop the Hyatt in the orbiting restaurant Compass chatting with Gordon Kwan and Scott Hackney (pointman for the 2012 Nats in Omaha). Great food and good company made for an enjoyable evening.
Secrets Revealed-Sprue Brothers
Posted by: | CommentsToday I am going to follow a customer order from start to finish and show you why Sprue Brothers is setting the industry standard in customer service.
Hot off the printer!
It all starts by YOU, when you click that button on the screen that activates the process. Your order is transmitted to Sprue Brothers electronically courtesy of the Internet. Once the order is received it gets printed and is picked up by a staffer who checks the order for any missing information such as an incomplete address or product descriptions of the items ordered.
Double Check!
Using the order form, the staffer then enters the warehouse to select the item(s) you’ve ordered. Careful attention to compare the SKU on the order with that on the item(s) and the quantity ordered. Once each item is picked and verified the order is taken to the shipping area where another staffer checks the order pulled by the picker. This reduces order mistakes and keeps inventory accurate and current.
Additionally each order is check to see if a customer has any other orders pending or on hold. This allows the orders to be consolidated to reduce shipping costs. As I watched the process I saw this occur. A customer had a pre-order placed and the item had just arrived. The two orders were combined into one on the spot!
Order all boxed up.
The prder packing station is a very busy place!
The item(s) are carefully packaged in the appropriate shipping container. The packer also verifies if the shipping mode selected is cost effective for both the consumer and Sprue Brothers. Example: A package may estimate out at a weight suitable for UPS, but once packed it actually weighs in at one which if shipped via USPS costs less yet provides the same level of service. So the mode is changed unless the customer has specifically indicated not to. This step saves the customer a little when the order is tallied and charged.
One of several aisles.
So now the order is packed and ready…well almost. Now that an accurate shipping cost has been determined, the total amount to be charged is adjusted (usually down because shipping costs are based on an estimated weight). The customers account is then charged. Understand that when you place your order initially your account isn’t actually tapped, but an authorization (for credit card purchases) is placed against it. Once the final total is determined, your account is then charged…not before. This will then reflect any refund adjustments in the shipping fee.
This in just the first hour of the day!
Once the payment processing is complete an address label is generated as well as an email telling you your order has been shipped. The package is then set in the outbound freight area for the carrier to pickup. From that point on, its in the carriers hands to get it to you.
Sprue Brothers has some other internal procedures to facilitate greater efficiency in the order processing handling. This and the dedicated hard working staffers manage to turn out your orders in one business day or less!
There is no real secret to how Sprue Brothers does it…its the people there that make it all happen. Combine dedication to serve and a little technology to make the processes easy, fast and efficient and you have the secret. No particle matter transporters, no hocus pocus, just good old fashion hard work and knowing that their purpose is to serve you!
I had the pleasure of joining the whole crew for lunch…what a great team…what nice people! I’m looking forward to my next visit!
Upcoming Events and NOTAM!
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As many of you are already aware, AirVenture 2010 (OSHKOSH) is less than a week away followed by the IPMS-USA Nationals in Phoenix, Arizona. This means that Hawkeye’s Hobbies will be suspending order fulfillment operations temporarily while I attend these events. Orders received after Friday, July 23 will not be filled until after August 10th. So get your orders in NOW!
Though AirVenture doesn’t officially kick off until Monday, July 26, there will be a special ceremony to dedicate the newly created “Little Wings-Big Dreams” scale modeling exhibit Sunday evening. Several of my models are a part of this wonderful exhibit which I posted previously. Recently two more were added, my Rocket Rod and a Graf Zeppelin. I’ll be posting up some images from the event as part of my coverage of AirVenture.
This year my friend and owner of Draw Decal, Greg Drawbaugh will be spending several days here with us again to attend AirVenture. You can bet Greg will be doing as he has in past visits, documenting aircraft markings in preparation for future decal offerings. So if there are any specific aircraft you want to see decals for, comment to this post and I will share those requests with him.
AirVenture winds down Sunday, August 1st but my activities don’t stop there. Monday I’ll be boarding a flight to Kansas City to spend a couple days at Sprue Brothers Models and my friend Gordon Kwan. Sprue Brothers is both a customer and client of ours, so my visit is a working visit…but I think we’ll find some time for fun too!
The two of us had a great time at Columbus, Ohio last year while attending the IPMS-USA Nats, so we thought we’d do it again this year too! While at the Nats we are going to take in the tour of the Pima Air Museum and AMARC on Thursday. I’ve flown over Tucson while on active duty, but never got to spend any time there. During our time at the Nats we’re both looking forward to seeing old friends as well as meeting new ones. So be sure if you see us, introduce yourself!
Xuron Corp is preparing to ship the new 9180ET Professional PE Scissors to distributors and dealers in the next couple of weeks. I should have production samples with me at the Nats, so you folks will be able to get a hands on look at them. You can see more about these in a soon to be released video here on the Squawkbox.
If you find yourself needing any of our products and need them NOW! don’t forget that they can be purchased from both Sprue Brothers and MidTenn Hobbies.
Videos! Do you like them? What tips, techniques and topics do you want to see covered? Comment on this post or drop me a note.
Enjoy your summer! But be sure to find time to do some scale modeling too!
NOTAM=Notice To Airman or in this situation-Notice To All Modelers!
Attracting Flies or Hobby Manufacturers
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Having a company name such as Hawkeyes Hobbies to most would probably make one think…hobby shop. Well its true many do at first glance think Hawkeye’s Hobbies is just that, a hobby shop not a manufacturer, but that is not the topicof this post.
I know that I am not alone among others in this industry who are being bombarded by emails from manufacturers in China and other places along the Pacific rim that produce hobby related products. Many of these companies are now pitching their goods to the retailers direct even though they make these products under license for others, who in turn market and distribute them.
My best guess is that many a retailer who is working with tighter margins is looking at this as a golden and profitable opportunity. I can purchase direct with guaranteed express two day delivery, with a modest minimum order quantity and which will increase my profit margins considerably.
I know these companies are gleaning email addresses from organizational membership lists, subscription lists and online resources relating to hobby shops. Probably a few consumers are seeing these same emails, which if you have a credit card you too can order them for resale or as gifts for yourself or your family and friends. These companies just want your money!
The consequences of this are… But how many of you actually care? Are these companies violating any agreements, laws or trade regulations or are they just savvy and hungry because they are not getting enough satisfaction by doing business as usual? If the status quo isn’t working, one must find solutions or suffer. Seems they have found a solution, marketing to the lowest level circumventing their distributors or those who they produce products for under agreements or licenses.
There is something to be said for local manufacturing of a product, versus outsourcing to overseas vendors. You have greater control of what that (outsourced) vendor is doing behind your back. Creates jobs within ones community, region, state and homeland.
While you ponder this in your mind, I’ll continue to mull over whether or not I want to purchase a certain miniature RC helicopter for a quarter of what I can source it for through a local distributor/retailer…hey that’s two for the price of one!
Now in all honesty I won’t order from that China based company, instead I’ll support a business within my own country’s borders. Why? Because it puts money in our economy, keeps people employed and who knows they might the favor by purchasing my products because I decided to do the right thing!
