The Pacer Wire

Factory Direct Outlet Mall

 

      Do you remember when Outlet Malls were a new concept? About 20 years ago, retail establishments that we were all used to seeing in our local shopping malls decided to sell the irregular or overstocked products at one location: The Outlet Mall. The consumer would experience savings on the same name brands they coveted at the regular mall by visiting these "Authorized Factory Outlets." So these Outlets began  popping up everywhere. As of this post there are at least 2 very big set of Outlet malls located less than an hour from where I sit.

      As is typical of great ideas taken too far, the savings became less and less but the exposure and availability of the stores increased to any of the savvy shoppers who hunt for their bargains. While I will not name any retail store names, the same clothing store that can be found in most malls also has an outlet store at every outlet mall. This weekend, while traveling out of town for a wedding, my wife and I visited an outlet mall. I purchased a nice ball cap that was truly a bargain, but then overcome by thirst purchased a lemonade that was less than fiscally responsible. I figure it evened out. For the most part though there were not too many great deals to be had.

      Well Pacer is pleased to announce our online Factory Outlet that you will see considerable savings. This to me seems more in lines with the original idea of a Factory Outlet. We manufacture wire and cable. We sell in standard put ups our various wire and cable to customers. There is always shorts left over or mistakes where we have extra wire with a colored tracer or stripe applied. Rather than throw these in the scrap bin, these extras might be exactly what someone is looking for.

     When going to outlet store, you might have an idea of what you want but you also need to have an open mind when thumbing through the mark down racks. The same principle applies here at Pacer. Check our outlet store often and see how it may change from week to week. In addition to the wire and cable we make, we also distribute many electrical components. We might end up having excess stock of a breaker or a switch. You might not need it now, but could you use it in the future?

      It is kind of neat to see an Outlet store that is truly factory direct, and not some over marketed store front that operates and prices their items the same as their retail locations. Where is the advantage of that?

      Do you have any Outlet mall horror stories you would like to share? Please do not name any specific names and keep the stories clean, but we would enjoy hearing your thoughts in the comment section. 

      To visit our "Outlet Mall" please visit the following link: http://www.pacergroup.net/Categories2.aspx?Category=9008624a-1d43-46a3-84ef-e24b92690b88. You can also become a fan of Pacer on Faceook or -Follow Pacer on Twitter.

Battery Cable Store is Open for Business

 

In W.P. Kinsella's book "Field of Dreams" which was later made a movie starring Kevin Costner, one of the famous lines was, "If you build it, they will come." This saying was the driving force for the protagonist, Roy, to build his baseball park in the middle of an Iowa cornfield. It was a pretty good movie and a better book. Isn't that usually the case? Well, here at Pacer, we have been slowly building our website and our product offering in hopes that people will visit in droves. We have a long way to go but we are making progress. Our newest section contains pre-made battery cable assemblies.

            As soon as we turned the "Open" sign on in this battery cable store we began to get more calls and orders for folks needing to upgrade or update their cables on their boats, cars, trucks and forklifts. As one of our newer customers commented to me, "this is exactly what I was looking for. No more excess pieces, no more failed crimps." That pretty much sums it up.

            One of our new customers had us make a battery cable for his 1949 Ford Woody. He was so excited about getting exactly what he was looking for without making a compromise. He also told me that he was going to the "World of Woody Rally" in which he could not wait to tell all of his fellow "Woody" enthusiasts about where he purchased his battery cables.

            On a typical day, our battery cable department makes anywhere from 400-800 battery cable assemblies. Often times they are fulfilling orders for any of our OEM customers for their custom assemblies. They are also ensuring that we have adequate stock of the battery cables listed on the site. One of the advantages our cables have is superior flexibility. We use very fine stranded copper conductors in our cable, and that flexibility helps when installing in a variety of spaces.

When we get an opportunity to make a custom assembly for a special antique vehicle or for a race car, the guys get excited. Perhaps it is the typical monotony of doing the same thing over again and when they get to do something different and know about where it will go, they enjoy the possibilities. I guess we all do in a way. When much of your market is recreation or industrial applications, the little kid inside still wants to build in the sandbox, but with full sized earth movers. Or with antique cars, race cars, all terrain vehicles or, well you get the idea. Remember we don't get to ride too many snowmobiles here in Florida. We can however make the battery cables for them so that they perform at their best up north.  

           

Economic Wake up or a Brief Business Blip

 

        You just can't tell anymore. Whatever is going on with the economy, which it seems is currently positive for the most part, remains a mystery. In every sector there is reason for optimism but also reason for caution and treading lightly. Being a superior wire and cable manufacturer we are keenly aware of the movements of copper. Copper, like gold, silver or platinum can and should be classified as a "precious" metal. All you need to know to about copper in order to classify it as a precious metal is that over the past few years it has been a big target for thieves. In new home construction, at least back when there was new home construction, the thieves would rip out all the copper fittings from the plumbing work and all of the electrical wiring and sell it to scrap metal yards. When prices were hovering around $4.00/ lb this made copper an easy target for criminals. Most authorities began working directly with the scrap metal guys to alert them to suspicious transactions have for the most part stemmed this crime wave.

            Copper is still very volatile. In the last month we have seen it move almost $.50/ lb, while the monthly average has stayed relatively consistent. What does this mean? There are so many factors that play a role in the view of our economy. Natural disasters such as flooding, earthquakes and volcanic ash can and will influence our economic outlook. Man made disasters such as an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or an uncertain election result will also send the markets into frenzy. The stability of the US dollar along with international currency such as the Euro influences investors as well.  In our current media mad world, news from all over the world reaches us in light speed. Social networks such as Twitter and Facebook give the opportunity to be the news source for the user(s). Many people hear about breaking news from Twitter, as strange but true phenomenon. The problem with Social Networks is that one must take each bit of new news in its proper context with a grain of salt because reliability can be an issue. 

            So what does all of this mean to us? It means there is no clear answer or path to take. It does seem like business has certainly improved from 2009. Hopefully this is one sign of more economic improvement. One thing we can learn from history is: Who knows what the future holds? If you have any comments, theories or thoughts on the improving business climates, please share.

Is It That Time of Year Again – Finally?

By: Steve O'Dea, Pacer Solutions Expert

It has been too long since I have last posted a blog for you, my trusted blog readers. I will work to get back to a regular schedule of posting articles on a weekly basis. I have a few thoughts I would like to share.

First and foremost, pollen is absolutely brutal this time of year in Southwest Florida. Because of our colder than average winter temperatures, it took longer for the oak trees to bloom and when they did all varieties are blooming at one time. My car when clean is a nice burgundy or maroon color, now it is greenish. Everything has a pretty thick layer of green dust attached to it from the oak tree pollen blooms. Patio furniture, cars, grills and anything that stays outside is covered in a pollen dust blanket. My nose and lungs are not happy and frankly I have not had the allergic reaction like this since I moved here in 1996. The nose is letting the world know its thoughts by becoming somewhat of a manufacturing plant. My lungs just wheeze which might be worse.

Second and something a little more cheerful; business is picking up everywhere. Hopefully this is not a temporary occurrence this year and it sustains through the summer. Only time will tell but I feel that this winter caused a serious cabin fever epidemic that only the spring and nice weather can cure. The collective relief of a population emerging from hibernation is tangible. Now it is time to go out and get your spring and summer toys out and enjoy this great time of year.

Lastly and perhaps most important is that Mother's day is just a month away. This fact makes me realize two things: First, I cannot believe how quickly 2010 is moving and second, that I want to make sure that May 9th is a special day for all of the mothers in my life. I hope you do the same for the special ones in your life.

March Madness is Happening Now

By Steve O'Dea - Pacer Solutions Expert

I would love to talk about college basketball and how the brackets are going to shake out and then subsequently be dismantled by Cinderella State University, the fighting Glass Slippers, but I will leave that to the experts. What I am going to talk about is the scramble to find parts to fix our warm weather equipment in order to be ready for when the warmer weather actually hits. Cabin fever has reached full pandemic in the winter of 2010 and the overwhelming desire to see some good weather and get out and enjoy it is clearly evident from the voices and faces of most of the people we talk to. Now everyone is working to make sure that their toys and equipment are ready for the good times ahead.

As most of us are people who work 50 hours a week or more, the weekends are more and more cherished. The last thing anyone wants to do is waste that time fixing equipment, keeping you from your favorite past time. Use what few weekends you have left before the weather really kicks in to get all of your favorite tools of the trade back up to competition ready.Here's an idea...go online and save time AND money by ordering quick and easy!

Depending on where in the country, or in the world for that matter, you are located, the weather will get better sooner than you think. For some folks you have a few months, but for others, like us in Florida, the mercury is beginning to rise in our thermometers and getting out and enjoying our outdoor pursuits is at the top of our priority lists.

So get ready and do not wait for better temperatures. Instead, prepare now and be ready for the nicer weather. The weekend warriors only get 104 Saturdays and Sundays per year and not all of those days are chamber of commerce brochure days. If you get 25% of those days as good weather days that only means 26 days to "play" with. You know something always comes up on many of those that prevent you from spending your time doing your favorite activity.

Use your time now to get ready and hopefully your "honey-do" list does not grow too out-of-hand to take more precious days away. In the meantime, stay safe and be warm.

Can Competitors Be Customers?

This seems like a dumb question. Of course competitors cannot be customers because, they compete against us. We need to find people who can purchase our goods and services in order to help them and their business. Why would we help our competitor's business? After all they are trying to beat us, win our business and grow faster than we are. This is true but if you think about it no two businesses are exactly alike. Maybe there is room to help them and grow your business after all.

The cliché (and you know how I love clichés) says, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." This is great business advice. "Know your enemies as well or better than you know yourself," is another cliché that is also apropos. I feel the best way to analyze both your company and your competition is by doing a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for "Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats." This form of analyzing forces you to be honest with yourself regarding your company. One cannot just say, "we are the best at making superior wire and cable," but you have to define why. Other characteristics that you need to look at are customer service, lead times, pricing, product breadth and financial stability. Hopefully these are in the Strengths category, but if they go in the Weaknesses category then you know what areas you need to improve upon. Doing a SWOT on your own company is difficult but it can be very revealing.

I would suggest using a team of employees to collaborate on the analysis as you will be able to get a better, more accurate perspective of your company and how your employees will be able to give their (hopefully) honest opinions of where your company strengths and weaknesses are. Doing this exercise can also give you a new respect for your competition. If one of their strengths is customer service, then you should respect that. After all, great service should be something we all strive for.

Once you feel you have detailed yours and your competitor's SWOT, find areas that they are lacking, specifically in a product or service you might be able to provide to them. In the current economic climate companies need to think of new and less traditional ways of growing our businesses. Who knows, maybe our competition will have something to help your business too. I don't recommend sharing customer information with one another but providing reciprocal services can create a win-win for both companies. So next time you curse that competitor of yours for stealing the business (being out-sold), then perhaps the next course of action should be to perform a SWOT on both your company and theirs. This could help give you reason as to why you were out-sold and give you the knowledge to make sure it does not happen again.

Give Us Your Tips, We’ll Give You A Free Tool

Wouldn't It Be Great to Have a Tips & Tricks Resource for Everything?

By: Steve O'Dea - Pacer Solutions Expert

During my weekend warrior battles with either that over grown invasive vine that has overtaken my fence or with that door in the garage that never closes properly I am often in the position to "figure it out" myself. Typically this is not a problem and the jobs I tackle are well within my limited expertise and require more grunt than grey matter. I will however, without fail, find the most inefficient ways to complete the job. This may mean making a few extra trips to the hardware store or several trips back and forth to the tool bench or my work shed. I am constantly reminded be either my own actions or my wife, that my efficiency is not the best. I will complete the job, but in the time it takes me I could have completed two.

I would probably not only get more completed both in volume and in degree of difficulty if I had a "Tips & Tricks" resource close at hand. I might be able to have the proper tools for the job readily available before I start the project. This would save me untold trips to the hardware store and take much of the guess work out. Look, I watch the DIY network and HGTV a lot around the house and many times those shows give me the inspiration and ideas for the next project. The tips they give are usually pretty good, but their 30 minute program cannot do justice the amount of time I need to complete such a project. The internet is filled with ideas, lessons and instruction on how to do just about everything. Most of the time, when I am knee deep into a "way over my head" project, I cannot just go search the internet. Google would come back with "call a professional" as my search results.

I know most of you are not like me but rather have the experience, smarts and skills to get the job done right the first time. We could really use your help. I don't mean for you to come over and fix that horrible noise my disposal makes, although if you are free...What we really need your help for is to submit tips and tricks you have learned that we might pass along to others who (like me) seem to find the most difficult and inefficient way to complete that item off their "honey do" list. Submit any ideas to sknott@pacergroup.net. If we use your ideas in our "Tips & Tricks" page we will give you a FREE Klein Crimp Tool with your next Pacer purchase! People need help and a resource (well at least I do) and hopefully Pacer Group's Tips & Tricks page can be another resource to aid in an unfamiliar project.

 

At Pacer, Customer Service is Priority One

Simple Business Solution: Improve the Areas You Can Control

 Small businesses, as well as most large corporations cannot control what the politicians in Washington are doing or not doing for us. We certainly cannot control what is happening with the starched collars on Wall Street. We cannot control who calls us, emails us or who walks in our doors and inquires about our products or services. What we can control is how we treat our customers and prospects. Good customer service is a simple concept that is sadly not utilized to its full potential in today's companies. The bar has steadily been lowered regarding what is considered good quality customer service. Fortunately for most small businesses, this represents a low cost, high return opportunity for improvement. Here are a few ideas that can go a long way toward raising your company's reputation for high quality customer service:

• Treat every customer or prospect as an individual and work to discover their needs.
• Rather than sell your products to a prospect or customer, help them to buy.
• Develop relationships with existing customers and get to know their businesses better. This will help you recommend products they are not currently purchasing from you that may help improve their production, quality, costs or all of the above.
• The next person who walks in your door or calls your business could be your largest customer or prospect, so treat them as such.

As you implement these basic customer service tips, think of even more, and ask your customers how YOU can improve for THEM. These ideas are fundamentally basic, common sense ideas, but the discipline to implement them and make them an everyday mindset is the challenge. Luckily, this is a challenge that, if overcome, can boost sales, improve your company's reputation, and keep customers coming back - all without a dime spent from your marketing budget!