The Pacer Wire

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        As a child of the 1970’s and 1980’s I have noticed a huge difference between then and now.  Many of the everyday tasks that we do now and the technology required for these tasks have absolutely no resemblance of comparable tasks we did 20-30 years ago. Social networking was hoping on your bike and riding to the corner street light to meet your friends. Gaming consisted of “cops and robbers” or “hide and seek” outdoors, in the heat without the aid of anything electronic. Sandlot baseball, football or dodge-ball games were commonplace. TV had 3 channels and one really snowy one. So much has changed, and that is great. I don’t want people to think that I am a guy who walked 20 miles in the snow, uphill both ways to school everyday. I did walk to school but it was primarily level ground and was only a 5 minute walk. I had it pretty good and you know what – I still do. It is just so different now.

            With Facebook, Twitter and the many other social networking sites exploding in the last few years, people (and companies) are either going to keep up or be left behind. You don’t have to join these to be successful, but with new generations entering the business world who have only known these networking sites we need to realize that these are not going away. YouTube is the same way. Sure you can watch people attempt (and fail) at jumping off a roof into a pool, or a clip of a skateboard accident that serves as a warning for anyone hoping to become a parent one day. It is also a great place for businesses. Video blogs and how to videos are important and new ways to touch your customers and prospects.

            Pacer, not to be outdone, has launched a YouTube page and we have our first video on the site. Christopher Carter here hosts that video and he did a great job in explaining a little about our company and our processes. We have very little experience on camera, and when my face inevitably makes up on YouTube for Pacer, you will see why. Our goal is to educate on how we are capable of helping you, your business or with your current project. Our goal is to have four or five of us from Pacer as your hosts for these very brief and informative videos. Our goal is to improve in the content and production quality so that you can lean on us as a trusted source for information both on our website and our YouTube page.

            We welcome constructive criticism from you so we can get better on each one. Please be warned though, my forehead will not get smaller but only bigger as I lose more hair every day. Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and you will see special offers in the near future. Since riding our bikes to the park will no longer bring us together, hopefully these social networks will.      

View our channel on YouTube here.

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.

 

Pacer Group and Our New Years Resolutions

By: Steve O'Dea - Pacer Solutions Expert

Upon closing our doors today we shall say farewell to 2009 and take a fond look back and think about our successes and our triumphs as well as our trials and defeats. Most people we ask to reminisce about the year have the same passionate feelings: Good Riddance! This past year was one of the toughest for just about anyone, besides those working for repossession companies. As business slowed and jobs were lost, those who kept their jobs needed to work harder with less time and resources. It was just a tough year.

So, let's turn our attention to the New Year, even the new decade! Turning the calendar over we have a chance to start anew. The health clubs love this time of year, so do the small prepared mail order meals that help retired football players lose all that weight they gained after their playing days. The programs to help people quit smoking also love this time of year. Unfortunately, by the first part of February most people have forgotten about their resolutions or are resigned to go back to their old habits. We are all guilty of this.

Here is an idea: How about setting S.M.A.R.T. goals? This cleaver acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. Using this practice to define your goals will help weed out the D.U.M.B. goals (by the way, I don't have a cleaver acronym for D.U.M.B. - perhaps you can post some ideas in the comment section for entertainment - please keep it clean). Let's take this one step at a time.

Specific goals: make sure that the goal setter is clear about their intentions. An example of an unspecific goal would be: "I'd like to lose some weight." To make it specific, put a number to it - 12 lbs, 20 lbs or whatever.

Measurable goals: This is important so you can not only track your progress but formulate a plan to get there. Many people want to lose weight, but how much weight?

Attainable goals: This sounds so basic but many times this is where we go south. Set goals within reason.

Relevant goals: This may take a little more thought. We all have areas we wish to improve and as such we should set our goals to help us do just that. If my customer base is really small then I will set goals to get new customers. Keep the goals relevant to what you are trying to ultimately do.

Timely goals: This may seem so simplistic but is typically overlooked and often harder to define. Before we lose weight we have to exercise and diet, so put a time frame on losing 3 lbs, then 5 lbs, then 10 lbs and so on. This gives your goal some deadlines and makes you accountable for them.

Now that you have the fancy acronym to help you set SMART goals, you should now communicate them so that someone else knows you set this goal and can stay on you to see them through. Better yet, trade your goals with someone so you can push each other and hold each other accountable. A goal without a plan is a simply a wish.

Pacer Group wishes all a very prosperous 2010! May all of your resolutions come true!

The Season For Giving...

By: Steve O'Dea - Pacer Solutions Expert

During this (politically correct statement warning) non-denominational wintertime holiday/winter solstice, we are often told that it is the season for giving. Everywhere we turn there is someone ringing a bell, asking for our spare change, and the Salvation Army is a good cause, so chances are we empty our pockets a few times during this season. When shopping for a gift for someone special in our life we will encounter a giving tree, perhaps "Toys For Tots" or another worthy charity that certainly deserves anything we can give. It is good practice to give what we can, when we can. There are many people who could use the help, especially children. There are few things more enjoyable than seeing a child's face light up when they open a gift that is just what they wanted or needed.

The mission of the Jeff Gordon Foundation is to support children battling cancer by funding programs that improve patients' quality of life, treatment programs that increase survivorship and pediatric medical research dedicated to finding a cure. In addition, the Foundation provides support to the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital in Concord, North Carolina, which serves children in the community by providing a high level of primary and specialty pediatric care. Pacer Group thinks this is a very worthy cause and have partnered with the Jeff Gordon Foundation to help raise funds by offering a give-away at the PRI Show 2009. This give-away includes an assortment of Jeff Gordon racing merchandise, including an autographed die cast model of Jeff Gordon's racecar. Pacer Group is requesting and matching a $1.00 donation for everyone that enters to win the give-away, while attending the PRI Show. My guess is that whoever wins this package will have that same bright-eyed look as the child receiving that special gift they always wanted!

We are also giving away a brand new RHINO^TM 5000 Professional labeling tool in another drawing. Labeling with the RHINO 5000 gives your installations a neat, finished look. Finally we are giving away a crimping tool for heat shrink terminals and a Master® UltraTorch® tool. These two additional giveaways do not require a $1.00 donation, but Pacer Group is donating $1.00 per entry in all of the drawings to the Jeff Gordon Foundation. These two tool give-aways are also available to those who cannot attend the PRI Show 2009 by signing up online (Pacer Group's PRI Give-Away).

Giving truly is more gratifying that receiving, unless of course you win something for free! By entering, we are all giving to a cause that helps children and their families who are battling a disease that continues to affect so many lives. Let us know your feedback or comments on this or any of our blog posts.