Hearthlist Digest #405 - Tuesday, February 1, 2000 Gas Log Questions by "Louis Tweed" <[email protected]> Who needs Y2K? by "CMazzeo" <[email protected]> Jamestown by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]> RE; Vent Free Logs service by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]> Outlook for coming year by "tony" <[email protected]> Hearth Technologies, Inc. Announces Plans to Expand by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: Gas Log Questions From: "Louis Tweed" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 21:12:03 -0500 Our store doesn't do much business in gas logs so this question may be very basic for some of you. I got a call from a woman who needed me to look at a set of ventless gas logs in her home. She has had another company's service man look at the logs / clean the soot off the logset, three times before I got there. Her complaints are: soot on the logs, headaches, dizziness, etc. Here is what I discovered: 1) No ID plate for the Gas logs so I have no idea what manufactor made the logs or tech specs. 2) The logs are installed in a zero clearance fireplace enclosure (manufactor unknown) 3) LP Gas pressure of 12" WC. 4) 24" Logset 5) Front Burner orifice #57, Rear burner orifice #55 (backwards?) Both air shutters are half open. 6) The flame lifts off the burners a little, until the burners warmup. 7) The fireplace interior measures 18 1/2" Wide at Rear 29 1/2" Wide at Front 14 1/2" Deep 18 1/2" Tall (isn't this too small for a 24" Logset?) Any help would be appreciated. Without the ID tag I have no idea where to start. Louis Tweed Mace Energy Supply, Inc. [email protected]
(back) Subject: Who needs Y2K? From: "CMazzeo" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 21:12:33 -0500 who needs Y2K when OPEC can double heating oil prices in Maine in a month? Current prices $1.58/$1.90 a gallon. Last fall oil was advertised at $.65. Charlene Mazzeo
(back) Subject: Jamestown From: "Craig Issod" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 21:23:17 -0500 Is Hi-Tech stoves, makers of Jamestown pellet, still in business? I don't see them in the HPA CD guide. ------------------------------------------------------ Craig Issod HearthNet at http://www.hearth.com [email protected] Everything your Hearth Desires ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
(back) Subject: RE; Vent Free Logs service From: "Craig Issod" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 21:32:16 -0500 Louis, in most (if not all) cases, vent free appliances are not supposed to be adjusted at all in the field. This means that cleaning, checking of the log position and access piping are really the only things you cna fiddle with. If the customer does not know who they purchased the thing from, then I'm afraid you are as a loss...and it sounds like they surely should not use them. When our store had bad vent free logs, we simply returned them to the manufacturer. One of my reps told me a story about the "great wall of returns" he spotted at one of the plants. Apparently, the cost of checking and repairing these is higher than just making them from scratch! ------------------------------------------------------ Craig Issod HearthNet at http://www.hearth.com [email protected] Everything your Hearth Desires ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
(back) Subject: Outlook for coming year From: "tony" <[email protected]> Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 08:58:02 -0500 Y2k had absolutely ZERO effect on my sales. I'm in the middle of a capital city and nobody burns wood, just gas. Everybody was too busy with other things to buy into the Y2k hype. I did lose a few sales to the internet however, and I definitely see that a threat to future sales this year. A business that sets up to sell hearth related products through the internet just doesn't have the same overhead as a brick and mortar store and can afford to sell at a low margin. I'm not interested in competing on that level and so, sales will be lost. Otherwise, products that MUST be properly installed and serviced continue to sell strong. Tony Palmer
(back) Subject: Hearth Technologies, Inc. Announces Plans to Expand From: "Craig Issod" <[email protected]> Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 11:43:51 -0500 Hearth Technologies, Inc. Announces Plans to Expand into Hearth Products Distribution Minneapolis, MN, Hearth Technologies, Inc., today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of American Fireplace Company (Thulman Eastern and Hearth & Home), Allied Fireside, Inc., (Fireside Corner and Allied Fireplace), Madison Fire Place, Inc., The Minocqua Fireplace Company and Fireplace & Spa, Inc. These companies, which operate in 13 states and have a combined sales of nearly $200 million, will be joined to form Hearth Services Inc., a subsidiary of Hearth Technologies, Inc. American Fireplace Company (AFC) and Allied sell, install, and service a broad range of gas- and wood-burning fireplaces as well as fireplace mantels, surrounds, facings and other accessories. Together AFC and Allied have a leading presence in all three of the primary distribution channels for hearth products: builder, retail and dealer. AFC and Allied have developed strong relationships with leading local, regional and national homebuilders, and have built a network of 20 retail showrooms and approximately 1,000 independent dealers. AFCs operations are focused in the Mid-Atlantic region, and Allieds operations are focused in the Midwest. Dan Shimek, President of Hearth Technologies, says, This close relationship with distribution allows Hearth Technologies to leverage its strong brand names, share best practices across divisions as well as with our existing distribution alliances, and grow share in a profitable industry. By leveraging the first hand access to consumer wants and needs with the creative possibilities of innovative technology, this alliance will make Hearth Technologies even more customer driven. The existing top level management of the acquired companies have agreed to remain in place and the new entity, Hearth Services Inc. (HSI), will report to Dan Shimek. The newly formed division, HSI, will be managed as an independent division, much the same as the current Hearth Technologies divisions (Heat-N-Glo, Heatilator and Aladdin). This strategic expansion, through the development of long-term alliances with distribution partners, enables us to use the expertise from both manufacturing and distribution to help us better understand the challenges of and offer possible solutions for all of our distributors, says Shimek. Hearth Services Inc. will offer a broad range of products and services, including education and training, expanded installation programs (including extended warranty, service and finishing products), and excellent customer support. Shimek continues, Utilizing and communicating the best practices programs with all of our loyal Hearth Technologies customers will be critical in leading the fireplace industry into a bright and prosperous future. Kirk Sorensen, speaking for the Hearth Services group says, We have worked closely with the people at Hearth Technologies for several years and we feel very comfortable about this alliance. The Hearth Technologies group is compatible with our culture and values and the synergies will help Hearth Technologies to continue to take the leadership role in the hearth industry. The acquisition is expected to close by early March. While details of the transaction were not disclosed, HON INDUSTRIES, plans to finance the purchase with existing lines of credit. It is anticipated the acquisition will not be dilutive to earnings. ### For more information, contact: Sharla R. Wagy 612-985-6000 Vice President, Marketing Hearth Technologies, Inc. 20802 Kensington Blvd. Lakeville, MN 55044