Hearthlist Digest #419 - Monday, February 28, 2000
 
Re: Nominations
  by <[email protected]>
Re: Ethics
  by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
 

(back)
Subject: Re: Nominations
From: <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 21:14:44 -0500
 
I nominate the EarthStove for the company with the most soul... They =
always
had the right attitude in my dealings with them.
 
Lets hope they can teach that to Whitfield and Hearth- whatever they are
now....
 
Dan Hays
Comfort One
 
 
 

(back)
Subject: Re: Ethics
From: "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 21:15:01 -0500
 
>Hearthlist Digest #418 - Sunday, February 27, 2000
>
>Sv: Ethics in the Hearth Business
>
>Subject: Sv: Ethics in the Hearth Business
>From: "toftegaards ovne" <[email protected]>
>Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 11:34:26 -0500
>
> >From Nicholas Taylor   [email protected]
>the only possible reason for not doing so
>is to make some quick money and lose our reputation and sense of self
>worth, tell me , am I some kind of dinasaur , is there nobody out
>there making business ethically, I hope I am wrong...
 
The sad truth, Nicholas, is that many US and Canadian Businesses are 
driven by the SHORT TERM quest for profits and shareholder return. 
This business did not start out that way. Most of the US Hearth 
Industry was founded by people who really had their heart and soul in 
the business. They worked long and hard to create good products and 
companies that were well regarded.
 
The most visible company in the industry was vermont castings, who 
enjoyed a special relationship both with their customers and with the 
dealers....
 
But Vermont Castings got into financial trouble and the original 
owners lost the business. A series of banks and "turnaround 
specialists" took control of the company, and strived to get the most 
financial gain from the name brand, with little emphasis on the 
continuing relationships. Many feel it's gotten even worse with the 
current owners.
 
Some hearth companies were drawn by the profits that they thought 
would appear when they sold to the large "big box" stores and to 
individual heating contractors. In most cases, these "new" markets 
did not pan out, so some companies are now in a bad position and 
trying to go back to the smaller hearth retail stores.
 
On the bright side, there are still some companies in the US that are 
product and people centered. A number of smaller companies, such as 
Heatech, Innovative Hearth Products, Thelin Stoves and others are 
trying to maintain the personal relationships that were normal in the 
"old" days.
 
Having done business with European manufacturers in the past, I know 
what you are talking about when you speak about the sense of 
self-worth and the future. It is sad but true that many, if not most, 
North American businesses do not place "self-worth" , "ethics" and 
"long term" high up on their mission statement.
 
There are, of course, exceptions to the rule, and we do have some 
fine companies in the business, but very few are customer driven.
 
Maybe we need some educational sessions at our trade show on "ethical 
business".