Hearthlist Digest #106 - Tuesday, February 10, 1998 Advocacy project by John Gulland <[email protected]> Request for assistance by John Crouch <[email protected]> HON buys Aladdin Steel by Craig Issod <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: Advocacy project From: John Gulland <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 22:40:57 -0400 Hello everyone, A small group of us have been working for a couple of years on a project to promote the merits of woodburning. The www.wood-heat.com web site and the modest Clearing the Air About Wood Heating brochure were the first outputs from the effort. The project has been raised to a new level and we will be unveiling some pretty slick materials at the Expo in St. Louis. There will just be samples available there, but we are confident that some distributors will get on board and act as distributors of the project's components. We are also looking forward to the participation of our manufacturers and trade associations. All the materials are designed specifically to help specialty retailers get out the good word about wood in their areas. Since nobody is in charge and we don't have a benifactor with really deep pockets, we hope that retailers and others will see the potential and kick in a modest amount for their orders to help us finance reprints. The 'we' in all this is an informal coalition of people who share the belief that responsible wood burning is appropriate and desirable. The poster, brochures and media kit that make up the project will not be owned by anybody. We hope that everyone with an interest will take ownership of them and use them for all they are worth. We are still working on the various components, but thought you might be interested in having a peek at how they are shaping up. Here is the URL for the draft poster: http://www.wood-heat.com/poster.htm Here is the URL for the draft brochure. It is a huge file, so you'll have to wait to see it, but I think your patience will be rewarded. http://www.wood-heat.com/brochure.htm Our coalition is growing and we'd like you to be part of it. As we get closer to the Expo, we'll have more information for you. Regards, John This is for business: http://www.gulland.ca This is for pleasure: http://www.wood-heat.com
(back) Subject: Request for assistance From: John Crouch <[email protected]> Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 15:36:04 -0400 From: John Crouch, HPA To: All Hearthlist members Re: The computer lab at EXPO This year the HPA's "computer lab" will be on the Trade Show Floor, which will significantly increase its visibility. <underline>That's the good news</underline>. The ...'other' news, is that we don't yet have enough folks lined up as volunteer hosts. As Uncle Sam used to say... <color><param>FFFF,0000,0000</param><bigger><bigger>We Need <underline>You</underline>! </bigger></bigger></color> The real point of the computer lab is to create a low threat environment where folks who are ashamed to admit they still don't have one, and don't really even know how to turn one on (let alone use it) can sit down a play with a PC. Oh we will have a few goodies there, (for the hosts or anyone else to play with). Sue has gotten a commitment from Microsoft and Adobe to send us some stuff, and we will have both PC's and Mac's. (No NT this year, that was a little ahead of ourselves at last years lab). But the real goal is VERY low key, familiarization, and building confidence and courage: helping our brothers and sisters who have not yet gotten started, to GET STARTED. One of the key's is to have hosts. Not necessarily hosts who are super experts, but host who are willing to share their own journey into this new technology, and are comfortable admitting the limits of their knowledge. SO... Sign Up! Retailers, Reps, Sweeps, Manufactures, EVERYBODY. Two hour time blocks are preferred, but we will take one hour commitments. We are especially interested in the afternoons, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In fact, working backwards: Friday Saturday Sunday 3-5pm 1-3pm 11-1pm 9-11am Please volunteer, by E-mail, directly to me, and include your name address and phone number if it is not already in your signature. Thanks, see you in St. Louis! John Crouch, HPA
(back) Subject: HON buys Aladdin Steel From: Craig Issod <[email protected]> Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 15:51:11 -0400 Monday February 9, 1:19 pm Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: HON Industries Inc. HON INDUSTRIES (Heatilator.Heat n Glo, Etc) Announces Plans to Acquire Aladdin Steel Products MUSCATINE, Iowa, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- HON INDUSTRIES Inc. (Nasdaq: HONI - news) today announced its Hearth Technologies Inc. subsidiary signed an agreement to acquire the assets of Aladdin Steel Products Inc. Aladdin is a manufacturer of wood-, pellet- and gas-burning stoves and inserts with annual sales of approximately $16 million. The acquisition is expected to close mid-February 1998. While details of the transaction were not disclosed, HON INDUSTRIES plans to finance the purchase with existing lines of credit and cash. It is anticipated the acquisition will not be dilutive to earnings. ``The acquisition of Aladdin allows us to strengthen our position in the stove market,'' said Jack Michaels, HON INDUSTRIES' Chairman, President and CEO. ``Aladdin has a strong 'Quadra-Fire' brand name and an excellent reputation with customers. With this acquisition, we form a unique combination of products, brand names, technological resources and manufacturing diversity to attract new customers and grow the specialty retail segment of Hearth Technologies.'' Aladdin operates a manufacturing facility in Colville, Wash. Their high quality, technically superior stove products are sold through a dealer network in the specialty retail stove segment. A new division, Aladdin Hearth Products, has been formed under the Hearth Technologies operating company to manufacture and distribute the ``Quadra-Fire,'' ``Arrow'' and ``Dovre'' brand stoves. ``The Aladdin culture and values mirror those of HON INDUSTRIES. There are many opportunities to leverage our expertise in Rapid Continuous Improvement and create synergistic partnerships within Hearth Technologies,'' added Michaels. ``We are very excited about adding Aladdin to our family,'' said Dan Shimek, President of Hearth Technologies Inc. ``Hearth Technologies currently incorporates the best in innovative gas fireplace products and quality builder fireplaces. With the addition of Aladdin Hearth Products, we can now offer the best in wood-, pellet-, and gas-burning steel stoves as well.'' HON INDUSTRIES Inc. is the nation's largest producer of value-priced office furniture and the fourth largest manufacturer and marketer of office furniture in the U.S. It is also the nation's largest manufacturer and marketer of gas- and wood-burning fireplaces under its Hearth Technologies operating company. HON INDUSTRIES common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol HONI. SOURCE: HON Industries Inc. Craig Issod, webmaster HearthNet http://www.hearth.com