Hearthlist Digest #276 - Sunday, March 14, 1999 topics... subjects... rants and raves..... by "Keith" <[email protected]> FPI Closes Waterford NH Facility by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: topics... subjects... rants and raves..... From: Keith <[email protected]> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 15:24:37 -0400 ok... Craig... it looks like you asked for an avalanche of responses. we'll see what happens... but it seems like there are certainly lots of "lurkers" out there... checking out the postings but not contributing.... in response to your comments about people not contributing to the list.... I do have one thing to say... several times we have contributed to the list.... and have received virtually no response to the questions asked... after one or two times.... it seems that maybe many "members" are afraid to voice their opinions... who knows maybe we are all too busy at times... or maybe our questions/comments don't warrant a response.... so.... to stir things up a bit.... something I seem to be good at... I'll throw some questions/topics out there... I like to be candid and honest.... sometimes bordering on the fringes of unacceptable.. but that is what makes us unique in our approach to our customers and the industry.... so why not? Question - Being that most of the people that contribute to this list are retailers.... and being that we are independant reps... I have some questions... questions we have asked retailers in our area... but questions that have not been addressed to a national/international (sorry Canada) audience.... Fact - Independant manufacturer's reps are a dying breed... Fact - Manufacturers have chosen to employ "factory" reps for a variety of reasons... lower the expenditure for sales agents... and the ability to control the reps in the field... Question - Do retailers find that the quality of these "factory" reps surpass the quality of the independants...? Does anybody care? Fact- The industry is maturing.... consolidation/alternative distribution/etc. Fact- The growth of the industry is well documented.... gas is big business... Fact- Specialty retailers bitch about the changes - consolidation/alternative distribution.... Question - Does this/has this really affected your business as a specialty retailer....? How many specialty retailers have been negatively affected by the changes in distribution points that have been developed in the last few years... It is easy for a few vocal people to talk about this... but in reality... how has it affected your business...? Fact - Wood stoves have been declining for quite some time... this year changes the game though.. Fact - Pellet product had its little growth spurt... and now seems to be in real trouble with the Y2K mentality.. Fact - Gas is in and has been in the major growth mode... Question - Where do most retailers think their business will be in 5 years.... We hear lots of predictions from the "experts" on what will happen to the hearth industry over the next let's say 5 years.... but not much opinion is expressed from the front line - the retailers on where they think the business will be in 5 years...? Fact - The biggest topic discussed with us by our customers... retailers and distributors.... is - where is the loyalty from their suppliers... ? why do they always seem to be in a reactive mode.... as opposed to proactive mode.... Fact - Companies that have prioritized customer service... marketable product (the right product at the right time)... customer friendly programs.... and a general mentality that promotes a "team" player attitude have shown enormous growth - (Travis, Jotul, Heat n Glo, etc) Fact - Companies that operate out of their own little "box"... that don't stay in touch with what the market wants. i.e. what the retailers want... since ultimately they have a huge contribution to what is sold... have seen serious decline....or at least a decline in mentality about their product... which of course will affect sales in the long run... (never mind.... not a good idea to mention these guys) Question - What do retailers have to say about their experience of the change in mentality of the manufacturers that supply them...? Do they see the big guys (Majestic, Hon, Lennox, Desa, etc) losing touch with the market and not meeting their needs.... or do they see these companies as the true "professionals" with all the abilities, resources, etc to meet the challenges facing our industry over the next several years.... So.... again.... to end another one of my long winded emails... I do have to say that we are proud to work in this industry... while this business does fall in the category of any other business with questionable business practices, lack of ethics, etc.... we think that the vast majority of our customers are essentially good people... and that there is a sense of comraderie that doesn't necessarily exist in all industries.... while we have fallen victim to the typical scenario of reps that build a territory from nothing to big numbers only to have that business snatched away from you in an instant... while the retailers have experienced the same exact thing.. take a product that nobody ever heard of... build it up to respectable numbers.... only to to find that your competitor or local home depot now has the same product... we still enjoy the business for what is essentially is... alternative heat and decorative hearth products.... hopefully this will stir up some activity on this list prior to the show in Phoenix... if not... I give up... this is my third and last attempt at this.... Keith Slattery Manufacturer's Rep
(back) Subject: FPI Closes Waterford NH Facility From: Craig Issod <[email protected]> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 15:24:37 -0400 A recent news item on the list mentioned that FPI (Regency) had purchased and/or partnered with Waterford stoves of Lebanon, NH. The news item stated that FPI intended to keep things them same at the current NH factility. However, confirmed reports now indicate that FPI has/is closing the NH facility and laying off the entire staff. New England, once the home base of all things cast-iron, appears to be losing it's stove manufacturering business base as manufacturers consolidate and grow. ------------------------------------------------------ Craig Issod HearthNet at http://www.hearth.com [email protected] Everything your Hearth Desires ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------