Hearthlist Digest #455 - Thursday, May 18, 2000
 
grills
  by "tony" <[email protected]>
Preparing for The Season - Plan Ahead NOW
  by "Sue Kalish" <[email protected]>
1999 HPA Retailer Benchmark Study
  by "Sue Kalish" <[email protected]>
 

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Subject: grills
From: "tony" <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 10:14:33 -0400
 
We're new to selling grills and my question is, do most dealers include
assembly and delivery in their price or do you make it an extra?
I'm referring to grills that sell for $1200-1900, but are competetive,
so there's only a 30% margin in it.
If I really put a price on assembly and delivery, it would be an extra
$100, but that sounds high to a customer.
Wold it be better to build it in the price?
Tony Palmer
 
 

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Subject: Preparing for The Season - Plan Ahead NOW
From: "Sue Kalish" <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 10:14:54 -0400
 
The month of May is quickly coming to a close -
which can only mean that The Season will be here
before you know it. Are your sales, customer
service and technical staff ready for the
onslaught of customers, customer inquiries and
installation and service demands?  Do you
anticipate hiring sales, customer service and
installation personnel this summer?  Don't forget
that the HEARTH Education Foundation has training
guidebooks, programs, and of course, certification
packages to help you get your staff ready.  The
topics of the guidebooks range from hiring to
managing service department to knowing how to
manage your finances or introductory information
on hearth products. Phil McMahan, Director of the
SE Regional Office of the Southern Building Codes
Congress International, and Dominic Sims,
Executive Director of the Palm Beach County
Planning, Zoning and Building Department (who
participates in national building code activities)
both said at the recent Executive Management
Conference for Installing Distributors, that their
building and code staffs love and prefer to work
with certified installers.  These officials know
that certified individuals have shown their
knowledge of the installation process by passing
the certification test.  If you want more
information on any of HEARTH's programs, email
[email protected], call 703-522-0086
(or 703-522-0086) or fax us your question,
703-522-0548.  Act now and be ready for fall!
 
 

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Subject: 1999 HPA Retailer Benchmark Study
From: "Sue Kalish" <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 10:15:10 -0400
 
Please don't let the survey materials for the 1999
HPA Retailer Benchmark Study get lost on your
desk!  This is an important membership benefit for
you to take advantage of .  Tom Pugh's (Lloyd F.
Pugh and Associates) sessions on strategic
analysis and competitive advantages for retailers
offered at EXPO have been the highest attended and
highest rated for the past two years.  Tom says,
"I strongly urge all retailers to take the time to
participate in this 1999 survey.  You will receive
invaluable information in the comprehensive report
to enable you to assess your business and improve
your profitability.  You will be able to identify
your store's strengths and weaknesses, and make
plans, if needed, to improve your performance.
The report provides industry benchmarks to help
you compare yourself to other hearth retailers
across North America.  It is well worth the time
to participate!" If you can't find your survey
package or have questions, call Don Johnson or Sue
at HPA, 703-522-0086.  Your store's data is kept
strictly confidential - you send your information
to Business Resource Services in Seattle.  No one
on the HPA staff has access to individual company
data.