Hearthlist Digest #564 - Sunday, February 11, 2001 "Lennox Hearth Product Shifting Focus" by "Rod Poplarchick" <[email protected]> Early Trade Show Report by "Ken Fulgione" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: "Lennox Hearth Product Shifting Focus" From: "Rod Poplarchick" <[email protected]> Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2001 21:18:01 -0500 Found some time to look through my mail and found the February issue of hearth & Home and the Cover story "Lennox Hearth Product Shifting Focus" caught my eye. As we all know Lennox has dropped the ball this year in their Customer service, Q/C, R & D , and Tech support program with their Earth and Whitfield division. All of us Earth stove dealers were used to having Excellent Tech support now you are lucky to get a call back within 2 weeks and just try to get parts for earth??? My lead installer spent many years working as a HVAC tech for a Lennox = HVAC dealer and could not believe the lack of Q/C we have had with the profile pellet stoves compared to the excellent service and quality of Lennox = HVAC products. You all know the list of problems with the profile Pellet stoves (they use us as R&D) I had to chuckle when I read that Lennox hearth Products Received GOOD HOUSEKEEPING SEAL OF APPROVAL! I hope they Shift their Focus to service soon get some help soon on the phones to give poor Retta a break..
(back) Subject: Early Trade Show Report From: "Ken Fulgione" <[email protected]> Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 12:12:26 -0500 I realize we will get lots of trade show reports on hearthlist > after the show.... In order to be the first to submit a report about the show >>> = for those you who will not be attending, I plagerized the following: The annual HPA trade show is always a worthwhile event >>> and for those = you that wont be able to attend this year >>> here are a few of the things you saw: * You saw some exhibits with no new products, where the salepeople just sat around looking bored, complainng the show was terrible * You visited some booths with lots of new products but the vendors were so swamped that getting your questions answered was near impossible * You saw some booths were sales peple were sitting around talking to each other and you walked on by. * You heard some buyers gripe that the show was so big they couldn't possibly cover it all. Then you saw them leave town a couple days early. You hung out to the end and really enjoyed the extra time and attention = you got on the last day.... even if your rep left town early. * You smilled when you saw a few folks gathering piles of literature and toting around large stacks of weighty paper >>> you know they will never find it all again when they get home >>> you assumed they were rookies. * You missed the seminar sessions this year, but found out later that you had already attended them the year before.... and they were good last year. * You felt better after networking with some fellow store owners because you either learned something from them or you realized they were struggling with the same problems as you are. * You paid too much for convention food * There were still no ICE Sculptures at the Travis party... and Lana Leisure did not make a celebrity guest appearance once again. * Everyone served the same hors doeuvres and you wondered why there was such a rude rush made on the shrimp plate again. * You heard some industry veterans complaining how the industry just isn't as friendly as it used to be. You also heard some new exhibitors = from other industries rave about how friendly the hearth industry is. * You heard at least one story from someone about the terrible time they had getting to the show. * You saw some small retailers treated rudely and cut short by an exhibitor when he spotted a chain buyer walk into his booth. You made a mental note to ignore that product line. * You still did not accidently walk into the Home Depot private showing area. .... and you missed THE party again. * You saw some new items you thought would give your store a boost and made a note to order them >>> you hoped they were not just a prototype = that might not make it to this seasons market on time ... if at all. * You heard about a new buying group that might help keep you competive and made a note to learn more about it. * You heard lots of talk about the new mergers and the changing face of the industry. You even heard some really interesting stuff at the HPA annual party >>> of course you don't know if it was true, but it was interesting >>> so you put a spin on it and passed it along. * You considered wearing a suit one day but decided that just having brought a tie in your luggage was enough. * You stopped by the burn booths a day early and were conivinced the show would never be ready in time. But it was. * You saw at least one frustrated vendor whose booth, or at least part of it, was lost in transit. * You ate some great grilled treats in the burn area..... * You found lots of products that will never show up in chain stores made by companies too small to deal with chain store demands. You made a note to support these lines. * You were bored at the HPA annual business meetings and skipped a few you should have attended * You know some of the ideas and products you learned about will give you a four month lead on your competitior who did not attend the show. Finally, you will arrive home with a whirl wind of things to do >> because nothing gets done except idle chat while you are gone... You will be tired from the travel, long hours and late night parties >>>and there will be a stack of work piled up for your to do..... You will need a vacation. And was it worth it > ABSOLUTELY. The knowledge gained and the new = products were important, but if you have been in this industry for any length of time, you saw old friends and made new ones >>> and you will get energized by it all once again. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ We have a shared suite at the show again this year >>> anyone for a = NetHeads Reunion Revisted ? Dragons Unite to Forge a Stronger Fire www.unitedbuyersgroup.com [email protected]