Hearthlist Digest #591 - Thursday, April 12, 2001 Diversity is not good for the HPA. Since when? by <[email protected]> New name by "The Meeker's" <[email protected]> Re: Reliance Board by "Phil" <[email protected]> (no subject) by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: Diversity is not good for the HPA. Since when? From: <[email protected]> Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 21:21:52 -0400 Craig, You appear to be against the HPA=92s increased diversity because of an alleged lack of benefits. The merging of the BBQ manufacturers association and the patio furniture retailers association with our large hearth products trade association (HPA) will clearly increase the HPA=92s diversity, it=92s strength and = size and make it more like what's going on in hearth retailing. This is actually a huge benefit to all HPA members. This merging with BBQ manufacturers and patio furniture retailers is just a continuation of the HPA=92s previous =93big tent=94, diversity commitment. About two years ago the HPA revised it=92s charter to include BBQ and outdoor room products, via a unanimous Board vote. Craig, you answered your own objection to the mergers when you said =93I fail to see the benefit to the industry as a whole=94. Our =93industry as a whole=94 has long ago become much more than just = hearth products. So then, just what is our industry today? I think our industry is best defined by what our retailers, manufacturers and trade association are now involved in. Our "industry" is now hearth, interlocked with counter seasonal products. Our "industry" is being defined more and more by what premium customers will buy from us, in addition to hearth products. We can=92t turn the clock back. Here=92s what our industry is doing these days: 1. A very high percentage of our retailers sell grills, outdoor products or patio furniture already. 2. Many hearth products manufacturers and distributors also sell outdoor room products. 3. Our HPA EXPO has included outdoor room products for a decade and it=92s a rapidly growing and profitable segment. 4. Our leading trade magazine is an amazingly successful and high quality product, in part because of it=92s great counter seasonal and outdoor room coverage. 5. Counter seasonal product diversity provides the critical cash flow for many retailers to stay in business. In fact, many of us would be out of business if were not for our counter seasonal business. To your argument that if we add grills, we should open the HPA doors to everybody else: 1. Spas and pools don=92t fit well in HPA because they already have a strong trade association. 2. HVAC has it=92s own associations. 3. Candles and nick nacks don=92t need a trade association. Our HPA now has the added advantage of attracting hundreds more buying entities from warm weather states where retailers sell lots of grills and patio stuff but only dabble in hearth. They have not been HPA members so far, but we now have a much better reason for them to join us. We should celebrate this new diversity and not be fearful that it will hurt us. The HPA=92s added strength gives them the opportunity to provide significant improvements in benefits to it=92s members. Benefits like providing a Public Relations Officer to promote our products in the mass media for the first time ever. Benefits like having a full time legal staff to improve our government relations efforts and to better defend ourselves. Let=92s hope that the HPA uses it=92s new strength wisely. Carter has been doing an exceptional job so far. Craig, we aint=92 just a bunch of them there stove guys no more. Roger Sanders Fireside Inc. Bend Oregon
(back) Subject: New name From: "The Meeker's" <[email protected]> Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 21:22:41 -0400 I am personally against another name change. We are working hard to build something that people can recognize and then we go and change the name and possibly direction. For what? Does anyone know? I heard it might be for the money. I thought we were in good shape. I guess that this is not our association but someone else's. My say did not count for much and how many people actually knew it was going to change. WHA, HPA, HPACFBBQ or what? John Meeker Jr Fire Glow Distributors, Inc NEHPA board member
(back) Subject: Re: Reliance Board From: "Phil" <[email protected]> Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 21:23:38 -0400 sounds like a board problem, unless there's a capacitor, which I doubt. You'll never find that board, time for new stove ---------- > > I promised a customer, that purchased a Reliance T-40 Pellet > Stove, from one of our (out of business) ex-competitors, that > I would try to find help for his non-working unit. > > Seems the combustion blower won't get up to rpm and the unit > will not ignite. When we put a full 120v to the blower it > turns full speed. > > Any ideas? > TIA > > Larry > Antelope Valley Patio & Fireside > Lancaster, California > 661-948-3666
(back) Subject: From: "Craig Issod" <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 09:47:03 -0400 At 9:41 AM -0400 4/12/01, Craig Issod wrote: >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: Diversity is not good for the HPA. Since when? >Sender: <[email protected]> > >Craig, > >You appear to be against the HPA=92s increased diversity because of an >alleged lack of benefits. No, Roger. My reason would be simply to avoid dilution of the marketing message. When it comes to marketing and communications, we are BROKE. What I am saying is that your org spends less each year in promotion of our industry than some top-notch retailer do. No "got milk" campaign for HPA. Since I am neither a retailer nor official HPA member, my opinion is based only on my position on the communications committee...maybe it is a selfish opinion, that of wanting to be able to best promote an already complicated marketing message to the press and public. I think we both want to hear what others think. Signed, Your buddy in the Hearth & BBQ & Casual Furniture & Candle and Spa & Pool & Biomass & Masonry Heater & Ceramic Tile & Brick & Solar and whatever else industry. -- ------------------------------------------------------ Craig Issod HearthNet at http://www.hearth.com [email protected] Everything your Hearth Desires ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------