This week, I visited Atlantic Gardens in Middle Sackville, Blomidon Nurseries in Wolfville, Home Hardware in Annapolis Royal, Bridgetown, Bridgewater, Brooklyn, Caledonia, Digby, Hantsport, Middleton & Windsor Nova Scotia. I dropped off a door prize at Allen’s Home Building Centre in Middleton for there anniversary celebrations.
During my store visits, I received orders from Hantsport Home Hardware in Hantsport and Sissiboo Home Hardware in Weymouth Nova Scotia. Hantsport ordered our Mark’s Choice / Trail Blazer pruning assortment for a four foot wall space while Sissiboo ordered the same pruning assortment for two complete three foot, end aisles displays. I had a great meeting when I visited Blomidon Nurseries in Wolfville. I met with Andrew Palmer, the general manager and we discussed future plans for their café. We also talked about new product ideas for Trail Blazer Products. Soon when you visit Blomidon Nurseries in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and you take the time to enjoy a bite to eat in their café, you’ll also be able to enjoy a pint of beer or a glass of wine. I look forward to my product demos there … beer & sharp objects together!!
While I was on the road & visiting our valued dealers, Monica Furlotte received an order from another valued dealer … Fraser’s Pro Home Centre. Fraser’s offers four locations to serve you in Berwick, Bridgetown, Kentville and Kingston Nova Scotia. I look forward to visiting their locations to discover more ways we can service them better.
This week started with a very special birthday celebration for my beautiful & sporty wife Dawna. Not a large celebration, just the immediate family sharing their love for their daughter-in-law, mom & of course, wife. My mom prepared a fabulous rib dinner to celebrate this extra special occasion when Dawna turned Sporty … I can’t say her age. The following morning she received a wonderful surprise as our youngest daughter, Victoria, served her breakfast in bed … A very nice and thoughtful birthday present. Later that day we continued to stay together as a family (something we should do as often as possible) and participated in Dawna’s favorite activity … grocery shopping.
The spring birthday madness is almost over, my princess Natalie on March 11, my Mom’s on April 8, my Dad’s on April 12, my brother Patrick was on April 19, my son Travis on April 21 and Dawna’s on April 29. One more, this weekend we celebrate my youngest daughter Victoria becoming a teenager … Yes my angel is turning 13!!!!
This week, I worked on a new product to complement our yard & garden equipment. I completed two proto-types and visited with Russell Metals in Halifax to discuss material choices. I will visit 4 more manufacturing partners before making material selections & discuss other new product. I hope to visit Burnside Sheet Metals in Dartmouth, MacKenzie Atlantic in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nu-Air in Windsor, Nova Scotia and Ulbrich Stainless Steel and Special Metals in Connecticut.
Now that I’m spending more time on new product development, I look forward to putting some extra time towards new saws, knives & hatchets for the outdoors industry where Curtis Levangie (My Dad) began with Trail Blazer’s first product, the Take-Down Buck Saw. A product that is still popular today in over 40 countries.
At the office, we continued to address financial performance & eliminate unfavorable gaps. After 2 successful months in Feb & Mar, we anxiously wait for the final numbers for Apr, to see if we’ll be celebrating a successful quarter … And there will be a celebration!!! Despite celebrating required profits, we still must keep focused on our gaps in shipping expenses and find ways to be more efficient in that department. Also lower the amount of discounts we offer … wouldn’t you say Trail Blazer products are worth every cent with its unconditional life-time warranty?
I am pleased & proud to say that the sales projections for May have been reached … now it is in the production & shipping department hands. I have also received enough orders in house to cover 48% of June’s projections … So I guess that means I still have some more work to do. Do you know any stores that need paint poles?
Looking back, May 7th, 2011
One Year Ago, we experienced severe price increases on raw materials. Including metals, plastic, fabric, packaging and of course freight. I flew to Atlanta for meetings with Home Depot. My youngest daughter Victoria, my Angel, turned 12 years old.
Today, we continue improving margins after last year’s price increases on raw materials. We concentrate on servicing independently owned hardware stores and specialty retailers versus box stores. My youngest daughter Victoria, my Angel is turning 13!!!
All the Best, Shawn Levangie