This week, the Trail Blazer team successfully brings their projects to a conclusion for 2012 year, as they prepare to shut down for their well deserved Christmas Break (Trail Blazer will be closed between December 24th and January 1st) and they finished the year with Trail Blazer first annual “Ugly Sweater” contest … Read on to discover the winner.
Monica Furlotte with Supplier Development received the samples from our newest supplier, to set-up production for 2013. The samples were approved, allowing Russell Metals in Halifax to begin providing aluminum for our Telescopic Loppers. Since the mid 90s, Russel Metals acquired several companies in metals distribution, including: Comco Pipe, Pioneer Pipe, Sunbelt Group, Triumph Tubular & Supply, Spartan Steel Products, A.J. Forsyth, Arrow Steel Processors, Williams Steel, Acier Leroux, JMS, Norton, Siemens Laserworks and Alberta Industrial Metals. This makes Russel Metals a great addition to Trail Blazer’s capabilities for product development.
Not only will Russel Metals have the opportunity to supply Trail Blazer with their present requirements, like our aluminum tubing, they will be a tremendous source of other metals and future new product development. They will begin sourcing the material that we will require to produce Trail Blazer’s Xtreme™ Bow Saws frames in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Brent Jensen & Donald Paquet presented the first proto-type for one of Trail Blazer’s newest product ideas … being worked on now. The new product proto-type showed us that we are capable of building this new product with some minor modifications. The modifications will be required to strengthen the product’s design so that the next proto-type may be ready for product testing. I am looking forward to receiving the second proto-type early in 2013 and begin conducting product testing this winter. We will be testing a new snow shovel to allow that necessary relief on our backs, when lifting the heavy snow.
When the revised proto-type is completed, Brent & Don will begin working on Trail Blazer’s new Take-Down™ product for the campers, our new Telescopic product for the gardeners and another innovative addition to Trail Blazer’s winter products. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Brent & Don for their enthusiasm in Trail Blazer’s growth.
Travis, my boy, finished school for the Christmas Break on Thursday and I gave him the opportunity to earn some extra cash by working Friday. Travis was pleased to be able to earn some extra cash and he really enjoys building Xtend-A™ Poles. All my children, Travis, Natalie & Victoria are welcomed to work at Trail Blazer anytime they wish. While I encourage them to explore their dreams of doing whatever they want in the future. Travis may have a deep down desire to become a puppeteer. Victoria worked at Trail Blazer in November and I felt a feeling of great pride once again as I saw a third generation Levangie building Trail Blazer products.
There will be another opportunity for a third generation Levangie (Natalie my daughter/princess) to work at Trail Blazer in January … if she wishes. The Trail Blazer team will be back to work on the first Wednesday in January, while Travis, Natalie & Victoria will go back to school a day latter, Thursday. What will she choose to do???
While Justin Caldwell in Customer Service wrapped up communications with Trail Blazer’s valued dealers & distributors, he successfully finished 2012 for everyone else at Trail Blazer at the same time, by organizing our first annual “Ugly Sweater” contest. Where we gathered in shipping to enjoy pizza, exchange gifts and wear ugly sweaters. Betty, Don & Monica had the best sweaters and put tremendous work into them. If there was more than one winner, Betty would have received the “Prettiest Sweater” Award & Monica would have received the “Festive Sweater” Award … You guest it, Donald Paquet was the winner of Trail Blazer’s first annual Ugly Sweaters Contest.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the entire Trail Blazer team a very Merry Christmas and thank them for 2012. I am not just thanking them for their great accomplishments and a tremendous job well done. I would like to also thank them for their enthusiasm and making Trail Blazer a happy place to come to … each and every day.
Merry Christmas, Shawn Levangie