This week, Trail Blazer was closed to celebrate Christmas. This means Trail Blazer did nothing this week!!! so there was nothing for my blog. That was until my boy, Travis, gave me the idea of writing a “2012 Year in Review” … I hope you enjoy the look back!!!
January,We were very pleased when we reviewedthe results of our new product launch. The launch of Trail Blazer’s new Reverse-D Handle Snow Shovels, made in Nova Scotia. During the launch, Redmond’s Home Hardware, in Upper Tantallon Nova Scotia, sold out of the snow shovels twice, with only 2 snow falls and in only 2 months. The popularity grew so much and so fast that the Nova Scotiamade Reverse-D Handle Snow Shovels received media attention withCTV’s Alyse Hand. Check it out at CTV’s Live at Five on Facebook. Today Trail Blazer’s Reverse-D Handle Snow Shovels are being shipped via truck & rail to Home Hardware across Canada.
CTV’s Live at Five [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=319886814711094]
I had a scary moment with Rollie. An important part of our family was cut and he required 9 staples & a pressure bandage to be put back together. I felt bad that this happened, yet pleased with his recovery. Rollie’s a special & important family member.
February, My son, Travis, spent five weeks in Florida, while training for paddling. Travis competes in paddling each summer anddecided to get a job, at Giant Tiger, where hesaved up money to cover all his expenses to attend this five week training camp, including air fair. That took a lot of hard work and discipline while still maintaining his good grades. I love him very much and couldn’t be any more proud of him. My daughters, Natalie & Victoria, also paddle each summer & compete nationally. Today Travis is taking a break from the paddling and joined his high school foot ball team and his high school competition cheer-leading team.
We started meeting with Dale Thibodeau, our BDC consultant to learn benchmarking, which guided us to increased profitability. Dale discussed our budgets compared to industries averages. Which began a strategy to meet budgets for increased profitably.
March, During Sunday mass I saw my princess, Natalie, on the altar giving the 2nd reading. Normally I sit back in the pew and quietly listen, this time I did the same with the warm welcoming addition of pride from listening to Natalie read so very clearly (I understood every word) andwatching her do it withan incredible look of confidence, showing a natural born leader. I was not really surprised because I have seen her do this many times before. One time which comes to mind, especially after this event, was a family vacation to New Brunswick in 2007, when she jumped on the alter, during a museum visit and just like many times before … she lifted all our spirits!!
We’re excited to have officially started producing America’s Most Trusted Tool Brand in Dartmouth Nova Scotia. Trail Blazer offers various sizes of bow saws and now produces the 24” Craftsman’s Bow Saw for Sears, USA & we’ll continue producing in 2013
April,We had a special birthday celebration for my beautiful & sporty wife, Dawna. We enjoyed a delicious rib dinner (made by my mom) to celebrate this special occasion, when Dawna turned Sporty … I can not say her age but it rimes with sporty!! The following morning she received a special surprise, as our youngest daughter, Victoria, served her breakfast in bed … A very nice and thoughtful birthday present everytime. Later that day we continued to stay together as a family (wasn’t that nice) and participated in Dawna’s favorite activity … grocery shopping. In May we celebrated another special birthday when my youngest daughter, Victoria became a teenager … Yes my angel is 13 years old!!!!
We introduce our Reverse-D Handle Snow Shovels to over a thousand stores at the Home Hardware Market and successfully received warehouse placement making these NS made shovels available nationally. Today, the shovels are offered in Home’s national flyers.
May, as the chairman of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters in Nova Scotia, I joined the board of directors for a meeting at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. We invited the Honorable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defense and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, to join us before catching a flight to Ottawa. At the conclusion of our meeting, I enjoyed the privilege of presenting the Honorable Peter MacKay with one of Trail Blazer’s Telescopic Jumbo Anvil Ratcheting Lopper, made in Dartmouth Nova Scotia. Today I am proud to remain on as the chairman of Nova Scotia’s Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
During in-store demos, my youngest daughter Victoria joined me. My angel was in gear and sold her first Jumbo Lopper. Actually she sold her first Trail Blazer product!! I am proud to say that Trail Blazer products have been sold by 3 generations of Levangie’s
June, My daughter, Natalie, graduated from grade 9 and Eric Graves Junior High. We followed Natalie, and her friends, around Sullivan’s Pond like paparazzi, taking pictures before their year end dance. As I followed her from photo opportunity to the next, I remember always calling her my little princess … I was stunned, Natalie was a princess and more beautiful than words can describe. We watched Natalie receive her certificate for graduating … Wow my daughter is in high school!!! During graduation I experienced a large amount of pride when Natalie received the top math student award. Natalie, I love you and I am very proud of you!
We received another new customer in Scandinavia, Knivbutik.se, in Sweden!! The same country that produces the best saw blades. We shipped them Trail Blazer’s Sawvivor™ Saw and Extreme™ Folding Saw. We have already received their order for spring 2013.
July, The Levangie family enjoyed their summer vacation in Sherbrooke Nova Scotia. Where we enjoyed each others company (no cell phone or computers) in a beautiful log house sitting on a private, well-manicured 3 acre property, that offered us a 230ft. waterfront on the St. Mary’s River. The perfect spot… where we launched our boat, went for a swim and my favorite… enjoyed fishing every day! Nearby we enjoyed some time visiting Nova Scotia’s Historic Sherbrooke Village, where my youngest daughter, Victoria, spent 2 nights in the industrial boom of the late 1800s and early 1900s with her Girl Guide troop … and even beautifully dressed the part!!
The production of Trail Blazer’s Xtreme™ Hatchets began in New Brunswick (in multiple colors) for the first time. This started the production of lopper parts & complete garden tools being manufactured in New Brunswick, to complement operations in Nova Scotia.
August, we were very pleased to see results of the training & hard work we received from Dale Thibodeau, our BDC consultant, earlier this year. Dawna & I joined the Trail Blazer team (with Mom & Dad) to celebrate a 47% increase in profits and a 63% decrease in operating expenses. The team’s financial performance in 2012 has created the most profitable first quarter in Trail Blazer’s history. Well Done Team!!! We celebrated the team’s accomplishments and much appreciated hard work with some beer aboard the Tall Ship Mar, for a relaxing and beautiful sailing tour of the second largest natural harbour in the world … The Halifax Harbour.
Travis raced kayak for the Canadian title in K2 finishing 11th. I’m proud of my boy, ranking in the 18 and over age group … He’s 17!!! Victoria raced canoe in C2 finishing 17th. I’m proud of my angel ranking in the 14 to 15 age group … She’s 13 years old!!!
September, During the Home Hardware markets, I sometime have had the opportunity to meet various different celebrities. Previous years I was excited to meet Don Cherry, Red Green and of course our very own … Mark Cullen. In 2012 I had another opportunity & privilege to meet Erin McLeod, Canadian football (soccer) goalkeeper for the Canadian national team and Olympic bronze medalist. She made her first appearance with the Canadian U-20 team who made it all the way to the 2002 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship Final. She also represented Canada during two World Cups and two consecutive Olympics.
The Levangie family enjoyed their 2nd vacation of 2012 at Hopewell Rocks Park in New Brunswick with Rollie!!! So our whole family, including Rollie, enjoyed the vacation. There is no better day then a day spent with my family … I love them all very much!!!
October, Monica Furlotte started as one of our customer service representatives and in just under a year, she advanced to the position of customer service coordinator. Justin Caldwell left operations to join Monica’s team and quickly accepted the coordinator position. Justin is making great contributions to customer service daily. Monica leaves customer service to share her dedication & experience with operations. She is now improving inventory management and accepted the position of supplier development. Thank you Monica, Your leadership & desire to improve delivery performance is much appreciated … You’re doing great!!
I was humbled when I received congratulations from the Halifax Chamber of Commerce for being chosen as a finalists for the upcoming Halifax Business Awards, in the Business Person of the Year category. We’ll celebrate during an awards dinner in January 2013.
November, My son, Travis, always wanted to try-out and play for his high school football team and in 2012 not only did he try-out, Travis competed in his first & very exciting play off game. Near the end of 4th quarter, they almost lost the game and with a heroin approach, Travis makes the tackle putting them into overtime (That’s My Boy!!!) where they received their victory. I was very pleased (and could not have been any prouder) to see Travis celebrating with such great emotion, with his teammates including his close friend Tyler Horne, who was not only celebrating a great playoff win, but also his 18th birthday!!!
The fincial improvements continued in the second quarter, with an additional 12% reduction in operating expenses and another 41% increase in profits. We celebrated the success, when Dawna & I joined the team at the Halifax Historic Feast Dinner Theatre.
December, Looking back, Almost 18 years ago, I was building the Trail Blazer™ Saw in my apartment, for my dad, on Robie Street in Halifax Nova Scotia. Today, our Nova Scotia made products have been sold by close to 20,000 retailers in over 40 countries. Now Trail Blazer has added snow-removal products! We noticed that when Hardware stores take down their pruning equipment, from their displays, snow shovels went up, and we wanted a part of that action. The new product frontier is very promising, and I am pleased to add a product line that will help even out our sales annually & strengthen our future. (I’m wondering my waist size in photo?)
QVIST Outdoor in Netherlands ordered our Take-Down™ Buck Saw, Sawvivor™ Saw & Xtreme™ Hatchets. I’m excited about the opportunity in the Dutch market & QVIST will begin presenting Trail Blazer to their customers after they receive their order in 2013.
Have a Happy New Year!!! Shawn Levangie