This week I was proud to become the chair for the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters in Nova Scotia’s board of directors, during the 59thAnnual Meeting Day. The board is a body of appointed members of CME, who jointly oversee the activities of the organization. Our board’s activities are determined by the powers, duties, and responsibilities conferred on us by outside activities affecting the better interest of our members. In CME the board acts on behalf of, and is subordinate to, the organization’s full membership. I look forward to being a part of something so very important to Nova Scotia.
Well, many might not realize it, but manufacturing makes up a significant part of Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product and the percentage is increasing. It shows that manufacturing is a great contributor to our economy. Being a voice for manufacturing is one of CME’s main objectives. Founded 138 years ago, the organization is Canada’s oldest industry association and will promote the competitiveness of Canadian manufacturers, to enable the success of Canadian goods and services exported in markets around the world. I am extremely optimistic about the future of manufacturing in Nova Scotia and proud to be a part of it.
Trail Blazer is a part of Nova Scotia’s manufacturing that has grown from local distributing to distributing in over 40 countries. While most of our attention was spent on sales and finding customers who wanted our Nova Scotia made products. We quickly learned that in order to meet their requirements, we needed to become more competitive, but didn’t know how. Thanks to CME we became more competive by applying Lean Principles and growing a team of internal lean champions. Champions to support and lead initiatives to achieve continuous improvement & growth. The same initiatives CME can share with all companies.
While we continue to grow our internal team and apply principles to focus on continuous improvement, we have been able to keep our main focus on improving profitability and CME takes care of details we may never of thought of. We started to appreciate the advocating efforts CME provides for all manufacturers and exporters. My initial involvement was to become lean, but quickly became educated on their efforts to build a more competitive business environment. CME seeks powerful information from all their members and provide critical and timely intelligence. Strengthening leadership through best practices and leveraging networks for business success.
They focus on the issues that are most critical to all of us, issues that we may not address without their support. We are focused on distribution, products & meeting demands. Their Lean manufacturing course & Leaf programs make Nova Scotia more competitive, They took the lead, and spurred government action to mitigate the adverse consequences of Buy American. They provide special events focused on our people and skills to improve our energy usage and the environment. These challenges are their priorities and will not only improve the environment, their efforts also provide a little extra bonus in our profitability.
CME has made a difference in Canadian manufacturing and provided support to our exporting communities. They have assisted Canada’s manufacturing and exporting businesses. Businesses who account for an estimated 90% of Canadian goods and services exported. While the membership includes Canada’s largest and established businesses, more than 85% of our members are small and mid-sized enterprises. I am very proud to be the new chair and look forward to giving you my time and continue the great assistance CME is providing. Together we can continue to build a more competitive business environment for manufacturing in Nova Scotia.
In my blogs on March 5th & April 30th I make mention to one of our newest customers for 2011, Kent Building supplies, who is offering an assortment of Trail Blazer’s Lawn & Garden products through-out Atlantic Canada for the first time this spring … For over 30 years Kent has provided the service, knowledge and products we need to accomplish our building and renovation goals. They currently operate 34 retail locations and employ over 2,500 associates in communities across Atlantic Canada… This week ended with the Victoria Day long weekend, traditionally the busiest weekend in Lawn & Garden sales.
All Trail Blazer’s Lawn & Garden products are selling well this spring… Products such as our Rubber Grip Bow Saws, Telescopic Ratcheting Bypass Lopper and Telescopic Geared Tree Pruner… And our distributors and dealers wouldn’t be able to accomplish this with out great customer support that was demonstrated once again.
I wrote about Monica Furlotte in my April 9th blog & she continues to provide the customer service that gains the respect of Trail Blazer’s top dealers, this time Kent Building supplies. She showed leadership when she volunteered to spend her Saturday, at the Kent location in Halifax, to better serve our customers with enthusiasm. This type of initiative will make both Trail Blazer & our dealers more successful.
Monica became Trail Blazer’s Customer Service Coordinator a month ago and started restructuring and improving Trail Blazer’s Customer Service Department. In just on month, Monica is demonstrating the leadership required to improve our performance and better serve our sales reps, distributors & dealers…the leadership required to be management. Thanks Monica, Your leadership & genuine concern for our customers has been noticed once again. It’s never a bad move to focus on customers, you’ll do Great!!
All the Best, Shawn Levangie