The introduction of our Reverse D-handle Snow Shovels, Made in Nova Scotia, continued this week when an assortment was delivered and set-up at Annapolis, Chester & Greenwood Home Hardware. Our Reverse D-handle Snow Shovels are now available in twelve Home Hardware Stores and seven Co-op Country stores in Atlantic Canada.
I received word from my partner & friend, Per Inge Sagmoen with S-Ski & Sport in Norway this week. They now have snow in Norway and their Christmas will be white (Merry Christmas Per Inge, to you and all your family). He also informed me that one of the leading leisure magazines in Norway will be testing snow shovels and our Reverse D-handle Snow Shovels will participate in the test, along with our ice scraper. S-Ski & Sport shares the interest of outdoor life with many people in Norway, whether it’s sweating up a mountain, fishing along a lake, hiking in the woods, biking or skiing. They’re not always happy with products available in the market, so they constructed models of their own. Pants and jackets which match the customer requirements in Norway. In addition, S-Ski & Sport became an importer and supplier of leisure equipment, tools and clothes, respectively branded as Trail Blazer, Era and Direct-alpine. Their focus is on quality at all levels and they are a great partner!! Trail Blazer Products are sold through sports shops and outdoor stores all over Norway. With competitive prices and prompt delivery thanks to Per Inge.
We have not received snow for Christmas here in Nova Scotia, like Norway, but the Christmas spirit was flowing in great abundance at Trail Blazer Products Limited, Friday afternoon. We shut everything down for our Christmas celebration with our team & family members. It was a real pleasure seeing the young kids playing with the computers & my toy Home Hardware truck. I would like to thank Joan “my mom” for ordering great food, Dawna “my wife” & Natalie “my daughter” for decorating the office and Dawna again & Morgan “Monica’s daughter” for setting up the food & beverages for the big event. I now know, Morgan can put cans in coolers very well, Is capable of cutting down a Christmas tree “I was happy to see she used the Xtend-A-Saw” and she locked the car keys in the vehicle while it was running … Just once, I’m sure she won’t do it again. As the company continues to find ways to improve & re-structure for growth and to adapt to the changing global business environment, I was pleased to spend the afternoon sitting back & enjoying a cold one while witnessing the Trail Blazer team smiling and enjoying their well deserved afternoon.
Five weeks ago, I met with the Toronto-Dominion Bank to discuss the lower receivables & excess inventory we presently have from the decrease in consumer spending last spring of 2011. I also reached out to Maple Trade Finance … five weeks later, I was happy to finally be able to meet with them earlier this week to see if they would cover some of the working capital tied up in our inventory, until we begin shipping again in January or February 2012 for next spring. I should hear their proposal next week. We started to focus on Trail Blazer Products future by preparing an eighteen month projection … five weeks later, the 1stdraft is completed by my accountant at Grant Thornton and I look forward to reviewing it with them early next week. This will provide the much needed foundation for our team at Trail Blazer to follow a structured plan that will achieve a profitable growth to begin the next chapter in the story of Trail Blazer Products Limited. Since 2008, we have experienced many challenges, above I mention decrease in consumer spending - which we can’t control, but we can control price and fight the change in the Canadian dollar lowering margins. We must continually look to decrease our operating expenses after experiencing the increases caused by US legislation’s.
Back at the office, Robert Woodman “Our Operations Manager” is taking the lead role in our much needed efforts to reduce operating expenses throughout the company. An exercise I recommend to all Canadian companies. With a very important goal to better position Trail Blazer Products Limited for any future increases in expenses caused by government legislation’s affecting our business environment and any future decreases in margins caused by the changing Canadian dollar. Keeping in mind it’ll take time to see consumer spending rise back to previous levels. He’s talking to BDC about recommended consultants who’ll be able to provide continuous improvements through in-house training with a focus on budgeting procedures plus inventory & supplier development. He’s also talking to CME about training to improve in-house communication, providing better & faster customer service.
All the Best, Shawn Levangie
A Look back, December 18th 2010
One Year Ago, Justin Caldwell & I wager on Toronto Maple Leafs versus Montreal Canadians … Today Toronto makes Justin too nervous to continue any wagers. (http://www.trailblazerproducts.com/1439-revenge-is-sweet-snow-blazer%e2%84%a2-enters-usa/)
One Year Ago, Garrett Wade added our “New” Reverse-D Snow/Grain Shovel to their web site … Today it is still available on their web site with much growing popularity. (http://www.garrettwade.com/search.asp?ss=Trail+Blazer&x=16&y=19).