This week, I’ve been communicating with potential new dealers and distributors from Minnesota & Philadelphia USA, British Columbia & Ontario Canada and a mystery location. I’ve been working with Business Development Bank, Export Development Canada, Maple Trade Finance & Toronto Dominion Bank to prepare for 2013.
Leigh Carter, with Q-Outdoor, is interested in Trail Blazer’s Sawvivor™ Saw, Xtreme™ Hatchet, and possibly the Xtend-A™ Blade. They are familiar with our Sawvivor™ Saw, but not as much with our Xtreme™ Hatchets. They focus on ultra light gear, so the lightest models we have will be the most attractive for the cycling, ski, and outdoor markets. Rob Kaufhold, with Lancaster Archery Supplies, is interested in Trail Blazer’s Xtend-A™ Pruner for their pro shop / sporting goods store and on their website marketed to bow hunters. They have been in business for 30 years, selling wholesale to other archery / sporting goods stores and requested pricing earlier this week.
Mia Burgos, with www.archerhardgoods.com, is launching an e-commerce website this fall that will features well made, hard wearing products for the home and garden market. They are interested in Trail Blazer’s line of secateurs and requested order procedures and pricing. I e-mailed them our information & look forward to learning where they are from.
Brenda Ibey, with The Avant-Garden Shop, requested information about retailing Trail Blazer products. They are a small garden and birding store located in Peterborough, Ontario. I am presently investigating who will be distributing to garden stores in Ontario. Greenstar Plant Products, from British Columbia, actually acquired Manchester products operation (our Ontario lawn & garden distributor) as of August 1st. Trail Blazer products are listed in Manchester’s assortment & catalogue this year while Greenstar is busy dealing with the requirements needed to combine the two companies. I will not receive any decisions from Greenstar about offering Trail Blazer products till later in 2013.
As I am working with our valued customers across Canada and the United States this week, the dealers and distributors who offer both Trail Blazer’s quality garden products and outdoor products. I am continuing to work on growing the awareness of Trail Blazer’s Xtend-A™ Poles (Made in Nova Scotia) with various paint stores across the Maritimes.
Ben Cumming, with Cameron’s Paint Centre, stocks paint poles from Carter’s. They have companies that like these poles because they retail for a bit less and do the job. He will let me know when there gone, so he can bring in, some of Trail Blazer’s Xtend-A™ Poles to provide a higher end option. These made in Nova Scotia extension poles are designed to keep weight down while maintaining strength that will not fail. The tubing is made of rigid fiberglass & a unique shaped aluminum for maximum rigidity. The large, easy to operate, pin locking button will offer a lifetime of issue free operation.
Back at the office, we are continuing to make much needed improvements with our delivery performance, while meeting financial objectives, by implementing corrective action in all areas where we had unfavorable gaps. The most recent change is to our management team, allowing more focus on our inventory / purchasing requirements.
Monica Furlotte started with Trail Blazer Products Limited in January 2010 as an intern from the Nova Scotia Community Collage. Following her internship, she accepted a position in May that same year, as one of our customer service representatives and in just under a year, she advanced to the position of customer service coordinator. In April 2012, Justin Caldwell left operations to join Monica’s team, as one of our customer service representatives and this week, Justin has accepted the position of customer service coordinator. I strongly believe Justin will make many great contributions to his new customer service department and he’ll be a big part of the future growth of Trail Blazer Products Limited … despite being a Hab’s fan.
Monica leaves the customer service to share her dedication & experience with operations. She will be working on improving inventory management by accepting the position of purchasing and supplier development. Thank you Monica, Your leadership & desire to improve delivery performance has been noticed and appreciated. You’re doing great!!
Kaleigh Morris, with Lehman’s Hardware, received her back-orders!!! She already placed another purchase order to fill the rest of her back orders and build stock. After our weekly staff meeting I know all back orders for Trail Blazer’s Take-Down Buck Saws will be shipped when we receive the non-break polypropylene end caps and packaging by the end of next week. Rockies to Alaska Outdoors back-orders were shipped! Our customers were late receiving Sawvivor Saws this season. After our staff meeting I know all back orders for Trail Blazer Sawvivor Saws will be shipped now that we have more Swedish blades in stock and we’ll be receiving the packaging next week.
While Monica is ensuring production receives the non-break polypropylene caps and packaging to eliminate all back-orders, she’ll continue on supplier development, to ensure an acceptable delivery performance. meanwhile, Justin will be developing customer service procedures that will improve communication with our valued customers
Denise McCann, with Survival Resources, let me know this week that she would appreciate some better feedback when she places a purchase order. This is something that I feel we could & need to improve on, as soon as possible, because all of Trail Blazer’s valued customers should receive quick & frequent updates about their orders. It has been 3 weeks since she ordered Trail Blazer’s Take-Down Buck Saws and Sawvivor Saws. She tried calling this week to find out what is going on, but only got to leave a message. Justin did return her call immediately, but I feel she should have received her order status without having to make that call. Now that our delivery issues are close to being resolved, I will soon begin working with Trail Blazer’s management team to develop improved communication and customer service.
As we prepare for our spring 2013 production schedule, we have decided to seek for additional finance to purchase some of the required materials needed to produce & ship Trail Blazer’s spring deliveries. I’d like to thank Maple Trade Finance while they complete their due diligence on our buyers and Business Development Bank & Toronto Dominion Bank while they prepare to release or postpone receivables. Once we get the BDC & TD release or postponement, we’ll need EDC to assign the policy rights to Maple Trade for the buyers they’re financing. With this additional financing in place, we will be able to achieve our required delivery performance and meet financial objectives … Profits!!!
All the Best, Shawn Levangie