This week, I sent out some flyers to our dealers, to offer Trail Blazer’s Jumbo Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Lopper in our limited edition 6-pack displays. I received an e-mail from Carol Thomas, the manager of Hyams Garden Center in Charleston, S.C. I received a re-order from S-Ski & Sport in Norway while Red Pine in Canada is reviewing our products.

I sent out some fliers this week, via e-mail, to as many valued dealers as I could to offer them Trail Blazer’s Jumbo Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Lopper (3″/7.6cm cutting capacity) in our limited edition 6-pack display boxes. These boxes have proven to be a great assistance to many dealers throughout the United States because they include signage & packaging material that do the sales work for you!!! I am pleased to say, we already sold 17% of them this week and received this comment from a dealer “My arm is not THAT bad we don’t need to take it off”. There’s nothing else like this lopper on the market today and I have personally cut a 3” diameter limb with ease because of the patented ratcheting mechanism. This lopper eliminates a saw in many cases & it comes complete with extendable handles to help you cut those out of reach limbs.

A great place for you to ask for your Trail Blazer Jumbo Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Lopper (If you’re in Quebec) would be Coop Federee. I received word this week, that they will be offering Trail Blazer’s Take-Down™ Buck Saw, Xtend-A™ Saw, Xtreme™ Ergo Hatchet and (you guessed it) Jumbo Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Lopper to dealers for spring 2013.

Trail Blazer’s Telescopic Tools are popular in Garden stores across North America & Europe. Plus we offer another popular line of products called Trail Blazer’s Xtend-A™ Garden Tools which includes a grain scoop, hoe, knife/saw, pruning saw, shrub rake, transplanter, spade/cultivator, tree pruner, trowel & weeder. Eliminate the amount of time you spend on your knees with these innovative extendable tools. Trail Blazer’s Xtend-A™ Garden tools are constructed out of top quality materials such as rust resistant powder coated steel heads and non-break polypropylene handles. These tools are built to last a lifetime. When needed, these tools can be attached to any universal threaded pole to give your back a break, or to get into that hard to reach place. Gardening is meant to be enjoyable & stress free. Let these tools help you achieve your gardening goals!

I received a pleasant e-mail this week, from Carol Thomas, the manager of Hyams Garden Center in Charleston, South Carolina. She offered Trail Blazer’s Xtend-A™ Shrub Rake last season, when she was ordering through Wetsel Distributing. Wetsel is no-longer offering Trail Blazer’s products so Carol requested to order direct from us … I said yes!!!

I am always very happy to receive another reorder for Trail Blazer’s Sawvivor saw and proud to see them going to different locations around the globe. This order is shipping all the way to S-Ski & Sport in Norway. S-Ski & Sport has been supplying Trail Blazer products, through out Norway, since 2008. They also re-ordered Trail Blazer’s Xtreme™ Folding Saw & Xtreme™ Ergo Hatchets on many occasions. Back in Canada, Red Pine Outdoor Equipment is reviewing their product mix with concerns about our delivery performance. Their orders were back ordered for five months after ordering them … unacceptable!!! We worked with consultants, improving performance and we have implemented the required corrective actions. We have also heavily involved our production team … so everyone will experience on-time delivery next season.

Also this week, I was humbled when I received the nomination & now the congratulations from the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Our Chicago sales rep, Ron Isaacs, is leaving Monday for his youngest son’s wedding in Mexico and I received a sample of Trail Blazer’s new multi-colored Xtreme™ Ergo Hatchets, being made in New Brunswick.

I was humbled when I received the nomination & the congratulations from the Halifax Chamber of Commerce for being chosen as one of the finalists for the upcoming 2013 Halifax Business Awards, in the Business Person of the Year category. Every year they showcase Halifax’s top business persons as judged by their expert panel. I would like to extend my sincere thank you to everyone who nominated me, everyone who sent in a letter of reference and the panel for choosing me as one of the top 5 finalists. To celebrate this achievement, I will become part of the Halifax Business Awards showcase … involving a finalist photo shoot (time to get a new suit), video shoot (think carefully about what to say), reception (now were talking … beer!!!), and the Gala Awards Dinner (Party Time) being held in January 2013.

As business owners, we work very hard every day and we spend most of our time putting out everyone else’s fires and dealing with the customers who are not very happy. I know there are many happy customers and things’ going right, but it is still very nice & feels really good to receive this recognition from my business peers in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Our sales rep for Sears USA, Ron Isaacs lives & works in Chicago Illinois. I received word this week that he is leaving Monday to attend his youngest son’s wedding in Mexico. He informed everyone that his cell phone service will be spotty and he suggested e-mail would probably be the best way to communicate with him (Why?). I say Ron … put away your blackberry, your computer and any other electronics to enjoy this special time with your family. Jackie, Terri, and Jack will be in the Krenzien office to assist us and we all look forward to hearing all about the wedding when you return.

I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere congratulations to Ron Isaacs, of course his youngest son Jared and most importantly the beautiful bride Alexis … all the way from Canada to Mexico.

It takes announcements like this to show that we hold many different positions. You mean we have families??? Yes I am a salesman by trade and love being one very much!!! I spend most of my time being a business owner it never stops), but my happiest position is “Husband” to Dawna and my proudest position is “Father” to Travis, Natalie & Victoria.

A sample of our new Xtreme™ Ergo Hatchet, made in New Brunswick, arrived this week. They will soon be offered with Blue, Orange, Pink, Red & Yellow handles. After reviewing them, we will be ready for production, after reducing pressure applied to the mold and ensuring the non-break polypropylene handle stays smooth. I am going to be in Saint John, New Brunswick Monday, with our Pink Xtend-A™ Poles for Paint Supplies & Decorating while visiting customers in Fredericton. I will finish the trip Tuesday in Bouctouche to see the hatchet mold in action and discuss other products they can build in New Brunswick.

All the Best, Shawn Levangie