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News
News for Spring 2010
2010 VAL-TEST SHOW
On January 23 - 26th, VAL-TEST members met with VAL-TEST Suppliers at the 2010 VAL-TEST SHOW at the Naples Beach
Hotel in Naples Florida.
On the first day, VAL-TEST members met to review 2009 and preview plans for 2010.
New suppliers were discussed, as well as marketing programs such as the VAL-TEST EXTRA STIMULUS PROMOTION
for March and April.
Additionally members were presented with ideas pertaining to current trends that are affecting our industry,
including....FACEBOOK, LEEDS CREDITS, STAYCATIONS and CASH FOR CAULKERS.
On the second day, members attended the Supplier exhibits to discuss their plans for the
up-coming year and take advantage of Show Specials. That evening, VAL-TEST sponsored a SUNSET party that
featured an elegant selection of food and beverages and the sub tropical sounds of Steely Pan.
At the party, Mike Coyne of AMES / TRUE TEMPER and Dave Irvin of MINWAX were honored with Supplier Appreciation
Awards for their many years of hard work in support of the group. Congratulations to Mike and Dave and Thank You.
On Tuesday, there were more Exhibits followed by a well-deserved Golf Outing. Steve Phillips of LEIGHT SALES,
Chris Tague of TRUPER, Sean Lorden of RAFFERTY and Keith St. George, also of RAFFERTY, won the lowest gross award.
Also on Tuesday, VAL-TEST members voted for their favorite new products, Grunt Products and Hot Headz were awarded
first place in the Sundries and Hardware Divisions. Congratulations to the winners.
On the third day, members stayed one more morning for extended appointments with select suppliers. This is an
under appreciated addition to the Show. It is the best opportunity that our members have to spend extended time
with those special suppliers.
There was something very special about this year’s show. Perhaps we were all glad that in spite of the recession we
could still get together in this beautiful environment to take advantage of the specials and discuss marketing plans
with our suppliers. Plus, we saw some great new products and displays.
The member meetings, exhibits, weather, food, golf, show specials, new products, and open discussions were all great.
The show was a success, and again, we feel that we put the group in a very positive light, which set us up well for
the rest of the year - Thank you to all who participated.
Open Decor
During Sunday’s member meeting, we introduced the OPEN DÉCOR GROUP. Members of this group are mostly in the FAUX
and DECORATIVE CONCRETE industries. These members sell Materials such as Italian Plasters, Glazes, Concrete Counter
top Mixes, Colorants and Stains to Contractors and Consumers.
We were able to get some programs in these industries from suppliers such as DECO FINISH/OIKOS, BUDDY RHODES CO.
and CONCRETE COATINGS INC. These are heavy materials that are typically purchased directly by the OPEN DÉCOR members.
However, to be a complete supplier, these members need to sell the associated Sundries and Hardware as well.
Examples would be 3M, WOOSTER, CHAPIN SPRAYERS, BERRY PLASTICS, MIDWEST RAKE and BOSS GLOVE.
The quantities of Sundries and Hardware do not justify direct purchases, therefore, they should be purchased through current Val-Test Members.
VAL-TEST members such as L&D, PAINTLAND and R.A. GRAHAM are enjoying some of this business and it should continue to grow as we expand our membership.
NEW VAL-TEST MEMBERS:
Welcome to our newest members, V-G SUPPLY of Park Ridge, IL, FIVE STAR / LANCASTER of East Hanover, NJ and Spartanburg, SC and R2M of Rochester, NY.
V-G SUPPPLY is a Lawn and Garden Wholesaler. They are now expanding into Hardware and have joined VAL-TEST to help them along. Their sales territory is the upper MIDWEST. There is tremendous potential with V-G in VAL-TEST. Our contacts are Dave Kob, Mike Doll, Justin Glover and their President is Ken Kotas.
FIVE STAR / LANCASTER is a Hardware and Sundries Wholesaler selling in the NEW YORK, NJ and NEW ENGLAND. Their volume will be a very nice addition to the groups, and we look forward to working with them. Our principle contacts at FIVE STAR are Mike Kudlak, Jeff Baudouine, and Charlie Aqualina. At Lancaster, they are David Rice, Byron Johnson, Jeff Lynch, and Pat Rourke, the President is Jay Baker.
R2M is an industrial Coatings Wholesaler who is getting into the Paint Sundries Business and joined VAL-TEST to take advantage of our programs. Their Sales territory is upstate NEW YORK and upper NEW ENGLAND. Rae Marie Mattis is our contact and President.
This all represents a good start to the year.
NEWS FOR WINTER 2009
VAL-TEST NEWS
The 2010 VAL-TEST SHOW invites went out and in spite of the economy, we are getting a good response.
We are expecting about 110 suppliers and 55 members to be in attendance. The VAL-TEST SHOW is the best
opportunity for our members and suppliers to make that point of contact with each other. Plus, the Show Specials
help to get everybody ready for the upcoming season.
During the Show, VAL-TEST members meet to discuss the Group's Marketing and Merchandising Plans and review new programs. The 2010 VAL-TEST SHOW will be January 24
thru the 27th at the NAPLES BEACH HOTEL in NAPLES, Florida. VAL-TEST Suppliers and members can register for the
Show on this web site. Otherwise, contact Joanne Luce at 847-285-6020 ext 109 for more information.
The VAL-TEST Economic Stimulus Program II has been a hit. We rolled it out in August and finished it in November.
There were 22 member participants, making it one of our larger promotions. The 2010 Economic Stimulus II Promotion
Participants were: Fargo Paint, Ginn Wilson, Leight Sales, Rafferty, Colladay Hardware, Cincinnati Color,
HIS Paint, Johnson Wholesale, RA Graham, See Bee Brush, L & D Distributing, Aubuchon Hdwe., HDI, Pacoa,
Paintland, ACO Hardware, Hamilton, Standard Hdwe, Kirk Kredell Co., Herzog Supply, Mike Cummimgs Co., and
Blackwood Supply.
So far this year, we have over 50 new suppliers and 3 new members.
INDUSTRY NEWS
The American Hardware Manufacturers Association announced that Stanley Works and Black and Decker merged;
with Stanley owning 50.5% of the new company, to be named "Stanley, Black, and Decker".
The Knoxville News Sentinel announced that House Hasson, in Partnership with Blish Mize, now owns
Moore Handley and the "Hardware House" brand of products.
Also, this Summer, Robert Bosch Tool Company announced their acquisition of LR Nelson.
It appears that Nelson and Gilmour will both have a larger presence in the manufacturing community of China.
This has not affected SPRAY DOC SPRAYERS or GILMOUR HOSE products.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Business is still Bad
Fall business has been up by about 4% over last year; however, this just may because home buyers rushed to get
their houses bought before the "First Time Buyers Credit" expired.
However, it should improve
An AHMA 10/06/09 article reported that The "Future Expectations" Index for home improvement projects rose dramatically.
A recent News Fax Article says that this optimism is because of "Favorable financing costs".
But only Modestly
Both the AHMA and the NEWS FAX articles predict only a mild turnaround in the spring of 2010.
Since we moved a great deal of our production to China, an increase in global demand will not improve our
employment as it has in the past.
Ed-Op
Manufacturers have had mixed emotions about the OLYMPICS going to Rio instead of Chicago. On the one hand,
all of that construction would be nice. But the non-construction suppliers breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Do you remember the 1996 Atlanta Olympics? Home Depot was the only one hitting up the manufacturers for
sponsorship money. Imagine what it would be like with ACE, True Value, Sears, and Menards all headquartered
near Chicago.
NEWS FOR LATE SUMMER OF 2009
Losing a fair amount of the Spring to bad weather doesn't help L&G and Paint, but,
Maintenance and Repair is at least steady. Let’s hope that Mother Nature
cooperates for the remainder of the year. Energy Savers, Green Products,
and Stay-cations will continue to be the hottest categories.
Since our Show in Naples, we exhibited and attended the WORLD OF CONCRETE, and The NATIONAL
HARDWARE SHOW. We also co-hosted the GROUP MERCHANDISING CONFERENCE with THE
PRO GROUP in ATLANTA GA. and attended the MAATS Show in Orlando.
While the WORLD OF CONCRETE was smaller than usual, it was still very large and well
attended. We met with new members and were able to secure programs with four
new vendors.
The NATIONAL HARDWARE SHOW was also smaller than before, but in this case we had no
competition for supplier attention. Several attending VAL-TEST members helped
us get new programs with six new suppliers.
Most recently, we formed a HARDWARE MERCHANDISING COMMITTEE at the GMC in Atlanta. The committee was made up of LEIGHT SALES, AUBUCHON HARDWARE, HARTLINE HARDWARE, COLLADAY HARDWARE,
RA GRAHAM, KIRK KREDELL COMPANY, AND HARDWARE DISTRIBUTORS INC. After meeting with 50
suppliers, we reviewed 30, and are securing programs with ten of them.
Since the VAL-TEST ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROMOTION went so well, we are sponsoring "VAL-TEST
ECONOMIC STIMULUS II". This large Promotion is being run in a similar
fashion to the first one, with participation from 75 suppliers, 20 members, and
about 170 dealers.
We are also putting the 2010 VAL-TEST SHOW together. In spite of the Economy, we
already have a large number of members and suppliers who plan to attend, many
of them will be new. In particular we are expecting 3 new Hardware and
Sundries members, and 8 new Décor Members.
Hang in there, and keep promoting ... Russell Meeks
News For the First Half of 2009
As 2009 gets underway, we want to first acknowledge our friends and co-workers who
have been consolidated out of their jobs by this economy. We wish them well,
and pray to see them back in the industry.
The VAL-TEST Show is an annual Positive Start to each year.
This year's Show featured 115 VAL-TEST suppliers, 50 VAL-TEST members and 8 PRO
Group members. While we were down 5 suppliers and 5 members, the show orders
were almost even with last year. Pent-up demand caused by slim inventories and
bad weather helped to prop things up.
The Booth sessions are the best opportunity that our Members and Suppliers have to
make plans for the year. The discussions were cautiously positive, and
the most common theme that we heard was that business was slow but steady.
At the Member meeting, we reviewed 2008. We announced 4 new members, 31 new
suppliers, and 14 accrued volume rebates. We also discussed current program
issues. The suppliers who had the best growth in 2008 were, The Plastics
Group, Stanley National, Reaves, and Dynamic Products. Also, during the
member meeting, we previewed our marketing plans for 2009
Normally, our members use the Show Specials to load up for the intrinsic demand of the
Spring Season. Unfortunately, this year's spring demand may not be so
intrinsic. And, while we have faith in our new President's Economic Stimulus
Plan, we know that it will take time to work. If our members are going to sell
the products that they bought on Show Special, they will need to create some
new demand. So we decided to introduce a Stimulus Program of our own.
We are running Economic Stimulus Circulars for 30 members who attended the Show.
This is a March and April promotion that features the products that were put on
Show Special. This is the largest number of circulars that we have run at one
time. Between the Show, and our Economic Stimulus Promotion, we are providing
our Members and Suppliers a real one-two punch to our 2009 first half sales.
During the Annual Group Net Working Reception, three outstanding people were
acknowledged for their contributing efforts. Annual Supplier Appreciation
Awards went to: Mike Martin of Midwest Fastener, and John Avgoustis of DQB.
The Annual Member Appreciation Award went to Ed Glowark of Blackwood Supply.
Thank You, and Congratulations to these award winners, they join a 'who's who'
of Industry Icons who have taken home these awards.
50 Suppliers participated in our Annual New Products Show Case. Attending Members
voted for their favorites. The race was tight, and the winners were: Tray
Products, for their TrayStation adjustable leg, Tool and Paint Tray, and Stringliner
Company for their Cord Wiz Pro, power cord winders.
The Weather was great, (75 degrees and partly cloudy), The sunsets were
spectacular---The Shrimp was plump, the Tenderloin was tender. ----The Meetings
were informative, the Show Specials were sharp, Orders were timely, and the
Plans were positive.
Thank you again to those who participated. With the economy being what it is we are especially
grateful for attendance.
The 2010 VAL-TEST Show and Member Meeting will also be held at the Naples Beach
Resort. It is our intensions to make this upcoming event the BEST ever.
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