Fastenerblog.net: Recent Comments

Comment on Where is there Creativity in the Fastener World?

Traveling Salesman — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:13:21 GMT

Andy, I know you have your own site but I've got to get you to be a regular "guest blogger" on my site. You always have good contributions.

Comment on Where is there Creativity in the Fastener World?

Andy Pels — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:11:17 GMT

I am definitely planning on going to the West show this year. The additions sound great.
This topic is very timely. Since things are not especially booming, it is a good time to take stock of some areas we might take for granted.

One area I have been thinking a lot about involves logistics, specifically our good old friend - drop shipping. Formerly used only for needs of urgency, or for the legendary distributor competitor who we all swore ran his business out of a phone booth (for those of you young fastener freaks who have never seen a phone booth, see here) and carried no actual inventory, drop shipping has a modern, larger place in distribution.

With today's technology, there is no good reason to order $500 worth of fasteners from PFC, Brighton Best, Star, etc. just to unpack it and repack it into new boxes going out to fill three customer orders. There should be a good system for ordering what you need, specifying where you want it shipped, and you're done. Sure most of the big guys will drop ship, but the trick is to have the packing list show that it is from you and to have the end customer's P.O. number and/or part numbers clearly (and consistently) shown. Kanebridge has been doing this (and more) for decades, and have seemed to do well with it, but their product line is still limited and many of their prices less competitive for the general market. Now that most of us have computers in our pockets (sometimes called cell phones) that rival the power of our desktop from 5 years ago, there can be no technical reason for some form of this service not being offered by every "distributor's distributor".

There are potential problems and pitfalls that we can explore (and solve), but I would bet that it would be easy for any basic distributor to switch 30% or more of their orders to drop-ships practically overnight - IF the big guys would offer a reliable service. And I think it's time has come so that it will happen even if some new companies have to step in and take over.

I have been thinking about writing a series on this for a while. I guess now is the time.

By the way - what do we call PFC, Brighton Best, Star Stainless, Vertex, EZ Sockets, Lindstrom and other companies that sell exclusively to distributors? It would be easier to have a discussion about them if we can agree on a name (better that "big guys" or "distributor's distributors") for that part of the supply chain.

Comment on Where is there Creativity in the Fastener World?

Traveling Salesman — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:38:04 GMT

My apologies Jim. You certainly are part of the backbone that keeps the show humming along and a valuable partner. My bad. If it makes you feel any better I just bought my show pass this week. Interesting development with the IFE merger

Comment on Where is there Creativity in the Fastener World?

Jim Bannister — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:23:59 GMT

TS and All:
Mike McGuire and Jim Bannister began the first fastener industry exhibition in 1981, not just Mike McGuire. Mike and I have been partners since 1980.
Here is some great news! The International Fastener Exposition (IFE) merged with the National Industrial Fastener Show this past week and Show visitors will be seeing lots of cold headers and other fastener machinery & tooling at our West expo November 8-10, 2010 in Las Vegas.
The International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association (IFMSA) is endorsing and supporting our event and industry veteran Ray Zirkle will be marketing the Machinery & Tooling section worldwide beginning next month at the big Wire Show in Dusseldorf, Germany.
We are also receiving a lot of inquiries from mill supply manufacturers and suppliers who are interested in showing air tools, cutting tools, drills, hand tools, etc. at the 'Vegas expo.
The 2010 East Show is over 60 booths now and we expect at least 75 or more booths before Show time May 25-26 in Columbus, Ohio.
For more information about both the East and West Shows contact Susan Hurley, Show Manager at (614)895-1279, email info@fastenershows.com or visit our website at www.fastenershows.com.
Jim Bannister
General Partner

Comment on NCFA on Facebook

Traveling Salesman — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:38:21 GMT

Chris,

I like your Twitter account. I want to talk to you about it and I'll get in touch.
T.S.

Comment on We Still Need a Site for Fastener Feedback

RHILL — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:33:40 GMT

Does anyone out there know of some companies like Manufacturers Fastener World? I am looking to get rid of some miscellaneous fasteners.

Comment on NCFA on Facebook

Cris Young — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:03:21 GMT

http://twitter.com/fastenernews

Comment on NCFA on Facebook

Daniel Rivalin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:38:19 GMT

Hi TS,

To enhance the visibility of Professional Organizations, Social network and Search Engines are very powerful.

At Bazibaza Search Engine, we offer FREE of charge to any Professional Organizations partnering with us (FREE) :

- a link to all pages of the news of the organization and its members

- a link in our weekly news by email, pointing to the news of the members, not older than 1 month.
This weekly news email will be read by thousand of Decision's makers. It is now in beta version.
Good for the Associations, and good for the companies !... if they publish news !

An example here for AFFIX and Prismefix Associations : http://www.aweber.com/archive/bz-ind-news/1Pg15/h/Bazibaza_Worldwide_Weekly_News.htm?goback=.nvr_119811_1
(and take the survey to get a free Banner for 6 months!)

More on Social Network TS :
You can read your news (Fastenerblog.net) and all Major Fastener Sources DAILY
- Twitter @bazifasteners,
- Linkedin (fastener industry group),
- directly on the hotnews tab on Bazibaza Search Engine, http://industry.bazibaza.com

- or weekly by email by subscribing at http://info.bazibaza.com/industry/

News, and more important, the distribution of those News on Social Network and any other Internet Means, are key Success Factors for Professional Organizations and the Companies on the net !

Back to our keywords, time to write and publish!

Daniel
sent from our booth on SIMODEC, Screw-Cutting Tradeshow in Europe !

Comment on NCFA on Facebook

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Comment on NCFA on Facebook

Jim Bannister — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:35:39 GMT

The National Industrial Fastener Show has a Facebook page and we invite all interested industry people to join in.
Contact Susan Hurley at info@fastenershows.com.
See you at the National Industrial Fastener Show/East, May 25-26 in Columbus, Ohio.
Register online TODAY at www.fastenershows.com and take advantage of "Early Bird" and Fastener Industry Association Supporter registration fees available for a limited time.
Jim Bannister
General Partner
National Industrial Fastener Show