Finally got an opportunity to sit in on one of the Fastener Training Institute’s webinars on October 31.  It was the Structural Bolting Seminar conducted by Carmen Vertullo.   I have had the pleasure of attending other classes conducted by Carmen and this webinar was equally enjoyable.  Carmen has a way of discussing technically sophisticated fastener information in a down to earth way that makes you feel like you are learning from a neighborhood buddy instead of a college professor.  And to me, that is an excellent thing.

The webinar covered a lot of different areas from the very simple to more sophisticated topics.  Carmen used the IFI catalog (which you can see and follow on your computer screen) to cover ASTM specs, and also discussed things like “K Factor” and torque vs. tension as an indicator or measurement.  He had live camera shots that he could share and did so when demonstrating how to use a Wilson Skidmore Bolt Tension Calibrator.  But what I really enjoyed was the inclusion of useful information for people who SELL structural bolts, not just technical information for people who measure or specify them.  One slide had the heading, “What makes a good supplier?” and it covered many of the questions that can come up when a distributor is selling structural bolts to an end user.  There was even some information on the best way to handle  structural bolts on a worksite.

I’m not going to write an entire review of the webinar.  Rather, I would like to tell you that it was a well run, hour and 15 minute class with questions afterwards.  Questions could be submitted right there on the webinar site as Carmen was teaching.  You just type in the question and send it in and then after the presentation Carmen responded to the questions that came in.

I’m not completely sure if the FTI offers a subscription to the webinar series or if they are each independent, stand alone sessions.  If I was a distributor with even a small number of younger employees, I would try to make room in your schedule to have these young people sit in on these monthly webinars.  I truly think the cost and time commitment would be well worth the investment.

The Vegas show was again very active this year.  Some exhibitors told me that their booths were extremely busy, possibly the best show they ever had.  A few said they thought the show was not as busy.  I guess it depends on your booth and possibly if you have anything new going on to present.  You do have to do something to draw attendees to the booth or you will mostly just get your current customer base stopping by to say hello.  There are all kinds of strategies.

It is still difficult to get everyone gathered together after the show on Thursday or really any time.  The Bourbon Room was busy but I did notice there were some companies missing that usually would show up.  I think some of the dinners and hospitality suites make it nearly impossible to get a really large, inclusive gathering.  Still, I’m sure that all the individual gatherings are good and productive and, in the end, we all do not have to be in the same place at the same time.  I still like the opening Bash, and this year it was at the Treasure Island.  That is a really good gathering and I always wish it lasted longer than an hour.

Last year, the Brighton Best purchase of Porteous was the big buzz at the show.  This year, I’d have to say the Lindstrom purchase of Titan was a common topic of discussion.  For a company that has historically sold mostly just metric fasteners, this is a game changer.  I know a lot of Lindstrom people but never really got a chance to talk to them and ask questions.  If I did, I’d have wanted to ask:

– so, are you into inch fasteners now?

– you selling bulk inch fasteners next?

– why a packaged house?  Do you think there is good growth potential in packaged?

– are you making a bigger play in the socket market with this acquisition?

Let’s face it, I try to keep this site pretty non-controversial, and those certainly are not controversial questions.  But, the marketplace is without a doubt asking those questions.  It will be interesting to see what plays out as time goes on.  And, it was even more interesting as BBI had purchased a California-based packaged fastener house earlier in the year.

I got a couple of notes already from people who attended the show.  I will share some of them over the next couple days.  In the meantime, please let me know how you found the Vegas show.

As I talk to more and more people, it occurs to me the Vegas Show starts on Tuesday.  After a quick poll of people via Twitter, I think a lot of people will already be there by Tuesday.  I think there is a networking opportunity for Tuesday night.  Wednesday is filled with meetings, conferences, booth set up, the Hall of Fame induction, the Young Fastener Professionals reception, the opening bash and then a lot of supplier/customer dinners.  I think Tuesday might end up being a natural gathering night.  Not as big as the Bourbon Room Bash (which really is a place to get a little crazy after working all day in the booths) but possibly a time for a more casual networking opportunity.  Less music, more chilling before Wednesday when all hell breaks loose.

The Bourbon Room is such a natural meeting place for the Thursday evening gathering.  It’s close to the show and is a party atmosphere.  Maybe that can be my goal for next year – set up a gathering place for Tuesday night.  Heck, maybe this year!!

Anybody got any good suggestions for a gathering place somewhere around Treasure Island or the Venetian or any place within a hotel or two?  Networking is one of the most important things we do in Vegas.  Are there any casual bars in the region that would be good where people could gather?  If you have any ideas, let’s hear them.  Going to start Tweeting about this and we’ll see what we come up with.

(from an old post but the strategy is still sound)

Fastener Show Preparation

Ask Stacy: The Millennials Are Ruining This Country. What Can We Do?

Thanks to my friends at Buckeye Fasteners for including this site as the place to find the answer to their football pool trivia question.

And the answer: Old Rusty Bolt (of course).

Note to self:  Make friends with young, smart people.

I recently saved an article from the USA Today that I got in a hotel lobby.  The headline was, “Amazon to acquire Twitch for nearly $1B”.  A billion dollars for Twitch!  Quickly I asked myself, what the hell is Twitch and why would Amazon squander a billion dollars on this?  Twitch is “a video service aimed at gamers that allows them to broadcast their virtual exploits to other online”.    So, as I read the article, I started to get it.  I know my kids (mostly boys) would play Xbox and PlayStation games for hours with their friends and I could even hear their friends voices over the speakers when they were miles away at my own home.  The article also stated, “Twitch hosts more than I million broadcasters.  In July, 55 million unique visitors watched more than 15 billion minutes of content”.  Wow.  I was pretty impressed when I got to 200 subscribers on my old Fastenerblog website.  Now I’m starting over again and not near that number.

I don’t think it is just this product in particular that I am unaware of.  I think there are hundreds of companies worth millions, if not billions of dollars that I have never heard of or even understand what they do.  I could be wrong about Twitch.  It could have been started by some grandpa with a lot of time on his hands, but I somehow doubt it.  The point is, I had never heard of Twitch and I suspect there are loads of technologies of which I am ignorant.  Gaming technology does not bother me that much.  I’ve played Xbox a handful of times with my kids till they humiliated me with my slow reflexes.  But, I know there are a lot of business related technological developments that probably would be useful to me that I am unaware of.  Things that would make my life easier and more efficient.  And who has the time to keep up on all this?

So, I think I’ll just go find myself a young person that will sort through all this information and tell me what I need to know.  I would ask my children but they have absolutely zero patience showing me anything on a computer.  NONE.   “Dad, just move over”!

Seems like just about a week ago that we were getting ready for the 2013 Vegas Fastener Show, talking about Brighton Best purchasing Porteous and wondering what else was going to happen in 2014 to radically change our industry.  This week we turn the calendar to October and the Vegas Fastener Show is looking us square in the eye.  There have been some acquisitions in 2014 but it seems like it has been a lot quieter than what everyone expected.  Business has been good most of the year and I think the rest of the year should remain steady.  Let’s hope so.

This year we will see a new program rolled out.  The Young Fastener Professionals organization in partnership with the Fastener Industry Coalition will be announcing the “30 Under 30”.  These are the 30 people under 30 who look to be the movers and shakers of the next generation in our industry.  Ryan Kertis of Stelfast started up the Young Fastener Professionals association and is certainly worthy to be named a 30 Under 30 – but he will not as he is one of the organizers of the program.  Check out his website at www.youngfastenerprofessionals.com.  Also, you can join Ryan and his group at the “Bolt Bash” which will be held on Wednesday, October 22 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at Kahunaville at the Treasure Island.  You will get a chance to meet Ryan and his board of directors and do a little networking with some of the young people who are embracing and helping to grow the fastener industry.  And, don’t sweat… you’ll be done in time to make it to the annual Fastener Show Opening Bash program sponsored by the Vegas Show organizers Mike McGuire and Jim Bannister.  That is always a great place to catch up with hundreds of other fastener people.

Of course, on Thursday night, after the show and all the hospitality suites are done, come hang out at the Bourbon Room.  Networking is such a huge part of what happens in Vegas and the casual atmosphere of the Bourbon Room is a perfect night-cap to a great day at the show.  This is an outstanding networking event and one you should not miss.

As I started, Vegas is right around the corner.  And, wasn’t it about a week ago…

Out in the field, many people are talking about the upcoming Vegas Fastener Show.  It’s next month!!  Do not forget to join us at the Bourbon Room on Thursday night after the show and after you dinners and hospitality suites.  Last year, there had to be a couple hundred fastener people hanging out there at the end of the night.  Great, GREAT networking opportunity.  I’m sure there will be a lot of returning Bourbon Room Bashers but please spread the word.  There is always room for more!

So, before I get into this, did you ever figure out where to find the picture of Atlas trying to roll the stone uphill??  Check out the Fully Threaded Radio site: http://fullythreaded.com/fch/fullythreaded.nsf/Fastener Scroll down to the bottom and you will find him.  And, if you listen to Fully Threaded Radio, you would also know they are offering a scholarship.  Actually, Fasteners Clearing House is offering a scholarship for full tuition to the Fastener Training Institute’s “Fastener Training Week”.   Here is a little more info from their press release:

“The announcement was made during episode 83 of the online talk radio show, Fully Threaded Radio, known as  “voice of the FCH Sourcing Network”.  To qualify for selection, candidates must work within the fastener industry and must submit a brief essay, approximately 250 words in length. The essay should address the importance of training in the fastener industry, and the impact of training on the candidate’s career. Candidates can be nominated by owners or managers, who are welcome to submit an essay on behalf of a nominated candidate. There is a limit of one nominated candidate per company, however there is no limit to the number of individual candidates from any given company who submit an essay on their own behalf.  The deadline to submit scholarship candidate essays is October 15th, 2014, and the winner will be announced during the Las Vegas Fastener show after-event, known as the “Bourbon Room Bash”, October 23rd, 2014.  Scholarship essays become property of the Fastener Training Institute, and may be submitted to:   ftr@fullythreaded.com

So, even if you did not track down Atlas on the Fully Threaded site, you still have an opportunity to earn on through their generous contribution to our industry.

And, speaking of generous organizations, the group “Women in the Fastener Industry”, aka, WIFI just announced the winners of their  scholarships.  Per their release:

“The WIFI scholarship committee is happy to announce the 2014 recipients of the Ann Bisgyer Wolz Scholarship and the Edith Cameron Scholarship. Patricia Dyer of Stelfast, will attend classes at the Fastener Training Institute as the recipient of the Ann Bisgyer Wolz Scholarship.  Shelby Cunningham, the Interactive Media Coordinator at Hudson Fasteners, is the recipient of the Edith Cameron Scholarship and will attend the 2014 National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo in Las Vegas.” So, there are a few organizations committed to smartening up our industry.  And the Fastener Training Institute’s programs is certainly worth the time and effort.  Hats off to FTR and WIFI for investing in the people of our industry.