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On what other fastener site can you find this photo?  Answering this could possibly lead you to a scholarship opportunity.  Details to follow.

The ladies from Hudson Fastener are at it again!  Hudson Fastener, arguably the most active fastener Twitter people in the industry, have launched a new blog, and it aims to bring you all the fastener news that is out there to one site – www.FastenerNewsDesk.com

According to their news release, they “will aggregate, support, and promote all news related to the fastener industry.”  They cover fasteners, aerospace, construction, additive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, 3D printing, social media, technology, STEM, trade shows and everything in between.  In short, they are spending a lot of time consolidating information from multiple media outlets and delivering the information to their Fastener News Desk site where you, the fastener industry professional, can conveniently scroll though and see what information is pertinent or useful to you.

You may already subscribe to some of the industry publications that they feature but there is a lot more information than that and it is definitely worth checking out.  Additionally, the folks at Hudson Fasteners deserve some credit for trying to push the limits of how social media is being used in the fastener industry.  There are certainly a lot of slow adaptors in our industry but that is not stopping the Hudson group from forging ahead and trying to engage the individuals who do see value and opportunity though the social media tools.  Their Twitter feed, @FastenerNews recently reached over 2700 qualified followers and they have an additional 1300+ qualified members on LinkedIn.  Over 1300 people currently view their online newspaper.  Clearly, someone is out there on Twitter and LinkedIn and Hudson Fasteners is committed to networking with as many of them as possible.  Check out their new blog and see for yourself.

Over the last few weeks I have visited several customers who have had really strong sales this summer.  In fact, one day I had three different companies tell me that they had record months in July.  I wondered if it was just my area or even just certain particular geographic areas that were seeing this.  Then, I was online reading fastener news and happened to look at some headlines from Global Fastener News.

“Fastenal Reports First Double Digit Fastener Growth Since 2012”

“Bossard Reports Record Sales and Profits”

“Lindstrom Opens Texas Warehouse to Expand in Southwest” – not related to sales specifically, but expansion

There seems to be a lot of positive fastener sales sentiment out there.  While speaking with Eric Dudas of Fasteners Clearing House he mentioned that July was a record breaker there too.  Eric reported that they had a record number of “drill downs” which he described as when people who are looking for items actually find and purchase them.  Eric can clarify this if he needs to but I take it that a “drill down” is essentially when a fastener search and find is successful.  Go do your own search  at www.fastenersclearinghouse.com.

This time of year is usually still vacation time.  Historically, it is not that surprising to hear that companies are slow in July and then again around the holidays in December.  Not this year.  Hope this suggests that the remainder of 2014 is going to be strong.  And we are now entering into the back-to-school, all done with vacation time of year.  And it our industry, that quickly leads us into trade show season.  That is always a good time for hearing feedback from others in the industry from coast to coast.  In the meantime, let me know how things are going in your neck of the woods.

Usually, when I get my Nightingale-Conant Motivational Quote of the Day I delete them before I read them.  Just clicked on it today and got:

I’m good with that.

Before one thinks I am going to write anything negative about the Vegas show, I’m not.  Jim and Mike have created a great show, I attend every year, and I have made more money through that show than they have ever charged me to attend.  Whether it was a meeting with a supplier, a customer or a new acquaintance, the Vegas Fastener show has been invaluable to me.  And last year’s show was among the best!

But, I do have some food for thought on the days around the show.  I got, and filled out my registration form for the show this week.  And, as I read through, I spent some time looking over the “Meeting and Seminar Information” section.  There certainly are some interesting programs that are being offered by a number of organizations.  However, the timing of some of the programs conflict with other programs.   Then, I also realized that companies have sales meetings and hospitality suites and all other kind of distractions that could cause one to miss some of these programs.  My first thought wass, can you really even get people to settle down long enough in Vegas to have a day long schedule of classes and programs?  Are they too distracted by everything else going on that is not fastener industry related?

STAFDA has a trade show each year and they just had it in Vegas last year.  Many fastener people attend, but I did not.  Too much Vegas in one year.  But I am going to attend STAFDA in Charlotte in November.  STAFDA will have “BIG” speakers and museum tours and all kinds of NASCAR related stuff this year.  I’m not an anti-NASCAR guy, but I’m not a NASCAR guy either.  I was raised watching baseball, football and basketball.  I’m still going to check out the NASCAR stuff, but I’d be a lot more excited to be going to New York, hearing Phil Jackson talk and then go to Madison Square Garden for a Knicks game.  That event would be more to my liking.  Could, or should the Vegas fastener show ever try to have a day long schedule of events that would keep people from going to the Vegas strip all day?

Let’s start with this.  What if I had a famous relative who would come speak to our industry for free.  Maybe Phil Jackson or Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates or someone else that might appeal to a wide range of people.  Could we have something like:

Breakfast Meeting – Panel Discussion with an industry related topic, featuring highly influential people form the fastener world

Morning Breakout Sessions – FTI workshop, conflict mineral, communications seminar & MANA workshops are already on the Vegas schedule, so maybe we’ll just use those topics

Noon – Lunch & Speaker (with either Uncle Phil, Cousin Warren, Nephew Mark or brother in law Bill- for instance)

Afternoon Breakout Session – like the morning

Finish by 4:00 so everyone could make it to the opening ceremonies and the bash

Is that a program that would be worth considering?  Right now, the day before the show feels kind of splintered.  Some come in for programs, others set up that day and then others take advantage of the fact that their whole staff is coming to town and they hold meetings.  So, fastener people are running in every direction.  I just think there might be an interesting way to have a fastener summit – a day where a lot of fastener people get together to discuss a lot of industry related (or at least of interest to a lot of our industry members) topics for a day, before we all walk the trade show the following day.

The Vegas show has a great history and has continued to expand and bring different, related industries to join in the show.  Like anything, there is always room for growth and new ideas.  That’s why I ask, could it still be bigger and better?  Or better yet, how could it be?

Looks like the Bourbon Room Bash is going to be on again this year at the Vegas Fastener Show.  Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 23.  Finally got in touch with Mark the Rock Dude who was master of ceremonies last year.  He remembered our group (seriously).   Said we were a good drinking group!  Hmm.   Details to follow!

I am not a member of the NFDA but I know quite a few members. During the NFDA’s recent meeting in New Orleans, they held what are called Executive Planning Sessions, or ESPS. As their promotional information described: “Held in private suites, ESPS bring you face-to-face with several of your current and future trading partners, providing you a unique opportunity to connect, network and conduct business, all in a single trip. Open to NFDA members and nonmembers alike, this format is one of the most efficient ways to build and maintain key business relationships”. In short, the ESPS sessions are a sort of speed dating where you can meet with several people in one day without having to travel to multiple destinations. Unlike a trade show, you have private meetings for a set period of time then you change rooms to meet with your next client. NFDA’s program is aimed at executive-level interchange and each meeting lasts about 25 minutes.

The people I spoke with who attended said they had several excellent meetings at the NFDA event. Every meeting is not necessarily a Home Run, but even their less productive meetings seemed to be informative. On a personal note, about a week after the NFDA meeting, I was copied on a letter sent to one of my principals from one of my customers. I have been working for more than a year to get an opportunity to quote this customer and they are finally allowing my supplier the opportunity to quote based on their ESPS meeting! They were kind enough to copy me, I guess to say, “OK, here’s your chance…finally”. If that particular meeting had not taken place, I’m not sure we would be quoting the business.

NFDA’s program is aimed at executive-level meetings as that is their target audience. It falls within the program structure of the NFDA. I think this is a very valuable tool but it might also be something that could be expanded down the road. It is great to travel to a destination where you can meet with 15 or 20 companies in one day. But, only so many people can be flown to a destination to attend these meetings. NFDA serves the executive teams very well, and the member companies benefit from meetings even if only a few members of the companies attend. It would be interesting to have a similar program aimed at inside sales people or purchasing people where a “speed dating” type of schedule could allow them to meet with 20 other companies in one day. Maybe it could be done through video conference or a separate day could be set aside at some kind of “fastener summit” as part of a trade show schedule. But, for now, I’ll tip my hat to the NFDA as they seemed to have a very popular and productive program that is already up and running.

30 Under 30

The Fastener Industry Coalition (FIC) in cooperation with the newly formed fastener industry association, Young Fastener Professionals (YFP), is sponsoring an initiative to identify 30 of the “up and comers” in the fastener industry.  Termed “30 Under 30”, this recognition program is open to any fastener industry professional 30 years or younger.  Nominations for this program must be received by September 15 and the “30 Under 30” will be announced and recognized at the National Industrial Fastener Show in Las Vegas.

Nominees are allowed to submit their own applications but other members of the fastener industry can nominate them as well.  Application forms are available on both organizations’ websites:

www.youngfastenerprofessionals.com

www.fastenercoalition.org

The Young Fastener Professionals association is a newly formed group creating a platform for young professionals to share their knowledge and perspective with the fastener industry. Directed by the next generation and comprised of companies within the fastener industry, YFP is focused on driving business forward while seamlessly adapting to our constantly changing business environment.  While respectfully embracing and preserving the industry’s past, this next generation is re-shaping our business spectrum through technology and the implementation of the most current business practices.  YFP invites and encourages young professionals to join and become part of this process.  Additional information and membership applications can be found on their website.

The Fastener Industry Coalition is an organization made up of regional and national fastener associations concerned with the distribution, manufacture and importation of fasteners as wellas services to the fastener industry. Since it’s inception, the FIC has evolved into an important organization within the fastener industry. With all of the regional fastener associations, three national associations and a training institute as members, the FIC is the only organization in the fastener industry where specific industry topics can be addressed and acted upon by an existing collective industry network. Political advocacy is still a high priority for the FIC.

Long Branch, NJ, July 8, 2014– Newly formed association, Young Fastener Professionals, is offering a glimpse of the fastener industry through the eyes of the next generation. It is a national organization led by young professionals from companies within the fastener industry with hopes of sharing their knowledge and experiences for the advancement of practices within our marketplace. Comprised of fastener and fastener-related companies, YFP strives to deliver industry information through social media, live events and word-of-mouth. Aside from the educational aspect of this organization, member companies will be able to utilize YFP for professional job support and advertising opportunities among other incentives. For general inquiries and membership information please check out the website: www.youngfastenerprofessionals.com