New South Construction Supply eNews - January 2007

Dear Friends:

Our biggest news this month is that we’ve changed our name (slightly), our logo, and added a slogan to part of our logo. Since the inception of New South Supply in early 1981, the same logo has been used. We thought it was time to update the logo and slightly change our name to better reflect what we do. We’re now known as New South Construction Supply, as opposed to just New South Supply. We felt that our name didn’t indicate whether we distributed construction supplies or restaurant equipment. We think our new name makes it very clear that we’re in the construction supply business. You’ll notice that our new logo includes a bear. Some of you, as well as some of our suppliers, were surveyed by the branding company we employed to help us with refreshing our brand. They asked you for adjectives to describe us. Two of the most frequently used words were “aggressive” and “strong,” hence the bear. Our new slogan, “Know How, Can Do” also reflects the results of the survey, which told us that we’re appreciated for our “know how” and our “can do” attitude.

The next time you visit one of our branches you’ll notice that we’ve put new signs in and on our buildings, we’ve had the signage on our trucks changed, and our salespeople and drivers have new uniforms, as well as many other changes to employ the new name and logo. This is all part of our remodeling and renovation to serve you better in the future. I hope you’ll like the change.

We’re also instituting some new policies to improve our service. We know that on-time deliveries are crucial to the success of your company. Therefore, in the future, if you ask for a specific delivery time and we say that we can meet it, if we’re more than one hour late we’ll give you a credit of 10% of the amount of that order off of a future order. This is what we call putting our money where our mouth is.

We also realize that sometimes you have to work nights, weekends, and holidays to meet deadlines. We, in the spirit of partnership, are willing to make emergency deliveries during those periods. Simply let us know when you need a delivery during non-business hours, and we’ll work it out.

This is all part of our desire to make it abundantly clear that we value your business and that we’ll do whatever it takes to service you better than any of our competitors.

On another front, we’re excited about hosting over 100 customers/spouses/guests on our first annual President’s Club trip, a cruise leaving out of Miami on February 15 th. If you’re going with us, we’re looking forward to seeing you, and if you’re not, we hope you’ll be going with us on next year’s trip. Look for information on our next trip within the next 30 days. If you’d like to make sure you receive information on the trip, please send me an e-mail.

In this month’s newsletter, there are pictures of the remodeling of our Columbia showroom. As you’ll see from the below pictures, we totally renovated the showroom and greatly expanded it. We have a vastly larger selection of tools, safety equipment, hardhats, and other things that you need when stopping by one of our branches. I felt it was poor customer service to not have everything that you needed, and your suggestions encouraged us to renovate and expand our showrooms. As I said in a recent newsletter, we’re renovating or relocating each of our branches over the next 18 months, and most branches will have an approximately 5,000 square foot showroom to better serve you. I hope you like what you see in the pictures of the Columbia remodel, as that’s how our Myrtle Beach branch already looks, and it’s how all of our branches will look in the near future.

Another part of our renewed commitment to being your preferred supplier is that, in 2007 and beyond, we’re putting a major emphasis on product knowledge training for our staff, as well as our customers. The internet has changed a lot of things in our lives, including the ability to do training classes for multiple locations simultaneously over the internet. We’re going to be holding monthly training classes over the internet for our associates, and you’re welcome to join in if you’d like. This will be a fast and inexpensive way to increase your product knowledge or the product knowledge of your employees. Our first internet training class will be at 5:00 p.m. EST on February 27th. Sandell Manufacturing, one of the leaders in masonry industry, will be doing a training class on the proper use of flashing and masonry accessories. If you’d like to be able to participate in this training class (for free!), simply e-mail Glynnis Judy, our Marketing Coordinator, and she’ll send you the dial-in number and password. Her e-mail address is glynnis.judy@newsouthsupply.com.

How this works is you simply need to be at a computer connected to the internet, and you then will go to a web address that we will send you. You will also dial-in so you can listen to the audio portion of the program over the telephone. The program will be approximately one hour long, with about 45 minutes of instruction and 15 minutes of Q&A.

We’re excited about using this new technology for our own internal training, and we hope that you’ll join us for some of the classes that interest you.

Also, below is a link to a customer satisfaction survey, which we will include in our newsletter periodically. We’ve included this to establish a baseline of our performance so that we can see if we’re getting better over time. Please click on the below link and take one to two minutes to answer just a few simple questions about your satisfaction level with our company. Take the short survey here: http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB225ZFP9JJFW

In terms of what’s happening with commodity prices, below is a recap of the current state of the market based on what we’re hearing from our suppliers:

Although rebar prices were not expected to increase until March, domestic mills have announced a price increase of $15.00/ton effective February 1st. Limited availability of imports plus domestic mills not wanting to have a huge increase in March contributed to their decision to increase prices somewhat in February and then again in March. With the price of import rebar moving upward, it’s expected that domestic mills will increase prices another $15.00 to $20.00/ton in March. We think you should purchase now for your upcoming jobs, as it’s a sure bet that prices will continue to increase until summer.

Wire rod prices have risen approximately 3 to 4% recently and will affect the price of welded wire mesh by March. Currently, no wire mesh manufacturers have announced an increase due to low demand, but with demand expected to increase in the spring, coupled with the cost of wire rod rising, expect wire mesh prices to rise by March.

Polyethylene manufacturers will try to support the resin price increase that was announced in December. Poly manufacturers intend to increase their asking price by $.75 to $1.00/MSF for 4 mil clear poly before the end of January. Demand has increased and most manufacturers’ lead times have increased slightly over the past few weeks. As the spring selling season is nearly here, expect poly prices to increase again sometime in March.

It appears the increase for masonry reinforcing and anchors that went into effect on January 1st due to the increased cost off galvanization is holding. As the cost of wire rod has increased, expect another increase in masonry reinforcing prices sometime in the next 45 to 60 days.

The question of the month this month is, “how’s business?” Please let us know how business looks for you for the first half of 2007.

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Use this link if the form above doesn't work

This month, we’re profiling the following three suppliers:

  • Kraft Tools is one of the largest manufacturers of masonry and concrete tools in the world. They own multiple brands, including the W. Rose brand of high-end tools. Kraft Tools are stocked at all of our locations. Please keep this in mind when you have the need for any masonry or concrete tools.
  • MeadowBurke is another well known name in the construction industry. They a recognized leader in the manufacturing and distribution of concrete accessories. They have a full-line of concrete accessories and all are available from your nearest New South branch. See below for more information.
  • Wire-Bond is one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of masonry reinforcement products and accessories. They are also known for their innovations. See below for one of their newest time saving products.

This month’s management article is on how to attract the best people. People are the only thing our competitors can’t duplicate so attracting and keeping the best people is central to any successful business. I hope your company will benefit from this article.

In closing, we will be seeing many of your on our Caribbean cruise on February 15th. Those of you who aren’t going this year we hope to see next year!

Thanks for your business!

Sincerely,

Jim Sobeck
President
(864) 325-6518
jim.sobeck@newsouthsupply.com
This month we are featuring the following suppliers:

 

Kraft Tool Co. ®

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kraft Tool Co.® also manufactures and distributes W.Rose™, Sands Level and Tool Co.®, Inc. and Superior Tile Cutter®, Inc. products. Each of these tool brands have a long tradition of providing unique, top quality tools.

Kraft Tool has recently introduced the NEW 2007 Tool Catalog. New top quality products can be found throughout.

Professional Tradesmen can count on Kraft Tool products to do the best job. Please stop by your nearest North South location for more details about Kraft Tool products

For seven decades Meadow Burke has stood for stability, reliability and quality. They have shown their customers that they can depend on them for solid product development, superior quality and dependable technical and customer support..

Meadow Burke is a recognized leader in the manufacture and distribution of concrete accessories. They manufacture and distribute rebar supports, precast lifting and handling systems, rebar couplers and splice systems, inserts, and bridge deck forming products for some of the nation’s largest and most prestigious building projects.


For pricing or more information please call your New South representative.

WIRE-BOND


WIRE-BOND Introduces CoreLock,

The “Seated” Rebar Positioner

  • Installing rebar has never been easier!
  • One-piece diagonal design locks positioner 1-1/4” deep into core of CMU.
  • Rebar is always automatically centered in core.
  • Eliminates movement of positioner during rebar installation.

CoreLock and all WIRE-BOND products are available at all New South branches.

 

 

Attract the best people
by John Strelecky 

Smart leaders don’t recruit the best people; they attract them. Why do they do it? They do it because it makes their lives easier, and their companies more successful. How do they do it? They have a clearly defined corporate Purpose For Existing (PFE), they tell the world about it; they live it; and the best people come to them.

The success of this method is based on two principles. The first is a very basic tenant of life on the planet: Like attracts like. It is the reason zebras run together on the African plains, similar looking fish travel in schools, and in any given crowd of people, each sub-group is composed of individuals with similar characteristics. A leader who has defined their company’s PFE is saying in essence: "I am a zebra. If you are a zebra, come out here on the plains and join me."

The second principle is that the best and the brightest in the workforce seek more than just a paycheck from their job, they seek fulfillment of their own personal Purpose For Existing (PFE). On average, employees spend 70 percent of their waking hours Monday through Friday either at work, getting to work, or preparing for work. For the most part, their work is their life. The best and the brightest know this and understand this. They want to make sure that while spending 70 percent of their life at work, they are in some way fulfilling their own PFE. They seek out companies where the organization’s PFE supports their own.

The concept of attracting vs. recruiting might not seem like an important topic in an era of economic uncertainty where companies are laying people off, or putting freezes on hiring. The U.S. has been in that situation now for almost the last three years. 

However, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and independent studies from professional staffing and Human Resource Management firms indicate a change is coming. Projections are for labor shortages starting this year in certain industries and increasing to approximately 6 million skilled workers in 2012.

The repercussions of such a shortage won’t just be felt in lost opportunity costs as companies can’t get the necessary qualified talent to serve their customers. More painful and directly impactful will be the costs felt as employers try to fill open positions. According to Human Resource studies, total costs to replace a skilled managerial level employee can total as much as 150 percent of the departing person’s salary by the time recruiting, training and productivity costs due to losses with current customers are factored in.

With studies showing 55 percent of salaried people planning on moving as jobs become available, this cost could be substantial for individual companies.

In light of this future, the opportunity to attract vs. recruit the best people, as well as the issue of maintaining the right employees, both become more relevant.

Leaders interested in creating an environment where they attract instead of recruit the best candidates should follow three key steps:
• clarify your PFE;
• tell the world what your PFE is; and,
• fulfill your PFE.

Clarify your PFE
What is your organization's PFE? Why was the organization formed? What unique function does it serve? Many organizations already have their PFE as a deeply imbedded part of their culture, and often it exists in some written form. It may seem obvious to you as a leader, or to your employees. Now is the time to either turn it into the written word if it isn’t yet, or make sure it is clearly articulated if it already exists in writing.

An example of a PFE that is clear, influential and to the point is that of Merck & Co. Inc. Merck is a global pharmaceutical products and services company that focuses heavily on research. Their PFE is stated in the following way: “Our business is preserving and improving human life.” They back this up with the following sub-statement. “All of our actions must be measured by our success in achieving this goal.”

Tell the world what your PFE is
When you have a clearly articulated version of your PFE, let the world know what it is. Put it on all your marketing materials, internal documents, Web sites and communications with buyers, suppliers, customers, campus placement offices and partners.

Make sure that when people hear the name of your company, they automatically know what your PFE is. It is through these efforts that you are saying to the world: “I am a zebra. If you too are a zebra, come join me."

Your PFE will have an impact on the people who interact with you. Those who have a personal PFE that is similar to your organization’s and who in fact can fulfill their PFE by helping your organization fulfill its PFE, will now be attracted to you. Think in terms of Merck. How attracted do you think someone is to Merck if their personal PFE is to improve human life?

Fulfill your PFE
Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you are saying.”

This is something for organizations to remember. To succeed in attracting, not recruiting the best people, an organization must live up to the PFE that it identifies and promotes to the world.

Exhibiting actions incongruent with that PFE will quickly damage the company’s credibility and decrease their attraction. However, for organizations that live the PFE they create, every action they do makes the attraction that much stronger for potential candidates.

Organizations that follow these three steps will find themselves approaching hiring in an entirely new way. Creating awareness about the organization’s PFE and then interviewing people attracted to the company will become the norm, not recruiting.

For organizations that are doing the three steps very successfully, having to work hard to recruit someone should be an indication that they are trying to get the wrong person. If someone clearly understands your organization’s PFE and your organization has done an effective job of fulfilling its PFE, but the person still needs to be convinced, then you don’t want them in your organization.

Make your life easier, make your company more successful. Don’t recruit the best people, attract them.

 
New South Construction Supply Locations

 

Main Office
Shipping:
951 Harbor Road
West Columbia, SC 29169

Mail:
PO Box 512
Columbia, SC 29202

Phone: (803) 791-8700
WATS:(800) 849-6768
Fax: (803) 796-0713

Concrete/Masonry Products Sales
Phone: (803) 791-8700
Accounting Dept. (803) 791-8724
WATS: (800) 849-6768
Main Fax: (803) 791-8191
President- Jim Sobeck (864) 325-6518
EVP/CFO- Kurt Herwald (864) 268-3970

VP-Operations & Purchasing- David Hodgin
(704)-358-9797
Acting Operations Manager- Donald Whately
Sales Manager- Jon Black
Controller- Dave Lewis


Other Locations

2829 White Horse Road
Greenville, SC 29611
Phone: (864) 269-7007
WATS: (800) 849-4454
Fax: (864) 269-6004
Operations Manager- Rob Hovanec
Sales Managers- Russ Lott & Lance Perry

1427 Mechanical Blvd.
Garner, NC (Raleigh) 27529
Phone: (919) 662-9012
WATS: (800) 849-4677
Fax: (919) 662-9412
Operations Manager- Vic Murray
Sales Manager- Bud Driggers

 

Other Locations

4987 Banco Road
N. Charleston SC 29418
Phone: (843)760-0780
WATS: (888)224-3140
Fax: (843) 760-6127
Operations Manager- David Starr
Sales Manager- Trip Moore

9050 D W. Market St.
Colfax (Greensboro) NC 27235
Phone: (336) 992-0237
WATS: (800) 609-0889
Fax: (336) 992-0839
Operations Manager- David Perkins
Sales Manager- Kearns Cheek

180 Rodeo Drive
Myrtle Beach SC 29579
Phone: (843) 236-6447
WATS: (800) 821-2676
Fax: (843) 236-6521
Operations Manger- George Acerbi
Sales Manager- Clint Paul

649-51 Anderson St.
Charlotte NC 28205
Phone: (704) 358-9797
WATS: (866) 375-9660
Fax: (704) 358-9646
Operations Manager: Sam Tanner
Sales Managers: Jim Harris & Dave Strawser

9156 Speedway Boulevard
Hardeeville (Hilton Head) SC 29927
Phone: (843) 784-1580
WATS: (866) 326-8802
Fax: (843) 784-1581
Operations Manager- Dave Davis
Sales Manager- Steve Melton

17251 Highway 53
Gulfport MS 39503
Phone: (228) 539-2519
WATS: (866) 506-7257
Fax: (228) 539-2771
Operations Manager- John Jalanivich
Sales Manager- Greg Cairns