Masonry Magazine July 2010 Page. 30
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
keenly aware of how technology is changing the way our users access information. We are actively changing our marketing mix to address this new change.
Masonry: Does your business participate
with any of the social media that are so rapidly growing in popularity?
Aronie: At this time, we have not put in the time to get involved with any of these possibilities to increase sales.
Join us at the 6th Annual Stone Fest
An educational convergence of the trades
Marenakos Rock Center
Issaquah, Washington
Instructors include
Patrick McAfee, Bobby Watt,
John Fisher, Karin Sprague
and many more!
Sept 13-17, 2010 www.StoneFest.org
info@stonefest.org
READER SERVICE #272
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28 MASONRY
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Jared Kennison
Sales, ext. 15
Joe Kennison
Sales, ext. 14
John Warlikowski
Western Region Sales
1-877-784-9163
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READER SERVICE #144
July 2010 www.masoncontractors.org
Bickett: We really haven't gotten in on this as we should have. I don't think I'm necessarily too old to learn some of these methods, but I'm a little leery of having perfect strangers scribbling all over my walls.
Coe: We want to continue to have an intimate relationship with our users. We are using Social Media to improve that relationship for the future. Video and users ratings are the runaway popular tools for learning all about new Bosch products. Therefore, it is our highest priority.
Masonry: Any new products you'd like to
talk about that you feel might boost your bottom line in 2010?
Aronie: We do have an item that we took out of mothballs, called the Quikpoint Lightning Grouter used for pointing on flat work such as paving block, brick work and stonework. The tool has been reengineered and is much more usable also the price has been reduced considerably.
Bickett: As I said earlier, sales growth in TotalFlash and Blok-Flash have been a big help in avoiding a serious decline. Both of these products offer greater moisture protection to the building envelope and significant labor savings, compared to conventional installations. As a result, the design community is specifying them more, and masons have been getting them substituted into more projects.
Coe: Users are getting very excited about some of the products we're introducing in the masonry and concrete categories this year. We'll be introducing a few new medium-weight rotary hammers with industry-first anti-vibration; a fantastic new 60-pound demolition hammer that will reset the standard we set 25 years ago, still relevant today; an innovative and radically newly designed "glide Miter saw;" and the next generation of the Power box are just a few of the products you can expect in 2010. In total, more than 70 new power tools and accessories.
Masonry: What advice would you give to
our mason contractor readers regarding keeping their heads above water and riding out this economic tsunami?
Aronie: Reduce labor and overhead as much as possible, and use time-saving tools.
Bickett: I won't presume that I could answer that in a way that would be meaningful to someone running a company that is under a great deal of pressure. I will say that one of my greatest concerns is that, for the long-term good of the industry, the smaller amount of work that is out there needs to be of high quality. Cutting corners now will result in having to go back to fix problems later, and can move designers and owners away from masonry construction and we don't need that.
Coe: Work smarter, not harder. If you use tools and accessories that keep you moving forward on the jobsite and get you to the next project sooner, you'll weather the storm and come out of it with a serious leg up on your competition. IMAS
The Voice of the Masonry Industry