Masonry Magazine May 2006 Page. 57
annual NCMCA Apprentice Skills Contest at Adams Products Company in Fayetteville, N.C., on Saturday, May 20.
Contestants will compete for cash and tool prizes, as well as the "David R. Sigmon" award for top score.
Last year, McGee Brothers Company took the top prize as Josh Morrison finished first, winning $500, the Sigmon Award and a wheelbarrow full of tools. Morrison earned second place in the third-year category in the MCAA International Masonry Skills Challenge in Las Vegas, March 30.
To participate, contestants must be sponsored by a contractor member of NCMCA, supply his or her own tools, have proper safety equipment, and have completed less than 6,000 hours of training before the competition. Complete rules are included with the registration blanks.
A $50 entry fee is required per contestant. Everyone who competes wins prizes. The contest chairman, Gary Manning, expressed the association's appreciation to Adams Products Company for hosting this year's event, and extends an invitation for everyone to come enjoy the contest and fellowship.
For more information, visit www.nemca.com.
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Industry News
Pettibone Adds New Distributors
Pettibone is pleased to announce the newest additions to its distributor family. The newest distributors are:
* Capital Industrial, Edmonton, Alberta
* KC Rental Services LLC, Johnsbury, Vt.
* Mazzotta Rentals, Middletown, Conn.
* OCT Equipment LLC, Clinton, Okla.
* Select Equipment LLC, Richmond, Va.
* Tools 4 Hire, South Boston, Mass.
* U-Save Equipment, San Francisco
This is just the first announcement for 2006; Pettibone plans to add additional distributors in the months to follow.
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Buechel Stone Unveils its New NTV Value Product Line
Buechel Stone Corp. is excited to announce the launch of its new Natural Thin Veneer (NTV) value product line. The product line offers a fresh new range of colors, is aggressively priced to compete with manufactured stone, and is available in building, fireplace and accent stone.
The stone types included in the value product line include Chilton Country Squire, Chilton Webwall, Chilton Sedona Rustic, Chilton Heritage Blend, Fond du Lac Country Squire, Fond du Lac Heritage Blend, Fond du Lac Webwall, Pine Log, Whispering Pines Pioneer Blend, Whispering Pines Fieldstone and Whispering Pines Ledgestone. All of the products are 100-percent natural, quarried stone. Color ranges include buffs, reds, grays, pines, mauves, browns, tans and charcoals.
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Ignite Your Sales with Bon Fire™™ Private Label Program
Bon Tool Co. now has a wide selection of products available for imprinting through its BonFire private label program. Line pins, grout bags, carpenter pencils and canvas bags are a few the items that can be customized to promote your company.
These personalized products are an effective way to keep your business name and contact information on the job site and in front of your customers or prospective customers. Competitive quantity discounts and attractive packaging are available and suitable for stocking orders.
All of the products included in the BonFire program are contractor-grade tools from Bon Tool Co. These professional-quality tools are built to withstand the most rugged job site conditions.
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EZ Grout Corporation Awards Distributor and Salesman of the Year
EZ Grout Corporation would like to congratulate Jim Honaker for being recognized as the 2005 "Salesman of the Year."
Honaker resides in Moneta, Va., and is co-owner of Prime Masonry Equipment, which was honored as "Distributor of the Year" for 2005. Prime Masonry Equipment's territory includes the following areas: Virginia, eastern North Carolina and South Carolina.
Honaker and Prime Masonry Equipment have experienced tremendous business growth, and EZ Grout Corporation would like to extend its appreciation for all of the hard work they have done.
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Building Industry Fails to Capitalize on Web-based Marketing
An overwhelming 90 percent of building industry professionals use the Web to research products, according to a 2005 survey. Despite this evidence, a large number of manufacturers, distributors and others in the industry continue to neglect or misunderstand crucial Web-based marketing tools.
Now, according to a white paper officially released today by Baublitz Advertising, any company can take solid steps to harness the Web-a powerful and relatively inexpensive medium.
"Web Imperatives in the Building and Construction Materials Industry: Five Steps to Creating a Better B2B Site" explores how companies who execute a well-planned Web strategy can gain several key advantages over competitors.
"When it comes to the Web, many companies in our industry are stuck in the 1990s," said Jim Groff, president of Baublitz Advertising and author of "Web Imperatives." "They're missing opportunities, and they risk losing market share to a forward-thinking competitor. But it doesn't have to be that way."