Cell phones. They're with us all the time. And we use them all the time to talk … to co-workers, to family, to friends, to the cable guy, to the doctor, to the kids' teachers, etc. We can text-message on them, or take photos, or play games. But did you ever think you could use cell phones to pinpoint where your techs are, or have them quickly and safely process credit cards onsite?
David Heffner has been a service plumber for most of his 15 years in the industry. When he struck out on his own to establish Heffner and Associates in 2001, he brought to his new business all of his field experience, but also a dedication and commitment to his customers.
Wal-Mart, legendary for its ability to squeeze out more profits from highly efficient operations, is now applying that same philosophy to its own consumption of energy.
“Who better than Wal-Mart to stretch energy dollars farther than anyone ever has?” asks company Chief Executive Lee Scott in a speech given to employees last fall prior to a two-day meeting for analysts of the publicly traded retailer. “To help lower our energy bills and gas prices for years to come, the environment is begging for the Wal-Mart business model.”
The Hispanic workforce is unique to our contemporary business environment. As a group of people, this workforce is considered to be critical to the success of the construction industry. At the same time, members of the Hispanic workforce have special training needs that their Anglo counterparts do not have.
Let's get right to the point: C.J. Erickson Plumbing Co. is unique in this business.
Not only has it survived - and thrived - to reach its 100th anniversary, it has done so serving a city that is known for its “windy” politics and projects. Add to those accomplishments the fact that the company hasn't diverted its focus to HVAC, piping or fire protection, but continues to be a union plumbing shop, just as Carl Joseph “Joe” Erickson intended back in 1906. Topping off its uniqueness, the company has reached year 100 with an Erickson at the helm each year, and is now into its fourth generation.
With 74 branches and 50,000 SKUs, chances are contractors can find the products they need from Sid Harvey's. Last year, however, the company took the extra step of helping its customers find what is in very short supply in our industry - new employees.
Sid Harvey's has always put a premium on customer service. The company's extensive network of branches, expanded counter services and personnel offer only the most visible reminder of that dedication.
There are additional services going on behind the scenes to make it easier for contractors to pick products they need and the type of delivery they want.
For approximately the first 20 years of its history, Sid Harvey's growth closely paralleled that of the industry in which founder Sidney W. Harvey had elected to do business in 1931. That was the year that he rented a second-floor office in Hempstead, N.Y., and began distributing oil heating with an inventory of 10 burners.
Sid Harvey's has been busy remodeling many of its branches, but the touchup goes deeper than a new coat of paint. “We have expanded our equipment lines over the past five years,” says John Rynecki, senior vice president/sales and marketing. “As a result, we needed more bricks and mortar, so many of our branches have either moved or been enlarged.”
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