Every first Friday in October, National Manufacturing Day occurs. This day was organized nationally by the Manufacturing Institute, in hopes of inspiring new generations of up-and-coming manufacturers. On this day, we hope to change perceptions about this industry and empower manufacturers to come together and make a difference towards the future. Skilled workers, engineers, technicians, and managers all play crucial roles in ensuring that the manufacturing processes run smoothly and efficiently. If we did not have manufacturers, we would not be where we are as a society today. This day is an opportunity to honor their hard work, dedication, and ingenuity. To learn how you can participate in a future National Manufacturing Day, click here!
Sonnhalter is excited to announce the release of our Birmingham Insider’s Guide! This new resource is your key to exploring the Iron City, filled with restaurants and fun activities.
Discover Birmingham’s diverse dining scene, featuring restaurants led by James Beard award-winning chefs, and immerse yourself in the city’s renowned music culture. Whether you’re hitting the golf courses or exploring local museums, our guide highlights everything you need to make the most of your trip.
CLEVELAND –September 2024 – Sonnhalter, a communications firm marketing to the professional tradesman in the construction, industrial and MRO markets, partnered with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity for Sonnhalter’s 15th Annual Tool Drive. The initiative ran the entire month of August and collected nearly $50,000 worth of donations of tools and building materials. Since Sonnhalter began its efforts in 2010, it has collected $567,000—more than half a million in donations.
Organizations, businesses and residents were encouraged to donate new and gently used tools, including various building materials, furniture and appliances, to Sonnhalter in order to benefit Habitat for Humanity’s cause of eliminating substandard housing and homelessness.
“Each year, we are amazed by the outpouring of support that we receive from the community, our various industry business partners and friends,” said Matt Sonnhalter, vision architect at Sonnhalter. “This year—our fifteenth annual Sonnhalter Tool Drive—did not disappoint, as we have collected nearly $50,000 to benefit this great cause.”
“We are so appreciative of Sonnhalter’s commitment of time, talent and treasure to Habitat’s cause. We simply couldn’t do this sacred work without their generosity and that of the public,” said John Litten, president/CEO of the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. “I also loved being all over town and seeing the Sonnhalter/Habitat donation bins!”
Community participants in the 15th Annual Sonnhalter Tool Drive included Berea Recreation Center, Canvas at Valor Acres, Cuyahoga County Public Library-Berea Branch, Frangos Group, Rising Star Coffee Roasters, Skidmark Garage, St. Mary of the Falls, The Wine Spot and many individuals living in the community.
Trade industry participants in the 15th Annual Sonnhalter Tool Drive included General Pipe Cleaners, Independence Excavating, Jergens, Inc., Kapro, Lakeside Supply, Mortar Net, NIBCO, Samsel Supply, Stahlwille, Wright and The Macomb Group/Woodhill Supply.
All donations that Sonnhalter collected on behalf of the Tool Drive benefited Greater Cleveland’s Habitat for Humanity. The donated items will be used for various projects with Habitat for Humanity or will be sold at one of the organization’s ReStores, recycled building materials and home furnishings stores. Proceeds from the ReStore sales are used to help Habitat build and rehabilitate homes for those in need.
About Sonnhalter
Established in 1976, Sonnhalter is the leading B2T marketing communications firm to companies that target professional tradesmen in construction, industrial and MRO markets. Sonnhalter is located in the historic Brownell Building in the heart of downtown Cleveland. Sonnhalter’s brand identity highlights its expertise in marketing to the professional tradesmen. Its tagline, “Not Afraid To Get Our Hands Dirty,” promotes the employees’ willingness to roll up their sleeves and dig deep into clients’ businesses, also, it refers to the market it targets: the tradesmen who work with – and dirty – their hands every day. Sonnhalter developed the acronym “B2T,” which stands for “business-to-tradesmen” to capture the essence of its specialty. For more information, visit the company website at Sonnhalter.com.
About Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity engages people of all backgrounds to eliminate substandard housing. Cleveland Habitat was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1987. Since then, Cleveland Habitat has brought together community members, volunteers and sponsor groups to help more than 300 Habitat homeowners, including more than 1,000 children, have a safe and decent place to live. For more information on Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, visit: https://www.clevelandhabitat.org/.
Did you know that National Tradesman Day is every third Friday in September? Here’s the back story on how it became a nationally recognized holiday.
This holiday was founded in 2011 by Irwin Tool, a company that specializes in selling high quality tools. It was created in an effort to recognize and celebrate those in the trades. Every day, the hard work and importance of tradespeople goes overlooked and underappreciated. If we didn’t have plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs and carpenters, making our lives easier, our society wouldn’t function as smoothly or efficiently
So next time your sink gets clogged, or your power goes out, be sure to generously thank those who are getting you out of that problem and wish them a happy holiday this September 20.
Following is a guest post from our friends over at Long & Short of It, masters of ideation, customer insights and market research. They like to say they “dig and find lots of data and then turn it into actionable insights.” Following is their guest post.
Let’s say your company just went through the rigorous process of crafting the perfect mission and vision statements (or a combo of both which is perfectly acceptable). Or it could be your values, purpose, manifesto, or any other term that describes why you exist, what drives you, what differentiates you, or what you aim to achieve in the long term.
Now what?
Those words are often then posted on walls, websites, and communicated to employees to help remind them why they are here and where the company is headed. Then the dust settles. Has anything changed over the next few months or a year? Sadly, at times nothing meaningful has changed.
Lack of change often comes down to these reasons:
CEO and the leadership team are not leading the way. Yes, everyone in the company is responsible, but you can’t expect a bottom-up approach to have change take hold. Leadership must empower the team and lead by example.
Lack of a robust activation plan. Communicating the statements is not a plan. Just like your brand, every element of the company from manufacturing to marketing, sales, operations, and service must look at their actions and make necessary changes to align with the statements.
Having a short-term view. Change does not come fast and if it means true change, it may not be easy. The actions must be consistent and continuously applied. Your statements and the behaviors expected from them are at the root of your company’s culture and that takes patience to evolve.
A tale of two companies
A classic example of where words didn’t mean anything was the resulting debacle from a company which had values of “Respect, Integrity, Communication and Excellence” and further stated their mission as, “We treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves….We do not tolerate abusive or disrespectful treatment. Ruthlessness, callousness and arrogance don’t belong here.” That was Enron. Founded in 1985 and went into bankruptcy in 2001.
Alternatively, Patagonia which updated their core values in 2022 on the eve of their 50th anniversary is guided by the values of Quality, Integrity, Environmentalism, Justice, and Not being bound by convention. These are just the titles that are followed by more detailed explanations for each value (https://www.patagonia.com/core-values/)
When it’s time to update your values, mission, and vision statement, be prepared for the hard work that comes afterwards. You may end up doing more harm than good if they are simply words that makes everyone feel good in the short run. The power of these statements resides in their continual and steadfast application. Do what you say.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved, surpassing its original concept to becoming a driving force behind marketing across industries.
From personalized customer experiences to data-driven insights, AI has revolutionized how businesses engage with their audiences and navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing. Let’s look at the evolution of AI and explore how it is reshaping the strategies and tactics employed by marketing professionals today.
Personalization
In recent years, AI-powered marketing tools and technologies have empowered businesses to streamline operations, enhance efficiency and deliver results. Automated email campaigns, analytics and chatbots are just a few examples of how AI is revolutionizing workflows, enabling businesses to automate repetitive tasks, optimize campaigns in real-time and engage customers with personalized content.
Insights and Analytics
In an increasingly data-driven world, the ability to extract insights from large volumes of data is vital to success in marketing. AI-powered analytics platforms leverage machine learning algorithms to analyze complex data, identify patterns and uncover valuable insights for preferences and trends. These insights empower marketers to make data-driven decisions, optimize marketing strategies and stay ahead of the competition.
Customer Engagement
In 2024, consumers expect personalized experiences tailored to their preferences and needs. AI-driven personalization platforms leverage algorithms to analyze customer data and deliver targeted content across multiple channels. Whether through website content, personalized product recommendations, businesses can create seamless, relevant experiences that resonate with customers and drive engagement.
Ethical Considerations
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into marketing, it is essential to consider the ethical implications. Navigating the ethical landscape of AI in marketing requires a thoughtful approach that prioritizes transparency and accountability. Moreover, while AI can automate many aspects of marketing, the human touch remains essential. Authenticity, empathy and human connection are qualities that cannot be replicated by machines and are crucial to building meaningful relationships with customers.
The Future of AI in Marketing
As we look to the future, the evolution of AI in marketing shows no signs of slowing down. It is crucial to remember that AI is a tool and that the human touch is essential. The success of AI in marketing hinges not only on technological ability but also on human ingenuity and creativity. By embracing AI, professionals can unlock new opportunities and shape the future of marketing in 2024 and beyond.
