by tradesmeninsights | Jul 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
Habitat for Humanity does much for local communities to create hope by building homes and strengthening neighborhoods. They count on people like us to help whenever possible.
Sonnhalter is hosting its second annual Tool Drive to help them get the necessary tools for volunteers to use when doing projects and we need your help. Last year, through the generosity of businesses like yours, more than $16,000 worth of tools and building materials were collected. Habitat is looking for building materials and tools that can be used to help eliminate substandard housing.
Here are a few ways you can help: Donate tools or other products that are useful in building homes. We are planning to do this event in the month of August; all tools collected would need to be shipped to the Sonnhalter office at 633 West Bagley Road, Berea, Ohio 44017 by Friday, September 2nd. For more information, click here.
by tradesmeninsights | Jun 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
There’s a lot of talk about manufacturing jobs continuing to go away in this country. But when I talk to manufacturers, one of the biggest issues they talk about domestically is finding qualified help. Apprentice programs for tool and die makers are shrinking due to lack of interest. Even factory production jobs aren’t menial labor jobs anymore. It takes skill and training to run CNC or other sophisticated machines.
The same is true with professional tradesmen in the contracting field. Talk to a plumbing or electrical contractor and they say the same thing. There aren’t enough young folks getting into those trades as well.
So what’s the problem? A good plumber or electrician can make a very good living and their jobs can’t be outsourced. I used to belong to a country club and next to doctors, contractors were the next biggest category of members! NJATC, IBEW and other trade associations and unions have training programs in place. Spokespeople like Mike Rowe has a passion to get more people into the trades. He’s even testified in Washington about the challenges that face us as a nation.
The same holds true in the manufacturing sector. There are good jobs for those that are trained properly. I know Skills for America’s Future and the Manufacturing Institute are trying to work with community colleges to develop successful programs so young folks can enter the workforce with skill sets necessary to get and keep a good job. Even President Obama is endorsing a manufacturing skills credentialing system and I hope it’s going to be more than window dressing.
The problem, in my opinion, is perception by young people that those kinds of jobs aren’t cool and they are low paying. Also most guidance counselors with most high schools are pointing everyone to college. Not everyone is 4-year college material. What young people don’t realize is that a plumber or journeyman electrician makes more than 4-year college graduates and they don’t have all those student loans to pay off.
Our challenge as an industry is to somehow mount a campaign to kids at an early age to show them that these kinds of jobs are cool and just as important, if not more so, than someone sitting behind a desk. Ideally, trade and manufacturing associations should come together and mount a public service campaign. Someone has to take the first step and we need someone visible enough to carry the message and credibility to the young folks.
I’d like to hear your thoughts on how we can secure the future for our kids.
by tradesmeninsights | May 11, 2011 | Uncategorized
I’m a contributor to a blog that focuses on the tradesman and what’s happening with their vans. They have a promotion going on that might be of interest to some of you.
Got a cool tool in your van that you find either absolutely essential or, frankly, just cool? A highly specialized, expensive piece of equipment that’s essential to your job? Or maybe a roll of duct tape in the back of your van? Now there’s an easy way to show off your coolest tool and win the world’s coolest gadget in the process!
The SmartVan’s excited to announce its “Cool Tool” contest, open to tradesmen everywhere. To enter, simply submit a photo of you with the tool and a short description of what makes your chosen tool so essential. The winner gets an iPad 2!
It’s easy to enter:
- Submit a photo and/or video of the coolest or most essential tool in your toolbox (make sure you’re in the frame, please — wrenches are a lot more interesting when accompanied by a human)
- Include your name, company and location
- Include a brief explanation of why the tool in the photo is so essential
- Email submissions to [email protected]
- The coolest submission will win a new iPad 2!
*Submissions are due Friday, May 13.
Read more details on The SmartVan
by tradesmeninsights | May 10, 2011 | Uncategorized
For those of you going to Chicago May 14-17th for the ISA Show, we put together an Insider’s Guide by asking friends and business associates about gems in the city that you may or may not be aware of. It includes Restaurants, Nighlife and more. It’s available at www.sonnhalter.com/chicago.
Hope you have a good show
by tradesmeninsights | Feb 15, 2011 | Marketing Tips, Social Marketing, Uncategorized
A recent survey of business people by Forbes in October of 2010 cited that a majority (60%) would watch a video before reading text on the same web page. 75% of executives said they watched work-related videos on business sites at least once a week with more than half doing the same on YouTube.
The study shows that video can be a highly effective tool in getting your message across.
So the question is, are you utilizing video to help you sell on the web?
If you like this post, you may like:
Make Videos Part of your Direct Marketing Plans to Professional Tradesmen.
Online Video Marketing: a Great Way to Educate Professional Tradesmen
by tradesmeninsights | Feb 8, 2011 | Marketing Tools, Social Marketing, Uncategorized
Life as a marketing person isn’t as simple as it once was. With the arrival of social media, new expectations from your boss and new buying processes, where do you turn? Marketo recently released their new e-book, The Marketing Manifesto which outlines ways you can get quality leads and keep your ears on your entire market.
Highlights include:
- Exposing your beliefs – what’s your company’s passion?
- Value proposition – why should I believe in you?
- Think beyond digital – integrated engagements are the ones that last.
It also identifies 6 B-to-B weapons including content marketing, testing, analytics, lead nurturing, search and community.
It’s a good read.
Sonnhalter is hosting its second annual Tool Drive to help them get the necessary tools for volunteers to use when doing projects and we need your help. Last year, through the generosity of businesses like yours, more than $16,000 worth of tools and building materials were collected. Habitat is looking for building materials and tools that can be used to help eliminate substandard housing.
