by tradesmeninsights | Jul 31, 2018 | Marketing Trends, Tradesmen Insights, Uncategorized
By Chris Ilcin, Account Superintendent, Sonnhalter
Remember about 10 years ago? The Lord of the Ring movies had raked in awards (and millions of dollars), San Diego ComicCon became something you heard about, E3 became the trade show you wished you got to go to and The Big Bang Theory debuted, soon to become TV’s #1 show.
Suddenly “nerd culture” was all the rage. Writers were penning think pieces about how this was the ultimate victory for the kid that got picked on in high school. TV commentators discussed at length how this was a “cultural shift” and heralded a new age. 
Add to that the continued dominance of the Marvel superhero movies, and the last decade has definitely belonged to the kid that read comic books at lunch.
Well, I predict that the next decade will be the “Age of the Maker and Manufacturer.”
(more…)
by tradesmeninsights | Jun 29, 2016 | Uncategorized
By Chris Ilcin, Account Superintendent, Sonnhalter
It took creativity to start your business, and it takes creativity to keep it running every day. So why not apply that same creativity to the greatest challenge facing the manufacturing industry: the lack of skilled tradesmen and tradeswomen?
The time to act is now. Waiting for someone else to plug the hole simply won’t work. Schools’ budgets are squeezed too tight. Government agencies are interested in quick fixes, not long-term solutions. You need to find the next generation of workers.
You have two huge advantages: as a manufacturer you’re used to seeing a problem from all angles and creating a solution. And your jobs are actually cool. They allow people looking for a challenge to use their minds and hands together to build something.
So how do you reach future workers? Show off what you do! Take this example from Birmingham Georgia. A normal company would just see this as another contract. Another job. But BL Harbert saw an opportunity. The Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum is one of the most innovative museums in the world. Why not use it as a draw to show how their skills and abilities help make it that way?
via Alabama News Center
Partnering with Go Build Alabama, they arranged for 120 students to get an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of its museum expansion. Now, we can’t all be working on projects at cool museums, but believe me, much of what you do looks really cool to an outsider, especially when placed into the larger context of what it’s helping to create. I wish I could have seen a CNC machine in action when I was 16 or even a welder or PEX pipe. When you see what a little creativity can do to make the world a better place, or just to improve on an existing solution, you’ve captured someone’s imagination. And when you show them that they, too, can be a part of it, you’ve created a skilled tradesman.
Ready to get started?
Download Sonnhalter’s database of vocational education programs.
by Sonnhalter | Jun 3, 2014 | News, Press Release
Business-to-Tradesmen marketing communications firm creates podcasts sharing contractor perspectives on the contractor-manufacturer relationship.
BEREA, Ohio – June 2014 – Sonnhalter, a communications firm marketing to the professional tradesman in the construction, industrial and MRO markets, releases two new podcasts interviewing professional tradesmen on their interaction with manufacturers.
The first podcast, released May 7, features a conversation with Glen Ailport, owner of BSB Plumbing. Ailport has more than 30 years of plumbing experience and shared his thoughts on what would make relationships between contractors and manufacturers better, touching on the topics of supporting contractors, product training and how to connect with plumbing contractors.
The second podcast, released June 3, features a conversation with Angelo Ferrante Jr., owner of A&F Home Improvements. Ferrante has nearly 40 years of home improvement experience and shared his opinions on improving manufacturer’s relationships with contractors, including the field support he’d like to see, application training and how manufacturers can better connect with home improvement contractors.
“One of the best ways to know what your audience wants is to actually talk with them,” said Matt Sonnhalter, vision architect at Sonnhalter. “The point of these two new podcasts is to hear from contractors about their own interactions with manufacturers.”The podcasts are available at: https://sonnhalter.com/tradesman-insights/podcasts/
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’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. Sonnhalter is listed as a BtoB Magazine’s Top Agency for 2013 and has received the honor annually since 2009. For more information, visit the company website at www.Sonnhalter.com or visit the company blog at www.TradesmenInsights.com.
by tradesmeninsights | Apr 24, 2014 | Events/Trade Shows
By Rachel Kerstetter, PR Engineer, Sonnhalter
April 25th is set aside each year to honor plumbers. At Sonnhalter, we have a great appreciation for plumbers and the work that they do.
We salute the ones who keep everything flowing, and not overflowing. We’re thankful for the dedicated plumbers who answer the call and don’t recount the tales of what they’ve pulled out of pipes. In honor of National Plumber’s Day tomorrow, we thought you’d enjoy checking out some plumbing history, compiled by Roto-Rooter.
by tradesmeninsights | Nov 19, 2013 | Events/Trade Shows, Uncategorized
The can, John, latrine, porcelain throne, commode, potty… No matter what you call it, the toilet is an important part of daily life.
Today is World Toilet Day. World Toilet Day was started to bring awareness to the global sanitation challenge. Here are just a few facts about the global sanitation challenge:
- 2.5 billion people do not have a clean toilet
- Sanitation is a human right
- Safe toilet facilities keep girls in school
- Sanitation is a good economic investment
You can read more information about World Toilet Day and the facts above here.
We have the pleasure of working with companies serving the tradesmen that keep our toilets in excellent flushing order and help maintain the sanitation systems that we rely on. Their jobs are not considered glamorous, but they are so important.
Today, and every day, we are flush with gratitude toward them for everything they do!
