Month: December 2018

You placed an online order for $70 yesterday and just now, your phone pinged with the satisfying notification that your package has shipped. The bottom of the email includes a tracking link. Knowing full well that the package won’t arrive for at least 48 hours, chances are, you click on it anyway. Why? When you have already ordered and paid for something, it’s just nice to know where it is. It gives you a measure of control, and as a consumer, you have come to expect this level of accountability in any transaction. Now imagine that you are a distributor…

With medical marijuana now legal in 30 states, the cannabis business is booming across America, with a thriving niche market for distributors. There are several gases used in cannabis production: propane for CO2 generators, gas CO2 for emitters and a variety of gases used in extraction systems. According to Jana Nelson, president of OXARC, Inc., the legalization of marijuana in Oregon and Washington state has opened a big market for gas distributors, and supplying CO2 to cannabis farmers is now a significant portion of OXARC’s business. The Role of CO2 in Plant Processes Carbon dioxide is essential to plant processes.…

Many people think of trade shows as mostly fun for the customers, who are likely to be wined, dined and wooed by suppliers, but when you consider the cost of attendance and the importance of careful and economical purchases, both sides have an equal stake in making the most of a trade show experience. According to the Association of Event Organizers, 87 percent of business directors agree that it is easier to communicate face-to-face rather than on the phone or via email. GAWDA’s Contact Booth Program offers members a unique opportunity to connect with both sides of the welding and…

Your company has decided to rent a booth at an upcoming trade show. Before you make reservations and pack your bags, here are some tips from trade show experts on what you will need on the show floor and how to maximize your time in the booth, land solid sales leads and create your follow-up strategy. Before You Go After you’ve chosen the right show based on who is expected to be there — customers/prospects, vendors and competitors — pre-show communications, whether electronic or snail mail, will ensure others know you will be there and what you will be showcasing.…

Two recent decisions regarding hazardous materials transportation in California, one from a federal agency and one from a court, could have a nationwide impact on the transportation of hazardous materials. Hazmat Carriers Granted Preemption of California Meal and Rest Break Requirements On Sept. 21, 2018, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a decision preempting the California meal and rest break requirements as applied to drivers of vehicles transporting hazardous materials. The decision granted a petition for preemption filed by the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC).  NTTC argued that the California meal and rest break regulations should…

There were several DOT Compliance Reviews (audits) conducted on GAWDA members in 2018. In the past, these audits were typically initiated as a security review, and while the inspectors were on site they reviewed other topics such as shipping papers, driver qualification files, alcohol and substance abuse programs, hours of service records, vehicle files and other DOT items as desired. Now that the Safety Measurement System (SMS) is in full swing, we have members with high scores being targeted for an on-site audit. You will also be visited if you request to become a party to a special permit for…

Successful specialty gas professionals consistently use sales techniques and systems to increase their performance. Of course, it is essential to understand the chemistry, operations and distribution of your products. However, long-term success requires attention to the systematic behaviors that keep new, profitable prospects in the sales pipeline. Here are examples of key systematic behaviors I have observed from the best specialty gas sales professionals. Respect and Thank Your Customer – Ed Pyle You worked hard to find and cultivate your valued customer. You genuinely appreciate the trust he/she places in you to solve their problems and contribute to their success.…

New Contact Information for A Weldors Supply Company A Weldors Supply Co., Inc. has a new fax and phone number. They can now be reached at: A WELDORS SUPPLY CO. INC. 8136 W. Reno Ave. Box 82184 Oklahoma City, OK 73128 Phone: 405-672-1484 Fax: 405-677-0056 www.aweldorssupply.com

Metallica Awards Job-Training Grant to GRCC Legendary heavy metal band Metallica is awarding Grand Rapids Community College a $100,000 grant to connect more nontraditional students to in-demand welding jobs. GRCC is one of 10 colleges selected nationwide for the Metallica Scholars grant. The band’s All Within My Hands Foundation has teamed up with the American Association of Community Colleges on the project, aimed at providing workforce training for community college students and reinvesting in cities where the band has toured. “All of us in the band feel fortunate that music has provided us the opportunity to be successful doing something…

Fluoramics Formula-8 Now Available in 15-Gram Tube Fluoramics, Inc., has introduced a new 15-gram tube of Formula-8 thread sealant, which was first introduced by Fluoramics in 1967. This smaller-sized packaging will appeal to occasional users of Formula-8, and those who are applying thread sealants on fine threads or in harder to reach locations. In addition, manufacturers will find it easy to include a 15-gram tube of Formula-8 with their product or kit shipments. Formula-8 (the original PTFE thread sealant) is a shear-sensitive paste that sheets out into PTFE strings when torqued and delivers exceptional sealing performance on all sizes of…