CAT | Bottle Service Trays
31
Hey, what’s goin’ on?
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First off – congratulations to Fry Fabrications President and founder Jim Fry for tying the knot in marriage. He’s currently Honeymooning on a sandy beach off the Carribean Coast with his new wife Kristi.
In the past few weeks, we’ve gained a few new clients and have been working on new projects for existing clients and the orders have gained momentum going out of the cusp of Summer’s end. We first landed a bar order for a new energy drink company “Untapped Energy” and are putting the final touches on some large portable bars bound for New York City. We then secured a large order with Mountain Dew to create 2 large 360 bars along with 12 matching custom tables for an upcoming tour. Next we created some custom pieces for new customer 3 Amigos Tequila in which their branded shot flights are being used in a brand new Lucky Strike Bowling Alley. Also, we are creating custom portable caddie pieces with Cruz Tequila – another new client of ours currently in production. Grey Goose via Bacardi USA placed an order of several dozen custom locking units. Effen vodka has also been productive with us and using our pieces for several upcomign promotional campaigns. A large promotions/event company placed a large order of our bottle service caddies which will be spread among several nationwide venue. Our two large energy drink customers also are continuing to place orders with Fry Fabrications for assorted portable bars, and high-top bistro tables.
Things are certainly looking up as the Summer of 2010 begins winding down. I am very much looking forward to our continued pusuit of a larger facility which we’ll be happening over the next few months. Also, some new shop equipment are also on the horizon which will assist in speeding things up.
16
What’s left for 2010?
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A new building. This has been something we’ve tossed around for a while…but it has been determined that we are not reneweing our lease in our current facility, therefore by the first of the year Fry Fabrications will be doing work in an all new facility.
What does this mean for our customers? The main item is quicker production times as we are able to streamline all of our equipment in a single area, and also the ability or re-structure our freight warehouse to where more necessary needed items will be in arms reach opposed to the current “wherever we can find room.” Furthermore, some of the current fabrication work is completed outside the shop in our lot in which once in a great while the elements of extreme weather can put a damper or delay on a process. More in & out supply deliveries will also become more swift allowing less time for loading/unloading and more time for fabrication and delivery prep. Another piece of the pie is that we will locate our new building more centralized with our most used vendors, therefore cutting down transit time and allowing us to do more pickups under tighter time-lines.
Will this new facility mean a greater price for our customers? Absolutely not. Our goal is to find ways to cut costs and this new manfucaturing plant will allow more jobs to come in the door with more going out, therefore increasing our work-flow and passing those savings onto the customer. Our number 1 priority is the customer and this step is one of many in the direction of not only growing our customer base, but also exceeding those expectations of our existing customers.
The next 2 months will be focused on finding the right place. There are certain criteria that a shop like ours needs when it comes to the overall layout and space. The electrical components and capabilities of the new building will also need to be met to our standards. Considering we run two large compressors, several welders, a CNC plasma table amongst several other tools and functions, having the proper electrical power is critical for us. We also will be considering the layout as we have several large load trucks who make visits several times per day and making room for them with loading/unloading with ease is definately on the list. Another item that we are all looking forward to are the structural unity of offices. Currently, all of our indicidual offices are spread out within our warehouses and having them in closer proximity of each other will assist with communication, and direction.
With all of this being said, this are very exciting times for Fry Fabrications. Of course the move coupled with juggling our workload and servicing our customers will be challenging during that time of transition, yet there is nobody who is better at pulling off miracles than our team here. More information to come!
11
New more affordable table designs coming soon…
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Lately we have been tossing around different assorted ideas about ways to conserve on cost to offer a more affordable table without compromising quality, structural integrity, or the overall cosmetic appearance. Our tables are all steel while many of our competitors use a steel/corigated plastic mix of materials. The advantages of using all steel are:
1) People are going to lean, kick, put weight on, and ultimately abuse our tables, therefore in order to maintain the stability, rigidity and strength of taking that abuse we use only a steel structure along with steel panels.
2) Having anything less than something of the above could pose a liabilty. Neither us or our clients would ever take a short-cut on one of our builds that could cause a potential injury and open any sort of liability exposure. Taking structural short-cuts is negligence on safety.
3) If our clients wanted a standard bistro table, they’d go to Walmart to get one. They comes to Fry Fabrications because they want something custom, and made with the quality only Fry Fabrications can deliver.
With all of this being said, we are looking into different design elements that can shave cost. Currently with the expenses of steel, coating costs, fabrication time, and potential printed media graphics branding, the costs can certainly add up. Jim Fry has developed a solution that will help cut down on the steel and fabrication time without compromising any of the (3) elements listed above. This solution will not only assist us with our current table line up as being more affordable, yet it will open the doors for new designs that are already in the works.
2
Global FF
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In the past few weeks, we have begun shipping assorted product internationally and the abroad orders are certainly continuing. We have a drink cart going to Puerto Rico, 100 tables in Hungary, and we have bars and several tables on their way to Tahiti. In the coming weeks, we have bars/tables going to Austria, Switzerland, Slovak Republic, and the Czech Republic. We also have bottle service in Lebanon in which they will be purchasing in bulk to distribute all across the Middle East. It’s rare these days that the United States actually exports; however when it comes to bottle service, portable bars, tables, drink carts, etc. Fry Fabrications is the epicenter of it all.
16
Damages…
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I think one of the most frustrating things that come along with my job has to do with items getting damaged in freight. We often hussle to meet deadlines, and do our very best to exceed our customer’s expectations only to have the freight carrier damage them. It doesn’t happen too often, but it seems to be happening more and more and its troublesome. Is it time to switch carriers? Perhaps; however unfortunately this will happen everwhere and whichever service we choose to go with. There has to be a way to leverage some accountability – beyond their tedious claims process.
One of the thoughts going through your head must be, “Well, maybe they are not properly packaging?” Not true, each one of our bars sits on a custom made skid, wrapped in foam, wrapped in carboard, then wrapped in vinyl and showered with “Fragile” and “DO NOT STACK” stickers. Our tables are packaged in heavy duty custom made boxes sewn shut with pneumatic staples. Our bottle service sets are packaged in custom made boxes, then palletized, wrapped, and also showered in warning lables.
When each piece leaves Fry Fabrications its in brand new prestine condition and we expect it to arrive in its given destination in that same condition. What must be going on to cause these damages to our product are things that would give nightmares and cause me to stay up at night (which seems to happen anyway).
Our freight rep is coming for a visit today and I’ll be reading him the riot act…stand by for updates.
14
Kudos!
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Today I just wanted to give a special thanks to both the fab shop and shipping warehouse for making amazing things happen. They both have been delivering and firing on all cylinders lately to assist with some of these deadline that literally come down to the wire. We had a table and (4) stools that needed to go out yesterday in which we were forced into a late start and the assembly, vinyl wrap, packaging and palletizing literally was done as the truck making the pickup pulled up. The 110+ degree heat wasn’t helping either. The hustle from Lawrence made it happen.
Also, I want to give a special thanks to Dave in the shop. There was a complicated build in which he figured out ways to make the build streamline and knock out the order quickly which I am confident that will exceed the customer’s expectations. His attitude is always so positive and despite the fact that he’s only 22 years old, he has the skills and the talent that make the experienced veterans look like novices. It’s not every day that you have a Lawrence, or a Dave do what they do for a company and although I’m just the sales guy (and not their boss), I can certainly recognize their abilities, and their efforts certainly make my job run a little smoother when I get to give that customer the good news that their piece(s) are on their way and that they look awesome!
When it comes to employees, a company is nothing without them. I once had a man in a very high position of a very large company that I worked for, once tell me that “You don’t work for your supervisor, or me, we work for you.” That statement stayed with me over the years because he was so right, things will ultimately lead to success with employess that are happy and loyal, and that success through employees is passed on to the company.
Until next time…
12
Summer Special 2010
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Take advantage of our Summer 2010 incentive program for bottle service pieces:
For every (10) pieces purchased (or ordered) from July 12 – August 31, 2010 you’ll get additional piece at no charge. Example: Purchase 70 units, and an additional (7) more will be included at no additional charge*
*Purchaser will still be responsible for the additional freight charges, program is not retroactive to orders placed prior to July 12.
sales@fryfab.com or (602) 454-0701
9
Meaningless post…
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Believe it or not, I enjoy blogging. I’m not a highly talented individual when it comes to many things – especially where Fry Fabrications’ manufacturing is concerned. I can’t weld very well at all, I’m for the most part unfamiliar with many of the tools used on a daily basis, and I lack the skills when it comes to solving problems related to a build, or building technique. What I can do is spell somewhat decently, and also formulate a few sentences when necessary therefore the bulk of my job involves speaking to customers both in email and telphonic forms for sales and managing the projects that I sell from start to finish.
The most frustrating thing about my position here is since I lack those skills as mentioned above, I solely rely on others to get what needs to be done in the timely fashion and relying on others is and can be a daunting task. I think when people see my blood begin to boil around here they must look at me like I belong in a looney-bin; however the way I see it, is that I represent the customer’s interests and I seem to be the only one (which is appropriate given everyone’s different job duties), thus when there are projects out there that need completion, if it’s solely on the shop’s term – that will likely result in lost customers and lost revenue. What I’ve experienced is following through on delivery promises and exceeding customer’s expectations is what not only retains customers, but leads into new ones – and it’s those type of happy endings that turn a company into a mult-million dollar powerhouse of the industry. Sometimes, I feel like I’m the only one who has that passion and who sees that drive and potential for us. Or, like I was saying earlier – perhaps the looney-bin is really where I belong.
7
99 Problems, But The “Tube Table” Aint One
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People love our tubular steel bistro tables. Why? For starters they are cool looking. Then there is the fact that the are all steel, structural like concrete, and have branding area visibility no matter what height you are or what angle you view. To top it all off, they come in a custom made heavy duty cardboard box for easy transport or storage. The other caviat to these tables is that, although popular with some branding and some color they have the ability to look unique and take their own form into one’s own. This week was a little different because not only do we have tables on order, but also matching tubular branded stools to complete the set. They are in production now and I’m excited to see the results…and more excited to see what the client thinks of them.
28
Here comes the next mountain to cross…
1 Comment | Posted by admin in Bar Products, Bottle Locks, Bottle Service, Bottle Service Setup, Bottle Service Trays, Hotel Products, Indoor Bars, Nightclub Products, Outdoor Bars, Portable Bars, Portable Indoor Bars, Portable Outdoor Bars, Push Carts, Retail Display Cases, Uncategorized
I am going to start off this blog posting to say that I’m not sure who all reads these – and whomever does shouldn’t take what I say and my opinions are not a direct reflection of the company in general. Most of these post are my thoughts, a window into what is going on with Fry Fabrications from “my” point of view. Furthermore, I look forward to these blog postings, in a sense its thearapeutic to jot down my inner-most emotions and feelings about what goes on here both as a company and in my position here as a whole. The moral to this paragraph ultimately a disclaimer that although I may come accross one way or another in a given day – it could be my personality coming through in which if you haven’t determined what that is by now – I am OCD with a sprinkle of on-edge paranoia. Now onto today’s news:
Project X is officially a go. I wish I could reveal at this point who Project X is, but after we are an addition to their catalog and when are ordering on a consistent basis. The design is solidified and they are making their first run order. I’m excited to see the birth of this new account, yet its complex design will certainly serve as a challenge to the shop and this is pushing the metal-working bar to the next level.
We are busy again. We received a large order for clothing retail racks/shelving, and we are midway on some caddy projects. Tables, bars, DJ Booths, all are on tap for the shop in the coming weeks, but there is a hurdle out there looming that wasn’t an issue a few months ago. The Arizona summer heat. It’s been hovering at 110 farenheit lately and welding and grinding in a convection oven isn’t the most comfortable environment to be in even with as much work to do as there is. All I can really say at this moment to the heat is: When you’re already on fire like our shop has been, 110 degrees ‘aint nothin’!
