A New Decade Begins

As the snow covers the ground on this last day of 2009 and my little space heater is warming me up... I am thinking about what I heard from Claudia this morning. "We are starting a new decade and it will be a great one!"

I love words of hope, excitement and motivation. Hope that our economy will turn around for all small business. That they will find success and be able to hire some of the many unemployed people who so desperately need a job.

Excitement because new things are being created each day and some of them are related to the industry we find ourselves in. We just add Apollo Gates to our website and are looking forward to many years of a great relationship together.

Finally, a new decade to be motivated in. It is true that we become what we think about all the time. We really do! If we want 2010 to be the best, we have to think of how we can help and improve the lives of others. When we help others we in turn help ourselves.

So as the hours tick away until tomorrow's New Decade begins, we at Summit Fence Supply want to thank all our wonderful customers and suppliers who have given us so much joy as we sought to assist others with their fencing needs.

Happy New Year...

Jon Mullender

"your fence man on wheels"

President -CEO

Summitfencesupply.com

Call anytime... 888.856.0551

Telephone Entry Systems Really Work

In homes all over the world people want to know who is at their gate. That is why manufactures started making Telephone Entry systems.

Whether you live in a single dwelling home or a condo association or even an huge apartment complex there is a Telephone Entry systems to work in conjunction with your gate operator.

Today we are going to talk about single resident gate telephone entry systems. It is the RE-2 from Linear.

Let’s take a look at the features that are available with the RE-2.

This little unit has a ton of wonderful features to make your life easires.

• Call Waiting: If you are on the phone and someone calls from your gate. You will hear a beep and can decide to flip over and see who is on and the gate with the press of a key on your phone. Once you let the person in you can flip back and finish your conversation.
• Call Forwarding: You have to run to the store but you know someone is coming. That is not a problem because you can enable the call forwarding command to dial your cell phone and allow access to the residence from any phone anywhere.
• Alternate Numbers is another great feature of this telephone entry system. Let’s say you have a business that you run on your property however it is not connected to the house phone. You can program your telephone entry system to accept up to three numbers.
• Access Methods: You can program up to 100 entry codes for the RE-2. So that family, friends or employees can have their own code. Also with the build in radio receiver you can have up to 100 in car transmitters work with this simple unit.
• Another option for this unit is that you can add a camera to the unit so not only can hear who is at the gate but you can see who is at the gate.

This is a great little product that has made the lives of many people easier with the simplicity of use with the RE-2 Radio Receiver from Linear Corp.

Price for this unit ranges from $675.00 to $1,000.00 on the Internet.

If you have any other questions about this wonderful telephone entry unit call me at 888-856-0551 or email me at jon@summitfencesupply.com

Green Card Reader is available

Question: Do you have to have a computer and power to use a card reader?



Answer: It is not necessary to have a computer to program your cards and no you do not need to have power in order to you a card reader.

When price and ease of use are important the StandAlone Mechanical card readers from American Access Systems fits the bill. There is no programming necessary with the 11-024 StandAlone card reader. You can be up and running within hours. No power or programming required, this is one of the simplest card readers available today!

Features:

• Unlimited card capacity
• No power required
• 12VAC night light is included
• Limited two year warranty
  

Detailed Description

• Each StandAlone Mechanical card reader features a high grade stainless steel faceplate with a heavy metal, powder coated enclosure.
• To use, simply unlock the faceplate and install the program cartridge.
• Then, when a card is inserted into the slot, the relay will close and the gate / door will open.
• That's it. It's that simple! Since there is no programming required, an unlimited amount of cards may be used with each reader, making this a perfect solution for a low cost / low security application!

If you have a question about your security question email me or call and I will have the answer for find it for you.

Jon, "Your Fence Man on Wheels"
jon@summitfencesupply.com
Toll Free: 888.856.0551

Boca Has a Code?

In the land of fencing whenever building a swimming pool fence is more involved then just picking out a fence you like. Let’s look at a couple of areas that a DYI swimming pool fence project should include.

Most communities require certain things that they request to make sure the swimming pool fence meets their requirements. Insurance companies also ask that a fence be installed around a pool as protection against law suites. It is always advisable to contact the Building Department of the community you live in to make sure your fence meet their requirements.

Most communities follow the “Boca Swimming Pool Code” when laying out their requirements.

Let’s look at the major item of the code to simplify what they are after:

• You need to have less than 4” of space between the pickets or uprights. The idea behind this is that a small child head is larger than 4 inches and therefore they would not get their head trapped.
• You need to have 45” between the bottom horizontal rail and the next rail up. (See Image)
• You need to have self closing hinges. Make sure you ask your fence supplier to prove to you in writing that your fence has self closing hinges.
• You need a self locking child proof latch. There is truly no such thing a “child proof” any mother or father can tell you that. However a Magna Latch can meet this qualification. (See Image)
• When ordering a pool fence on line ask the supplier to send you a drawing of a pool fence to show you the gap is less than 4” and that there is a 45” space between the top and bottom rail.

With all that in mind REMEMBER, to call your community building department. I have seen some communities that only require a 4’ high fence and some that want a 5’ high fence. I have heard of come communities that will only allow a 2” gap between pickets. This is far between however it has happened.

Remember Boca does have a code and if you are putting up a swimming pool fence on your own call us we will help you with all your requirements.

Jon
“Your fence man on wheels”
888.856.0551
Or jon@summitfencesupply.com

working hard for your trust

19 Great Principles for Running your Bussiness

I love to read business books. Right now I am reading three:

“The Field Guide to Sales” by Debbie Mrazek
“52 Weeks to Sales Success” by Ralph R. Roberts
“Email Selling Techniques” by Stephan Schiffman

However the Book I love to read the most about working, sales, and management is the book of Proverbs of Solomon written between 960 and 922 BC. His thoughts were remarkable and if you read today’s writers like Tracy, Rohn, and Canfield you will find traces of Solomon in their writing. It is said in the Bible that Solomon was the wisest person of all times… not just of his time but all times.

I have gone through the book of Proverbs for about 3 years and have come up with 19 principles that can be applied to business. These are great principles to build a business around.

Here are just two...

Principle 1: When you work… Work hard! brian tracy says this a lot

• Pro. 14:23 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.


• Pro. 10:04 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.


• Pro. 12:24 Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.


• Pro. 28:19 A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.


• Pro. 20:13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

Principle 2: There are seasons of work for all companies. Discover yours and make a plan to accomplish your work when it is to be done.

• Pro. 10:05 He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

You can download the other 17 for free by going to http://bit.ly/Business-principles

I am looking for the 20th and thought someone else may have found one... Let me know and of course I will add it to the list.

Who is this Sage Rock Anyway

Webmarketingwatch.com is one of my favorite stops during the day. Sage Lewis not only is a friend but one of the best SEO experts in the country. If I ever have a question I go to Sage’s web site and look up one of the multitude of references he offers. Now he has even gone a little further to assist the average person like me find out about what is happening in SEO without going all over the Internet. Check him out. He is an Expert in a world of people who claim to be.

I started my company SummitFenceSupply.com 3 years ago and Sage helped me get it started by telling me about Social Media. Now Jon, Your Fence Man on Wheels is starting to be seen on YouTube and a number of other places. Thanks Sage.

Sage is humorous and enjoyable to listen to but is truly gifted in the SEO arena. Give him a shot you will be glad you did.

Ohhhhh CRAP!

The paramedics down the street know my house very well. They have been here more than once to either pick me up off the floor when I do a nose dive out of my chair or some other extra curricular activity I get myself into.

The last time they had a bet between them as to which room they would find me. One of them said the bathroom and because he lost he had to buy ice cream for the rest of the squad. Our friend Kym was over the last time they stopped for a “visit”. She said… “Wow! Make sure you do a header the next time I am here. They were cute!”

My son says, “I wish I had a video camera hooked up to you when you do your stunts. (Don’t do those stunts at home they are to be done by professionals.) “He is sure we could win Funniest Home Videos if caught on Camera.”

Now, someone has come out with a shirt, sweatshirt and bag that sums up how I feel as I am flying through the air. You know the moments when your life passes before your eyes before you meet an unmovable object.


If it were only in my size



Click the link to order your own shirt

EDGE Certification

Being fair is a interesting term in today's life. I usually ascribe to the term, "Life is not fair!" but being a small minority business in Ohio it is possible to even the playing ground a little. Go to EDGE and see if you qualify.




If you would like to see a copy or our EDGE certification call or email us and we will be happy to email you a copy of ours

Ohio will spend millions this year and years to come and I hope you and me both get our piece of the pie.

If you are a minority bussiness you owe it to yourself to contact EDGE.

Jon, "Your Fence man on Wheels"
Summitfencesupply.com
888.856.0551
Fax 866.841.8023

Some things are to good to pass

Marketing is a big part of business. The Internet loves video and Facebook. I am always looking for new ways to get my message out. Well here is an example of someone who did.

A good friend of mine Sage Lewis, shared this on his video marketing daily tips and I just love it. Who ever did this is a genius.



You got to love the Internet.

Jon, "Your Fence Man on Wheels"
Summit Fence Supply, LLC
Summitfencesupply.com
jon@summitfencesupply.com

30% Stimulus Package Rebate. WOW!

News worth Reading:

I just got an letter from Apollo Gate operators stating, If your purchased a solar powered gate operator after December 31, 2008 you could receive a 30% tax credit off the installed cost of the operator on your personal Federal tax return. For information on how to get yours call me at 888.856.0551 or email to Jon@SummitFenceSupply.com

Here is more news on the Stimulus Package.

Stephens Pipe and Steel said that if you are planning on purchasing chain link material using the National Stimulus rebates to make sure you tell them you want US made products.

We stay informed so you can stay informed.

Jon "Your Fence Man on Wheels"
summitfencesupply.com

Zig was right!

When I think of Zig Zigglar one quote always comes to my mind, “You can get anything out of life if you help other people get what they want out of life.” Brian Tracy teaches that to sell more you have to listen. Listening to people lets them know you care. If you don’t listen you miss the clues they give you as to what is holding up the sale.

I had a week that just couldn’t get off the ground. I had the dreaded after 50 year old test on Wednesday and had to get ready for that test on Tuesday. The rest of the day on Wednesday I was asleep and most of Thursday I didn’t care to sit at my desk and work. However, by the late night on Thursday I said. Mullender enough!!! I made my way to the desk and started answering mail. For a person in sales your first sale is the hardest and this week if it were not for online sales I would not have had that.

I processed that order and headed off to bed. I wrote in my face book the next day,
“Sure hope Friday is a good working day... “Oooops! I choose what kind of day I will have. I forgot.

As the day went on I did my prospect calls, had fun making follow-up call to some new people I had met the previous week and was saying to myself, "Jon, you can’t live off of $150.00 in sales for the week. I was getting a little down and then the phone rang. Hi Jon, I want the privacy fence and I am ready to order however I want you to take care of the details of getting it to Canada. Now for someone who is experienced in shipping through customs no big deal just like driving a car or riding a bike but for me it meant… Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! How am I going to pull this off? Of course I said sure give me a half hour and I will call you back with the details.

I called Misty at Adelphia trucking and said, "Will you do this..." We don’t do that here but here is a list of numbers that will help. Thanks. Hanging up the phone the first part was done. I had some numbers to call to find out how I was going to do it. I called the first number and heard the words no one ever wants to hear. “If you know your parties extension you may dial blah blah now followed by the # sign.” I did not know so I hit the famous 0. I am sorry but you dialed the wrong extension. Good bye.

Good bye. I haven’t said hello to anyone yet.

Undaunted I dialed the next number. Hello you have reached the offices of… If you know your parties extension you may dial it now. If not press 2 followed by the 0 which leads to the X factor followed by the G to get to the person you may want to talk to. So I pressed on. 2 followed by 0 then X and G. I did it!

I was met by another message. This is the office of so and so and if you want to talk to me please leave me you Name… Time you called… short message… your phone number, the middle initial of your mother’s great grandfather and your social security number. I will call you back sometime before hell freezes over. So I did and hung up the phone.

I could see my half hour slipping away. I had one more number to get the sale of the week. Arthritis was taking over my knuckles and my elbow was cramping up as I dialed the last number.

Hello this is Bill can I help you? My fingers were positioned over the number on my phone ready to follow the direction I was sure I was going to get. After a brief second it dawn on me that I was talking to a human being. There was a real live person talking to me with a friendly voice.

Within minutes I knew about:

• Customs brokers
• NAFTA certifications,
• GST’s
• Canadian taxes
• Exchange rates.

I called my customer back and said Brian, I would be happy to take care of it all. All I need to know is will this be MasterCard or Visa.

I was glad to help my new customer and friend get the resolution he expected and the privacy stone-like fence material he wanted before the Canadian bad weather set in. This is sales, listening to your customer and finding workable solution to help them get what they want.

Thanks Zig, any advice on getting through answer devices?

Jon "Your Fence Man on Wheels"
jon@summitfencesupply.com
summitfencesupply.com

People Buy from People they Like and Trust.

I was looking at pictures I received from a customer and realized that he was more than a customer he became a friend. Down in Baton Rouge there is a company named Chris' Speciality Meats owned by Chad and his wife. Chad wanted to put up a privacy fence around his house and contact Summit Fence Supply, LLC.

I remember getting the first phone call from him and instantly liking this man. He was fun to talk to and we really hit it off. Over the next few months we worked on his project using Simtek Stone-like fence. “Chad, when you are done send me some pictures I can put on my website. He said, “Sure will!”

Somehow over the process we became friends. He is not one to pay a penny more for something than is fair and I am not going to gouge a person to make a higher percentage. Some would call that not good business sense but I call it honesty. We have to like what we do and we have to like who we are after the job is done.

I went on to sell Chad gate operators, and even a key pad for his house. I still talk to Chad from time to time and when he calls I know the voice and I am glad to hear it on the other end of the phone.

What have I learned by owning a business?

• You are responsible for the business environment.
• You set the ground rules for your customer service. I worked for a company once that would not call people back because the customer might have a problem. That will never be the case with our company.
• The people you hire are a reflection of you and your philosophy. Make sure you hire people that follow your model and get rid of the ones that don’t.
• Sell only products that you would use in your house or business. If you can’t sell the best products and warranties get out of business.
• Factory representatives are people too. They have the right to be treated as friends.
  

I have been blessed to have my own business coming up on 3 years. I have met people from all over the United States, Mexico and Canada. I have shipped product to Main to Alaska and because of that I have friends all over the country.

Thanks Chad for the pictures.

Jon, Your Fence Man on Wheels
Summit Fence Supply, LLC
summitfencesupply.com

Some Gentle Thought...

School is starting and another year of educating the minds of American children is upon us. We got a package from my mother today with all kind of school supplies for my grandson. His mother is sewing patches of his school on new shirts. Soon moms will sigh a brief relief that they made it through vacation, summer camp, and swimming lessons.

Alright enough… Why is this motorcycle parked in this handicapped unload zone. HELLO Mister… some wheelchair vans need that area for their ramps to come down and allow their passengers room to get out. I guess it is a new form of education. This poor fellow decided that while he was doing a week of remodeling at his home he would park his car in this spot day and night, night and day. I understand that it may not be known to all people that the stripped areas beside handicapped spots look odd. This individual said, “No one uses this spot so I may as well leave my motorcycle here for a week or so. How nice of this place to provide this spot just for me!”

Okay Jon...Enough of that! Take a deeeeeep breath … inhale... exhale...

Yes, this is the time of year for the trees to start to hear the call of fall (I still can’t figure out why he parked there!) and the evenings too have a touch of chill in the air. (Some people! How am I going to get my morning, or afternoon Starbucks coffee…? Or for that matter my evening decaf coffee?) Friday night football games will begin in a week and band member are practicing their tunes. (Hope he gets a ticket. Maybe it will get towed) I love this time of year.

School is never over in life is it!

How Much Fence Do I Need?

Over the last 12 years of fencing one question keeps coming back. “How do I know how much fence material I will need?”

Since I quote out fence all day long Monday through Friday I thought I would help the DYI guy or gal that would like to get an idea what they need in order to install either an aluminum fence or a vinyl fence.

1. You need to know your layout. What do you want to contain or protect? Do you want to put a fence up around your entire property or just a small area around a swimming pool?

2. Lay out the area for your fence. I would just take some stakes and place them at the corners all around the area.

3. With a tape measure or wheel measure the distances between stakes in feet. Always round up to the next foot. For example if you have a run that is 4ft 7 inches on your paper write down 5 feet. (see diagram)

4. I would also put stakes where you want your walk gates or drive gates. When doing gates try to always think ID (inside dimensions). The most common gate opening is 4 foot. That allows most commercial lawn mowers access to the yard.

5. Depending on the type of fence you are using, you need to identify the number of posts you will need and sections. Find out from the supplier the width of the sections you are installing. It will usually be 6 or 8 foot depending on the style of fence you are installing.

6. If the length of your line is 50 feet and you are using a 6 foot section you would divide the length (50) by the length of the section 6. Remember to round up. Your number of sections would be 9 sections. If that is the case you would need 8 line posts and 2 corners or 2 ends. Depending on your layout.

7. After you do this for each line your list will look something like this.
20 Fence section
4 corner posts
16 lines posts
2 gate posts
1 - 4 foot walk gate

That is all you need to do to find out how much material you will need for your fence project.

Remember, you can always call us at summitfencesupply.com with a layout and we will figure it out for you. If you want to purchase from us GREAT if not you will have a great list to go shopping.

Jon Mullender
President Summit Fence Supply, LLC
jon@summitfencesupply.com
find us on the web at summitfencesupply.com

Visit with Nick

I love to serve and Nick of Highland Hts wanted to replace his fence. However there were problem using the normal section.

Memories

If it is true that we are the sum of our past experience tonight reminded me of how blessed my life has been. At the corner of Park and Second, in the little town of Barberton Ohio a group of old high school friends gathered to drink a little, eat a little and enjoy being with one another a lot. How blessed I was to see people I went to school with. The girls are just as beautiful and the guys just as fun loving as ever. We laugh, told stories of our lives and just had fun.

It has been 39 years since I said goodbye to high school and 39 years since I have seen these dear friends. Yes my life’s course was set in motion my senior year at Coventry when a cute little girl tripped over my crutch at a basketball game and Mr. Lee tossed me out of the gym. From that brief moment the stars lined up the angles sang and love bloomed, the same love that flowered into a friendship, a marriage, a son, and a grandson.

Will I ever go back to the corner of Park and Second? Time will tell for this old guy… But one more time I have to say:

Hail to thee, our Alma Mater,
True we'll always be.
Praise thy name with reverent voices,
For each memory.
For our high school raise your voices,
Speed them on the gale! (Never did understand that line)
Ever stand, our Alma Mater.
Coventry High, all hail!

Oh Kathy, I still say she said she married and 85 year old. You go Carol!

Breadloaf Railing:

What is a deck with out a railing? However you do not have to have a wooden railing on a wooden deck. Why not try aluminum railing… Here are some 5 reason to use aluminum railing

1. No splinters
2. No maintenance
3. Strength/Safety
4. Ease of installation
5. Will give a richer look to your patio or deck.
   
   Imagine having friends over for a cookout and having Little Billy running his little red car on the top of your wooden rail. All of the sudden you hear this loud cry. Little Billy’s mom runs over to see what is happening to her little baby and notices a big sliver of wood sticking out of his hand. She pulls it out and the evening events are continued but a little tense for some time. Three week later you hear that your friend had a party at their house however, you were not invited? Did the accident have to happen? Not with aluminum hand rail from Summit Fence Supply.
   
   Send us your drawing and we will assist you in laying out your beautiful handrail help you lay out exactly what you want.
   
   What would you like to know about fence? Email me at jon@summitfencesupply.com and I will include it in a future video conversation.

Why Didn't he Think Ahead?

Imagine!

Two neighbor entering their driveways one cold and stormy winter night. One puts the car in park with the children in the back seat, gets out of the car and runs through the pouring rain to the gate. After about a minute she is able to get the gates unlocked and pushes them open, first one and then the other. Slopping through the water and ice, she fumbles with the door and hurriedly gets in dripping wet and freezing. She reaches into her purse to get a tissue saying a few words under her breath,"Why didn't he pick up the kids. It was his turn." She pulls into the garage and putting the car and park sits there in a watery mess.

“Wait until he comes home.” Are the only words spoken that night.

She walks into the house, spending the next thirty minutes drying and changing clothes. As she finishes her hair and pulls the old sweat shirt over her head the door opens. Honey, “What’s for Dinner?”

***

The neighbor also drives into her driveway on a cold stormy winter night. She smiles at her children in the back seat as she pushes the transmitter to open her new Apollo 3600ETL swing gate operator. The gates swing open as one would open their arms to receive a friend.

She pulls into the garage and smiles thinking how lucky she is to have the security and safety of a front entrance gate.

As she slowly works in the kitchen putting the final touches on the roast and potatoes she hears the front door open. She smiles as she hears the familiar words, Honey, “What’s for Dinner?”

“Thank you, Darling.” She utters as she wraps her arms around her husband's neck.

You’re welcome…

***

“Every gate needs an opener and we have an opener for every gate.”

Call us today. 888-856-0551.

The Battle of the Blubber Begins

Lucky Shoes is not my favorite store tonight. Maybe in six or seven months it will be however today, what I saw in the reflection of the store window was a call for the Japanese whaling ships to set sail. I saw this HUGE blob in a wheelchair in the reflection of the door as I went in to buy a container of black shoe polish.

That’s it! Now I am making it known to the world. I am Blubber Man! I have the ability to make a piece of toast disappear in the fat rolls to be store for winter hibernation. I now buy my clothes in the tent shop instead of a department store. I say to the tent maker, “I need a tent for ten and can you put a hole in it for my head and holes for my arms to come out the sides. I my not be able to leap tall building but if I roll on someone they are absorbed and never seen again.

My coach said, “Oh so you decided to die early.” You have the choice eat carrots or eat potato chips. To which my reply was, “Let’s bring that up in about three weeks.”

So friends in Blog land. The battle has begun… Not a diet… (I love those words) A change in life style… Blah, blah, blah!

Here is my plan… Go from 386 to 385 and after that it’s a crap shoot.

Never again will a shoe store window reveal the true “Blubber man.”

My bag of baby carrots lies open on my desk as my chubby fingers type.

Yum?

Where is Your Million?

After church on Sunday a friend was telling me his idea for a stimulus package that I could buy into in a heartbeat. His idea was to give all 3,000,000 Americans a million dollars. It would be cheaper than the stimulus package the government is using to bail out greed and there would be a lot of purchases made which in hand would stimulate the economy.

However if we all had a million dollars (I love the sound of that) who would work in the stores? Who would make the products I want to buy? Who would work behind the counter of Starbucks? Who would sell me a house in Florida? We would all be off spending our million dollars.

I wonder what impact that would have on the supply and demand of products. What would the cost of bread be? Humm! This is getting interesting? I would want to buy and new wheelchair sports car… I can do that because I have a million dollars, how much would that cost?

I guess I would have to leave the country and spend my million dollars in another country. Oooops? That defeats the US stimulus plan. Now I am spending my money in another country. But isn’t that what our government has been encouraging since NAFTA!

This is getting more difficult. If we all have a million we won’t find anyone to serve us, the cost of simple products will go up? If we spend our money in other country it hurts the restructuring of the American Economy. This is way over my head.

Maybe if we have to spend the billions of dollars we should give the money to Wall Street, and the Banks, and the US Auto Companies. The CEO’s of these companies certainly know how to use money effectively. RIGHT?

Next week after the sermon I should talk to my friend Donald about the message and leave the Stimulus Package to wiser men.

Our Politicians :)

There is Always a Spring!

Yesterday was the Northern Ohio American Fence Association Trade show where contractors and manufacturers talk there stuff. It was great spending time with people you talk to on the phone all year and seeing what new products are available for the fencing industry.

I got great advice from a guy that called himself and ol’ peddler, “There is always a spring.”

It does come! Trees will bud, snow will melt and people will move out of the three story caves into the fresh air of hope for the future, the ability to make profits, to put a little money in the bank and most of all the ability to see your hard winter work start to pay off.

I also noticed something else; the creative spirit of the true entrepreneurs. There was a sense of creativity in the air as people talked to me about how carrying this product would produce profits beyond my wildest dreams. I even had a guy tell me that if I would sell his product on the Internet he wouldn’t venture into that aspect of the business. I got great idea that Monday I will start to move on. Never sit on an idea. Move forward!

At the end of the show was the grand price. A Flat Screen TV! I knew I was there to win it so that I could watch “Frasier” re-runs before going to sleep.

My ticket was 127396…

Call mine please!

Don't let the Mountains Slow Your Success

I love collecting money from people who won’t answer their phone. It is one of the warm and fuzzy feelings that come with owning ones own company.

Last night, while drifting off to la-la-land, I felt an urge saying go… go… go to their place of business and they’ll be so happy to see me they’ll willing pay me the amount they owe without hesitation.

When the opportunity clock went off at 6:00 AM I was off. I did my morning work and made my prospect calls. By noon I set off on my journey to wealth and prosperity.

I drove the 35 minutes to the outskirts of Cleveland in no time at all. I parked the car and headed for the front door. My wheelchair was flying until I turned onto the sidewalk. There in front of me was a mountain of snow blocking the sidewalk, the leftovers of shoveled driveways that blocked the concrete pathway to my riches.

Being the eternal optimist, “I didn’t come all this way for nothing!” rang in my head. I said the words of an old sage, “If you can’t climb the mountain dig through it, go under it, or make a way around it.” AHH! There was my answer. I would go around it. The road looked clear so I headed down it until I got to the ramp by the oncoming street. It was so narrow and broken up I knew it was a certain disaster. With a determined outlook I headed back to my mountain. There had to be another way around it. I spied a narrow strip of grass that lead around the natural barricade. Figuring that the ground was still frozen I headed off the sidewalk on to the unknown terrain. All was going well for about a foot then without warning, the wheels started spinning. Oh boy I thought! I am here in Cleveland and stuck like a pig on a skewer waiting for the barbecue fire. Back and forth I went as mud stuck to my wheels. No matter what effort I took I was not leaving that spot. What would Louis and Clark do? What would Davey Crockett do? How would NASA circumvent such and obstacle?

I was getting a little cold as I reached for my trusted Blackberry. There in the distance was a Fire Station. I pressed 411 and said, “Can I have the non-emergency fire department Number please… Over the next few moments I will grilled with: “You are what?” “You are where?” “Why did you leave the sidewalk?” Obviously the person on the other end of the phone had never had a mountain to climb, or forged ragging river. My request was reasonable, “Send a fireman over to pull me out of the goo.” “We will send a policeman.” was the response on the other end of the line… But ma’am, I rebutted, the Fire Department is right across the street! My plea was to no avail. “We will send someone to rescue you shortly.”

I sat there thinking of camp songs to sing as the moments turned into what seemed like days.

Finally, I heard a truck. I turned to see two men driving by drinking a beer after a hard day on the ladder they had strapped to the top of their van. No sooner had my heart leaped for the joy of freedom from my mud doom then they drove right on by.
But alas, as they drifted down the road another twenty feet the orange brake lights shone forth the message that help had arrived.

A tall angel got out of the van in work clothes. “You need help!” Never had those words seemed more appropriate. “Sure do!” I said, as I tried one more time to free myself from the bog. He yanked and yanked. Right then left then backward then forward. All the time the cakes of mud were building on the bottom of the chair I would soon be bringing into my wife’s house. After a few minutes my wheels caught and out of the mud I scampered. I had a new hero… A Good Samaritan had stop to help a mountain man back to the main trail. I was free!

As I packed up base camp and headed back to the arms that loved me I came to terms that today I would not collect the money for the bills and that maybe the sounds I heard the night before telling me to “GO!” were the sounds of the steak I ate an hour before I went to bed.

The mountain had won today but in the world of enterprise there would be tomorrow.

If only they had paid!

Jon Mullender

Summitfencesupply.com

Summitfencesupply.blogspot.com

Money, Money, Money, Money.... Money!

Running a business is a ton of work but very gratifying. One of my big tests comes however, when customers do not pay. I personally do not understand how a person can purchase something from a supplier and then not think there is an obligation to pay for the material. I suppose all business go through this but I feel taken. It hits me as theft.

So what do the experts say?

1. Have a credit policy in place: and get a signature before doing any terms.


2. Do not ignore overdue bills. When it is getting close to due have a warning light go off.


3. Re-bill promptly with late charge added. 1.5% is what I charge.


4. Pick up the phone. (It is your money and the money of your employees that is at stake)


5. Never apologize when you call or write. “Hi ____. Show me the money!”


6. Be friendly. Yeah, yeah, yeah!


7. Ask for the full amount. And when they give you part of it don’t congratulate them.


8. Never negotiate the amount, just the terms. You know like pay now, pay now, pay now.


9. Take them to small claims.


10. Sick the creditor dogs on them. Something is better than nothing. You already have lost that amount by this time find a company that only gets paid a percentage of what they collect.
    (some of this came from New York Life)

Always remember you have to pay the bill whether or not your customer pays. It is your promise to the manufactures that give you terms.

I am glad for the majority of people that their word is honorable. Doing continued business with people like that is totally worthwhile and enjoyable. Some of my best friends today are customers that I purchase from or that purchase from me.

Tell me what you have done to collect money from dead beats in the comment section. I would love to hear from you.

Jon Mullender
Summitfencesupply.com
blog: summitfencesupply.blogspot.com

"Primetime all the time!"

Let Me In!

Starbucks and I have a lot in common. They have mochas and I love to drink Grande Mochas… They have frappuccino and I drink frappuccino. I stop at my neighborhood Starbucks all the time. I have spent hundreds of dollars there this past year. I love the people I meet there and the atmosphere. Over the last year I have sat outside in the warmth of the sun drinking and talking to friends. I have sat inside working on business plans or meeting with contacts or interviewing part time employees. I have drawn up plans for marketing campaigns and laughed with my grandson.

But now while the winds blow and the snow is here I am stopped in my tracks. Not by mother nature, not by inability to get out in 8 degree weather but by the 6 feet of unshoveled snow.

Not until the snow melts can I look forward to sipping the fruit of the bean. No more will the chocolate flavor slip through my lips warming me in the middle of the morning commute. I have been set apart with a symbol that says, “No longer welcome!”

Yes it is the snow pile that covers the ramp onto the sidewalk. Yes, as the snow shovel sits by the door showing how they have shoveled the entry for the walkers but not the wheelers.

Is it intentional? I am sure the answer is no... However, am I inside drinking coffee? Again the answer is no.

So as I sit outside in my wheelchair I long for the spring or a person who will lift a shovel and clear a path to the doorway of paradise or at least to a no whip, extra hot, Grande mocha.

Jon Mullender
President
Summit Fence Supply, LLC
summitfencesupply.com
summitfencesupply.blogspot.com

Edifice Complex:

Even today there is a strong love for buildings. I want my space and you stay off. I have seen people ask a neighbor to move his fence 1 foot because that one foot was on their property. I saw an ad recently, “buy your internet material from me because I have a warehouse and a showroom.” Wow! If you live in Minnesota I am sure you care about a showroom in Ohio.

I remember watching a TV commercial where a young man drove his father out into the middle of the desert to show him the location of the new warehouse. His father said, “How can we run a business way out here.” His wise son said, “The Internet!”

According to Jargon Database.com an Edifice Complex is defined as “The tendency of politicians to have large buildings and stadiums built as a concrete reminder of their "Legacy". Look around and you don’t have to look far to see business with the same mentality. What they are saying is I want a place where I can bring people to show my importance, control and power. The interesting thing is who is paying for that building?

Well let’s take a look at it from my point of view. YOU! The consumer pays the loan off, the utilities, the open space where products sit and sit and sit allowing you to buy material that may be 2 or 3 years old. You pay for the tow motor that is only used two or three time a week and the driver. You pay for the person stuck behind a desk to answer the phone. Your hard earned dollars pay so some guy or gal can say, “We have a brick and mortar facility with a warehouse.”

Now let’s look at the other side. In today’s market if you are not a manufacturer you can cut the price to a realistic number by keeping your “Edifice” to a realistic space. Yes, I have a warehouse but it is small. It is for bringing in stock for local repeat customers who want to pick it up, but I would not call it a building to the glory of Jon or Steve. It is a small facility to serve those who need it.

I and my office are on the move along with millions of people around the world. In other words where I take my computer I am taking the office. I deal with people from Vermont to Florida, Washington to the tip of California every week. I want them to see http://www.summitfencesupply.com/ as the showroom of the future. If you need to touch the product FedEx will bring a sample it to your door. If you want a load of vinyl fence or a truckload of snow fence it will be shipped to your facility or your home.

I love the future of commerce in the world. I can do business with you anywhere in the world through e-mail or, in some cases, video feed. Let us come to you when and where you are by the touch of your finger.

I would love to hear from you as to your feeling about e-commerce in the now!

Jon Mullender
President
SummitFenceSupply.com
e-mail jon@summitfencesupply.com
Blog summitfencesupply.blogspot.com

Is 10% Still Costing You Money

I am amazed at how many people have not realized that 10% off doesn’t always mean 10% off. In reality it means, companies will mark the price up 30% and then give 10% off. You are still paying 20% more than some places sell their items but you walk away with the feeling, “I saved 10% wow I am the greatest shopper!”

The other one I love is, “Guaranteed lowest price” In essence that means if you are not fooled by that tagline and are willing to pay our higher price then companies still get you by getting you to call us back after you’ve done all the work.

Here are 5 things to think about when shopping anywhere, not just online.

1. Find someone you feel safe with. Talk to them! You get a sense of their willingness to work with you as a person first.
2. Check pricing with other people selling the same product.
3. Remember anything times zero is still zero. That is to say that many companies will come down in price to some extent just to get your business.
4. If someone’s website is covered with 10% off and “guaranteed lowest price” they don’t have confidence in their abilities and pricing and are trying to trick customers into buying.
5. Shop around, shop around, shop around.
   

Our philosophy as Summit Fence Supply, LLC is that we have margins we have to sell products in order to make a living and to be there in the long run. But to lie to a customer or mark up our price so that they will think that a discount is a true savings makes the Internet Market place the same as a used car lot.

I would love to hear from you. If you have had an experience in Internet shopping good or bad… please feel free to comment.

Jon Mullender
President
Summit Fence Supply, LLC
jon@summitfencesupply.com
summitfencesupply.com
http://www.summitfencesupply.blogspot.com/

2009 Time to Grow so Let's get Going.

I love new years because they offer a clean slate, a time to move forward with an eye on the future. A new 365 days are available to dream, create, work, love, and build for what I want out of life. This is a time to start new goals to where I want to be at the end of those precious 365 golden gems. I know that in order to reach my objective I have to think about what obstacle will stop me from reaching them and then develop a plan to attack to win the war.

My goals need to be divided into personal, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual goals. A rounded person does not just focus on the development of the business but the development of personal relationship with those dear to him. Is his wife his best friend? Does his grandchild, son and daughter-in-law know that they are loved unconditionally by the time I spend with them. Do my customers know I care more about them than I do their purchasing power? How do I show them their importance?

This year will be a great year. I could care less what the media says about recession because by listening and believing that malarkey allows me to make excuses for not taking personal responsibility for my life and my results.

So with the help of friends and God bring it on. I am ready for action.

I hope all my family and friends the very best 2009 and when the year is done and life has given us what it will we will be talking about the great New Year 2010.

Jon Mullender
President
Summit Fence Supply, LLC
http://summitfencesupply.com/
jon@summitfencesupply.com