March 2014
www.dakotasupplygroup.com
SPOTLIGHT Tom's
Current
What’s Your Plan? I really enjoy the work of Larry Winget, a motivational speaker with an in-your-face, back-to-basics style that is very refreshing. He is aggressive and confrontational, but his message has a truth to it that can’t be denied. One of his most famous quotes goes something like this: “Nobody ever wrote down a plan to be broke, fat, lazy or stupid. Those are the things that happen when you don’t have a plan.” As you can see, Larry doesn’t mince words. Thankfully, that makes his meaning unmistakable. You must plan for success in order to succeed. That’s easier said than done, I know – especially when you get up at 5:30 a.m., work until 7 p.m., then do your paperwork when you get home and then start over the next day. Oftentimes “planning” ends up in the “when I get some time” file along with fixing up that old car in your garage and working on your golf swing. Meanwhile, your business is cruising along without a road map. One of the biggest problems of doing business without a plan is that sometimes it works. The media is full of stories about entrepreneurs that stumble blindly into success in spite of their lack of preparation. These rags-to-riches tales capture our imagination. “That could be me!” we tell ourselves, but here’s the thing: Those entrepreneurs may have had a big idea or worked incredibly hard, but they also have something in common – they got lucky. Lucky that their idea became
a trend. Lucky that they stumbled onto a huge project. Lucky that they didn’t make a mistake that blew the whole thing. One out of a hundred businesses get lucky. The rest of us have to make our own luck. Businesses that have a plan are prepared for problems and poised to take advantage of opportunities. Are you? What’s your plan for reaching new customers? What are you doing to train and retain your employees? How much do you need to charge per hour to make a profit? How much should you be saving or reinvesting in your business? A plan means fewer surprises, and that’s the first step in controlling your own destiny rather than leaving your future to chance. Start planning today, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. Talk to your banker and your accountant, if you have one. Then talk to your representative here at DSG. We have proven resources and a lot of experience helping businesspeople just like you. Larry Winget is right – planning for success is the surest way to attain it. Ask us how.
METERING TECHNOLOGY Reap The Rewards Of High Performance And Low Maintenance With Hersey Meters From Mueller Systems. All Hersey meters comply with ANSI/AWWA Standard C700, plus they feature:
• A permanently sealed register with a unique seal and heat-treated glass that eliminates dirt, moisture infiltration and lens fogging. • An integral tamper-proof locking feature that protects the register. • A powerful design that provides long service life with virtually no maintenance required. • Compatibility with the Mueller System TruRead® Remote Visual Read Counter, which provides remote, on-demand reading capabilities, making reading hard-to-access meters easy and convenient. Ask your DSG representative about one of these Hersey meters today:
• 400 Series IIS Magnetic Drive Positive Displacement Disc Meters • 420 Series Composite PD Meter • 420 Series Bronze PD Meter • 500 Series IIS Magnetic Drive Positive Displacement Disc Meters • 500 Series DI Magnetic Drive Positive Displacement Disc Meters
Printed On 100% Recycled Paper!
Fast FACT
The first telephone call was made on March 10, 1876.
UTILITY Protect People And Equipment With Easy-To-Install VT Packs™ From TSTM. The challenges associated with operating meters and sockets at lower voltage have mainly stemmed from cost and installation issues. With VT Packs, these no longer need to be a factor. VT Packs are easy to install and reduce the costs associated with equipment failure, unmetered electricity usage or flash-burned employees.
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Simple installation. The VT Pack wiring harness (along with the connector) reduces the needed connections and likelihood of wiring errors. The keyhole slot on the VT Pack makes mounting on any mounting screw or shoulder rivet quick and easy.
• Employee protection. With low-voltage VT pack metering, you’ll protect your team from high-voltage exposure and flash burn. • Reduced meter failure. When your meters are down, you lose revenue. VT Packs allow you to step your metering voltage down and minimize errors and meter failures, even through lightning strikes. • AMI compatibility. VT Packs are fully compatible with virtually all automatic meter information (AMI) systems.
COMMUNICATIONS Quazite® Enclosures – Uncommon Advantages FROM PDF Over Common Concrete. Quazite PG series enclosures provide rugged and cost-effective protection for your equipment, with a multitude of advantages over common concrete. Quazite boxes and lids are stronger, lighter, better able to withstand freeze-thaw cycles, more corrosion resistant and easier to handle.
Reduce installation costs. • Straight sides allow for easy adjustment of the box should the grade level change • Stackable for increased depth • Lightweight and easy to handle – with 1/10 to 1/3 the weight of concrete • No special equipment required Cut down on maintenance trips with long-lasting performance. • Stable under freeze/thaw conditions • Impact resistant (tested per ASTM D-2444) and corrosion resistant • Heavy duty – compressive, flexural and tensile strengths are three to five times higher than traditional concrete
Pop
Quiz
1. How much money was NHL pro dsg-outdoors.
Kris Draper traded to the Detroit Red Wings for in 1993?
2. What is the only letter not to appear in the periodic table?
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3. Besides the net, what other keepsake
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is given to the champions of the NCAA national basketball tournament (known as March Madness)?
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4. What is the largest seed in the world?
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Jared Bloomgren from DSG Rapid City shows off a trophy from his hunt in Montana.
Answers:
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1. one dollar 2. j 3. the actual hardwood court
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they win the championship on. 4. a coconut
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NIVERSITY OF
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GROWTH
Big Business Tips For Small Businesses
DSG’s Small Business University, brought to you by Grandy & Associates, features engaging audio sessions packed with insight and strategies to improve small businesses. They are free to use and feature helpful topics, such as:
• Effective Collections Techniques • Customer Complaints – Making Lemonade Out Of Lemons • 50 Places To Find Techs Right Now • How To Beat The Home Centers
• Preparing Your Business Today To Sell Tomorrow • Marketing Tips To Knock Your Socks Off • Leading The New Breed Of Employees
Check out these courses and more for free at www.dakotasupplygroup.com/online-training
ELECTRICAL The Big Kahuna Power Blade Cuts Large Cable In Seconds! •
Gets jobs done faster – cut large cable in seconds rather than minutes! Featuring a massive 3.5-inch jaw opening, this cable cutter makes easy work of cutting large diameter copper and aluminum electrical cables (up to 1250 MCM), resulting in clean, installation-ready cuts in less than 20 seconds.
• Eliminates tired hands, arms and shoulders so you’re ready to take on your next project. Instead of manpower, the Big Kahuna Power Blade attaches onto any 12-volt or higher drill so that cutting is as effortless as pulling the drill’s trigger. •
Minimizes maintenance so you can stay productive. Only three major parts of the blade are moving during the entire cutting process, greatly reducing wear and maintenance. Maintenance is as simple as oiling the blades with a light cutting oil. Plus, the gearbox is sealed and lubricated, so it will not require maintenance for the life of the tool.
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Designed to handle tough jobs so you can work easier. The Big Kahuna Power Blade is engineered for demanding usage. Its steel blades are hardened through a proprietary heat-treating process that results in unprecedented strength and durability. Although replaceable, the blades are designed to last for thousands of cuts.
PLUMBING Everyone Wins With American-Made Plumbing Products From Mansfield. Put the power of Mansfield models like Alto, Summit, Brentwood and Cascade to work for you and your customers!
• Styles that end users will love and ask for by name • Reliability that lets you install with confidence Mansfield offers everything a bathroom needs, whether it’s for residential or commercial use:
• Toilets and bidets
• Urinals
• Lavatories
• Bathtubs and shower bases
• Commercial products
DidYou Know? DSG frequently hosts valuable Counter Days training sessions throughout our service area. Check out what’s coming to your neighborhood at www.dakotasupplygroup.com/counter-days/
The
WINNERS Of This Month’s
Spotlight Super Code
1195397
1198214
PRESORTED STD US POSTAGE
PAID Detroit Lakes, MN Permit No. 14
Divisions of DS G Box 13573 • Grand Forks, ND 58208-3573
Are...
1200183
Check the code on the printed version of your February issue of Spotlight to see if you are a winner! If your code matches one of the codes above, bring in your February Spotlight to your local DSG to claim your prize! Plus, don’t forget to hang on to the printed version of this issue of Spotlight to see if you’re a winner in April!
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What's Inside
HVAC/R Let The Rising Cost Of Propane Do The Selling For You! Show Customers How To Save With An Electric Boiler Or Plenum Heater From Electro Industries. As propane prices soar, efficient electric energy becomes a huge selling advantage for contractors. With a wide range of products for residential and commercial applications, electric boilers and plenum heaters from Electro Industries are just what your customers are looking for. Not only are they energy efficient for your customers, but these products allow you to reduce installation time!
• Electric boilers feature easy access and setup controls plus an internal circulator pump relay for simplified wiring. • Plenum heaters simply get inserted into the plenum above or below the existing furnace, and all thermostat control wiring is simplified and handled within the system.
Tom’s Current March Featured Products Fast Fact DSG Outdoors Pop Quiz University Of DSG Did You Know?