Keeping You and Your Business Safe and Secure

Although the rates for burglary have decreased 2.2% as of 2011, burglary incidents are still largely prevalent in the United States. What can we do to help keep our companies and our homes safe? Most people get some kind of security system, either a dog or an alarm system. But if the thought of having someone able to see what you are doing throughout the day makes you feel uncomfortable then there is a solution. You could install your own cameras outside of your house or place of business. Today we are going to tell you why it is important in this day and age to secure your investments and how we can help you do just that.

Burglars could break into your office at any time before you have time to react. The point of a security system is to help you be better prepared for an attack before it happens and to warn burglars that they will likely get caught if they choose to break into your office. With the growing use of computers in offices holding important documents and company records, it is important for you to secure your company in any way possible. Although, we cannot always protect ourselves from hackers or other online thievery, we can at least try to keep our physical location safe from criminals on the ground.

Burglars can also break into your home at any time, even when you are there. The reasons for securing your home are endless. Homes are constantly being broken into and a lot burglars are never caught causing them to continue this illegal activity. Burglars are fast and could easily get away if there is no security system in place. Some burglars are also not afraid to get what they want by any means possible. They can inflict harm on you if you are at home, and/or any pets you have guarding your home. According to homesecurityfacts.com you are 3 times less likely to be broken into if you have a home security system. So do not let your possessions be stolen and your house vandalized. There are ways to keep yourself and your family protected and away from dangerous criminals. 

With the growing use of technology, comes the increase in misuse of that technology. In order to better protect your home or business, you might find that it is best to install your own security system rather than feel like another company is invading your privacy. We at Short Run Pro understand your dilemma and have come up with a solution. We sell mounting bracket products that can hold up any cameras you need to surround your home or business.  We can manufacture a mounting bracket of any size and shape to suit your needs. Mounting brackets in steel, stainless, galvanized and aluminum are available. Custom mounting brackets are also available if necessary. To find out more information about our mounting brackets you can go to:

http://www.shortrunpro.com/mounting_brackets_s_vhv139ytw_vhv1ytw_vhv1ytw.aspx.

My Dad Ran a Production Floor

 








 When I was a boy my dad ran a production floor. 250,000 square feet of big machinery making all kinds of loud noises and bending metal like it was paper. I loved it. When going to the floor with my dad the first step was to put on the safety glasses. For some reason, I always thought of James Worthy whenever I put those things on.

My dad kept me close to his side whenever we went in – I know now this was for my protection as well as the protection of his workers. There were painted lines that you did not cross unless you had business beyond them. The big machines were absolutely off limit. You could stand at a distance and feel the floor shake when they hit. I was in awe of the guys who worked those machines. They were on par with astronauts.

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The fantastic things the workers in that production plant could do to metal was inspiring. They would take a raw sheet of steel and make 1,000 shiny metal parts that were used to attach some part of a car to another. The hubcaps were my favorite. I would take the rejects home occasionally and use them for target practice or run around with them on my head like an early version of Devo.

Production formed as a meaning in my mind during those times at the plant. I began to understand what it is to produce something – to take a raw product and produce a useful tool or part out it that others would buy because it was important to them.

I believe now that production or the capacity to create something important to others is the foundation of our economy. It is vital and a building block of all other facets of our country’s business structure to make something useful to people. If we lose this capacity the other areas will fail and fall. Bankers can’t bank when no one buys. Service providers cannot service without these components. There is no sale without products to sell.

So here is to all those men and women involved in production. By the way, did I tell you that my dad has always been a hero to me? How could he not be? He ran a production floor.­ -- by Scott Toal.

Metal Wine Racks: Durability and Life

So many choices, when looking to invest in wine you can get confused. The primary concern in a wine investment is picking out a wine. Do you want a red or white or both? Looking at chilling or serving at room temperature? Blend or single blend? Aged (Vintage) or Fresh? These are the important questions one must ask when searching and purchasing for this enjoyable luxury, we call, wine.

An important addition to your wine investment is the purchase of a wine rack in which to store your wine bottles. There are many options on materials to use for a wine rack - wood, plastic or metal. In wine storage is important to preserve the wine that you intend to use in the future. Bottles being as fragile as they are need a durable holder rack. When properly designed a metal wine rack can have both the durability and stylish look you seek.

Have you searched for a “certain look” and can’t find it? Do you feel like being creative and creating your own style of metal wine rack to match your interior designs? Why not submit your creative ideas and drawings to Short Run Pro and design your own, one-of-a-kind metal wine rack with everything you seek, from the design, size and number of bottle holding positions? Submit your ideas to www.ShortRunPro.com today and fulfill your desires of possessing the wine rack you always have wanted to showcase the wine bottles you spend so much time choosing.

How Much Cash Do You Have locked down in Inventory?

In these times when cash can be hard to come by for most businesses it is as important as ever to have an inventory program that gives you as much cash flexibility as possible. Still many companies continue to operate on the “got to buy volume to get best price” mentality. This purchasing path takes a company into Cell Block NEOC – Not Enough Operating Capital.



Why be prisoner to vendors that make you produce in volumes equal to your annual uses? Have you considered your cash is locked into parts sitting on shelves at your facility? What about the parts that you don’ t sell? You know a discounted sale is coming for those bad boys.

When you take into consideration all the expenses related to mass production or high volume buying the payoff really does not make any sense. I mean, if you can buy high volume and move the product that is great. But too many companies are buying too much product because of the imaginary pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Think about it – so you pay 25% more per part on a $5 part because you bought 500 pieces instead of 2,500 pieces. That is an extra $625 over the 500-piece lot. Now let’s say that you move 500 pieces in 3 months so it would take you 15 months to move the 2,500. If you purchase the 2,500 pieces then you will lock up $2500 for an extra 3 months, $2500 for an extra 6 months, $2500 for an extra 9 months and $2500 for an extra 12 months. Total cash lock down over the initial 3 months is $10,000. Total lock down over the 1-year period is $5,000. All for $625 per quarter?

How much is it worth to have cash available when you need it? Good night sleeps for 3 months is way more valuable than $625. So what is the solution? Buy in lower quantities. Buy from a trusted supplier that speaks your language and can be reached when you need them. Buy where you are making the greatest impact for your own company and your neighbors. Buy right Here – in the USA. It is the best place to buy!

If you want to get started on your freedom program contact Short Run Pro today and let us show you how short run production can make your business smoother and cash happy. Contact us at sales@shortrunpro.com or 877-829-9293.

How to Provide Excellent Customer Service.

"It all starts with truly wanting to help people." At Short Run Pro we are proud of our excellent customer service. When you contact us, you will not be stuck in the everlasting loop of doom in automated phone system. We hate those things! You'll be speaking to a knowledgeable customer service professional whose main goal is to satisfy your needs as a Short Run Pro customer.

When you’re ready to order you have the option of placing your order on-line or giving your information to a Short Run Pro team member. We view communication with our customer as a key to getting the order right the first go around. When your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email that the order has been placed. Once the order is ready to ship you will receive an email that your parts are shipping, and you will receive a third email giving the shipping and tracking information. At any point in the process you are able to discuss the progress with Short Run Pro.

Reliability is important to any good relationship, and customer service is no exception. We will do our best to get your product out in a timely and efficient manner. If a problem does arise with your order we attempt to learn about it before you do! This helps us keep you updated on the status of your products. So in most instances when a job is delayed Short Run Pro will notify you before you have to call us to find out what is going on with your order.

We pride ourselves on listening to our customers needs. When complaints arise we look at how best to alleviate your burden. If there is a way that we can assist in making a bad situation better, we work to make it happen. Our goal is to be helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable, 24/7.

Short Run Pro desires to give the customer more than expected, excellent customer service and a great product. Having one without the other is not achieving our goals in the Short Run Pro book. Our hope is that once you receive the product that will see that you have chosen the best on the market from the best company around.

You will find us always in our continue endeavor of providing excellent customer service. Here's to great service.

Uncomfortable Support

At a recent customer meeting we were made aware of the fact that our product shelves were being supported by cheap foreign made metal brackets. This was especially discomforting to us since we are custom metal parts producer and an advocate of USA based manufacturing.

It seems that our office furnishings has escaped our detailed review and we ended up with wood shelves support by the box store shelf brackets that come over the seas by the millions. We did not install them but we sure as heck were going to "un" install them.

So we proceeded to give our company's product shelf area a complete over haul including removing the cheaply finished, white, thin gauge support brackets with our Forma Steel support brackets made of 1/4" thick stainless steel diamond plate metal. It was like removing Formica and putting in granite!

Our Forma Steel supports are made with a laser form process that makes for an extremely durable and heavy duty support. The diamond plate adds the touch of "Grrr" to the appearance of the bracket and finishes the whole product display area off nicely. Parts that used to be on the ground due to weight now are placed on the shelves and supported by substantial shelf brackets.

Note in the pictures the difference between the two styles and makes of the brackets. The thickness of the Forma Steel provide substantially greater strength for the bracket. The finish on the parts are polar opposites with the paint on the cheap brackets barely able to cover the sloppy weld and the formed nature of the Forma Steel support allowing for a smooth face and no distraction from the diamond plate finish.

Check out how the shelf in this image is bowing away from the wall. This is due to a heavy parts box being inadvertently placed on the shelf and the shelf deflecting on the brackets. The replacement of the cheap brackets with our Forma Steel supports we were able to stand on the shelf without deflection. There is no substitute for outstanding design and craftsmanship.

Bottom line, when you see a cheap bracket used to do a job that it can't do and in a place where it does not belong - get rid of it. Replace it with something that belongs and that can do the job. Also, remember that when you purchase products that are made in the USA you are supporting some one's job. It is not simply a part. That part reflects the manufacturing base within the United States. When we can support that base we should.

For more information or to find the right bracket for the job visit Short Run Pro ( http://www.shortrunpro.com/). The pictures taken for this entry were from my iPhone. Please have mercy.

The Custom Nation

I am generally not one to put people out. You won’t find me ordering things not on the menu. I cringe when I hear a customer ask their waiter to hold the normal house dressing, place the peppers on the side and, oh yea, is there any way to get that served cut into sixteen individual pieces each on its own chilled plate. Just order it the way they make it!

While I may not be one to put others out, I am a person who likes to give people exactly what they desire. Along this line of thinking – ever noticed the growing trend of customizable products available these days? Application of new technologies and advanced manufacturing processes allow consumers to get almost anything customized or personalized. From coffee mugs with personal pictures on them to cars designed particularly to individual automotive desires, consumers have customizable options on almost any product.

Now, to be accurate there are levels of custom. There is the Organic Custom which refers to getting an apple grown the way that best suits your personal preference. There is the Mini Custom, as in the name of the favorite pint sized vehicle, which refers to customizing a product within certain parameters or select options. Then there is the Short Run Pro Custom or the slightly longer name – Dude, What Are You Thinking!? Custom. This level of custom basically states that if you think it up and if it is humanly possible within production capabilities we will make it exactly as you think it.

Dictionary.com notes that “ization” is “a combination of ‘ize’ and ‘ation’”. I would suggest a slight adjustment - “ization” is the “appending of the word custom used by customers to get exactly what they want, when they want it, at their door step.” I think that works a lot better.

So here is a toast to the custom future – I raise a custom imprinted crystal fluted glass filled with organic champagne. Cheers to custom.