www.pyebarker.com
800-282-9784
P.O. Box 1387 (30298) 121 Royal Dr. Forest Park, GA 30297
FEBRUARY 2019
On Valentine’s Day, my daughter, Jessica, will turn 19 years old. Even as I write it, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea. I start thinking back to when I was that age — dating, working two jobs, and teaching karate on the side — and I find it so hard to believe my little girl has reached that part of her life. She’s certainly using her time effectively. Since she’ll be going off to college this fall, Jessica is using the time she has left to work and travel. Almost every month since she graduated high school, she’s gone somewhere, whether on family trips, to conferences with me, or around north Georgia with her friends from church. I certainly don’t begrudge her making the most of her youth before the pressures of school and adulthood step in. She’s also learning the value of a dollar. Since she was 15, Jessica has helped out at Pye-Barker, and this period between high school and college has given her plenty of time to work hard and save up for her future. As a business owner, I always felt like I couldn’t spend as much time with my daughter as I’d like to. I had to work long hours at the office to support us, which meant much of the time I was getting home as she was going off to bed. Now we can take our lunch breaks together and talk about anything and everything. Jessica has taken after her old man in that we both love to read and fall a little more on the nerdy side, so a lot of our conversations revolve around fantasy novels or the “Doctor Who” series. While I cherish these chances to nerd out with my daughter, we also find the time to have real heart-to-hearts. Knowing she’s growing up, I do my best to encourage her to be a critical thinker. I’m happy she feels comfortable coming to me with questions about everything from boys and alcohol to what she wants to do when she grows up. If you’re the parent of a young ANOTHER YEAR OLDER MY LITTLE GIRL HAS GROWN UP
adult, I don’t need to tell you how precarious these conversations can be, but I’m always happy to have them.
My philosophy has always been not to dictate to Jessica. I try to ask her thought-provoking questions and play devil’s advocate, but I never want to prescribe life choices for her. I’d rather have a child who thinks about the way they think and feels empowered to make their own decisions in life. Jessica has proven her ability to do this in spades. At the close of last year, she was waiting for a friend who was supposed to come from college to see our church’s annual Christmas performance. His dorm was up in North Georgia, but he was having car trouble and his parents couldn’t pick him up until later in the evening. With our permission, Jessica drove all the way up to Dahlonega on her own for the first time. At church, another longtime friend of Jessica’s could tell I was watching the clock and getting a little antsy for her return. He made his way over and told me, “If there’s one person in this world you can trust, it’s the daughter you raised.” Sure enough, Jessica made it back from her rescue mission with time to spare. I may have a hard time wrapping my own head around it, but there’s no question that my daughter has grown into a responsible, independent woman.
Here’s to all the parents out there doing their best for their kids.
-Eric Lunsford
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800-282-9784 • www.pyebarker.com
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HYPERLOCAL ADVERTISING FOR THE BROAD MODERN BUSINESS
MARKETING STARTS RIGHT NEXT DOOR
Whether you’re the CEO of a major tech-savvy corporation or a freelancer, your eyes should be set on your next marketing move in this digital age. While spinning signs on sidewalks and flying banners from the backs of airplanes may be considered staples of public outreach to some, the tides are shifting to more targeted ways of reaching your future clientele. Virtually any business can benefit from utilizing hyperlocal advertising and its many strategic facets.
Hyperlocal advertising refers to the process of hyperspecific or niche marketing campaigns implemented for a certain focus area. This can manifest in many comprehensive forms, depending on the specific needs of the business. A local mom and pop restaurant may choose to take advantage of hyperlocal
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
WILLIE SMITH HAS SEEN IT ALL
mentored him: former Pye- Barker truck driver Marven Camp. “[Marven] was 64 years old when I met him,” Willie remembers. “He’d been at the company since 1964 or ‘65. Marven taught me that when a company treats you fair, you stay there.” Now Willie gets to pass along his own wisdom to the next generation of Pye-Barker employees. “I left home at 16 and didn’t look back,” Willie explains. “Now I’m 65 and able to retire if I want to. Pye-Barker is a big part of that. I tell anyone that if you’re committed to a company like Pye-Barker, they’ll be there for you.”
Here at Pye-Barker, we’re fortunate to have many longtime employees. These industry veterans bring a wealth of experience, wisdom, and perspective to the table, making sure we always stay true to our roots. That’s why this month, we are very excited to feature a team member who has been with us for the “long haul” — Willie Smith. To give Willie a single job title would be a disservice. Back in 1976, he started out at Pye-Barker as a truck driver but has seen his fair share of transitions. “I’ve done a little bit of everything,” he explains. “Alongside making deliveries, I became a warehouseman and helped the guys at the shop from time to time.” But Willie wasn’t the only one changing. Over the years he saw Pye-Barker transition into the company it is today. “I grew alongside the company,” he says. “When I started we had one van. Now we have three.” When asked why he has remained a part of our team for 43 years, Willie’s answer is straightforward. “I stuck around for the people.” When asked to elaborate, he adds, “This is the kind of job that gives you peace of mind. You like going to work every day; the people here are like family.” It’s clear that this work family has made a big impact on him. Because Willie started at Pye-Barker at age 22, this was far from his first job. But it was the first time the Alabama native really felt like he’d found a place worth staying. He gives a lot of credit to the man who
Willie Smith Today
Willie Smith 1978
Thanks, Willie!
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Pye-Barker Supply Co. • www.pyebarker.com
THE VALUE OF A SERVICE PROVIDER BRINGING IN OUTSIDE SPECIALISTS CAN SAVE TIME AND MONEY Between Georgia’s manufacturing renaissance and the extremely competitive job market, more and more plants are turning to service providers for their engineering solutions. As McKinsey & Co. observed in a 2017 article, the automotive industry alone is “increasingly looking for opportunities to focus on their core competencies while outsourcing other aspects of their business to service providers.” The management consulting firm concludes, “Building the right relationship with engineering services providers can generate even more value.” This value comes from the many advantages service providers offer in today’s marketplace. Here’s a look into what some of them are. SPECIALIZATION With automation and information technology making every system increasingly specialized, the days of “jack-of-all-trades” engineers are fading. Maximizing the efficiency of a particular piece of equipment — or identifying the problems that may be holding it back — often requires a trained, familiar hand. Being able to call on experts who know the ins and outs of a given system ensures a job gets done fast and done right. CONVENIENCE Ideally, you don’t need a team of maintenance professionals on site around the clock to keep your systems running. Why pay such highly sought-after professionals to sit around all day, waiting for something to go wrong? Having an outside service provider or team of expert technicians that are always on call means you have the expertise you need exactly when you need it, whether you need to fix an existing system or have a new one designed from scratch. RELIABILITY When looking for a service provider for your systems, it’s important to find a company you trust. Ideally, you want a provider with a reputation for delivering excellent service that is also familiar with your systems. At Pye-Barker Engineered Solutions, we back up our promise of quality with a rock solid guarantee: If the information you provided is accurate, we specify a solution that you purchase from us, and you follow the specification AND the system doesn’t perform as specified, we will get your system performing as specified, even if it means installing a whole new system.
advertising by sending ads to potential customers within a 5-mile radius during the hours they are most likely to be hungry, on their lunch breaks, or when they are otherwise free to stop in for a bite to eat. Alternatively, a major car dealership in a metropolitan area could target their potential audience by running ads during local professional sports games. So how does this work for YOUR business? It all depends on your desired campaign for your targeted region. Assuming you’re well-informed about your current demographics or the demographics you’re hoping to reach, there are several methods to effectively implement hyperlocal advertising tactics. By using GPS and IP addresses, you’ll be able to target ads to specific cities, streets, and even buildings by inputting their coordinates. After you’ve narrowed it down, you can choose which areas work best for your goals. A mechanic shop expanding to a new city may cast a wider net, while a high- end jeweler may target areas with higher incomes. With hyperlocal strategies, your advertisements can be catered on a variety of digital platforms, like social media, streaming services, and apps. These new-age technologies will give you more exposure and patronage for your ever- expanding business!
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800-282-9784 • www.pyebarker.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
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P.O. Box 1387 (30298) 121 Royal Drive Forest Park, GA 30297
CALL US NOW! 800-282-9784
INSIDE THIS 1 Jessica Lunsford Turns 19!
ISSUE
Better Targeted Ads for Your Local Customers Meet Willie Smith! Have a Laugh on Us! Why More Plants Rely on Service Providers
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Let’s Retire These Health Myths
3 HEALTH MYTHS YOU PROBABLY BELIEVE THE 5-SECOND RULE WILL MAKE YOU SICK
of the Indiana University School of Medicine pointed out, over 50 percent of bottled water is just filtered tap water. The same effect can be achieved with a home filtration system. Of course, if the tap water in your area has been contaminated, bottled water is a safer alternative. However, in most circumstances, bottled water is no healthier than tap water. CRACKING YOUR KNUCKLES CAUSES ARTHRITIS The connection between knuckle-cracking and arthritis came from studies where participants self-reported their habits. Modern medical research has shown these results to be false. The official stance from the John Hopkins Arthritis Center states, “There is no evidence that cracking knuckles causes any damage such as arthritis in the joints.” Still, chronic knuckle-cracking can lead to reduced grip strength, so you might want to break the habit anyway. You’ve probably heard these myths for years, but just because something is common knowledge doesn’t mean it is true. With information so easily available, always take the time to research the facts, especially when it comes to your health.
We live in the golden age of information. The answers to many of life’s questions are just an internet search away. Despite this readily available wisdom, we still have a bad habit of believing health- related myths. Here are three popular health “facts” that are total works of fiction. THE 5-SECOND RULE KEEPS FOOD SAFE Obviously germs and bacteria don’t really wait five seconds to pounce, but snatching your chip off the floor fast keeps most of the germs away, right? Not according to a 2006 study published by Dr. Paul Dawson. He found conclusive evidence that when food comes into contact with a contaminated surface, bacteria are transferred immediately. Even one second spent on tile, wood, or carpet is enough to infest your food with salmonella or another serious contaminant.
BOTTLED WATER IS SAFER THAN TAP WATER People seeking out safer water alternatives increases the sales of bottled “spring water” each year. However, bottled water is more expensive, bad for the environment, and, as Dr. Morton Tavel
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Pye-Barker Supply Co. • www.pyebarker.com
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