www.pyebarker.com
1-800-282-9784
P.O. Box 1387 (30298) 121 Royal Dr. Forest Park, GA 30297
OCTOBER 2018
Last month I wrote about the power of the handshake, only to fracture my right hand while teaching karate a few weeks later. The irony was not lost on me as I winced through handshake after powerful handshake at our conference in Washington, D.C. All in all, the trip was worth it, though I learned that I may have to start taking things a little easier at the dojo — I’m not getting any younger. In fact, I turn 50 this month, and frankly I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. It feels like a big milestone, but my only real takeaway is that 50 is a lot younger than I thought it was. Sure it takes me a little longer to get out of my chair at the office, but that’s about it. That’s why for my actual birthday I’m going to be getting far, far away from that seat. For the first time in 10 years, my family and I will be headed to Hawaii for a little R&R, and we won’t be alone. We’ll be headed to the islands with some dear friends from our church, who first introduced us to the Aloha State a decade ago. They regularly vacation out there and finally convinced my wife, daughter, and me to give the long travel time a shot. After snorkeling in Hawaii’s turquoise water, we were hooked. We always knew we wanted to go back, but it’s taken us a while to save up and find the time. 10 years was a long wait, but getting to spend my half-century birthday celebrating on the beach with my family certainly worked out! Now the only challenge is going to be striking that perfect balance between relaxing and exploring the island. But whether I’m at a luau, snorkeling, or just snoozing on a beach chair, I can rest easy knowing Pye-Barker is in a strong position. THE FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHT A TIME FOR GROWT H
Georgia, and we’ve been right there beside our partners, finding solutions and helping them grow their businesses. Thanks to the work of our great team, we’re ready for the company to experience its own growth. At the time of writing, we’ve just brought on a VP of operations to help run things smoothly as we prepare to ramp things up. We’ve also brought on a new addition to our sales team in the Northwest to help us give better coverage to our friends up there. It’s a great feeling to be a part of this renaissance Georgia manufacturing is experiencing. Being able to give our team that added job security and bring more eager professionals into the Pye-Barker family is about the best birthday present I could ask for. My hand may take longer to heal than it used to, and I may be a little slower getting out of the chair, but I’ve never been more energized by where this company is heading. To all our team members and partners who have made this possible, thank you.
Aloha,
-Eric Lunsford
The last few years have seen a lot of transition, but I’m proud to say we’re better for it. Manufacturing has been flourishing in
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1-800-282-9784 • www.pyebarker.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
HORROR MARKETING HORROR STORIES A LESSON IN WHAT NOT TO DO Every marketing professional wants their campaign to be memorable. They want consumers to take notice — or take the bait — and make their company a big profit. But sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned. The campaigns below certainly won the attention of consumers, but in each case, what started out as a marketing dream quickly turned into a nightmare.
FIAT’S DIRECT MAIL DISASTER In 1992, women across Spain received anonymous letters inviting them to go on a “little adventure.” The letters stated, “We met again on the street yesterday, and I noticed how you glanced interestedly in my direction.” Fearing a stalker, many women locked themselves in their homes. A few days later, another letter arrived, revealing the identity of the “secret admirer” as the new Fiat Cinquecento. Yes, the creepy letters were part of a marketing campaign by the Italian car company. Fiat apologized and ended the campaign after criticism from consumer protection groups, Social Minister Cristina Alberdi, and the 50,000 women who received the letters. KFC AND HOOVER CAN’T DO MATH A shocking number of companies hold giveaway promotions without calculating exactly how much they will cost. Here are a few examples. chicken meal with two sides and a biscuit for anyone who went to their website and downloaded a coupon. Over 10.5 million coupons were downloaded, and KFC had to give away $42 million in free food. • In the 1990s, Hoover Company in the United Kingdom offered two round-trip plane tickets with the purchase of a vacuum. Unfortunately, even in the ‘90s, most vacuums • Back when “Oprah” was the biggest show on television, KFC ran an ad offering a free two-piece
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT If you’ve had any installation from Pye-Barker, chances are you’ve had the pleasure of meeting our lead technician, Shawn Sprouse. Shawn’s spent 13 years in the industry, but his background in mechanics goes back much, much further. We sat down with this long-time Pye-Barker team member to learn just what makes him tick. long tenure at Pye- Barker to the sense of community he’s found here. “I eat, sleep, and breathe Pye-Barker,”
SHAWN SPROUSE EATS, SLEEPS, AND BREATHES PYE-BARKER
Shawn says with a laugh. “They’re my family away from family.” Speaking of family, when he’s not helping piece together custom applications on factory floors, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife and 5-year-old son. The Sprouses spend a lot of time exploring the outdoors, whether they’re hunting, fishing, or using their ATV. But as big food enthusiasts,
“From the time I was a kid, I’ve been taking things apart and putting them back together,” Shawn reflects. “I’d tear my remote control cars apart and then Frankenstein them into something new.” While these early experiments with mechanics would foster a love of hands-on creativity, it was a much bigger car that set Shawn down the road to a carrier. “My first car was a ‘71 Ford F100,” Shawn explains. “When my dad handed over the keys, he told me if I was going to drive it, I was going to fix it … Any maintenance or body work that had to be done to that truck — I did it.” From this experience, Shawn went from car mechanics to diesel and then finally to industrial engineering. While his interests shifted over the years, one thing always remained the same: Shawn was looking for a challenge. “Prior to Pye-Barker, I didn’t like being tied down,” Shawn admits. “But Pye-Barker is always giving me different jobs and projects to work on. They challenge me, which is what keeps me around!” But it’s not just the variety of work that keeps Shawn engaged; he also attributes his
the family also enjoys exploring all the great dining Atlanta has to offer. Overall, Shawn’s a man who loves what he does for a living and the time it gives him to spend with his family.
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Pye-Barker Supply Co. • www.pyebarker.com
THE SPICE OF LIFE WHY WE CARRY SO MANY PUMP SYSTEMS AND ACCESSORIES Ask any of our pump experts what they like about their job, and chances are they’ll say it’s the variety of processes they get to help clients with. Across this state, we get to help businesses big and small move the lifeblood of their industry, whether that’s herbicide, bio fuels, asphalt, or albacore tuna. No matter the viscosity, flow, or pressure requirements for your process, chances are we have the most efficient solution. Whether you need an industrial, electrically heated gear pump, or a lightweight, non-metallic drum-pump, we carry all-in-one systems from the manufacturers you trust. With a full range of pumps from Viking, Wright Flow, IR ARO, Truflo, Crane, Finish Thompson, and more, we are confident we can find the solution that fits your needs and your budget. But sometimes you aren’t looking for a brand new pump or an all-in-one system. Sometimes the most efficient option is to simply improve what you already have. Staying up to date with the latest gauges, meters, containment systems, and diaphragm seals can do wonders to improve safety and productivity. That’s why we work with brands like Liquid Controls and Blacoh Fluid Control to give you all the support you need to make your existing systems the best they can be. But where all this variety truly sings is in its ability to be mixed and matched. With our huge selection of pumps and accessories, our engineers have helped dozens of companies over the years design unique solutions to fit their business. Whether you have an unorthodox process or a challenging floor plan, having the freedom to mix and match parts creatively isn’t just a challenge for your engineers — it’s a necessity. We’ve been in the hydro-air business since 1932 and have seen just about every design pitfall imaginable. If you are having issues maximizing the efficiency of your application or need a new system entirely, give our engineering services a call. With thousands of parts at their disposal from the world’s leading manufacturers, they will find a solution that fits your needs. Don’t wait for an expensive breakdown or deal with expensive inefficiencies. Call the experts today at 404-363-6000.
were still cheaper than plane tickets, and Hoover lost 50 million pounds in what remains the biggest promotional disaster ever.
CARTOON NETWORK CAUSES A BOMB SCARE
Guerrilla marketing can create valuable word of mouth — think about
the success of the movie “It” last year.
The marketing for the film included simple red balloons tied to storm drains. But Cartoon Network
didn’t have quite the same luck in 2007 when they tried to promote their show “Aqua Teen Hunger Force.” When the network put electronic devices featuring a character from the show all over Boston, city residents thought the strange contraptions looked like bombs and called the police. This triggered a terrorist scare that ultimately cost the general manager of Cartoon Network his job.
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1-800-282-9784 • 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! 1-800-282-9784
INSIDE THIS 1
ISSUE
Birthdays, Beaches, and Bottom Lines
Would You Survive These Marketing Nightmares? Meet Shawn Sprouse! Have a Laugh on Us! Understanding our Full Range of Pumps
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3 of the Weirdest Cryptids in Pseudoscientific History
THE MONSTERS SOME BELIEVE ARE REAL 3 OF THE WEIRDEST CRYPTIDS IN PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC HISTORY
THE BUNYIP
There are people who would have you believe that monsters live among us all year long. These individuals, referred to as cryptozoologists (or just “wishful thinkers” by their skeptics), believe a hidden animal kingdom exists just beyond the edge of mainstream biological science. Here are three of the weirdest, almost-certainly imaginary “cryptids” to ever capture the human imagination.
When European settlers began edging into the territory of Aboriginal Australians, they heard whispered, frightened tales of a man-eating “water spirit” that lived in the lakes and rivers of the area. Descriptions of the creature varied wildly. The monster was alternately described as an enormous starfish, an alligator-like creature with the head of an emu, or a massive bulldog- faced beast. But accounts held one thing in common: The monster claimed the lives of any who dared camp near its watery domain. One night, near Loveland, Ohio, a man reportedly beheld a trio of bipedal frog-people slapping their webbed feet along the side of the road. If that wasn’t enough, one even had a magic wand, which shot sparks as the man ran off. Apparently, not all mythical beasts are bloodthirsty monsters; some are a little more Kermit than Cthulhu. THE LOVELAND FROG
THE JERSEY DEVIL
According to legend, the 1.1 million-acre Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey are home to more than just birds and deer. The story goes that when one Jane Leeds gave birth to her 13th child, she was dismayed to add yet another kid to her responsibilities. She cried out, “Oh, let this one be the devil!” Shortly after the child was born, the boy was transmogrified into a twisted creature with the
malformed head of a goat, leathery wings, and a thrashing, forked tail. After slicing the midwife with its ragged claws, the beast flew up the chimney and fled into the trees. Hundreds of years later, the beast is still said to creep the backwoods on its cloven hooves, glowering from the blackness with shining, red eyes.
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Pye-Barker Supply Co. • www.pyebarker.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
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