Pye-Barker Supply Co March 2019

www.pyebarker.com

1-800-282-9784

P.O. Box 1387 (30298) 121 Royal Dr. Forest Park, GA 30297

MARCH 2019

We’re on the threshold of spring, and just like mother nature, Pye- Barker has some new buds beginning to grow. We kicked off the year by hiring on more team members we’ll be introducing to you in coming editions! Having just gone through this new round of hiring, I can say the job market has certainly changed a lot since my father’s day. Any business owner looking to bring on new employees in Georgia right now knows what I’m talking about. The talent is out there. The only problem is that they’re already working for somebody else. That’s the one downside to the industrial boom we’re experiencing, I suppose. It’s an employee’s market. I remember a time when we’d post a job offer and the résumés would come streaming in from job hunters. Back then, the process was as simple as picking the most impressive candidate, interviewing them, and giving them the job. To find top quality hires today, small businesses are the ones that have to do the hunting. With this most recent batch of hires, we found ourselves having to reach out with phone calls to potential hires. It honestly felt as though I was the one being interviewed and not the other way around. Despite this extra work, we also made the hiring process more rigorous, instilling a multi-interview process including tests to make sure the professionals we bring on are up to snuff. While there are considerably more hoops for both employee and employer to jump through these days, I don’t mind the change. After all, the more time spent hiring a candidate, the more likely HOW FINDING GOOD HELP HAS CHANGED THE NEW SCHOOL OF HIRING

they are to be with your company for the long haul. In hiring, much like engineering, it pays to be intentional. As the old saying goes, “Measure twice, cut once.” Part of why we strive to be so intentional with our hiring process is because these aren’t just our employees. When you call in need of an engineering solution, the Pye-Barker team is as much yours as it is ours. From service technicians to inside sales professionals, I wouldn’t want anyone on my team you wouldn’t trust in your own warehouse or factory floor. Pye-Barker’s success is built on trust. We didn’t get where we are today by hiring used-cars salesmen or technicians that will try to upsell you at every turn. Our philosophy is to always be an open and honest partner with the businesses we serve. The way we find talent that shares that outlook has changed over the years, but we have no problem changing with it. Expanding our team and bringing new blood into the company has been a prolonged process but a worthwhile one. It was fortunate we got these hirings squared away as I head into the spring conference season. It’s a good feeling when I can hit the road knowing we’ve laid a solid foundation at home. -Eric Lunsford

1-800-282-9784 • www.pyebarker.com

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SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Spring is here, and watching flowers sneak up through the soil in your front yard may remind you to consider growth of a different kind — the growth of your business. Regardless of whether you soared over your revenue goals the previous quarter or you took these last few months to recover from failed marketing efforts and missed opportunities, spring provides a great opportunity for overall growth. Still, it’s hard to know where you should focus your energy. To aid your efforts, here are four factors to consider for strategic business growth. 1 LEADERSHIP Similar to nature’s processes during springtime, business growth begins far below the surface through good leadership. Your 4 FACTORS THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTING YOUR BUSINESS’S GROWTH THIS SEASON

employees’ perception of you and your company’s mission is what determines their motivation to work hard. Take a step back to evaluate your leadership tactics and determine if they match your ideal business model. Often, replacing poor leaders with stronger ones makes all the difference in a company’s success.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

VIC MOORE KEEPS US ON TARGET

When it comes to accounting, it pays to have an expert at the helm. As any small-business owner knows, a keen eye can be the difference between growth and major cash flow issues. That’s why we’ve been lucky to have Vic Moore as our dedicated comptroller for almost a decade. Signing on with Pye-Barker in 2010, Vic brought with him a lifetime of experience and a “get-things-done” attitude. “I took a lot of accounting classes in high school,” Vic tells us, reflecting on what brought him into the industry. “My dad taught me a lot too; he was an accountant.” Despite this early exposure to the field, Vic wouldn’t go into accounting for quite some time. He spent 13 years in business for himself. Then, when his father passed away, Vic and his brother took over the family paper- and plastic-distribution company. “I did most of the accounting and bookkeeping,” Vic remembers. “It was a small company but a good company.” Altogether, Vic has 40–50 years of industry experience made all the more valuable by the fact that he knows the ins and outs of how small businesses are run. When asked what he likes about being part of the Pye-Barker team, Vic doesn’t mince words. “The job itself is the same as anywhere; accounting is accounting. But what sets Pye-Barker apart in particular is the people.”

As we do with all our spotlights, we wanted to get a picture of what Vic does in his free time. It’s telling that this question made our controller laugh. “Free time? What free time?” he asked, before explaining that a lot of what he does outside of the office is maintaining the hunting club he founded back in 1989. “There’s a lot to be done in the off season,” Vic explains. “Stocking and maintaining 2,500 acres keeps me busy.” Organized and efficient even in his off hours, it’s clear Vic is a perfect fit for the job!

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Pye-Barker Supply Co. • www.pyebarker.com

A PUMP OF ALL TRADES THE STRENGTH OF AIR OPERATED PUMPS Air operated pumps are among the most versatile tools in an engineer’s arsenal. While you’ll most likely see them used in simple, low viscosity applications, the unique strengths of these pneumatic devices make them ideal for jobs across a wide range of industries. Here is an overview of what these “pumps of all trades” bring to the table. FAST STARTS AND STOPS A key advantage many air operated pumps have is their ability to both self prime and “deadhead.” Pumps like those in the FTI Air series can run dry and abruptly start and stop without damage, making them ideal for delicate chemical applications where maintaining consistent flow rates are a must. Any application requiring a swift cut off and/or startup should take advantage of this particular strength offered by air operation. SAFE TRANSPORT Because these air operated pumps don’t rely on an impeller, they can safely convey materials that may otherwise harm or be harmed by a pump’s internal mechanisms. This makes the air operated approach ideal for applications involving highly corrosive liquids or large particles. NO SPARKS Since air operated pumps rely on pneumatic motors, they are a favorite tool of the oil and gas industry. They do not rely on combustion, making them ideal for hazardous environments. If your application requires pump operation near flammable materials or in a combustible atmosphere, air operation is the route to take.

2 EMPLOYEE TRAINING Business growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Just as leadership from your management team should be a major focus, your employees need a standard but solid foundation of knowledge in order to cultivate their own growth in the company. This spring, consider revamping your training programs by moving to online platforms that customize learning paths for each new employee based on previous employees’ feedback. 3 CUSTOMER LOYALTY While it is important to increase brand awareness and expand your customer base, it is essential to also increase sales potential with your existing customers. Look for opportunities to grow your profits with the customers you already have through add-on sales, customer loyalty programs, and referral business. 4 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY When you adopt policies of social responsibility, you affect your community — and therefore your customers — in a positive way. Take the month of March, for example, which is National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month. You can get your business involved in various organizations geared toward raising awareness. Through sponsoring events and donating money, you can increase your client base while simultaneously helping others.

With such a broad spectrum of capability, engineers often find

themselves questioning whether an air operated pump would suit their application better than a centrifugal or hose pump. Often, the answer to this lies in the specifics of your application and the output you are looking for. With over 150 years of engineering experience under our belts, our expert team has seen just about every application under the sun. If you’re unsure if making the leap to air operation is right for you, give us a call.

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

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INSIDE THIS 1

ISSUE

Finding Talent in Georgia Has Changed

Reorganizing Your Efforts for Strategic Growth This Spring Meet Vic Moore! Have a Laugh on Us! Are Air Operated Pumps Right for Your Application?

How to Make Your Sailing Dreams Come True

If you’re lucky enough to have been aboard a ship under full sail, chances are you know the thrill and serenity sailing can give you. If you’ve never been but have always wanted to know what it’s like to get out on the wind and waves, there are many great options available for beginners. Here are some ideas to inspire your next waterside vacation. START SMALL For those who dream of becoming a skipper one day, a great way to start is by sailing dinghies. These one-sail, beach-launch boats fit 1–2 people and can be rented at most water sports shops. If you want to make it a family experience, shops usually have 16- foot catamarans for rent as well. Catamarans have two hulls rather than one, making for a smoother, more spacious ride. If you’ve never sailed before, inquire about lessons. Most rental operations have instructors on hand who can show you the ropes. The great thing about sailing is that whether you’re in a 12-foot dinghy or a 60-foot sloop, the same basic principles, rules, and skills apply. TAKE YOUR NEXT TRIP OFFSHORE SET SAIL FOR VACATION

TAKE A DAY SAIL Many day-sail charters exist for those who want to go out a little farther than a dinghy would permit. If you’ve captained a boat and are familiar with the waters, you can apply for a bareboat charter. However, if you are inexperienced or simply don’t want a local guide at the helm, signing up for a day trip with a skipper and crew is a great option. DO A FULL CHARTER Short of owning your own vessel, chartering a boat for multiple nights is the closest you can get to living out your nautical dreams. Some of the most beautiful destinations on earth — from the Caribbean Sea to the Mediterranean — are best experienced from the deck of a sailboat. Letting the sea guide you to amazing snorkeling destinations, remote cays, and bustling harbors is the stuff of real adventure.