My apologies.....

You think you have things figured out. You state your opinions as thought they're facts and go on with your life. However, you soon come to realize that your opinions are just that; opinions, and you've made an ass out of yourself. The problem is it's usually after you've run your mouth that you realize you’ve done this. That's the trouble with being passionate. It's a great trait for someone aspiring for success, but it's an utter bane for a business owner who needs to remain diplomatic.

As a business owner, I know that diplomacy plays an imperative role in the pursuit of success. I guess my diplomacy skills are not as honed as I once believed. However, I am not afraid to make mistakes, nor am I afraid to face and learn from them. In my last post, I made some pretty coarse statements towards a certain company and some of its staff. These statements were undeserved, as well as unfounded. In this economy, we're all looking for an edge. Whatever it is that will take our success to the next level. This includes multi-billion corporations as well as "little distributors that could". My mistake was wearing my passion on my sleeve. What ever made me think that an emotional outburst or petty insults would be a solution, of any kind?

As 2009 builds up a head of steam and charges into a summer chock full of stimulus money and economic rehabilitation, it's important we don't allow ourselves to be overcome by the exasperation of maintaining our professional lives. We all want to be successful, provide for our families, and if possible, have a little fun doing it. I'm ok admitting when I'm wrong. Hell, it's what keeps me from sleeping on the couch most nights. The best I can hope for is that future business partners of AC Tool Supply will feel the same way.

Modestly Yours,

Christopher Mayes, President/CEO
AC Tool Supply, Inc.
chris@aikencolon.com
http://www.aikencolon.com/

Don’t you just hate it when that happens…

Once in a while you buy a pair of jeans that just don’t fit right. The inseam is cut wrong, the fabric is itchy and they’re just way too tight in the crotch. Usually you try on your clothes before you buy them, but this pair looked good on the rack. So you just verified the waist and inseam, 32 x 32… perfect, and headed for the checkout line.

Bad idea.

In November of 2008, AC Tool Supply signed a distributor agreement with Extech Instruments. This was the perfect opportunity to add to our array of test and measurement equipment, as well as our line of thermal imaging cameras, right?

Wrong.

I knew something was wrong form the first email. “How can you compare a Fluke TiR1 to a FLIR b60?” the email asked. Which was promptly followed by a “…this is very disconcerting” as well as “…maybe we need to reevaluate your distribution contract”. It took some digging, but I finally figured out what happened... we ran into an infrared camera company that has never sold its product through distribution before. Well, at least not in the sense that their newly acquired Extech division has. This lack of distribution has created an in-house sales force that’s never had to deal with the competition of nationwide distribution. Now, there are sales representatives that are forced to compete with "post-merger" Extech distributors with access to these infrared thermal imaging cameras, at distributor prices. These sales reps are no-doubtedly sporting diminished sales figures. This turned out to be the "itchy fabric" and "tight crotch" of the jeans that looked just fine on the rack. After a large amount of advertising dollars going toward promoting the products of the Extech Company, we soon found out that the head of US distribution was denying distributors the right to market and ultimately sell their cameras.

What this business practice creates is a problem that they may not realize they have yet. The inability to adapt to an evolving market. With industry finding new applications for infrared imaging everyday and the technology becoming much more affordable, thermography is growning at an exponential rate. Without the power of distribution, they will condemn themselves to their worst nightmare... the #2 spot in a market they originally created. Their most potent competition in the thermal imaging arena is the Fluke Corporation. Fluke is currently making affordable camera models, very comparable to almost any infrared camera available. Sprinke in the fact that Fluke is the world leader in test and measurement, add a pinch of that “distributor friendly” business strategy, and you’ve got a recipe for market share takeover. This will easily make Fluke the market leader in thermal imaging equipment inside the next 10 years, maybe sooner.

So, what can we learn from this? That you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? That natural selection is happening all around us? Maybe it’s that greed can ultimately cost you everything. We'll see how this is handled, that is if they realize what's happening before it's too late. If you take anything from the last 90 seconds you spent reading this, I hope its that the little guy is what makes this country so great, not the salary monkey sitting in his leather executive chair telling people who can and can’t sell their products. In the big picture, if you yank your products out of the hands of the hungry little go-getter, you’re dooming your commercial future. That’s my opinion.


Christopher Mayes, President / CEO
AC Tool Supply, Inc.
2211 S. 48th St. Suite E
Tempe, AZ 85282
(877) 207-1244
www.aikencolon.com

Come On Guys....

The Intentions of AC Tool Supply, Inc.

It has come to the attention of the FLIR manufacturer’s representatives, those that be, that AC Tool Supply prefers the Fluke thermal imagers for building envelope inspection, over the equivalent FLIR model(s). I will tell you now that this could not be further from the truth.

I will start by stating that AC Tool Supply (Aiken Colon Tool Supply, Inc.) has NO exclusive allegiance to ANY infrared thermal camera manufacturer. That includes FLIR, Fluke, ElectroPhysics, or Ideal Industries. In my 17 years of sales, I have never seen more animosity between manufacturers, than I have in the last 5 months. While contractor and inspector alike, are struggling to keep and maintain work in this unreliable economy, the very manufacturers of the cameras they use are wasting their time badgering distributors over who’s cameras THEY think are better, rather than using their vast time and resourses to help promote these distributors or the work their customers provide.

As a distributor, I should be looking at the big picture and sucking up to all of them (well, which ever manufacturer is on the phone at the time), to make sure that I am protecting my source of cameras for future sales. However, I can no longer hide my disgust for this behavior. Would you call out a remodeler for using a Milwaukee sawzall blade over a Lenox? Would you badger a framer for using a Freud blade over a Marathon? Could you imagine a Dewalt representative cutting off a Grainger location because they promoted a PorterCable drill? This kind of action leads to brand bias that ultimately leaves the customer unsatisfied. Unsatisfied with the opportunity to choose the right tool for THEIR job. It is THEIR job and it is THEIR money. I have always believed that having a multitude of tools for the customer to choose from, is the path to success.

I will not use this as an opportunity to plug hyperlinks or camera model numbers and I want all who read this to understand clearly……

AC Tool Supply, Inc. will continue to serve the “Green” community by carrying all available assets and all products needed and used by BPI, RESNET, HERS, and EnergyStar contractors & home inspectors and non-profit organizations alike, no matter who disagrees.

Have a Great Week and Happy Selling,

Christopher Mayes, President / CEO
AC Tool Supply, Inc.
chris@aikencolon.com

AC Tool Supply Is Extech FLIR Infrared Camera Systems Newest Distributor

Founded in 1970, Extech Test and Measurement Instruments (Waltham, Massachusetts) makes 15 categories of test and measurement instruments. After being purchased by the FLIR Corporation in November of 2007, the Extech line of test & measurement instruments has grown by leaps and bounds. FLIR has used their innovative research and development departments to upgrade the entire Extech line of meters, including FLIR's infrared thermal imaging cameras and imagers.

"We felt like Extech has one of the most complete lines we have ever seen in our 17 years of test and measurement distribution," said Jason Kaylor, VP of Sales for AC Tool Supply. Kaylor later stated at a sales luncheon at the Keg Steakhouse (Chandler, AZ) with his sales force, "With the recent boom in infrared imaging cameras and Extech's 38 years in test and measurement, we felt it was a natural fit to add both of these manufacturers to our current lines of test and diagnostic equipment. We consider ourselves very lucky to be brought in to the FLIR family line and look forward to keeping pace with FLIR's amazing growth record." FLIR Systems recently reported a 60% increase in profit for the 3rd quarter of 2008 and plans on announcing earnings for the 4th quarter of 2008 and complete 2008 financials on Feb 5th, 2009.

The Extech Instruments Division is a manufacturer and supplier of 15 major product categories of portable meters including multimeters, clamp on meters, electrical meters and testers, and environmental meters including light meters, sound decibel meters, infrared thermometers, moisture meters, humidity meters, air flow anemometers, RPM meters, and water quality instruments. Extech already has a strong presence in the electrical, HVACR, construction, manufacturing, plant/MRO, process and automation, environmental, electronics/testing, and field service/maintenance sectors worldwide. In the last three decades, Extech Instruments has become one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of test equipment and portable printers making the Extech brand, regarded in many industries, as the brand of choice.

Since 1978, FLIR Systems has been the global leader in infrared thermal imaging. FLIR offers the widest selection of innovative and award-winning infrared cameras and accessories for beginners to seasoned professionals. As a FLIR company, Extech plays a key role in the U.S. distribution of FLIR infrared thermal imagers. By leveraging decades of experience growing strategic relationships with major distribution channels, Extech is accelerating access to FLIR's innovative infrared cameras through local and online stocking distributors in U.S. markets.
FLIR Systems / Extech Instruments employs over 1700 people worldwide. In addition to the US world headquarters, Extech is affiliated with design, manufacturing and warehousing facilities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China.

For more information on FLIR / Extech Instruments or AC Tool Supply, call (877) 207-1244.


Chris Mayes, President
AC Tool Supply, Inc.
www.aikencolon.com

AC Aiken Colon Tool Supply / Retrotec Blower Door & Duct Systems Expansion Complete

January 19th, 2009

Aiken Colon Tool Supply (AC Tool Supply, Inc.) has teamed up with Retrotec, the leader in blower door & blower duct equipment. Used in residential and commercial applications, blower door systems measure air tightness which can be used to audit a building’s air quality, energy use, safety and comfortability.

Blower door technology was first used in Sweden in 1977, as a window-mounted fan was used to test the air tightness of building envelopes. Since then, many advances have been made including the ability to detect window, door and even electrical outlet air leakage. Retrotec’s line of blower door systems includes the R43, Q46, Q4E (in both standard and high-pressure models), the Q5E, QMG three fan system and a full line of duct-testing systems.

Energy auditing is a new and growing field. There are many things you need to know before getting started. One place to start is www.EnergyStar.gov. They offer grants and tax incentives to homeowners who wish to make their homes more energy efficient. This is where you as a certified energy auditor can benefit. You can refer your customer to EnergyStar and create an inspection and building envelope efficiency upgrade, and your customer can take advantage of the grants and tax break incentive programs offered by the government via EnergyStar.

Part of this advancement in energy auditing belongs to the utilization of thermal imaging equipment. At the moment, the optimal thermal imaging cameras for building envelope inspection and energy audits are the Fluke TiR1 thermal imager and the FLIR b60 infrared camera. These infrared thermal imaging cameras have been optimized and built specifically for building envelope, restoration, inspection, and roofing applications, including the most thermally sensitive Fluke model for building envelope diagnostics, the Fluke TiR4 infrared thermal imaging camera. In tandem with the use of blower door systems, energy auditors can use thermal imaging to protect investments and keep buildings in a well maintained, healthy state.

AC Tool Supply has become a fully-inventoried supplier for thermal imaging equipment, blower door & duct blower systems, with multiple affiliations in energy audit systems training certification.

With the proper equipment and training, an energy audit technician can take advantage of this young and growing field. For information regarding blower door systems, thermal imaging equipment, training certification and your applications call (877) 207-1244.


Chris Mayes, President
Aiken Colon Tool Supply (AC Tool Supply, Inc.)
(877) 207-1244
chris@aikencolon.com

Year-End Fluke Overstock Sale

AC Tool Supply has acquired a year-end overstock of Fluke electronic test and measurement equipment.

The year-end inventory is going to be sold at a 10% discount across the board. Included in the list of overstocked discount items are:

Fluke-333A 400 Amp AC Digital Clamp Meter

Fluke-335A 600 Amp True RMS Digital Clamp Meter w/backlight

Fluke-336A 600 Amp True RMS AC/DC Digital Clamp Meter w/backlight

Fluke-337A 1000 Amp True RMS AC/DC Digital Clamp meter w/backlight

Fluke-355 2000 Amp AC/DC True RMS Clamp Meter

Fluke-360 Leakage Current Clamp Meter

Fluke-289/FVF True RMS Industrial Logging Digital Multimeter w/TrendCapture & FlukeView
Fluke-ACD-15 2000 Amp True RMS Pro Digital Clamp-On Multimeter

Fluke-ACD-16 1000 Amp True RMS Pro Data-Logging Clamp-On Multimeter

Fluke-ACD-31P 1000 Amp True RMS Clamp-On Power Meter w/blacklight

Fluke-ACD-330T AC Digital Clamp-On Multimeter w/backlight

Fluke-117/322 Electrician's Multimeter & Clamp-On Meter Combo Kit

Fluke-179/1AC-II Electrician's Digital Multimeter, Voltage Tester & Deluxe Accessory Kit

Fluke-51-2 60Hz Single Input Thermometer w/60Hz Noise Rejection

Fluke-52-2 60Hz Dual Input Thermometer w/60Hz Noise Rejection

Fluke-53-2 60Hz Single Input Thermometer w/recording & 60Hz Noise Rejection

Fluke-54-2 60Hz Dual Input Thermometer w/recording & 60Hz noise Rejection

Fluke-179/61 Industrial Digital Multimeter & Infrared Thermometer Combo Kit

Fluke-411d 100ft. Laser Distance Meter

Fluke-416D 200ft. Laser Distance Meter

Fluke-971 Temperature Humidity Meter

Fluke-TL71 Premium Digital Multimeter Test Lead Set

Fluke-TL1500 CAT IV 1000V HD Digital Multimeter Test Lead Set w/ Alligator Clips

Fluke-1625 GEO Earth Goround Testing Kit

Fluke-C33 Soft Vinyl Black/Yellow Carrying Case for the T100 Voltage Testers, 330 Series Clamp Meters & T5 Electrical Testers


This promotion begins November 1st, and lasts until December 31st. In addition to the 10% discount, mention this blog upon checkout and receive free shipping on your order.

If you have any questions regading this speacial discount or the related Fluke products, please call us at (877) 207-1244. We're here from 8am to 6pm PST and ready to answer any and all of your questions.


Chris Mayes, President
AC Tool Supply, Inc.
(877) 207-1244
chris@aikencolon.com
http://www.aikencolon.com

New Fluke Thermal Imager Supplier

AC Tool Supply now carries Fluke Thermal Imagers.

As of September 31st, 2008, AC Tool Supply carries the full line of Fluke's Thermal Imagers. The full line includes 12 different models. When you add in all the different model options, it's over 40 different choices to accomodate your thermal imaging needs.

The models start with the Ti10, made for troubleshooting electrical installations, electro-mechanical equipment, & HVAC/R equipment. Like in every Fluke Ti model, the Ti10 uses IR-Fusion Technology. This allows the user to see the images "fused" in both infrared and visible light. Essentially, the imager snaps a digital photo in addition to the infrared image and fuses them together, taking the mystery out of IR troubleshooting & image analysis.

Now, the Grand-Daddy of these models is the Ti55FT. There is no thermal imager with more to offer. For the best images and highest sensitivity, the Ti55FT offers 320 x 240 detectors with a super high-res thermal sensitivity (≤ 0.05°C; 50 mK NETD). That means the jumbo 5-inch screen offers extremely high quality live photos with temperatures displayed at a 60 Hz detector acquisition rate. This one is definitely for the professionals.

Other models include, the Ti25, TiR, TiR1, Ti20, Ti2/3/4FT, Ti40FT, Ti45FT, & Ti50FT.

There are many Fluke distributors out there, and we will beat any advertised price on the internet. However, if you want to skip the hassle of bargain hunting and want the best price up front, just visit us at AC Tool Supply.


Chris Mayes, President
chris@aikencolon.com
(877) 207-1244
AC Tool Supply, Inc.