Implications of this redefinition of profits serve a useful purpose in the measurement of a retail propane company’s performance. The first purpose cited above is how we historically view profits — the excess or what’s left over after we have paid our bills. However, in the second point it may be that the profit is not sufficient to replace capital for worn-out equipment.
Read More Virtually all propane marketers have seasonal customers, primarily on their residential accounts and usually in areas where vacationing is a big part of the local economy. People often purchase second homes or have a hunting lodge that they might only use for a portion of the year or just on weekends.
Read More For the first time ever, in early February, the ferry serving the Lake Erie Islands was able to shove-off into open waters — much to the delight of an islander who was forced by a fierce December gale to leave his car ashore on the mainland.
Read More Caroline Guay was looking out the window of her home one-day several years ago when she saw something out of the ordinary.
Read More Companies and employees too often fall victim to unfortunate events that are of their own creation. A long-standing accident theory (Heinrich’s Domino Theory) states that accidents and injuries are a result of unsafe acts or conditions that are caused in part by personal fault due to a person’s environment or ancestry.
Read More Mowing down the competition may have new meaning for propane marketers who push the turf care benefits of LPG-powered commercial lawn mowers. By providing fuel for this brand new equipment, marketers could rake in some off-season greenbacks.
Read More Among the many mementos that Chuck Brandon soon will be packing up is a plaque that hangs on the wall of his Kennesaw, Ga., office just outside Atlanta. Those who know him best agree that it pretty much says it all.
Read More It’s winters like this past one that drive independent propane marketers into an early retirement.
Read More Guaranties are hard to come by. Sure, they are offered, but always at a price. When you buy a new appliance or electronic, they try to sell you a warranty to cover product failure after 12 months. Of course this is in addition to your purchase price, and the sad truth is, sometimes, you will need it.
Read More Driven by requests for this topic and my interest to discuss only issues that will add value to retail propane businesses, I address the continued, flawed thinking in many companies that say if their gallons are up year over year, then they have had a good year.
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