When Jim Ferrell returned from semi-retirement to run the Fortune 1000 company that bears his name in 2001, the 61-year-old industry icon already had decided that drastic change was critical in the face of stiffening competition and spiraling prices.
Read More As I travel around the country talking to retailers, most are quick to mention that customer service and loyalty are what set their business apart from the competition. But, much like safety, I have to wonder how many offer only lip service.
Read More This is the final column in the series of hiring the best in the propane industry. The three original questions I asked in the beginning of the series were.
Read More The most successful companies seem to recruit the very best talent, retain top producing individuals and get the most out of their employees. Weak ones often have high turnover, can’t keep positions filled and make mistake after mistake in their hiring process.
Read More Over the past few years, propane industry distributors have been more and more concerned about their role as the link between equipment manufacturers and propane retailers. These distributors, who have been among the staunchest supporters of the industry, say price-cutting competitors offering lower prices, but virtually no customer service, are squeezing them out. They’re frustrated over losing business to competitors who sell exclusively on bargain-basement pricing.
Read More No matter what the weather and how efficiently and effectively your propane business runs, nothing happens — and no money is made — without customers.
Read More Richard Smith, the Staten Island Ferry pilot who crashed his ferry into a dock and killed 11 people in October 2003, recently acknowledged that he passed out at the controls after taking tramadol (a pain relief medication) and Tylenol PM, two drugs with side effects that can include drowsiness.
Read More The passing of Labor Day signals the end of summer and the time to beef up your work force for the rigors of another busy winter heating season. You post your trusty "Now Hiring" or "Drivers Wanted" sign outside for passing traffic to see, and maybe drop a few bucks to run a classified ad in the local newspaper. It’s a simple routine that has worked for years.
Read More There is uneasiness in the voices of many long-time propane industry distributors these days when they discuss their role as the link between equipment manufacturers and propane retailers.
Read More As much as any of the previous four Habits of Highly Effective Propane Companies, habit number five is an individual skill that requires patience and experience to master.
Read More
