luvmytoolz
Member
Ah yes I remember the fights well, it was also the only dolls I'm aware of that kids had to worry about losing a finger to! ;-)
FOG Systainers, anyone?
- Thread starter onocoffee
- Start date
Ohio had some Best stores. I remodeled the stores in Parma, Mentor, Massillon. There were others in Akron, Canton, Lima also. One thing I hated was the scheduling decisions those higher up decided. Store remodels east of the Mississippi started in January - snow season, and those on the west coast would start late spring / early summer. Didn't care for Pennsylvania and Ohio in the winter. Especially the year when Pennsylvania had so much snow the contractors had no place to park in the lot and they were having to push snow off the bridges into the river. Service Merchandise declared bankruptcy in 1999 and closed all stores in 2002. Before I left Best, there were discussions of merging and although it was denied, all the S.M. executives were recognized coming the the Richmond Airport numerous times and in groups. When that happened my boss, the best boss I ever had, called all of us together, told us what was happening and what was likely to happen, gave us instructions to get our resumes up to date, he would give recommendation letters, and if anyone needed time off during the day for interviews all we needed to do was drop a note on his desk. He and I had worked for the same bank prior and we went thru all that before with the Federal government taking over.
Peter
Peter
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2015
- Messages
- 5,682
Yeah, @peter halle Ohio has some interesting winters. Most years, we don't get real snow, until after Christmas. (maybe a dusting or two, that doesn't stick) The worst is in Jan-Feb, winding down by mid March. (This is central Ohio, up by Lake Erie, it is quite different) But, some years, it can be in the 50s, in late Dec.
I have had a much as 6" overnight in late April. Everybody has "had it with winter" when it's like that.
It has all shifted later, since I was a kid.
I have had a much as 6" overnight in late April. Everybody has "had it with winter" when it's like that.
It has all shifted later, since I was a kid.
Moved here (just south of Cleveland) 9 years ago. Winters are much more moderate than I expected. Temps rarely get into the teens and I think I've only seen a couple days below 0. But winter here JUST. WON'T. QUIT. Late April/early May before you can even think about wearing a short sleeve shirt and ditching the jackets.
Cheese
Member
Bosses like that don't come around often.
It seems once they're under the corporate umbrella, they usually try to run rough shod over the remaining employees to keep them in place and make sure things get done before they're each given a frozen turkey and shown the door.
luvmytoolz
Member
Yeah it's sad how this has become commonplace. I'm old enough to remember going for jobs and meeting the owner or CEO and getting the job on a handshake. Now it's just down to how much they get out of you, which would be okay if they paid comparatively, but sadly most don't, the whole "intern" thing in our state at least has destroyed a lot of job sectors and devalued wages where it's a race to the bottom now.Bosses like that don't come around often.
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- Oct 16, 2015
- Messages
- 5,682
It really is amazing, how 100 miles can make so much difference. Down here May is usually one of the hot months.
When I was a kid, the heat of summer was June, July, August, tapering off in September. Now it's more like May, June, July, moderating in August, with Autumn lasting longer.
Back in the early 2000s, we used to camp in central Michigan, twice a year. One in mid June and again in Mid August. You had to be sure to pack some jeans and a jacket, for one of those trips..... The August one, it would already be cooling at night by then.
I said that about dustings of snow yesterday and it dropped 4" last night, go figure
He really is an exceptional human. After his stint in the intelligence world he went to work for Macy's Department stores in NYC. He was in store operations and back in those days cash was the main way to pay for everything. The flagship Macy's store turned over huge quantities of cash daily and security was paramount. He ended up designing the security measures around the cash room with the man traps. Later he was in charge of installing the tennis courts at Mr. Macy's home and yes, he did also handle the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade one year. Later he went on to work at May's Department Stores. It was in this job that he and his family were on vacation in the Florida Everglades when he was called back to work. Once he got there he was told that he had to fire his entire department due to reorganization. He knew nothing of this, told them they had picked the wrong guy, refused, and went back to Florida. He later ended up as one of the top executives of a local well respected department store where he would have probably worked until retirement if that chain hadn't been bought out by another chain. One day I'll write about some of the practical jokes he played on one of the other executives.Bosses like that don't come around often.
Peter
Hi Gang -
I don't know how I missed being tagged earlier in this thread. Thank you @onocoffee for bringing this to my attention.
I've enjoyed FOG over the years I've been a systainer dealer, and a user before that. I like the idea of a FOG Systainer.
On any project systainer, economics matter. Both in terms of selling price but also in terms of effort to execute. In this case with logos and maybe color choices we need to navigate approvals too. We need a design, then to review what it takes to execute and then consider if we do something like a Kickstarter style or preorder. That is, a more elaborate design will need higher units sold to justify the tooling and effort. A simple design (standard color, digital printed catch) is low cost to launch/stock and therefore lower units need to be sold for it to be worth the effort.
Systainer Systems (runs Systainer USA and Bott Smartvan) is a team of 8 right now and we have some big ambitions for this year. There are advantages we have developed here in the USA, but really the project design and timeline will dictate what we do here vs Germany. I'm willing to bring this up to the team.
Meanwhile, I'd recommend that someone here, perhaps @onocoffee, be a lead for FOG. Keep the conversation going. Be a point of contact.
Your next step needs to be defining the design. Create a look or wish list. Create some mockups using images from Systainer USA or Festool and photo editing. Maybe the community can vote.
Some insights to systainers:
Imagine a continuum. Catalog Systainer ($).....Configured Systainer ($+)....Custom Systainer ($$+ to $$$$).
Catalog is what we stock in the USA.
Configured is the processes we have developed (swapping handles/catches) and 'light customization' vendors (catches, handles, label cards) we have built up. We continue to build upon these, to bring more options to the market (changing lids? insert boxes in organizer? and more). Our small project partners take advantage of this like Forged 3D, and many others so we can fulfill many small to medium size orders, ideally from stock. As these partners grow, we may bring in configured items from Germany or they may graduate into full on custom.
Custom is what our OEM and large project partners like Festool, SawStop, TSO and many others do because they have a specific packaging and user experience they want. This involves larger orders, scheduled buys, cooperation between Germany and USA for design and production.
Catalog
A catalog systainer is an assembly natively produced by Tanos. For example: All anthracite M 112. An M 112 Light Grey body/lid/handle, signal blue catch another example.
Some catalog systainers we may assembly, like putting a Lid Compartment lid on a M 112 body to create a Lid Compartment systainer. Still a catalog systainer if the color scheme matches, but may be an operation in the warehouse.
A catalog sku could be an assembly with insert too, off the shelf inserts in a known format.
Doing printed cards for the cards slots start trending towards configured.
Configured
A Configured Systainer is where we are swapping parts around. Example is a Anthracte lid/body and carmine red handle and catch. These are assembled to order. For a given SKU like M 112, there are nearly 1,200 combinations of lid handles and catches. Hopefully it is obvious you stock the parts, make the systainer as you can't stock all configurations.
There are more configuration options we would like to bring to the market, it takes building the system such as the web site, inventory and then warehouse and logistics.
Printed catches (digital printing we do here in the USA, pad printing for super large quantities is in Germany at this time) and these are part of configurations, but starts getting us closer to custom.
Inserts, if off the shelf, could still be a configured if applied in a way that isn't catalog like.
Custom
Then we get to custom which is just as it sounds, something that may be unique. Sky can be the limit here but cost and time matter.
Easy custom is existing color schemes, but assembled in a new way and then adding more printing such as handle, lid or body.
Can get into stamping on the lid and foil printing, like the Festool vs Tanos on the left side of the lid. Tooling changes/creation, minimum orders, etc.
You can get into custom molded colors. Large order commitments and a round or two of colorant source, test shots in molds.
You can get into unique inserts and custom molded for internal lid, tool holding foam, etc. Each element here has tooling, design review, fittment checks, etc.
With anything, it comes to volume and economics. Someone like a SawStop, who is just launching some systainer products (and though a sister company) wanted a specific user experience and quality and so it takes time to develop. Smaller project customer, they can call us on Monday, we can work through some details and inventory checks and be shipping their items later in the week. Or maybe we take a few weeks to get catches digitally printed.
So - press on with your wish list and design.
Let me get with the team.
I don't know how I missed being tagged earlier in this thread. Thank you @onocoffee for bringing this to my attention.
I've enjoyed FOG over the years I've been a systainer dealer, and a user before that. I like the idea of a FOG Systainer.
On any project systainer, economics matter. Both in terms of selling price but also in terms of effort to execute. In this case with logos and maybe color choices we need to navigate approvals too. We need a design, then to review what it takes to execute and then consider if we do something like a Kickstarter style or preorder. That is, a more elaborate design will need higher units sold to justify the tooling and effort. A simple design (standard color, digital printed catch) is low cost to launch/stock and therefore lower units need to be sold for it to be worth the effort.
Systainer Systems (runs Systainer USA and Bott Smartvan) is a team of 8 right now and we have some big ambitions for this year. There are advantages we have developed here in the USA, but really the project design and timeline will dictate what we do here vs Germany. I'm willing to bring this up to the team.
Meanwhile, I'd recommend that someone here, perhaps @onocoffee, be a lead for FOG. Keep the conversation going. Be a point of contact.
Your next step needs to be defining the design. Create a look or wish list. Create some mockups using images from Systainer USA or Festool and photo editing. Maybe the community can vote.
Some insights to systainers:
Imagine a continuum. Catalog Systainer ($).....Configured Systainer ($+)....Custom Systainer ($$+ to $$$$).
Catalog is what we stock in the USA.
Configured is the processes we have developed (swapping handles/catches) and 'light customization' vendors (catches, handles, label cards) we have built up. We continue to build upon these, to bring more options to the market (changing lids? insert boxes in organizer? and more). Our small project partners take advantage of this like Forged 3D, and many others so we can fulfill many small to medium size orders, ideally from stock. As these partners grow, we may bring in configured items from Germany or they may graduate into full on custom.
Custom is what our OEM and large project partners like Festool, SawStop, TSO and many others do because they have a specific packaging and user experience they want. This involves larger orders, scheduled buys, cooperation between Germany and USA for design and production.
Catalog
A catalog systainer is an assembly natively produced by Tanos. For example: All anthracite M 112. An M 112 Light Grey body/lid/handle, signal blue catch another example.
Some catalog systainers we may assembly, like putting a Lid Compartment lid on a M 112 body to create a Lid Compartment systainer. Still a catalog systainer if the color scheme matches, but may be an operation in the warehouse.
A catalog sku could be an assembly with insert too, off the shelf inserts in a known format.
Doing printed cards for the cards slots start trending towards configured.
Configured
A Configured Systainer is where we are swapping parts around. Example is a Anthracte lid/body and carmine red handle and catch. These are assembled to order. For a given SKU like M 112, there are nearly 1,200 combinations of lid handles and catches. Hopefully it is obvious you stock the parts, make the systainer as you can't stock all configurations.
There are more configuration options we would like to bring to the market, it takes building the system such as the web site, inventory and then warehouse and logistics.
Printed catches (digital printing we do here in the USA, pad printing for super large quantities is in Germany at this time) and these are part of configurations, but starts getting us closer to custom.
Inserts, if off the shelf, could still be a configured if applied in a way that isn't catalog like.
Custom
Then we get to custom which is just as it sounds, something that may be unique. Sky can be the limit here but cost and time matter.
Easy custom is existing color schemes, but assembled in a new way and then adding more printing such as handle, lid or body.
Can get into stamping on the lid and foil printing, like the Festool vs Tanos on the left side of the lid. Tooling changes/creation, minimum orders, etc.
You can get into custom molded colors. Large order commitments and a round or two of colorant source, test shots in molds.
You can get into unique inserts and custom molded for internal lid, tool holding foam, etc. Each element here has tooling, design review, fittment checks, etc.
With anything, it comes to volume and economics. Someone like a SawStop, who is just launching some systainer products (and though a sister company) wanted a specific user experience and quality and so it takes time to develop. Smaller project customer, they can call us on Monday, we can work through some details and inventory checks and be shipping their items later in the week. Or maybe we take a few weeks to get catches digitally printed.
So - press on with your wish list and design.
Let me get with the team.
onocoffee
Member
Thank you, Tim for taking the time to share with us so many details that myself and others were probably not aware of.
I would be happy to take on point for this project, unless someone else would like.
Post here what's on your mind regarding a FOG Systainer. The original I believed used the same Limited Edition Blue that Festool uses with Festool Green latches. My initial thought would be to mimic that in a SYS3 T-Loc - much like Festool's Limited Edition releases. Perhaps the FOG Logo on the top of the lid, like most brands, and/or on the front under the T-Loc. Since FOG is owned by Festool, if they would allow us to use the same lid with the green "Festool" on the left side, that would be a great touch. Another thing we could touch on could be some kind of "20th" Logo to mark the 20th Anniversary of FOG, which will be in 2027.
So please, share with us your thoughts on things you'd like to see - and sizes you're interested in.
I would be happy to take on point for this project, unless someone else would like.
Post here what's on your mind regarding a FOG Systainer. The original I believed used the same Limited Edition Blue that Festool uses with Festool Green latches. My initial thought would be to mimic that in a SYS3 T-Loc - much like Festool's Limited Edition releases. Perhaps the FOG Logo on the top of the lid, like most brands, and/or on the front under the T-Loc. Since FOG is owned by Festool, if they would allow us to use the same lid with the green "Festool" on the left side, that would be a great touch. Another thing we could touch on could be some kind of "20th" Logo to mark the 20th Anniversary of FOG, which will be in 2027.
So please, share with us your thoughts on things you'd like to see - and sizes you're interested in.
Michael Kellough
Member
That’s close enough but the actual beginning was a couple years earlier as a yahoo newsgroup.
