Why Festool failed at Rockler

[Cheese]

[member=22]greg mann[/member]
My take on the relationship is that Rockler loved the profit part of the equation but didn't want to invest in the marketing/salesmanship part of the equation. Like [member=10147]jobsworth[/member] said earlier, Rockler personel would help you with glue, fasteners, wood, the current temperature in China but when it came to Festool their faces went blank. I asked them to order a Sys-Toolbox and they told me to come back in 2 months when the Festool rep was there  and order it then. Really? I ordered one from uncle Bob and received it 3 days later.

 

[Cheese]

So dogs are welcome on the FOG but not in this thread?  [blink]
[big grin]

Almost missed this one... [thumbs up]

 

[travisj]

We used to have several Rocklers in town and are now down to three.  Fortunately one is about 15 miles from my house.  I have always had a good experience there (still do).  The guys I have worked with have been knowledgable about what they sell (with the occasional exception of the new guy) and when I asked something that couldn't be answered immediately, the answer was always found for me.  I think it is like everything else, it's hard to find good help sometimes.  I am new to Festool, but I did ask the last time I was in and was told they lost the right to sell because of pricing/promotion issues that Rockler created on their own.  The manager even went as far as to recommend the local Festool dealers (Woodcraft, Acme Tool, & Betterley).  I chose to go with Betterley due to proximity and the immediate helpful and friendly service when I stopped in to check them out.  The only Woodcraft is over 30 miles from me and I have been less than impressed with them over the years.  To me it was always Rockler for power tools and accessories and Woodcraft for hand tools.

 

[sancho57]

Well Ok if you feel that my little girl shouldn't be in the store ( which had nothing to really do with my org post anyway)

That's fine, so I choose not to go to Rocklers, However Wood Craft and my other supplier , Austin Hard woods love dogs, Austin even has dog biscuits they give the dogs.

They feel that most contractors have their dogs with them for security companionship whatever.

My original post was about the sales folks just ignoring me. Which is fine cuz as I said I take my business elsewhere. Even over here I buy from Woodcraft and ship to my APO , I can't remember the last time I went to a Rocklers site.

 

[leakyroof]

Probably should rename this thread to "Why Rockler failed Festool". [eek]

Several months ago I asked the Rockler salesman why they weren't selling Festool anymore and he said he had no idea. He said several of the other employees had also asked the same of management but there was no response. I then asked if Festool sold well and he said they sold a ton of the stuff. I asked if he was surprised and he said he was stunned. He said he was at the store when Festool entered, went over to the display area and removed every tool and accessory and then any sign or material that had the Festool name or logo printed on it.  [jawdrop] Whoops...

  Bingo...... Not always, but most of the time, that was my experience with Rockler store employees while shopping at my local Rockler.
I think to be fair however, Lie-Nielsen ran into this a bit with Woodcraft, who in turn, with the Wood River planes introduction, took it to another level as well.... [eek] [eek]
What's now the interesting wrinkle for Festool sales is the very strong marketing moves by Festool Paint into Paint stores. Paint stores are now popping up with Festool sanders and abrasives plus Extractors. The Paint div. isn't gearing up to take too much of the whole Festool line in these displays , but the sanders ARE well represented and the stocking level of the abrasives plus some Extractor accessories seems to be well done .
I picked up the sliding blast Gate and a diamond shaped nozzle a few weeks ago on my way home from work since the store is right on the road I have to go on anyway.

 

[Sparktrician]

It just hit me that I was in a Rockler franchise last week and there was still a decently-stocked Festool display in place.  This franchise is part of a lumbering operation that also sells stationary power tools, not just a stand-alone Rockler store.  I didn't make the connection at the time that Rocker and Festool had divorced, but there before my eyes was a Rockler franchise that was actually stocking Festool.  Oh, well.  Stranger things have happened. 

I'd love to take my dog with me, but he has an incredibly high prey drive, meaning death and doom for all small living creatures.  He loves people, though, once he gets to know them.  I refuse to leave him in my vehicle unattended, so he gets to guard the wee castle when I'm out. 

 

[ewils91]

The differences in the Rockler stores surprises me, I have only frequented two of them and they were both fantastic. They both were knowledgeable in Festool and were actually demonstrating one or two of them every other weekend, even shooting video that they ran on monitors in there stores near the Festool displays. In fact I test drove a TS-75 there with an associate and walked out with one and a sysport.

Now I've moved and am still trying to find a good local woodworking store. I would have to say though that out of the two stores, one had a better stock of Festool and more knowledge than the other.

Eddy

 

[Cheese]

[member=53578]travisj[/member]
A new place to haunt is Trade Tools on Energy Park Drive in St. Paul. They're some of the guys from the old 7 Corners Hardware that closed.
http://trade-tools.com

[member=10952]leakyroof[/member]
I'm curious as to what paint store you saw Festool sanders at?

 

[Sparktrician]

[member=10952]leakyroof[/member]
I'm curious as to what paint store you saw Festool sanders at?

Around here, Vienna Paint & Hardware is listed as a Festool dealer.  Neither of the two stores I've visited have the goodies, but there's a bigger one I've not visited (yet). 

 

[Cheese]

Around here, Vienna Paint & Hardware is listed as a Festool dealer.  Neither of the two stores I've visited have the goodies, but there's a bigger one I've not visited (yet). 

That's a rather interesting marketing ploy. I know the SW stores I visit sell all sorts of sanding supplies, however, the only electrical equipment they sell are paint sprayers.

 

[leakyroof]

[member=53578]travisj[/member]
A new place to haunt is Trade Tools on Energy Park Drive in St. Paul. They're some of the guys from the old 7 Corners Hardware that closed.
http://trade-tools.com

[member=10952]leakyroof[/member]
I'm curious as to what paint store you saw Festool sanders at?

  Both on Green Bay Rd, Epco/J.C.Licht in Evanston just picked up the Festool line a few months ago, and there is another paint store just a few blocks up the road heading north that's had Festool since at least last year. I forget the name of that store.
There will be more since the Paint division is specializing in the 'Scott Burt's of the world with a focus on sanders and abrasives and extractors... [wink] [wink] [wink]

 

[leakyroof]

Around here, Vienna Paint & Hardware is listed as a Festool dealer.  Neither of the two stores I've visited have the goodies, but there's a bigger one I've not visited (yet). 

That's a rather interesting marketing ploy. I know the SW stores I visit sell all sorts of sanding supplies, however, the only electrical equipment they sell are paint sprayers.

  I have not seen a single SW store picking up Festool so far around here, and we have lots of new SW stores[they came back into the Chicagoland area with a vengence]  They're so packed with items already, not even sure where a display would fit in a store... [huh] [huh]

 

[Sparktrician]

Around here, Vienna Paint & Hardware is listed as a Festool dealer.  Neither of the two stores I've visited have the goodies, but there's a bigger one I've not visited (yet). 

That's a rather interesting marketing ploy. I know the SW stores I visit sell all sorts of sanding supplies, however, the only electrical equipment they sell are paint sprayers.

  I have not seen a single SW store picking up Festool so far around here, and we have lots of new SW stores[they came back into the Chicagoland area with a vengence]  They're so packed with items already, not even sure where a display would fit in a store... [huh] [huh]

Most of the S-W stores in this area are small and generally oriented toward homeowners.  Most don't stock more than minimal Graco spray gear, for example.  There is, however, one shop that specializes in catering to the contractor, and this is where I'd expect to see Festool sanding gear displayed with dust extractors, and little else.

 

[greg mann]

individual SW paint stores and Festool pairing up will probably present a  better example of what should have happened with Rockler stores. Instead of offering the line chain wide they should have made the placement on a store by store basis. It would have been more work up front but it would have also avoided the failures. Some stores just were not good fits while others probably were. The Rockler here in Southeast Michigan did not deserve the line, did not do it justice when they got it, and there was already a very good Festool dealer two miles away that did not deserve to be cut off at the knees by a 'corporate wide' decision. The only saving grace for him was the local Rockler being so mediocre.

But the bigger question regarding the SW stores is whether they will let you bring your dog in. [dead horse]

 

[Cheese]

But the bigger question regarding the SW stores is whether they will let you bring your dog in. [dead horse]

I do...I'll take both dogs and walk to the SW store, they're greeted with biscuits, I purchase what I need and the 3 of us walk back home. Treats for the dogs and exercise for me. [thumbs up]

 

[AlexThePalex]

I have heard that in Europe it is the norm to leave babies in their carriages outside on the sidewalk while dogs are allowed inside the restaurant.

We do that so the homeless have something to eat.

What other fairy tales have you heard?

 

[tbellemare]

When I lived in Amsterdam ('97-'98), it was foolish to not watch your step. The sidewalks were littered with large remnants of large dogs eating quite well...

Tom

 

[AlexThePalex]

RLJ-Atl, one little place in Europe is hardly "the norm". Denmark has 5,6 million inhabitants, not even 1% of Europe.

"The norm" here is that mothers are too concerned to leave their babies alone like that.

 

[teocaf]

I have heard that in Europe it is the norm to leave babies in their carriages outside on the sidewalk while dogs are allowed inside the restaurant.

Is this the reason there are no Rockler stores in Europe?

 

[teocaf]

This topic has gone way off topic.  Rockler's Festool relationship didn't end due to dogs being allowed or not in their stores or if they could shop online.
If you want to talk about dogs in public or in stores please start another thread.
Peter

Well, that went well...

I have to admit; this thread turned out to be pretty funny.  Which reminds me of a joke:  Q:  What happens when you have an agnostic, an insomniac and a dyslexic all rolled into one?

A:  You get a guy who wakes up at two in the morning wondering if there's a dog!

In before the lock...