Official “Made in the USA” Vehicle?

by caflynn on August 31, 2010

I’ve never driven one… but after watching this video, pretty sure this is some excellent messaging that relates directly to our industry and trade…

“The things we make… make us.”

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Triple Bottom Line & The Patagonia

by caflynn on August 18, 2010

We continue to diligently work towards building upon our triple-bottom line culture and company.  This sustainable business model consists of three main components:

  1. Profit
  2. People
  3. Planet

While achieving any real Profits has been difficult for all of us over the last 3-5 years, Windsor Mill has certainly continued its commitment to People and Planet.  Two recent examples:

  • People: after the Chile quake, we invested significantly in helping to rebuild damaged and destroyed homes in local communities;
  • Planet: all WindsorONE fiber is either FSC-certified (over 70%), or from an FSC-controlled source.

We are clearly committed to environmentally sound supply-sourcing and manufacturing techniques. 

For some time now we have been aware of an international controversy regarding plans to dam rare river ecosystems in the Chilean Patagonia.  We are concerned that the Patagonia dam controversy would conflict with our environmental commitment and somehow be linked to our brand and products.

Therefore, as we buy raw material in Chile, we will endeavor to reduce material linked to the Patagonia dam controversy and to source more from MASISA, and other FSC-certified suppliers (& controlled sources).

For those interested in the sustainable Triple-Bottom-Line business model, this is a very simple image explaining the concept:

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Arauco Sawmill Reopens

July 10, 2010

Take note of where the fiber will be going…
[article/pic taken from Lignum al Dia, a Chilean online publication]
“With the presence of Seremi Labour, local authorities and company executives, this morning was made the official reopening of the Sawmill Horcones Arauco II.

Through a tour of the facilities, it marked the official resumption of operations of [...]

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SOLID 4th of July Promo

July 4, 2010

We’re proud that WindsorONE is manufactured in the USA, and that we have sustained over 100 manufacturing jobs in our Country; and the reason this has been possible is because of our Core Customers… that is, the long-standing, dedicated W1 Dealers that have helped build Windsor Mill into what it is today, supporting the quality [...]

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Freeport Delays

June 23, 2010

[edit: containers through, we're good to go, less interuption that we had anticipated]
There have been recent vessel delays at Freeport, which has disrupted WindsorONE fiber supply to our Surry, VA manufacturing plant.  We have already contacted our customers, and will continue to keep you up to date… and as always, post to this blog.  We [...]

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Re-Thinking Compensation Plans

June 4, 2010

This is a well-done video by Dan Pink on motivation and compensation plans, based in part on research done by MIT.
It’s about Purpose, Mastery, and the Ability to Self-Direct.
Worth your time to watch it:

RSAnimate: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates us from The Empty Bin on Vimeo.

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The Core Customer

May 27, 2010

We were fortunate through the Chile 8.8 quake; we didn’t lose a customer.
It’s a testament to the win-win business relationships our customers have enabled us to work towards strengthening with them over the years.
Too many organizations seem to forget that their most valuable asset is their core customer group; we understand it, very well, and will [...]

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The WOMM Manifesto

May 20, 2010

Some of you have inquired about the up-coming word-of-mouth marketing conference, featured to the right of this blog post.
“Craig, can you help us understand exactly ‘what is’ word-of-mouth marketing (WOMM), and why it’s something you’re so passionate about?”
I think WOMM is best described via Andy Sernovtiz’s WOMM Manifesto:

Happy customers are your best advertising. Make people [...]

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Biggest Competition, Gone?

May 6, 2010

That’s correct, it’s gone… and for many of us.
There are four types of competition:

Buying from a competitor
Using internal resources (prospect does it himself)
Budget used for something else
Do Nothing

No question that post housing-crash our (the industry’s) biggest competition has been “Do Nothing.” 
Customers have been frozen for years; hesitant to stray from what’s worked for them in [...]

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Another Chile Quake…

May 3, 2010

Not too much damage done, and none to our ForAction plant… 
USA Today Report
ForAction team reported back safely to us today, including our stateside team (Ruben and Jerry) that are in Chile now, working with Marcelo (GM), to finish updating components of our primary & secondary automated wood processing equipment.
USA Today Report was sent to me [...]

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