Waterloo is honored as one of the best

Story Date: 6/19/2003 8:29:27 AM

By Curt Hodges

A Sears official in Pocahontas Wednesday for a partnership presentation to a local industry said the retail giant is seeing an increase in sales in June and believes the consumer is beginning to respond to improving economic conditions and to new products introduced by the company.

Bob Young, divisional merchandise manager of tools, paint and electrical products, said the company came out of 2002 to see bleak sales in January and February. However, aggressive marketing in March resulted in sales the third week of the month being up 70 percent.

"We will finish June with a double-digit sales increase" in the tools, paint and electrical division, he said at a special presentation of the 22nd Partners in Progress award to Waterloo Industries of Pocahontas.

He said the company marked a 40 percent sales increase in the division the second week of June on the heels of a Craftsman Club mailing.

Young and other Sears representatives were in Pocahontas to present the 22nd consecutive Partners in Progress award to Waterloo for 2002.

The award is given each year to select vendor companies that consistently supply Sears with quality products and support services. More than 10,000 sources competed for the award last year, Young said.

He pointed out that Waterloo has received the Partners in Progress award every year since the honor was initiated by the retailer in 1981. Only Waterloo and a division of Whirlpool, out of all Sears suppliers, have received Partners in Progress awards every year.

"We are extremely honored to receive the Sears Partners in Progress award," said Jerry Heinlen, Waterloo Industries president and chief operating officer.

"This award recognizes the outstanding contribution of each and every one of our associates as we strive year after year to provide innovative new products, programs and impeccable customer service.

Sears also recognized Waterloo with a Quality Vendor of the Year award for the hardware division (which includes all tool and paint vendors) and the Quality Vendor of the Year for the hardlines division (which includes tools, paint, home office, lawn and garden and fitness and family recreation vendors).

Waterloo was also named a Sears Partner in Progress for the direct response division (which includes the Craftsman power and hand tools catalog and sears.com web site).

Young said the sales increase Sears is seeing, especially in the area of tool storage, is due to the introduction in April and May of a new "midnight blue" line.

He said Sears officials expect the upward trend to continue in July on a combination of pricing and aggressive promotional plans.

"Craftsman continues to be ranked as the number-one brand in America," Young added.

Waterloo is the world's largest manufacturer of tool storage products and the maker of Sears Craftsman brand of tool storage items. The company's Pocahontas plant was established in 1972 and has about 500 employees.

Officials said the plant has nearly 10 acres under roof.

Gary Kerns, Pocahontas plant manager, addressed the employees gathered for the award ceremony. "You are the guys who won these awards."

Pocahontas plant employees, members of the Partners in Progress Committee, designed and built the stage from which the special ceremony was held Wednesday morning. It featured a 9-foot tall Craftsman tool box, built especially for the occasion, and a video made throughout the plant showing the employees at work on Sears products.

Waterloo hourly associate Clarence Kercheval accepted the Partners in Progress award for all of the Pocahontas associates. Karen Baltz, quality assurance manager, was presented the Quality Vendor of the Year award for hardware, and Kerns accepted the Quality Vendor of the Year trophy for hardlines.

Copyright © 2003, Jonesboro Sun

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