While Crain’s products are what we are most known for by end-user customers, Crain’s reseller customers, primarily dealers and distributors, often consider Crain’s world class distribution to be Crain’s leading attribute. And when one considers the logistical challenges faced by Crain, it might seem even more amazing that Crain’s marketplace distribution channels and process would be a chief strength. By applying our skills in innovation and process, along with our strong commitment for customer service, we are able to provide our dealer customers with real time-based competitive and cost advantages. And we do so on a dependable and ongoing basis.

Our resellers are very aware of Crain’s distribution and supply chain dependability; delivering superior products immediately on demand, configured and customized as needed, and at the right overall price. Utilizing Crain as a supply source provides more that mere convenience, as it permits our dealers and distributors to remain focused on their most important business activities; the promotion and fulfillment of sales to their end-customers. In fact, we have found that our fastest growing and most successful dealers and distributors happen to also be the most adamant that their marketplace reputations be supported, and that they not be distracted by worrying or wasting time in supply chain management issues. Our dealer/distributor customers have clearly told us what their real supply chain needs are, and we at Crain have answered these needs with a highly effective fulfillment and distribution process. We can be counted on to meet our reseller customer’s real marketplace opportunities and objectives and provide our resellers with a real competitive edge.

We believe that Crain’s strong acceptance and the loyalty of our reseller customers is the result of a combination of several unique and valuable attributes. First of all, many of Crain’s products are considered by many resellers to be “must-carry” items. Crain’s products are famous for their performance, and acceptable equivalents are often simply not available. Our product excellence is found in functional performance, such as in the delivery of accuracy and precision which is so important in measuring and surveying activities. Our products are also known for their ability to endure the harsh field conditions typical in surveying and construction environments. Our reseller’s reputations are defined by the quality of products they offer, and Crain products deliver a leading product image.

Another important aspect of Crain’s supply chain and distribution system is consistent, on-demand and immediate fulfillment of orders. In the area of dependable on-time delivery, Crain’s performance is world class, with 98% of all of our orders shipped within 24 hours of placement or release. And this amazing fulfillment record also includes all of the products which are customized in some way prior to shipment – more that 1/3 of all products we ship. For our reseller customers, our dependable on-time shipping is important in several ways, and overcomes issues our resellers are all to familiar with. For one, shorts and out of stock items can be avoided, so our reseller customer can fill sales to end-users immediately, which is when users expect it -- always now, not later. Large, expensive and inflexible reseller inventories, traditionally required to hedge against supply chain lead-time inconsistencies, can also be avoided, as we provide rapid and dependable delivery. Also, the need to plan and make accurate, long-range forecasts, as well as the need to place large and long lead-time orders is also eliminated. Last, but certainly not least, the need to track orders and expedite shipments is also virtually eliminated with Crain’s efficient and dependable distribution fulfillment practices.

Private Labeling or Co-Branding of Crain’s products is one of our most popular and advantageous service offerings. Over 1/3 of all products shipped by Crain are imprinted with a reseller’s name and logo. Private Labeling of our products provides our resellers with a particularly effective means of advertising, as market awareness is reinforced every time a product they sell is used in the field, and this advertising continues over the entire life of the product. And what’s best is that Crain doesn’t normally charge for Private Labeling.

Additionally, our Private Labeling service is available on almost all of our products, with reseller’s logos sized to fit and maximize available area on each and every imprinted product. Crain also offers full service graphics assistance. which enables quick and efficient creation of reseller’s imprinted images for our Private Labeling service. Furthermore, our Private Labeling program does not delay shipments, as it is a service that is completely included in our 24 hour shipment commitment.

Many producers are indeed able to “rush ship” an order, or provide private labeling to their reseller customers, however, these “rush shipments” typically are the rare exception, and the result of an occasional special favor. Given that special handling of rush shipments are disruptive and expensive to most producers, they are typically discouraged. If customizations are required, such as private labeling, even special favor, rush shipments aren’t going to happen. Furthermore, these special handle “rush shipments” become even more rare and more difficult during periods of peak demand, a time period which, of course, typically coincides with periods of peak supply needs for resellers. In fact, most producers in our industry provide their least dependable and least responsive fulfillment service during periods of the greatest reseller sales demands and needs. The distribution fulfillment difference for Crain is actually huge, as for us “rush shipment” is our routine, everyday, normal way of operating, and most importantly, our reseller customers know they can depend on it. For Crain, immediate delivery isn’t disruptive, nor does it add costs, rather it is a proven ongoing benefit for our reseller customers, which uniquely distinguishes us from the rest.

Some well known companies such as Dell, Wal-Mart, FedEx and Toyota, have developed significant competitive advantages by advancing innovative, time-based distribution and logistical processes. While differing in method, each of these companies has exceeded customer expectations, and at the same time provided significant total cost efficiencies for their customers as well as themselves. Crain believes that customer service and economic efficiency are timeless values, and may explain the long-term marketplace growth and success that each of these companies have sustained.

Crain is a much smaller company than these other examples, and our specific distribution system emphasizes different advantages, yet in the same spirit of these examples, we at Crain have applied innovation and process to provide a distinct and valuable time-based logistical operating advantage for our customers. We believe that the attainment of our high levels of customer satisfaction are the direct result of our world-class methods.

The distribution example companies previously mentioned are large and dominant in their overall markets, however Crain is different in that our products tend to occupy a small niche segment of our reseller customer’s overall sales. The fact that Crain products may be offered in so many dealerships may be quite a tribute to us, but it makes doorstep visits difficult. The widespread geographic presence of our customers also illustrates our logistical distribution channel challenges, and the extent of innovation and expertise required for us to provide our world-class service. We at Crain have worked hard to develop expertise and leadership in our marketplace distribution presence, and we intend to continue to improve, as well as expand the products and services offered in the future.