For the Love of Baseball: Nokona Baseball Gloves

From the MiTek series on the American Craftsman, we bring you the story of Nokona, the classic purveyor of American-made baseball gloves. This story comes from the visual storytelling artist, Tadd Myers, a photographer who has captured the heart of the American craftsman in a pictorial masterpiece.

 

In 1934, the founders of Nokona took hometown pride to a new level: they named their company after their hometown of Nocona, Texas, with one twist: they were told they had to change the “c” to a “k” so the city itself wouldn’t be trademarked! This commitment to staying local informs the work they do every day. Every Nokona baseball glove is made in the US, for a fundamentally American pastime.

 

If you know baseball, you know Nokona gloves are a staple of the game. Both MLB Players and recreational players aspire to own a pair of these classic gloves; even Little Leaguers with Major League ambitions dream of owning a Nokona glove. Nokona often makes custom gloves and personalized gloves, but every glove meets the same standard of quality players expect from the name they trust.

 

Not that Nokona is content to rest on their laurels. On the contrary, they look for every opportunity to improve and innovate. For Nokona, aiming for performance and innovation while preserving their heritage and tradition, is not an oxymoron. It is because of their commitment to design and innovation that Nokona gloves may last a lifetime—and then get cleaned up and passed on to the grandkids. Some things about baseball never change.

 

As one glove-maker says, “When I see one on a ball field, I’m just ecstatic. I’m happy about that. That’s something that I did. That I had a part in, and I don’t think there’s a better feeling in the world.” It is clear Nokona makes their gloves with a dedication to craft and a love for the game. That sounds like one amazing mission to us.

 

This story was sourced from the American Craftsman Project website, with permission by the author, Tadd Myers. MiTek appreciates the heart of the American craftsman – the men and women who perform their work according to principles of integrity, hard work, quality and a desire to forge something that will create not just a lasting product, but a lasting relationship.

Craftsmanship, Six Generations in the Making: Pro Saddles and Spurs

From the MiTek series on the American Craftsman, comes the story of Pro Saddles and Spurs. This story comes from the visual storytelling artist, Tadd Myers, a photographer who has captured the heart of the American craftsman in a pictorial masterpiece. 

 

The story of Pro Saddles and Spurs, based out of Gainesville, Texas, is the story of the Cheaney family—pro saddle-makers since 1850, the days of the Wild West. Founder Bruce Cheaney started Pro Saddles and Spurs as heir to a long family tradition. In fact, he spent most of his childhood in his dad’s shop, watching his dad make saddles. He would use the scraps to make and sell leather goods of his own including belts, chaps, and wallets.

 

He spent over ten years as his father’s apprentice before starting the company that became Pro Saddles and Spurs, then known as Bruce Cheaney’s Custom Saddles. Every saddle he creates is handmade. He often makes them to the customer’s specifications—although many trust him with the details. As well they should. Six generations of knowledge go into each saddle.  Riders choose Cheaney’s saddles not only in the US, Canada, and Mexico, but also further afield in Germany, France, Australia, Italy, and Switzerland.

 

Everything a Rider Needs

 

As you might guess from the name, Bruce Cheaney expanded his business from saddles to encompass other kinds of gear riders need, such as bits, spurs, stirrups and straps. Cheaney learned from fellow craftsman H.D. Gaither to make this kind of gear. Then he paid the favor forward by producing a series of instructional videos on tools, tricks, and secrets of the trade. He also created a pattern book for bits and spurs.

 

 

Best of all, today’s riders can trust that the expertise they’ve depended on for six generations, will endure for years to come. The craftsmanship and knowledge of the Cheaney family will live on. Bruce’s son Tom has stepped up to the plate to continue the family tradition…. That makes seven generations of excellence.

 

This story was sourced from the American Craftsman Project website, with permission by the author, Tadd Myers. MiTek appreciates the heart of the American craftsman – the men and women who perform their work according to principles of integrity, hard work, quality and a desire to forge something that will create not just a lasting product, but a lasting relationship.

Pride of Acadia: The Savoy Story

From the MiTek series on the American Craftsman, comes the story of Acadian Accordions. This story comes from the visual storytelling artist, Tadd Myers, a photographer who has captured the heart of the American craftsman in a pictorial masterpiece. 

 

To some, it’s a funny-looking instrument; to the makers of the Acadian accordion, it’s serious business. As with learning to play Cajun music, learning to build an accordion is a lifelong process.

 

 

Marc Savoy has been playing, making, and tinkering with accordions since he was twelve years old. It’s an old craft. Yet he sees no reason why traditional methods can’t coexist with innovation and process improvement. This attitude goes all the way back to the very first accordion he created. As Savoy says, “not too long after I completed it I lit a fire in the barbecue pit and burned it. I knew I could do a better job on the next one.” He adds, “Even after those many years of discovering ‘what makes it tick’, we continue to make improvements as better materials are found and techniques refined.

 

 

Crafting an Accordion

 

 

Marc Savoy, and his business partner, self-taught luthier Tina Pilione, are just as picky about their materials as they are about the end product. First, only handmade Italian reeds will do for the makers of the Acadian accordion. Reeds are critical in the construction of an accordion. Their vibrations produce the distinctive sound of the instrument.

 

 

The wood of an accordion is comparatively—and surprisingly, to some—less critical to the sound of the instrument. The wood is dried then for a year or more.  Their standards are often higher than the suppliers they buy from. Sixteen different types of wood can be used to make an accordion. Then it’s up to the buyer to decide the wood they’d like based on personal preference. Owners love the classic looks of the high-quality woods the makers use.

 

 

After the accordion is built, next it’s time to tune it—and this is where the makers of the Acadian really shine. Tuning is key to the resonance and beauty of the instrument. It can only be accomplished by tuning individual reeds to a state-of-the-art electronic tuning device. Human ears then add finesse to the technical process. Careful listening will ensure the accordion sounds as good as it looks.

 

 

Today, the Savoy Music Center continues to make accordions according to their own exacting specifications. Musicians can focus on the timeless craft they love: Cajun music. And the band plays on.

 

This story was sourced from the American Craftsman Project website, with permission by the author, Tadd Myers. MiTek appreciates the heart of the American craftsman – the men and women who perform their work according to principles of integrity, hard work, quality and a desire to forge something that will create not just a lasting product, but a lasting relationship.

Q and A: Gregg Renner, VP of Marketing, MiTek USA

Q: With housing and remodeling doing very well in most markets, what would you say is the biggest opportunity for LBM dealers?

A: Optimizing business and construction processes is right on top. The skilled labor shortage, across most trades, but especially in framing, continues to constrain home builders. The shortage is stretching out cycle times, and limiting their ability to build and sell homes, even in a strong sellers’ market. From a ‘framing package’ perspective, LBM dealers can offer prefabricated solutions, like roof trusses, sub-components and wall panels. Solutions that reduce construction times or skilled labor onsite have immediate impact, and the LBM dealer can serve as the provider of solutions to increase the builder’s speed, inventory…and his margins and sales.

 

Q: On the flipside of that question, what do you view as their single biggest challenge?

A: Internal process efficiency and a fragmented team approach to estimating is clearly a major challenge. There have been dramatic advancements in estimating technology available to LBM dealers; this technology can pull BOMs (bills of materials) off of CAD and BIM models, and integrate that data directly to the dealer’s POS, pricing, and inventory system. This technology can also be linked directly to the home builder’s estimating and purchasing software. The remarkable uptake we have seen at MiTek for our SAPPHIRE® Supply solution—a dealer’s BIM-based estimator, and much more—is clear evidence that dealers see the advantage of adopting these solutions. The challenge to the dealers? Embrace this tool internally, leverage the capability to collaborate with home builders. Sometimes that process starts with the dealer simply making home builders aware the technology exists, that it’s highly developed with solid integration points, and that it’s available to them as a foundation for strong operational effectiveness and bottom line benefits.

 

Q: Homebuilders nationwide are struggling with a serious shortage of carpenters and other skilled laborers. What, if anything, can LBM dealers do to help?

A: LBM dealers can offer solutions that significantly help this problem by improving the builders’ onsite workflow and speed. It also measurably boosts efficiency and accuracy of materials used in construction. Combining 3D estimating and optimization with the speed and accuracy of prefabrication can bring bottom line benefits to each house, with real ROI for builders. It’s great for the LBM dealers, too, as it improves their own internal efficiency and control—with supremely accurate quantities and quotes (thereby reducing overages, damage and returns), as well as delivery/logistics staging that puts the right quantities on the right site at the right time. It eliminates unnecessary waste and enhances margin control.

 

Q: How can dealers leverage rapidly advancing technology to better serve their customers and to grow their business?

A: Any home under construction is a very complex combination of “parts and pieces,” assembled by a wide range of trades and suppliers. Days lost or materials wasted due to lack of collaboration are likely guaranteed to be a loss of earnings for the home builder. For LBM dealers, advanced collaboration means that everyone should be working from the same lot-specific house plan. They can do this through advanced collaboration systems like SAPPHIRE®, which allows a single BIM model to be effectively used as a collaboration platform for the structural framing, not only for the dealer and component manufacturer, but for other trades as well.

 

Q: Strong single- and multi-family construction and remodeling markets and record-high home prices have some observers suggesting that the next bubble has arrived. What do you think?

A: I have to agree with most of the reputable forecasts. Generally they agree that pent-up demand for new households, low inventories, and relatively low interest rates will continue to support a strong housing market for the next several years—at least until we reach that point of balance again. But the fact is that we may still see some volatility along the way. That only underscores the point that builders and their LBM dealers should implement better technology and more efficient processes to capitalize on the upcycles. And the efficiencies attained during the upcycles can also help mitigate risk and help them navigate the impact of the down cycles. I think both the LBM dealers and their builder customers can leverage these newer processes, to run on a leaner operation, with better accuracy, and to be in a strong position to scale up, or scale down, depending on the current level of demand. It’s a good position to be in.

MiTek Strikes Out for Junior Achievement

JA of Greater St. Louis reaches over 153,000 students per year in over 6,800 classrooms and afterschool locations. Their mission? “To inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.”

 

In a program that’s all about bringing the “real world” to the classroom, who better to lead these discussions than local St. Louisans with “real world” skills? MiTek is among the St. Louis organizations who contribute to Junior Achievement’s pool of over 8,000 volunteers.

Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement pays real dividends in the world of work and employment for kids who need it most. Alums are two and a half times more likely to be involved with starting a business. 55% said JA gave them “an idea of how business works.” 88% said they had landed in satisfying careers. For many kids it is undoubtedly their first exposure to the world of work, finances, and entrepreneurship.

 

Like our customers, MiTek knows the power of hard work and achievement. In order to ensure St. Louis kids continue to receive an education supports Junior Achievement in several ways. One key area of support is the Junior Achievement Bowl-a-thon. Proceeds from the Bowl-a-thon help make kids’ experiences more fulfilling.

Passionate Pursuit of Craft: King Designs Rowing Shells

From the MiTek series on the American Craftsman, comes the story of Graeme King, a man who hand-crafts racing shells for the sport of rowing. This story comes from the visual storytelling artist, Tadd Myers, a photographer who has captured the heart of the American craftsman in a pictorial masterpiece.

 

Excellence takes time, as Graeme King of King Racing would know. He got his start hand-crafting rowing shells at the tender age of five, and has never since stopped honing his skills on this timeless art form.

American Craftsman

At age sixteen he started rowing for the South Australian Railways Institute Rowing Club, while simultaneously pursuing a boat-building apprenticeship. Soon he was confident enough to strike out on his own to build a 1X with a wide span beyond what was typical in clubs at the time. Ten-time state sculling title holder and President’s Cup winner Norm Talbot was an early advocate of King’s boats. In 1970 he received a King 1X of his own and rowed it to victory at the 1971 Australian National Championships. Legendary coach Howard Croker also took notice, and invited King to the US to serve as the Harvard boatman. For three years King made boats for the Harvard team before returning to his hometown of Adelaide, Australia to continue building his legacy.

 

With boat sales going strong on both continents, King then decided to make Putney, Vermont his home base in 1983. Shells he made have been to many US National Championships—and won them.

 

Not only are Graeme King’s designs fast and powerful, they are also extremely durable. Boats King created thirty years ago are still in use today—proving the lasting value of his craftsmanship.

 

This story was sourced from the American Craftsman Project website, with permission by the author, Tadd Myers. MiTek appreciates the heart of the American craftsman – the men and women who perform their work according to principles of integrity, hard work, quality and a desire to forge something that will create not just a lasting product, but a lasting relationship.

The Butterfly Effect and Housing

“Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly’s Wings in Brazil Set off a Tornado in Texas?” That is the title of a famous academic paper by MIT meteorologist Edward Lorenz, who noted that small atmospheric changes in one microclimate can have consequences far away.

Forbes columnist Jeff DeAngelis recently cited that Butterfly Effect paper when looking at an interesting house stat cited by the Wall Street Journal in a story, entitled:  “U.S. Homeownership Rate Falls To Lowest Level Since Mid-1990s.

 

The article pointed out that household formation – which has traditionally led to a rise on house starts – is now operating under a new dynamic.

 

“Data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggests that more young people are making the move out of their parents’ home and into rentals,” DeAngelis writes.  “This may not seem important, but in our interconnected world, that small piece of good news could turn out to be one driver that gives our slow-to-grow economy a much needed push.”

 

Could the departure of those young people into apartments be a flap of a butterfly wing that creates a pop in housing elsewhere?

“As more Millennials sign their first leases, think of all the furniture, bedding, and housewares it takes to furnish even a small apartment. Consider also the economic boost to local grocers, restaurants, and bars, not to mention the tax rolls of state, city and local governments, when these renters start living on their own…All this because one college grad found a job.”

 

But does it really help housing?

 

Perhaps it helps, but only for those that build rental units.  (Last year developers started construction on a little less than one million new housing units, and one in every three of them was an apartment built for rent. Rental rates have climbed 13% since 2009.)

 

However, even with Mr. DeAngelis’ optimism, the WSJ article is a little more dour, citing the move to apartments as a reason for suppressed rates of homeownership.

 

“The homeownership rate measures the share of U.S. households that own their home, but it doesn’t capture everyone under that roof. For instance, a 23-year-old college graduate that lives with his or her parents while searching for a job is neither a renter or a homeowner, and their situation isn’t reflected in the homeownership rate.  That changes the moment a child gets a job and leaves home to rent their first apartment. At that point they are a renter household, which pushes up the renter rate and drags down the homeownership rate.”

 

The WSJ goes on to note that “the thaw in the job market is prompting many young people to form new rental households, an important first step on the road toward homeownership.”

 

Clearly, what we should all be hoping for is the availability of good jobs, and it’s been a long fight to get that aspect of the economy back online to the rates of job creation we saw in the late 1990s.  In recent data, the employment among people ages 25 to 34 reached 75.9%, a five-year high, but up just a tiny fraction from last year, when it was 75.4%.

 

Which flap of the butterfly wing should we pay attention to to predict housing? Seems like jobs is the big one, followed by the leading indicator of apartment rental rates.  Or maybe we should just count cars at the local Ikea parking lot and see how many millennials are buying new couches and kitchen gear. With a little more employment, lending, time, and collaboration, we could see new household formation return to more normal pre-recession levels.

When “Small” Business Isn’t So Small

How to rein in your budget and ditch the financial anxiety

 

No matter what their size, all builders face one common challenge:  Managing cash flow. Even so-called small builders have several hundred thousand dollars flowing in and out of their bank accounts on a monthly basis. It’s easy to get caught up in managing or micromanaging your finances, to the point of debilitating anxiety.

 

Shawn McCadden for the Journal of Light Construction recently published a list of suggestions for taking back control of your financial life—we’ll add to it.

 

Number one on the list is predicting costs. A lot of builders scratch their heads at this task, because so many costs are unpredictable and so much can change during a project.  Plus, some variables no one can control— like the weather, for instance.

 

But don’t write off what you can control.

 

Good budgeting starts with better tracking, and availing yourself of the workflow management software systems out there that have been developed specifically for builders. Grouping expenses by category, tracking revenue, gross profit margins, and accounts (receivable and payable as well as gross profits) will eliminate a lot of the clutter from your financial life and free you up to focus on the work of construction.

 

Workers comp is another hard-to-control variable in your budget. A jobsite accident is just that: an accident. Impossible to predict. And of course it is. But you can limit your exposure to accidents by changing the way you build your homes—and letting your component manufacturer do the heavy lifting for you in your framing. Learn more about how to take labor off the jobsite here.

 

Better record-keeping, and cutting down on labor on the jobsite, should make it a little easier to sleep at night. But as McCadden says, you can’t do it on your own. “Get the help you need to improve your business financial system,” whether that takes the form of a new hire, or simply a home design software upgrade.

 

However you tackle your budget, remember that the relief you’ll feel when your financial life is in order is well worth the price of admission, not only in dollars and cents but also in less psychological weight on your back and more energy to invest in your projects.