I want to remind you that the second story in our Mystery Minute series began yesterday. The first one was well received and a lot of our readers took time to tell us that they enjoyed it. So, if you haven’t read it already, CLICK HERE to get started on the next adventure and then come on back this afternoon to catch Part 2. And hold onto your seats.
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Hand tools and hand-held power tools are natural friends with firefighters, both at work and at home. It’s just part of the “nature of the beast” that we use and accumulate a collection of them. There was a noteworthy announcement from the tool industry yesterday that I thought I’d pass along to you. After a long period of negotiating and posturing, the executive boards of Stanley Works and Black & Decker announced that Stanley will acquire B & D with a $4.5 billion stock transaction.
This is good for the companies, but there will be some job losses as they consolidate some of their operations. And the lessening of competition will prop up the retail prices of most of their products. But if there’s a bright side for the consumer, it’s that the two top handtool manufacturers will be strengthened and good, quality tools will remain available for us. Black & Decker also produced the DeWalt and Kwikset brands, as well as a noteworthy line of home appliance products that will be a beneficial addition to Stanley’s retail line.
I’ve always wondered why Snap-on Tools didn’t step in and offer more of their tools to the retail trade. They have a good product along with a valuable reputation, but they’ve been satisfied, it seems, to stay in their niche of direct-sales to mechanics and tradesmen. After decades of poor management, Sears Roebuck has slipped out of the picture and their Craftsman tools have been losing market share, and quality standards for some time now. A good gap for someone to move into. Maybe they already have.
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Fire/EMS people always have their eyes open for a good part-time job, and some of you who are volunteers and employed elsewhere are possibly looking for an opportunity to pick up full-time employment somewhere. The Examiner newspaper runs a weekly column called Who’s Hiring that lists the companies and markets that are doing the most hiring that week. The article covering last week’s hiring trends is expectedly top-heavy with retailers who are gearing up for the holiday season. They occupy five of the top six slots on the list, right behind #1, UPS. United Parcel is always a good choice because they pay very well and for the next two months they have plenty of hours to hand out.
Looking on down the list, there are several manufacturing employers and firms that do government contracting. And interestingly enough, number 27 in Snap-on Tools. How about that? Check out the Who’s Hiring column column HERE.
Speaking of tools, we’d better get ours checked out for the day, now. I need to get some more coffee started. See you back in the day room in a little while.
