Confer Plastics will be closed on Friday, April 2nd in observance of Good Friday and the Easter weekend. Regular business hours will resume on Monday, April 5th.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
LEADERSHIP NIAGARA TOURS CPI
25 members of this year's Leadership Niagara class toured Confer Plastics on March 18th as a part of their Small Business Day. The participants were able to walk the factory floor and see products being made.
Leadership Niagara is a year-long leadership training program for adults who represent a cross section of Niagara County; including business, labor, education, the arts, religion, government, community based organizations, ethnic and minority groups.They meet for daylong sessions held each month addressing diverse, local needs. LN focuses on helping participants to enhance their understanding and recognition of what our community lacks to become a better place to live and work, followed by becoming involved and making it happen. The program provides opportunities for participants to develop their own personal leadership styles and networking opportunities.
If your community organization would like to tour our factory send an e-mail to Bob Confer at bob@conferplastics.com
Leadership Niagara is a year-long leadership training program for adults who represent a cross section of Niagara County; including business, labor, education, the arts, religion, government, community based organizations, ethnic and minority groups.They meet for daylong sessions held each month addressing diverse, local needs. LN focuses on helping participants to enhance their understanding and recognition of what our community lacks to become a better place to live and work, followed by becoming involved and making it happen. The program provides opportunities for participants to develop their own personal leadership styles and networking opportunities.
If your community organization would like to tour our factory send an e-mail to Bob Confer at bob@conferplastics.com
Monday, March 15, 2010
CPI IN THE BUFFALO NEWS
In the March 15th installment of her weekly Money Smart column for the Buffalo News, Samantha Maziarz Christmann writes about the stresses of asking for a raise in a down economy. CPI vice-president Bob Confer was interviewed for the article. The column can be read here:
http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/03/15/988136/asking-for-more.html
http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/03/15/988136/asking-for-more.html
Friday, February 26, 2010
BLAST FROM THE PAST: MARX SLEDS
Occasionally on this blog we reminisce about days gone by and look back at products we manufactured years ago. One such product is the sled we made for the Louis Marx Toy Company.
The one-time toy giant that was based in the United States contracted with us to make these popular blue sleds in the mid-1970s just prior to the Marx Company's 1978 collapse (after it had been in business since 1919). These sleds were sold by the thousands throughout the Northeast and could be found in stores like Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward's.
Many Generation Xers of colder climes remember riding on them and, surprisingly, many of their parents still have the sleds! They have held up to the test of time and 30 years later they can still hit the slopes. That's what you call quality manufacturing ;)
For more information about Louis Marx visit these websites that look back at the history of the company:
http://www.marxmuseum.com/
http://www.marxtoymuseum.com/
Many Generation Xers of colder climes remember riding on them and, surprisingly, many of their parents still have the sleds! They have held up to the test of time and 30 years later they can still hit the slopes. That's what you call quality manufacturing ;)
For more information about Louis Marx visit these websites that look back at the history of the company:
http://www.marxmuseum.com/
http://www.marxtoymuseum.com/
Thursday, February 18, 2010
NORTH TONAWANDA MAYOR TOURS CPI
The new mayor of the City of North Tonawanda, Rob Ortt, toured Confer Plastics on February 17th as a part of his business & community outreach endeavor.Rob and his team spoke with Bob Confer about the history and future of Confer Plastics. The Mayor was able to see the factory in operation, with items like kayaks, docks, and pool ladders in production.
Rob is a young mayor -- just 30 years of age -- who brings youth, drive and a positive attitude to the position which bodes well for North Tonawanda's future.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
LYNC TOURS CONFER PLASTICS
Since 2001, LYNC (Leadership for the Youth of Niagara County) has brought together youth leaders – high school juniors and seniors - from diverse backgrounds throughout Niagara County for experiential leadership training and character development. Modeled after Leadership Niagara, LYNC is a program designed to equip youth leaders with essential skills and motivation to respond to the challenges facing our community. Students representing every school district in Niagara County participate in the program. The students participate in skill building sessions in diversity, communication, leadership, and personal performance.
LYNC toured Confer Plastics on Thursday as a part of their economy and business day in which they get a chance to experience how the world works. This was a real eye-opener as most kids have never seen how the products they consume are made. They also heard a speech from Bob Confer about the the trials and joys of running a small business.
More information abot LYNC can be found at:
http://www.leadershipniagara.org/lync.php
LYNC toured Confer Plastics on Thursday as a part of their economy and business day in which they get a chance to experience how the world works. This was a real eye-opener as most kids have never seen how the products they consume are made. They also heard a speech from Bob Confer about the the trials and joys of running a small business.
More information abot LYNC can be found at:
http://www.leadershipniagara.org/lync.php
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
A MESSAGE TO OUR CUSTOMERS (RE: PRICING)
The plastic materials market is in a very tenuous position.
Low domestic demand, a result of the recession, has forced many resin producers to tighten their belts and therefore their supply. At the same time, international demand has risen courtesy of the growing economies of China and India. To accommodate that shift in market dynamics, the big players in the chemicals industry have focused their efforts on satisfying overseas demand.
All of this led to domestic delivery issues over the course of 2009. Those problems will persist in 2010 and will probably grow in scale as producers actually shut down North American ethylene production facilities just as Dow recently did.
Based on the laws of supply and demand – more manufacturers vying for less material – the price of resin is scheduled to go up in excess of 24% in February and March. Other increases are in the works for the remainder of 2010. It may prove to be a period as volatile as 2007-2008 when material costs exceeded 90 cents a pound.
That said, Confer Plastics will have to revisit pricing throughout the year, even for those who have submitted blanket purchase orders or are hoping for fixed pricing through an entire marketing year. Confer Plastics will have to adjust our quoted prices to you on a regular basis and, depending on the severity and number of the spikes in resin costs, it may occur as often as every 45 days.
We will endeavor to achieve the best possible prices we can in an effort to minimize the financial impact to both you and Confer Plastics. But, please understand it won’t be an easy task. The plastics market was not healthy prior to the recession and with certain facets of the world’s economy becoming healthy the inherent weaknesses of the market will be realized again.
As the market puts out more feelers about the future I will be sure to keep you in the loop.
Sincerely,
Bob Confer
Low domestic demand, a result of the recession, has forced many resin producers to tighten their belts and therefore their supply. At the same time, international demand has risen courtesy of the growing economies of China and India. To accommodate that shift in market dynamics, the big players in the chemicals industry have focused their efforts on satisfying overseas demand.
All of this led to domestic delivery issues over the course of 2009. Those problems will persist in 2010 and will probably grow in scale as producers actually shut down North American ethylene production facilities just as Dow recently did.
Based on the laws of supply and demand – more manufacturers vying for less material – the price of resin is scheduled to go up in excess of 24% in February and March. Other increases are in the works for the remainder of 2010. It may prove to be a period as volatile as 2007-2008 when material costs exceeded 90 cents a pound.
That said, Confer Plastics will have to revisit pricing throughout the year, even for those who have submitted blanket purchase orders or are hoping for fixed pricing through an entire marketing year. Confer Plastics will have to adjust our quoted prices to you on a regular basis and, depending on the severity and number of the spikes in resin costs, it may occur as often as every 45 days.
We will endeavor to achieve the best possible prices we can in an effort to minimize the financial impact to both you and Confer Plastics. But, please understand it won’t be an easy task. The plastics market was not healthy prior to the recession and with certain facets of the world’s economy becoming healthy the inherent weaknesses of the market will be realized again.
As the market puts out more feelers about the future I will be sure to keep you in the loop.
Sincerely,
Bob Confer
Friday, January 22, 2010
CPI INTRODUCES NEW LADDER GATE
New for the 2010 swimming season, Confer Plastics has introduced a self-closing, self-latching gate for the popular 7200 pool ladder. This will allow the ladder to meet new building codes which are becoming more and more popular across the Northeast. The first parts came off the machine this week.
If interested in carrying this accessory email Dennis Lederhouse at dennis@conferplastics.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)