Wolverine to Suspend DIY Sales March 1

[SC-Eric]

Hi All,

I want to thank everyone for their help as we have begun to establish marketing information for DIY sales. We are going to suspend sales of our Epoxy Flooring for DIY applications on March 1, 2008. Anyone who has placed an order prior to that date will be serviced.

Why? Well, it's alot of questions (time) for really small sales. More importantly, Bill Coffey will be taking a 6 month leave of absence to go on a mission for the International Justice Mission http://www.ijm.org. Bill will be living in a foreign country (can't say where) where things like forced prostitution of preteen girls, slavery, land grabs, murder, and other attrocities are committed against poor and defensless individuals. These problems are so rampant that they are ignored by local law enforement. Wolverine Coatings wants to partner with Bill and support him as he answers God's call to this ministry. As we have heard about what the International Justice Mission does, I have personally been overwhelmed by the difference they are making in our world. I hope that some of you will take some time... go their website... and maybe even consider supporting what they do. The importance really hit me hard when I realized that my daughter is the same age (11) as some of the girls that are forced into prostitution in those countries.

I'm not sure when we will resume selling into this market. We can't handle the additional phone calls and service without someone like Bill. We are looking for an individual and if God brings someone along like Bill then we may resume. (Bill will still have a job when he gets back) In the meantime, please join me in wishing Bill the best!

 

[Fueler]

Bummer,
Just when I thought I had it figured out what I needed to do. We appreciate your contribution.

Food for thought. While Bill is saving the world some thought might be given to the website layout. I feel like it assumes that the visitor knows as much about your product as you do and navigation is a bit odd. More examples and explanations of what each is used for would be in order.

A section on the garage floor deal for the diy will go a long way to eliminate repeat common questions. Examples, what chemicals or weld splatter will each choice resist. Most companies avoid the chemical info for likely obvious reasons. Step by step on point instructions, yada yada. Make it plain, easy to understand while stressing the critical application points including how to screw up. Lots of pictures. The DIY world is a much bigger market than even this forum would indicate.

 

[IanF]

Any idea if Budget Bob's daughter will continue the business?

 

[timgr]

Best of luck and success to Bill, and kudos to Wolverine for endorsing his leave of absence.

 

[daschtick]

Bummer,
Just when I thought I had it figured out what I needed to do. We appreciate your contribution.

Food for thought. While Bill is saving the world some thought might be given to the website layout. I feel like it assumes that the visitor knows as much about your product as you do and navigation is a bit odd. More examples and explanations of what each is used for would be in order.

A section on the garage floor deal for the diy will go a long way to eliminate repeat common questions. Examples, what chemicals or weld splatter will each choice resist. Most companies avoid the chemical info for likely obvious reasons. Step by step on point instructions, yada yada. Make it plain, easy to understand while stressing the critical application points including how to screw up. Lots of pictures. The DIY world is a much bigger market than even this forum would indicate.

I echo these exact remarks!

You have spent a lot of time promoting your product here, and those who have used it seemed to be extremely satisfied. And just when I'm ready to blow my load, you sing "Never Gonna Get It", just like an ex-girlfriend!

From everything I have read, yours is the one product in which I would like to apply, especially due to its solids content and low fume emissions.

I recently submitted a slew of questions, and I hadn't heard back, and now I understand why. But here's the rub; I am sure that you have answered the same questions over and over, so why not make better use of your time and just put together a decent web page with a complete set of instructions for estimation, installation, tips/tricks, and FAQ for us DIYer's that can only be found from Garage Journal (to limit your exposure). Add a secure ordering site with color samples, and now we can answer our own questions and place our own orders without requiring any of your intervention. Between that, and the community help among the participants at Garage Journal, I think that would do the trick for minimal effort. This is internet sales 101!

Take a look at Zaino Car Polish to see a similar example. Sal Zaino is a guy who does no marketing, but gets all of his business from internet chatter at places like autopia.org. Also, because Zaino has become almost a cult, any question has been previously answered by dozens of members on autopia.org - which is now a huge database compiled by the many users of Zaino.

Again, this is just a suggestion, but I think that today, a premium garage floor is becoming a must have, and it would be a mistake to turn your back on the expanding demand.

Regardless of which direction you choose to go, best of luck!

 

[plastics]

I hear ya.

I first contacted Woolverine as instructed via this site in late Jan. On Feb 1 I received a email that Bill would contact me soon. He never did contact me, guess I know why now.

I was encouraged by all the posts on this site touting their product, but will have to put something else over the 2300 sq ft of concrete we recently put down. Oh well, life goes on.

 

[SC-Eric]

I recently submitted a slew of questions, and I hadn't heard back, and now I understand why.

I first contacted Woolverine as instructed via this site in late Jan. On Feb 1 I received a email that Bill would contact me soon. He never did contact me, guess I know why now.

Every request that we have received has been answered... and WILL be answered as long as it's before March 1st... As I've stated in the 'Contacting Wolverine' thread... if you mis-spell your e-mail address in the form... or... you don't mention 'Garage Journal' you won't get an answer...

I have had several PMs stating that requests weren't answered and in every case either the e-mail was mis-spelled, the request was answered and was in your spam folder, or you didn't mention Garage Journal...

Bill is an impressive guy and doesn't ignore any requests. If you haven't received a response within 3 business days... then... Something went wrong... you might want to follow up to figure out why.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14933

Now, on to the other stuff...
It really does pain me to suspend this program. Our Operations Manager (Andy) and I interviewed a really smart guy in Los Angeles a few weeks ago but haven't made any decisions yet. If we could find someone who can field all of the questions who knows what they are doing without intensive training... I'd reverse this decision in a heartbeat. Frankly, I enjoy these sales and seeing you guys getting creative with your garage floors. I really enjoy these forums and am still in awe of the 'Bunker Garage'.

I feel like it assumes that the visitor knows as much about your product as you do and navigation is a bit odd. More examples and explanations of what each is used for would be in order.

Our website is built for our current customers. Since we only sell to distributors and Authorized Applicators... they do already know the products. In addition, all of our customers have been in the "Heavy Duty Industrial' market. However, all of that said... The site is under a re-evaluation and the coding is being changed. We have been working on a site for DIY sales and have been waiting on the web company. Selling to the DIY market is COMPLETELY different than selling to engineers. And, you're right to point that out.

Any idea if Budget Bob's daughter will continue the business?

She wants to continue but has no knowlege of this type of application. Actually, it is her son that wants to continue. We'd be a little concerned that he may not be available much since he is still in High School (16 years old). I think it would be really hard for anyone to sell a high end professional product without some serious training or experience. We require anyone who sells our products to either have MASSIVE experience or be NACE or SSPC certified.

I am sure that you have answered the same questions over and over, so why not make better use of your time and just put together a decent web page with a complete set of instructions for estimation, installation, tips/tricks, and FAQ for us DIYer's that can only be found from Garage Journal (to limit your exposure). Add a secure ordering site with color samples, and now we can answer our own questions and place our own orders without requiring any of your intervention. Between that, and the community help among the participants at Garage Journal, I think that would do the trick for minimal effort. This is internet sales 101!

We've been working diligently to gather what we need to do this. However, someone has to have the time to finish it. Over the last 3 years the demand for our products have exceeded our capacity. As we expand our capacity we have taken on customers who are on the waiting list. We started investigating this market because we have a new expansion that will add several thousand gallons of capacity per day. This should be enough to add the customers who are waiting and service an additional market. But, it boils down to having the right individual who drives that market. While I'm really conflicted with this decision, I know we can't do a good job servicing these sales without someone to be responsible for them.

I really appreciate all of your input here. And, I do hate that we have to do this. We will continue to answer Information Requests and Ship Orders that are placed by March 1. So, as long as you place your order by March 1... we'll take your calls even if you don't apply it for a couple of months. We would be hoping that most people would apply it within a few weeks. Bill's last day will be March 14th and his last 2 weeks will be spent wrapping up loose ends and taking care of anyone who ordered material.

We are actively looking for someone but I feel like even if we found someone tomorrow it would still take a month before they could handle it.

 

[DynoDave]

Best of luck and success to Bill, and kudos to Wolverine for endorsing his leave of absence.

This is disappointing news for us personally, as I've spoken with you in the past about my application. But I absolutely agree with the message above!

 

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Guess I need to submit the order that Bill and I were working on SOON..

 

[mike944]

Perhaps you have a distributor willing to handle DIY sales?

Do you have a distributor list for someone we could contact locally to obtain your products?

I don't have a specific project in mind, so i'm not going to place an order by your deadline, but when i do get a project, i was considering trying your products.

 

[raffaelli]

Oh.

I had planned on a summer floor installation. Sounds like I have to wait till August or September?

 

[ponjohn]

How does one aquire your product with Budget Bob not supplying product and you are, now, not supplying product to the general public?

 

[timgr]

How does one aquire your product with Budget Bob not supplying product and you are, now, not supplying product to the general public?

That's the gist of it. The cutoff is March 1.

 

[drivinhard]

As somebody who works full time in ministry, God Bless.

On the business side, I have tried a couple of times (again today) to get in contact per the website contact page. I would love to get this nailed down before March 1 as I have a floor to coat in the next couple of weeks. A return contact would be appreciated.

thanks

 

[drivinhard]

contact made

 

[speadrider]

Good Luck......

 

[ponjohn]

That's the gist of it. The cutoff is March 1.

No, they have to have a commercial line of dealers, in other words how do NON DIYers buy Wolverine products?

 

[RaceDeck1]

Wolverine - Wish you the best of luck and if you need anything just drop me a line

 

[SC-Eric]

No, they have to have a commercial line of dealers, in other words how do NON DIYers buy Wolverine products?

We have a customer waiting list that a professional would need to get on. As we increase our manufacturing capacity we bring on new customers. Our current expansion is supposed to be online by the end of March (First it was December, then January... then February...). The order in line on the list depends on which product lines someone is interested in applying. In addition to floor coatings we make Chemical Storage Tank Linings, Adhesives, Pigment Dispersions, Anti-Corrosive additives for paint, Swimming Pool Linings, Resins for Paint Manufacture, Nano Composites, and other Specialty Coatings.

Over the next 6 months we will be looking for professionals to do residential applications as we create a Nationwide network of Residential Applicators. Since the sales for these guys will be very small we can add professionals in this field fairly quickly (once the new expansion comes online) without hurting service to our existing customers (who got us where we are).

Anyway, if you're a professional who is focusing on the residential market... we're looking...

 

[SC-Eric]

Thanks Racedeck1... Let me know if you need to coat the floors in your factory... lol...

I'm sorry... couldn't resist...